ECHOS

CAROUSEL (RE-IMAGINED) - ECHOS: Song & Visualizer Review

Vevna Forrow

ECHOS (Alexandra Norton) released CAROUSEL (RE-IMAGINED) on January 31st, 2026. If you missed our Q&A from November, 2024, conquering and exposing trauma and riveting pain are major components of her releases, which a lot of human beings on this planet can relate to, including myself. The song is a true carousel of non-stop, emotionally charged lyrics. I personally love both the original version and the latest alternate version. The re-imagined version has a much slower and softer lingering touch and flow to it, whereas the original, which appears in the QUIET, IN YOUR SERVICE album from January 17th, 2025, linked below, is faster paced like a 70mph car. If you haven’t listened to that album, you should ASAP, aside from “CAROUSEL,” some faves are “MARISPOSA,” “BRUISES,” and “AWFUL THING (INTERLUDE).”

If I had to pick one, the original is 5 out of 5 and has the edge slightly because I do prefer the picked-up tempo of it, but again, both are brilliantly composed, and that is reflected in my rating. I would say the “Go slow” portion of the song’s lyrics suits the re-imagined version more so.

All of ECHOS ’ songs are magnificent. My all-time faves are “All I Want,” plus “Euphoria,” “Guest Room,” and “Saints,” which have amazing music videos. My one comment on the visualizer would be that it’d be neat if there were more of a carousel component to it, but it’s not always necessary to be literally in line with the lyrics. The most recent collaboration featuring ECHOS, titled “FRACTURED” with Aurealis & Icarus Moth, is phenomenal, definitely a song I had on repeat for quite some time as well.

“CAROUSEL (RE-IMAGINED)” has waves of ethereal darkness injected into it. It is nice to hear different versions of songs. Some may prefer slowed-down versions too. As I have shared in this review series, it’s hard to forget “poisonous” things people said and did to us; it is a long process to navigate, and sometimes people or groups of individuals do not fully comprehend how they’ve hurt us, as the song indicates: “not glamorizing what someone did.”

Of course, I’m not here to give expert relationship advice, but it is never okay to hurt someone you say you love or care about, nor disrespect their choices and decisions. For instance, I grew up seeing a lack of kindness and a lot of unhealthy, toxic relationships in my family tree; others make up, get back together, return to communicating, and then the cycle starts again of being hurt by words and actions repeatedly taking place.

Another saying we all know too well, “some people change, and some people don’t—if you give someone too many chances after things they said or did and false promises that it won’t happen again, it can take a toll on that cycle of being too forgiving, and you must learn to stop contact with them. Additionally, you may see someone smiling in photos tied to relationships and even family on the surface, but one may have witnessed a lot of rather ruthless events across their life, and it’s great to come across artists that highlight the importance of unleashing your feelings, real memories, and experiences—no matter what anyone says again it is your story, and you must share it honestly, whether it be through music, poetry, art or your passion as I’ve said before.

Memorable Lyrics:

"Plastic in between

What we could be

Never let yourself feel anything

Numbing all the pain

With a new sting"

RATING: 4.9 OUT OF 5

Remember to add CAROUSEL (RE-IMAGINED) your playlist(s) and take a look at ECHOS' music out on these channels or your preferred streaming platform, find them @echosofficial on Instagram and elsewhere.