counterglow releases debut album ‘echoes of self’

Hamburg duo counterglow arrive with echoes of self sounding like they’ve stepped straight out of a neon-lit reverie and onto centre stage. It’s a debut soaked in dreamy synth haze and indie-soul warmth, but there’s a sharpness beneath the glow that gives the whole thing a quiet confidence. Lauren Goodley’s voice feels almost vaporous, drifting through Jonas Grell’s widescreen production with the poise of someone who knows exactly how much space to take up—and when to pull back.

What really makes the record click is its instinct for contrast. “echoes” opens the door with a slow-burning, introspective wash, before “soon” kicks it wide open, fizzing with sunburst energy and those maddeningly addictive hooks. Then comes “grow,” which strips everything down to something unguarded and beautifully imperfect—a demo-like candidness that cuts through the polish like a heartbeat. That tension between shimmer and shadow gives the album a surprising emotional charge, the kind that creeps up on you mid-listen.

Though you can catch glimmers of familiar touchpoints—Tame Impala’s swirling psychedelia, Beach House’s dreamy glide—counterglow never settle for imitation. Instead, they twist those influences into something uniquely airy and immersive, a sound built for late-night introspection as much as for slow-motion dance floors. echoes of self feels like a statement of intent: bold, tender, textured, and surprisingly easy to get lost in.

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