Echoes of Zoo - Speech of Species (Album)

Speech of Species’ (out now via W.E.R.F. Records) is the excellent second album from Belgian quartet Echoes of Zoo. Led by the musical direction of saxophonist Nathan Daems (Black Flower), the follow-up to their critically acclaimed debut album ‘BREAKOUT’ (2021), deepens their already eclectic sound further once again. Still packed with sonic energy and a fair amount of punk and dub flavours, the quartet experiment with Eastern and Balkan sounds, microtonal guitars, animalistic sounds, and a host of new rhythmic observations based on Brazilian and West African grooves.

While ‘BREAKOUT’ was an interesting musical interpretation of the confrontation between humans and animals and explored the sights and sounds of different cities and clash of cultures, for ‘Speech of Species’, Daems was inspired by the communication of animals amongst each other in their natural habitats. "Messages are constantly being transmitted in the animal world by adopting body poses; there are more than 2,000 different poses or "words" in certain lizard species, by dancing in the most ingenious ways, by changing colours from geometric patterns (certain species of squids and chameleons do this), by causing vibrations in the ground, by smells, even by giving light and so on. How can we be so blind to that and say that animals cannot speak?"

Language and music often correspond unconditionally. Changes of melody or rhythm are generally used by many animal species to make a specific statement, and this is what Echoes of Zoo seek to replicate through their compositions. Music can also be instrumental, with no fixed meaning. Daems again sees a parallel with the animal world: "Surprisingly, it appears that many songbirds sing much more frequently than is necessary to communicate. This would indicate that they enjoy making melodies."

Formed in 2018 by Nathan, Echoes of Zoo released their debut, self-produced EP ‘First Provocations’ in 2019. The band have performed at venues and festivals throughout the Benelux region including Brussels Jazz Festival (Flagey), BRDCST Festival (AB), Brosella Festival, Leuven Jazz Festival and Amok Festival (KAAP).