July 23rd, 2021 - Test [Phaze] For Echo

 

Good evening and happy Friday rockers, rollers, and hopheads!  Your drinking buddy the Meista here tonight pairing the wonderful and rather underrated "Test For Echo" by Canadian rock royalty, Rush and a Test Phaze IPA from Uinta Brewing Company!

Album Info:

• Artist: Rush
• Title: "Test For Echo"
• Recorded: January through March 1996 at Bearsville Studios in Bearsville, New York and Reaction Studios in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
• Release date: September 10th, 1996 (16th studio album by Rush)
• Record company: Anthem
• Production: Peter Collins and Rush
• Album cover art: Hugh Syme
• Personnel: Geddy Lee (bass guitar, vocals, and synthesizers), Alex Lifeson (electric and acoustic guitars, and mandola), and Neil Peart (drums, cymbals, and hammer dulcimer)
• Musical style: Hard rock, progressive rock
• Sound: Wow, what the hell do you say about the sound of Rush on "Test For Echo" without sounding like a pretentious twit or a complete prat?!  It is wonderfully complex, wonderfully textured, and draws a little from their early '90s sound... specifically from "Presto".  As always, the musical prowess of these three gentlemen is beyond grasp... beyond amazing!!
• Major themes: Truth, honesty, knowledge, the influence of mass media, the pros and cons of technology, the haves and have-nots, social unrest, social criticism, hope, etc.
• Tracks:   

1. "Test For Echo"
2. "Driven"
3. "Half The World"
4. "The Color Of Right"
5. "Time And Motion"
6. "Totem"
7. "Dog Years"
8. "Virtuality"
9. "Resist"
10. "Limbo"
11. "Carve Away The Stone"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Uinta Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: http://uintabrewing.com/
• Brew: Test Phaze IPA (2019 Limited Release)
• Style: New England India Pale Ale (NEIPA)
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 6.5%
• Pour: The Test Phaze IPA pours a very hazy golden-yellow with a 1-finger, eggshell white head with good retention and sticky, intricate spider web lacing.
• Nose: The nose is very citrusy, very fruity, grainy, and floral.  There are aromas of fresh pineapple, orange juice, orange peel, tangerine, mango, grapefruit, lemon, fresh mountain flowers, lemongrass, herbal tea, light pine resin, doughy bread, and crackery biscuit.
• Taste: The taste of the Test Phaze IPA follows the nose with lots of citrus, tropical fruit, crackery grain, and light herbal flavors.  There are notes of juicy pink grapefruit, orange juice and pith, tangerine, mango, pineapple, sourdough bread, crackers, lemon tea, soft caramel, and very light pine.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel is very crisp, juicy, slightly sticky, yet smooth, with a dry, somewhat sharp finish.

Overall pairing: The Uinta Test Phaze IPA is a very bright, very flavorful, punchy, juicy, and crushable brew that is perfect for throwing back whilst enjoying the musical tapestry that is "Test For Echo"!  Those hoppy notes go great with Alex's guitars and Geddy's vocals while the sweeter, maltier notes are great for the brilliant drumming of Neil and Geddy's powerful bass work!  'Nuff said!

Cheers!!