Berlin-based Irish-Norwegian singer-songwriter Tara Nome Doyle returns with Ekko, her third full-length album and perhaps her most introspective work to date. Known for her ethereal blend of indie-pop and art-pop, Doyle delves deeper into emotional and psychological terrain, crafting an intimate journey through the labyrinth of identity, memory, and self-reflection.
Following her acclaimed concept albums Alchemy (2020) and Værmin (2022), Ekko takes a more fluid, thematic approach. Rather than adhering to a strict conceptual narrative, Doyle explores a constellation of deeply personal subjects—pain, transformation, farewells, beginnings, and the subtle art of emotional surrender. The result is an album that feels more like a series of soul-searching confessions than structured storytelling.
The cover art is telling: Doyle wears shell-shaped headphones, an evocative image suggesting introspective listening. It’s a symbolic cue for the album’s core intention—tuning out the noise of the world to hear the faint echoes of one’s inner voice.
Among Ekko’s ten tracks, several standout moments provide an immediate emotional entry point. “Heaven in Disguise” glides on delicate, dreamlike textures, Doyle’s soft, wistful vocals floating over a minimalist arrangement. The track captures a gentle melancholy that lingers long after it ends.
“Lighthouse” is a reclamation of self, both lyrically and sonically. Doyle confronts the erosion of identity with poetic clarity: “You learned to cut yourself up / Into bite-sized portions / Praised for when you bow your head / In sweet devotion / ‘Cause everybody loves a thornless rose / But that’s not how they grow.” It’s one of the album’s most arresting lyrical moments, balancing vulnerability with strength.
“Narcissus,” steeped in Celtic overtones and spectral chanting, is a highlight. It feels ancient and elemental, a haunting meditation on the intoxicating pull of self-absorption. There’s a quiet menace in its hypnotic rhythm, a sense of shadow creeping in from the edges.
“Anthill” opens with shadowy piano lines, gradually unfolding into a slow-burning crescendo of tension and beauty. Doyle’s voice, austere and tinged with longing, cuts through the gloom with raw precision. With “Dive In,” Doyle channels the spirit of artists like Julia Fordham, delivering a shimmering vocal performance rich in nuance and emotional shading. It’s a song that feels like sunlight breaking through a haze—gorgeous and fragile in equal measure.
The closing track, “Hinter Den Wolken” (“Behind the Clouds”), is a graceful, mournful lullaby steeped in vulnerability. Sung in German, it feels like both benediction and farewell, its melody weightless yet full of ache.
Ekko is a deeply affecting album that blurs the boundaries between internal and external worlds. Tara Nome Doyle offers not just a collection of songs but a guided passage through the hidden echoes of the psyche—where identity, longing, and healing converge.
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