Echo Island

Plenty of people in Madison will recognize Brad Hawes as the focused drummer who pounded The Projection People’s songs to life on the back of the stage. But with his new solo project, Echo Island, he’s pushing his way to the front by supplementing his regular kit with all manner of electronics. Bangers like “Acousticophobia” share some sonic symmetries with Madison beatsmith Man Mantis—whose “I Believe” EI remixed in 2011—but the gorgeous, slow-building “These Buildings Are Islands…” stands apart. Both of those songs show up on his 2012 Echo Island debut, In Circles, matching up nicely along side trance inducers like “Shortcut.” The music has real movement and deals in dramatic flourishes, but the real fun is watching him recreate it in a live setting.

Updated 05/09/2012