ECHO IN THE CANYON a film by Andrew Slater opened on August 2nd at Cinéma du Parc in the original English version. This musical documentary tells the story of the birth of the “California Sound” in the 1960’s when groups like The Beach Boys, Buffalo Springfield, The Byrds, and The Mamas and the Papas began to emulate the music of The Beatles in England. The cross-fertilization that occurred when folk music met the electric guitar would forever change the landscape of rock music.
The film celebrates the explosion of American popular music in the mid-60's as folk went electric. Featuring two-time Grammy Award winner Jakob Dylan, it explores the beginnings of the iconic 60's music scene in Laurel Canyon, a famous neighborhood in Los Angeles. LA has always been a mecca for all kinds of artists and Laurel Canyon became a hub of creativity and collaboration as a then new generation of musicians and songwriters headed there to explore new musical styles and ideas, infusing their music with poetic depth.
Slater describes the film as more of a "conversation" than a documentary. Its laid-back style takes us back to a fabled musical era allowing us to eavesdrop on multiple interviews with the artists who made the music happen. The star-studded doc which runs for 1 hr 22 min contains candid conversations and performances with Brian Wilson, Ringo Starr, Michelle Phillips, Eric Clapton, Stephen Stills, David Crosby, Graham Nash, Roger McGuinn and Jackson Browne. Dylan uncovers never-before-heard personal details behind the bands and their songs - timeless tunes that shaped the 60's counterculture and which continue to reverberate today influencing the music industry more than 50 years later.
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While the film evokes a particular time and place, it is as much about a musical echo over time, hence the title. Ultimately, it tells the story of a musical movement that is still unfolding today. The film avoids the nostalgia trap by connecting contemporary singer-songwriters Tom Petty (in his very last film interview), Norah Jones, Beck, Fiona Apple, Cat Power, and Regina Spektor with the 60's pop style which influenced their own releases. The Los Angeles premiere on May 24th and a New York showing on May 31st featured performances by musicians in the film.
The music documentary also includes an interview with label executive Lou Adler. A soundtrack album with covers of many prominent songs of the era performed by contemporary artists including Eric Clapton, Stephen Stills and Neil Young was released via BMG on June 28th. Recording sessions took place at some of the legendary LA studios featured in the film - including Sunset Sound, Western Recorders and others – where the original versions of many of these songs were recorded.
ECHO IN THE CANYON
Cinéma du Parc
3575 Park Ave, Montreal
https://cinemaduparc.com
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