With an EP titled ‘This Was Our Fault’ one might think that the Echo Children have something to apologise for. The opposite couldn’t be truer in relation to this EP. What could have been a joke “a Scot, a Swede, a Brit and a Canadian walked into a bar…” has turned into a toe-tappingly good EP with songs about life, love and the end of the world. Recorded at Earwig Studio by Darren McShane, the EP has simple, yet effective combinations of bass, drums, electric and acoustic guitars in conjunction with gloriously harmonised vocals. When this is mixed with an earthy and natural reverb, the listener gets potentially the sweetest 22 minutes they could hope to hear. This EP (like the title of the second track) is clearly a labour of love for the band and if you listen closely you can almost hear them smiling as they showcase their commercially appealing yet organic style of folk. It’s not hard to see why they started with Diamonds & Rough. A strong bass and beat teamed with silky smooth vocals to draw the listener in and leave them wanting more. This is followed quickly by Labour of Love with its discreet nod to bluegrass, clever lyrics and a harmony to swoon over. Forest Fires is their story of love and loss and feels like the clear standout in recognition of their alternative and folk leanings with its clear vocals with a story to tell. The EP closes with Stick Around with its slower pace and big, full harmony. The darkest of the six tracks and possibly a way to showcase the full variety and versatility of the group. It would be nice to think that the song title is a signal to those listening that this is the beginning rather than the end of what people can expect to hear from Echo Children in the future.