Most releases these days cannot use sexy and electronica in the same sentence because they can't do it right. This is one of the exceptions where sexy and electronica can be used in the same sentence. How does it sound? What is sexy about it? Read on to find out

Some artists use their experiences and what they have learned over the years as a basis for creating music. They have learned new ways to create certain sounds and like in this case, it leads to an exciting album. Honeyroot is Glenn Gregory (frontman of Heaven 17 and a producer of note) and Keith Lowdnes (who played live with ABC and has produced and deejayed for years). The duo’s vast experience is put to good use in this album.

Honeyroot – Sound Echolocation (OneWorldMusic Records)

Losing My Mind

The opening song starts with the sounds of thunder and rain, which is a unique opening. This is a guitar driven song, which works well in this sexy house/chillout song. It gets into the vocal about two and half minutes in the song. The vocal is laidback and has this sexy feel. The rain sound comes back in near the end, which gets top marks for creativity.

Sunrise, Sunset

Song number two is a chilled song. It starts with a vocal sample that goes “Good Ol Song”. The drumbeats kick in and the keyboard sounds enter right after the drums. Both contain this funky groove to it but still has this chillout feel. The drums make this track work. About three minutes into this song, the vocal kicks in that says “Sunrise, Sunset”. The track picks up steam from there and carries it to the end. The vocal really adds to the track.

Sweet as Honey

They use Angie Brown as the vocalist here and I think she really makes this track better. It starts with a slow but powerful start and the vocals appear then the song gets going. Sweet as Honey contains a funky bassline, which serves the track well. The track picks up about one minute and fifty seconds in. Angie Brown’s voice adds this sexy feel to the track. The track breaksdown about three minutes in and you can tell because the pace changes. The vocal is clear but the background vocal is distorted, which works well. About four minutes in, it reverts back to the original pace and the original vocal till the end. Who said sexy and electronica could be not used in the same sentence?

4.French Theme

The shortest song on the album is this one. It uses this organ type sound to drive the song or an instrument that sounds similar in some ways. The bassline is laid back, just like the song. French Theme is short but sweet.

5.State of Mind

State of Mind starts well with a bass guitar that drives most of the song. A male vocal cuts in with the “It’s a state of mind”, intertwined with scratching samples. You have a nice electronica song here. About two and half minutes in, a sexy female voice comes in with almost a chant like vocal, no words. I believe that’s the best part of the track, when they bring in the female vocal in. The female vocal is just singing notes I believe and you hear no clear vocal words. The track goes back to like it was in the beginning about four minutes in and carries it till the end.

6.Falling

Falling is a ballad in many respects. Falling starts off slow and calm and about one minute in, they bring in this brilliant female vocal. It is almost epic in terms of production and in terms of sound. A female vocal comes in singing “I think I’m Falling in love with you” backed by an outstanding piano part. Three minutes in, the song breaksdown to almost dead silence, which grabs your attention. Around twenty seconds later, a male vocal comes in singing the exact same lyrics as the female vocal did about a minute earlier. The male vocal is backed by a keyboard instead of a piano. It slowly picks up and then moves into more of a ballad. You hear birds singing a little after five minutes in this song, which adds to the ballad. Thirty seconds after that, the main part from the beginning comes back in but this time, you have no vocal, just the sound of chirping birds in the background. A little later, you have the female voice and the male voice singing “I’m falling in love with you” together. This is where it becomes truly a ballad and I think this is a love song in some regard. Most electronic artists are too scared to attempt something like this but this works very well and they should be given top marks for attempting and succeeding.

7.Sound Echo Location

Here we have the title track from the CD. It starts out with a vocal that goes “Sound, Sound” and this is echoed, then they move on to “Echolocation” as a vocal, which is also echoed. This nasty groove kicks in and then these nice effects follow and the song starts to build. The artists play with the vocal here, you get a echo hohohoho, which gives you variety here and all backed by this incredible melody. The bassline here truly kicks you in the teeth and that is always a good thing. It moves into sound echolocation as the vocal, surrounded by an addictive hook and a groovy bassline. This is probably the best song on the album.

8.Starshine

The beginning is hard to describe because I have never heard those sounds. The best way is to check them out for yourself. It is a calm song, you hear this female vocal in places, surrounded by an unknown instrument. The main vocal kicks in about two minutes in. The female vocal contains this sexy feel, just like “Sweet As Honey”. After about three minutes, you start to really like the bassline because it has this subtle groovy feeling. The female vocal disappears during this time and relies on the instrumental sequence here. The vocal reappears near the end of the song, which gives you nice variety.

9.Blue Space

We begin with a strange sample and you hear the instruments surrounding it. You have an almost epic orchestral feel. This is an epic production and it reminds me of Hybrid’s Finished Symphony but on a different scale. Two minutes and twenty three seconds into song, the bassline kicks in and it has an 80’s feel in places but you know it was revamped. A vocal is added in and it reminds me of Daft Punk – One More Time, not completely but that is what I think of when I hear it. The vocal continues till about six minutes in, where the song breaksdown with an almost epic arrangement and goes back to the sample that was used in the very beginning. Honeyroot have done what you don’t expect and this song is very good.

10.Summer Sky

Summer Sky is the last track on this CD. It starts with a waves sound; you feel you are near an ocean. This instrument steps in, and you get this world beat feel. You get this world music feeling. A really nice way to end off an album with a calm world music feel.

Tracklist

1.Losing My Mind
2.Sunrise, Sunset
3.Sweet as Honey
4.French Theme
5.State Of Mind
6.Falling
7.Sound Echo Location
8.Starshine
9.Blue Space
10.Summer Sky

Conclusion:
This album starts off strong with “Losing My Mind” and “Sunrise, Sunset” and then moves into a sexy “Sweet as Honey”. It continues with some strong songs with “French Theme” and “State of Mind” then moves into a ballad with “Falling”. After “Falling” we go into the title track and the best track of the album, where Honeyroot use their years of experience to make unique sounds that get you moving. The final three songs are much more calmer but just as strong as the previous seven. This album is very good and very well done, you should check this out, if you want something new and exciting.