Melody’s Echo Chamber is the musical project of French musician Melody Prochet. Her fourth studio album – Unclouded — was released in December. Its psychedelic dream-like sounds emulate the self titled debut record from 2012, but this time with an uncharted optimism.
Melody’s Echo Chamber made their return to the live music scene in 2023, with notable festival appearances at Austin Psych Fest, Primavera Sound Barcelona, and Corona Capital Festival in Mexico City. The band was scheduled to play the Black Cat in DC back in 2017, but all tour dates were cancelled indefinitely while Prochet recovered from a serious accident. Prochet finally graced Black Cat on May 12 — almost a decade later.
Unclouded celebrates life and its simple pleasures despite the horrors that may befall us. According to a press release from Domino Music, “The title of the album was lifted from a quote from the Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki, about achieving equilibrium: ‘You must see with eyes unclouded by hate. See the good in that which is evil, and the evil in that which is good. Pledge yourself to neither side.’” The entire album feels like it could accompany a Studio Ghibli fan-edit. It feels whimsical, and almost other-worldly at times– a perfect album to bask in on a spring day. Unclouded feels light and airy, and can easily transport you to a place of peace.
I think the band’s allure has grown significantly over the years, especially since their hiatus. The Black Cat was filled with mostly young adults in what I can only describe as the “tumblrcore” aesthetic — very 2014.
The band opened with “Eyes Closed,” a krautrock-inspired track from Unclouded. The song is repetitive and hypnotic — Prochet’s vocals instantly bring the audience into a zen-like state. “In The Stars” has a lush orchestral sound opening the track, which blooms into synths and a jazzy drum beat. “Flowers Turn Into Gold” is a short and ethereal follow-up to “In The Stars,” blossoming with optimism and peace. Prochet ends the song singing in French: “Où sont Les étoiles? Vie idéale dans les étoiles,” translating to “Where are the stars? Ideal life among the stars.” Prochet seemed genuinely awestruck at the size of the crowd and thankful for their attendance. She had a shy demeanor that erased once she started performing.
Watch the official visualizer for “In the Stars” by Melody’s Echo Chamber on YouTube:
Prochet encouraged the crowd to close their eyes and think of their favorite childhood place while she played the song “Childhood Dream.” It drops the krautrock vibe and leans further into the dreamy, atmospheric prog-rock. I believe the song’s lyrics are in Dutch. “Memory’s Underground” has a brighter tone with the orchestral sounds making a return in the track’s crescendo. The breakbeat drumming uniquely drives the track without feeling abrasive. During instrumental breaks, Prochet would dance around the stage, completely transfixed by the music.
Melody’s Echo Chamber transitioned into playing some older tracks, starting off with “Crystalized.” This song goes full prog-rock, and ends with a hypnotic jam. “Crystalized” blended into “Snowcapped Andes Crash,” which is haunting yet ethereal. It delves into eerie synths and explosion-like sounds — making it almost nightmarish– a stark contrast from the band’s more recent catalog. “Quand Vas Tu Rentrer” and “Some time alone, alone” both feel colder and more melancholic. “Some time alone, alone” specifically reminds me of Cage the Elephant’s “Cigarette Daydreams” and Arctic Monkey’s “Mardy Bum.” The guitar driven melodies evoke a feeling of yearning that was prevalent in 2000s/early 2010s indie rock. “Le Temple Volant” is a collaboration with modern psych-rock band, Crumb. Crumb’s music is reminiscent of Melody’s Echo Chamber, so the pairing feels like a match made in heaven.
“I Follow You” from Melody’s Echo Chamber is their most popular and quintessential song. Its distinct guitar arpeggio opening makes it memorable in their discography, but the dreamy reverbed guitars and vocals are a staple. “I Follow You” emulates The Beatles and 60s/70s psychedelic rock, creating that nostalgic feeling. They closed the set with “Daisy” — a collaboration with El Michels Affair, bringing soul influences and funky guitar picking.
Watch the official music video for “I Follow You” by Melody’s Echo Chamber on YouTube:
The band went offstage after “Daisy,” but returned with “Shirim,” for their encore. “Shirim” has dancey guitar riffs that mimic 80s Prince tracks. The upbeat, spacey instrumentation directly contrasts the lyrical vulnerability. Prochet waved to the audience in utter gratitude as the band played an extended outro. Afterwards, Prochet took the time to meet fans at the merch table, which I always find sweet. No VIP upcharge, just pure vibes and genuine connections.
I hope to see more live content from Melody’s Echo Chamber. A good chunk of their career has been dormant, so seeing them tour the world again is exciting. I’m wishing the band copious success in their future endeavors.
Here are some photos of Melody’s Echo Chamber performing live at Black Cat on May 12, 2026. All pictures copyright and courtesy of Carolin Harvey.
