Happy Rhodes - Ecto (1987)

Happy Rhodes’ Ecto is a striking and emotionally rich album that blends progressive rock, art pop, and atmospheric songwriting into a highly distinctive sound. Released in 1992, the album showcases Rhodes’ extraordinary vocal range and expressive delivery, often drawing comparisons to Kate Bush while maintaining a unique artistic identity. The songs are layered with intricate arrangements, shifting dynamics, and introspective lyrics that explore themes of love, identity, isolation, and emotional complexity. Tracks like “If Love Is A Game, I Win” and “Ecto” highlight her ability to balance melodic accessibility with experimental depth, while “To Be E. Mortal” expands into more expansive, progressive structures. The production is organic and detailed, allowing each vocal layer and instrumental texture to contribute to the overall atmosphere. Ecto stands as a cult favorite in the crossover prog scene, appreciated for its emotional honesty, compositional ambition, and timeless artistic vision.

Tracklist
1. I'm Going Back (4:18)
2. If Love Is A Game, I Win (5:32)
3. Would That I Could (4:11)
4. Off From Out From Under Me (3:53)
5. Project 499 (2:13)
6. I Won't Break Down (3:28)
7. If So (3:36)
8. Ecto (4:40)
9. I Cannot Go On (4:07)
10. Ode (4:10)
11. Don't Want To Hear It (4:56)
12. Poetic Justice (2:59)
13. To Be E. Mortal (8:15)
14. Look For The Child (Previously unreleased) (5:54)
15. When The Rain Came Down (Previously unreleased) (5:44)