4 out of 5

Produced by: Brian Deck

Label: Perishable

It’s true that the version of Fruit Bats playing here is far away from the full-on 70s-infused version we hear nowadays; it took Eric Johnson several years to shake the Califone / Perishable influence, navigating through a sea of Shins, to find his “own” sound.  But is it so wrong that this is the version of Bats to which I more frequently return?  It was what I wanted from Perishable Records at the time: variations on the drone/folk theme, and Johnson made that happen with a crooked smile on Echolocation.  Califone, delightfully dreary, can have a rather impenetrable sound on occasion, one for which you have to be in the right mood; as soon as the main hook kicks in on opener ‘The Old Black Hole’ on the Bats’ debut, you’re pleased as punch to usher in the sunshine (or perhaps the dusk) which the album offers, and Johnson’s airy but confident vocals are the perfect match for keeping the pop grounded.  Echolocation avoids narratives for the most part, focusing instead on selling its vibe of Summer evenings mixed with the contemplative stirrings insect buzzings and setting suns can bring.  The vibe is sold, but the lack of specificity also prevents any song from really hitting home, which is something EDJ would get better at with clearer storytelling on later albums.  Thankfully the music here is all so lush and lulling, supported by many-a Perishable player (Tim Rutili, Charles Kim) and given a crisp and layered production from Brian Deck, and when Johnson reaches for something a bit more direct, whether it’s the humor of ‘Dragon Ships’ or the sadness of ‘Need It Just a Little,’ the material simply shines.

So yeah, maybe I liked when the shadow of his Chicago brethren has Eric Johnson mixing in some darker elements to his pop.  Echolocation is clearly Califone-ized at points, but every song takes that minimalist folk seed and turns it into a damned catchy tune, hinting at what would emerge over the years but presenting a rewardingly rich listen in the meantime.