Echo Orbiter

Infobox musical artist |
Name = Echo Orbiter

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|thumb|225px|center|Echo Orbiter at the Looking Glass Workshop
Background = group_or_band
Alias =
Origin = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Genre = Indie rock Alternative rock Shoegaze
Years_active = 1996–Present (as Echo Orbiter)1995–1996 (as Delta 9 Sound)
Label = Looking Glass Workshop
Associated_acts = of Montreal, Medicine, Lilys
URL = [http://www.myspace.com/theechoorbiter Myspace.com]
Current_members = Justin Emerle Colin Emerle
Past_members = B.C. Camplight (live keyboards) Bryan Michael (Alka) (keyboards, 2nd album) Kyle Costill (Trouble Everyday) (live keyboards)

Echo Orbiter is a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania based indie rock band created by brothers Justin Emerle and Colin Emerle, described by Philadelphia Weekly as being "Widely considered two of the most inventive songwriters on the [Philadelphia] scene." [Philadelphia Weekly, June 23, 1999/Volume XXXVIII, No. 10 (Pg. 27)]

The underground music scene, in which the Echo Orbiter finds its roots, is one of self-promotion and truly defines the term "Indie." Working with engineer/producer Brian McTear and such bands as The Three-4-Tens, Lenola, and the Lilys, the EO helped forge a unique scene which captures the creative zeitgeist of the late 90's Philadelphia underground.

Outside of Philadelphia, Echo Orbiter is often associated with Elephant Six groups such as Of Montreal, The Olivia Tremor Control, Elf Power, Beulah, and Neutral Milk Hotel. Although the EO originated in Philadelphia, unlike the mostly Athens Georgia based groups of the Elephant Six, the style and influences of the early Echo Orbiter were similar to the Elephant Six, and the bands had interacted extensively, collaborating on shows, compilations, and a rare split 45 with Calvin, Don't Jump. [http://www.elephant6.com/links.html]

History

Echo Orbiter formed in Late 1995 in a small town in Southern New Jersey; not far from Philadelphia. The original line up of Justin Emerle (guitars, vocals), Colin Emerle (bass),and Jeremiah Steffen (drums) [ [http://www.answers.com/topic/echo-orbiter All Music Bio - Answers.com] ] would go on to release the first two full length albums (“A Moment In Life That’s Right” [ [http://www.answers.com/topic/a-moment-in-life-that-s-right Album Listing - Answers.com] ] and “Laughing All The While”). Both records were engineered by Brian McTear (Burning Brides and Matt Pond PA, among many others). [ [http://flirt.citypaper.net/articles/032201/mus.hear.shtml Album Press Release - City Paper] ] [http://www.minerstreet.com/brian%20production.html] Kurt Heasley of the Lilys would come in to co-engineer “Laughing all the while" [ [http://www.clubac30.com/artists/artist.php?AID=B2960387ED87A4DD5A0C1C51B6277F30 Article Bio Discussing Heasley's Contribution - Club AC30] ] which received favorable reviews, being deemed "...a wonderous, melody-packed celebration of unfettered creativity." [ [http://www.erasingclouds.com/19jrone.html Review by Dave Heaton - Erasing Clouds] ]

As they began to find indie success, the EO also received criticism for their sometimes highly experimental tendencies. For example, while headlining the 2000 Philadelphia POPfest they completed their set in a Who-like manner, smashing their instruments as well as stage equipment. [ [http://dvl.citypaper.net/articles/060100/mus.pop.shtml Philadelphia PopFest - City Paper] ] [ [http://www.citypaper.net/articles/060100/mus.echo.shtml Echo Orbiter/PopFest content - City Paper] ] The crowd reaction was favorable, though the media viewed the act less favorably. [ [http://dev.citypaper.net/articles/070899/music.sandv1.shtml Echo Orbiter PopFest Reaction - City Paper] ] Nonetheless, the show and the antics received widespread coverage culminating in an article on SPIN.com.

Around late 2000/2001 Eventide Productions, [http://www.eventideproductions.net/e-flash05.swf] a Philadelphia based film production company, was gearing up to produce and direct a music video of the Echo Orbiter, to be shot on 16 mm in New Jersey in cooperation with the New Jersey Film Commission. [ [http://www.icommag.com/september2001/production-news.html EO/Eventide Filming Press Release - Icommag.com] ] Along with the video, the production company began to film a video biography of the band that would be used to introduce new fans to their unique sound and lifestyle. [ [http://personals.citypaper.net/articles/120999/mus.hifive.shtml Echo Orbiter Sales Release - City Paper] ]

In 2001 the brothers Emerle unconsciously cut ties with their long time drummer, and Justin began concocting music that was undoubtledly much different than the “Elephant 6” affiliated sound from the past. The direction in which Justin was heading was a variety of Shoegazer, Slowcore, and more indie rock than indie pop. [ [http://www.clubac30.com/artists/artist.php?AID=B2960387ED87A4DD5A0C1C51B6277F30 Echo Orbiter Interview - Club AC30] ] In recent years the music of the EO has found its way onto many compilations, and the group's founder has continued to record, despite having distanced himself from the former indie scene of which Echo Orbiter was once a part. The prolific recording manner has allowed the EO to accumulate over 30 total releases, including many albums, singles, E.P.s, Compilations, and film music, [http://echoorbiter.homestead.com/echo.html] developing a style "...all their own: subtly simple, vaguely ironic and just a little heartbreaking." [Philadelphia Weekly, June 23, 1999/Volume XXXVIII, No. 10 (Pg. 30)]

Included among those that have played with Echo Orbiter are B.C. Camplight (live keyboards), [http://www.bccamplight.com/] Bryan Michael of Alka (keyboards on second album), [http://www.electroniceel.com/alka.html] and Kyle Costell of the Trouble Everyday and Manic Mirrors (live keyboards). [http://www.myspace.com/troubleeveryday] Justin has also performed in the Three-4-Tens. [http://www.rainbowquartz.com/artists.asp?BC=TT] Colin has also performed in the Perils of Pauline.

Discography

Albums, EPs, Singles, and Compilations

General References

* Brett Burton - Philadelphia City Paper (2000). " [http://www.citypaper.net/articles/060100/mus.echo.shtml Through the Looking Glass: A Peak Inside the Strange World of the Echo Orbiter.] "
* Stephen Cramer - Allmusic.com. " [http://www.allmusic.com Search: Echo Orbiter.] "
* Answers.com. " [http://www.answers.com/topic/echo-orbiter Echo Orbiter Information]
* IMDb. " [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1435290/ IMDb Movie Database - Soundtrack Info.]
* Club AC30 " [http://www.clubac30.com/assets/4F9738D19C_echoorbiter.pdf Echo Orbiter Bio] "
* Myspace Page " [http://www.myspace.com/theechoorbiter Echo Orbiter] "
* Joey Sweeney - Philadelphia Weekly " [http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/articles/861/music--live-music Of Montreal & Echo Orbiter Review] "

External links

* [http://www.myspace.com/theechoorbiter Myspace Page] Echo Orbiter
* [http://guitargeek.com/rigview/607/ Guitar Geek] Justin Emerle's Guitar Setup
* [http://www.plantingseedsrecords.com/ Planting Seeds Records] Official site
* [http://www.perhapstransparent.com/ Perhaps Transparent Records] Official site
* [http://www.hhbtm.com/ Happy Happy Birthday To Me Records] Official site
* [http://fairmountfair.com/bumbleBEAR/ BumbleBEAR Records] Official site
* [http://www.minerstreet.com/ Miner St./Cycle Sound Recordings] Official site
* [http://www.clubac30.com/home/index.php Club AC30] Official site
* [http://www.clairecords.com/ Clair Records] Official site
* [http://www.hhbtm.com/yumyum/yumlinks.html Yum Yum Publicity] Official site