On Our Way To Somewhere In Particular

Echobelly was one of those bands that I had more of an interest in what they had to say, rather than what they had to sing, back in the days of Brtipop. And by "they" I mean Sonya Aurora Madan, who was the go-to for the music press when they wanted an interview or cover shot.

The only other band members I can name from memory are co-founder Glenn Johansson and Debbie Smith, who joined in 1994, due to her previous association with Curve.

Here Comes The Big Rush was a single from Echobelly's third album Lustra, which entered the UK chart on 2nd November 1997 at #56, dropped 30 places the following week, and disappeared altogether the week after.

I bought the CD single (part 2 of 2) secondhand in 1998, on the back of the inclusion of the remix by Midfield General aka Damian Harris on Block Bustin' Beats, a 2CD compilation released in December 1997. a "40 track full-on big beat mix" by Dave Turner.

The CD featured the album version, plus 2 remixes each from Midfield General (vocal & dub) and Dave Angel (vocal & instrumental). The latter obviously not to be confused with his namesake character on The Fast Show.

There is only one YT post featuring the Dave Angel vocal mix, which I'm guessing is ripped from a DJ mix, as it features about 4 mins of it, before switching to the Midfield General vocal, then cutting out as abruptly as it arrived. This will give you a flavour but, suffice to say, the instrumental is my pick of the two.

If you're familiar with Midfield General, then you'll know what to expect, i.e. heavy, dark beats, but works well in both the dub and vocal variations.

I hadn't realised that Sonya had been seriously ill following their second album and there was some doubt as to whether Echobelly's hiatus would become a permanent split, not least due to legal and band hassles also going on at the time.

As it happens, it was another four years before their fourth album and there have been a further two albums since, plus one compilation of B-sides and rarities in 2020.

Sonya and Glenn are still touring as Echobelly and you can catch them on 2nd July at Tunbridge Wells Forum, promising "plenty of 'great things' from their Britpop heyday, plus new material".

Save your point of view

For the manic charm that he puts you through

When he wears your pearls, your ruby dress

And he looks so good with his sunken chest

There's a certain charm 

To the pretty boy that is on my arm

He's my double friend, a boy and a girl

When he says,

Paint my face, lick your mouth

Fake a yawn and we'll go out and glow

We're on our way to somewhere in particular

I'll take you somewhere, where you haven't been

And I'll show you a good time, like you've never seen

Here comes the big rush

There's a special ring

To his Cuban heels and his six-pack swing

His mother's clothes are his new disguise

And his good advice when he says:

Vanity's a virtue, lets no one in to hurt you

I'll take you somewhere, where you haven't been

And I'll show you a good time, like you've never seen

Here comes the big rush

You're one of the boys

Pump that pipe dream, sell you something

New, new, new

We're on our way to somewhere in particular

I'll take you somewhere, where you haven't been

And I'll show you a good time, like you've never seen

Here comes the big rush

You're one of the boys

Pump that pipe dream, sell you something

Pump that pipe dream, sell you something

New new