The sprawling Fifty Fifty saga continues with two distinct acts. The re-formatted Fifty Fifty proceed to advertise with label Attrakt, most lately releasing title monitor Pookie. In the meantime, the three former members who left the company amidst authorized points have re-formed and re-debuted as ablume. To be utterly sincere, I’ve by no means cared concerning the music sufficient to type a powerful opinion on all this controversy. To my very informal ears, it simply feels like we’ve now received two teams performing the identical Fifty Fifty-esque sound.

Echo is hazy and understated — a breezy mid-tempo bop that isn’t miles away from the success ablume discovered with 2023’s Cupid. There’s a bit extra guitar and a welcome key change on the music’s climax. A second verse switch-up additionally pulls them into new territory even because it struggles to suit properly inside the remainder of the monitor. However total, it’s clear what the producers have been aiming for right here. Ok-pop’s total tone has change into a lot drowsier over the previous few years, however Echo sounds extra like I’m listening to some twinkly bed room pop from an indie band.

The music opens with an unnerving mattress of laughter that stretches for an uncomfortable period of time. From right here, Echo‘s primary touchstone is tender (veeeerrrrry tender) rock. The group’s harmonies are good and add wanted texture to the refrain, however with the overwhelming majority of Ok-pop’s lady teams concentrating on an analogous sound there’s nothing about this monitor that makes me excited to hurry again for one more play.

Grade: C+