Their music is for people “who are struggling, who are at their absolute lowest". That’s a quote from vocalist and guitar player Jael Holzman talking to The Washington Post. Am I struggling? Am I at my absolute lowest? No. Have I had a bit of a rough patch? Sure (it’s not that bad- don’t worry about it mom). Work sucks, online university classes make me feel about 75 years old (if anyone knows how to come back from a Zoom break out room without getting lost in the aether hmu) and I have a wicked head cold. Think nose is a faucet, face swollen up like a balloon head cold. But can I relate? Can I relate to music for people “who are struggling, who are at their absolute lowest"? Yes, obviously, we all can. I’ve had the privilege of living through my worst years and ending up here. ‘Here’ being the land of mild inconveniences like luke-warm coffee and late trains. We’ve all been there though- at our lowest. Whether you’re still in it now or worked through it years ago- we’ve all experienced it. That’s what makes Ekko Astral’s album pink balloons so soulfully relatable.
Ekko Astral formed in Washington D.C. and released their debut EP, Quartz, in 2022. The group signed to Topshelf Records in 2024 and released their first full length album, pink balloons, the same year.
Album opener “head empty blues” emerges out of a television static landscape with a juicy bassline. Vocals bounce through the song with an urgency that makes me want to run into the pit. The pit, by the way, that I’m hypothetically running into is sweaty and glittery and, ow, I think I just took an elbow to the head. The next track, and previously released single, “baethoven” sounds like The Slits meets Opus Kink. Its winding melody creates a dizzying effect as guitars trill alongside in an ominous accompaniment.
“uwu type beat” echoes and thumps in sporadic bursts but holds itself together with a steady flow of bass. The track also features one of the many pop culture references that stud the album- “She’s never seen a Star War” indeed. One of my favourite pop culture nuggets is the title of “somewhere at the bottom of the river between l’enfant and eastern market”- a La Dispute reference. Although, the funniest moment in the album may be in “buffaloed” with the line “Gucci and Louis and Fenty Prada/ The communist consumer Beyoncé Carter”. Tell me that didn’t make you laugh.
“on brand” crashes in with drums, and an overall style, reminiscent of Kathi Wilcox of Bikini Kill. The song degrades like a melting CD. The guitar lines hiss and stutter as the melody takes on a creepy circus quality. Believe me- there’s no other way to describe it. Twee and lightly off-kilter “make me young” features jangly guitar and upon further investigation, pretty existential lyrics. This track was originally written by Guinevere Tully, Ekko Astral’s bassist, prior to joining the band. While I like the song, I don’t necessarily think it fits well in the album.
One thing you should know about Ekko Astral is that they don’t undercut their genuine social commentary with throw away lines or sarcastic caveats. It’s not satirical or even semi-satirical. Ekko Astral mean what they say and what they say has meaning. This is a band that wants to make the world a better place. Their views are so ingrained in their music they seem casual at times. In single “devorah” they call out hypocritical and shallow allyship with the line “You’re running thru the aisles/ Drinkin' Taco Bell mild/ Creedence Clearwater Revival/ Just anothеr two-week trial”. But make no mistake- it’s all intentional.
“burning alive on k st” fades in and out like a horror movie intro, leading into the closing track “i90”. An eight minute long dirge, it floats in like a cloud of vapour (probably tropical sunset flavour). But like a zombie noise band, Ekko Astral clatters in with heavy cymbals, distorted melody and layered vocals.
pink balloons is not just music for when you’re feeling low, but the anecdote to it. It doesn’t just commiserate. It’s joyful, loud and pridefully political. It confronts sadness with a deep understanding and a wall of wailing guitars. A lot of noise albums fall into the same trap- monotony. It’s a wall of fuzz and squealing guitars the whole way through. Ekko Astral jumps over the pitfall with ease. The changing tempos, jittery melodies and hypnotic, rhythmic vocals keep every track feeling fresh. Ekko Astral’s brash, energetic LP is a punk rock lesson in joy and belonging.
