Their sound has been described as an amalgamation of psychedelic rock, industrial, synth-pop and avant-garde. They have released over 40 records and continuously tour the world.
Members of the band have also collaborated with Nurse With Wound, The Dresden Dolls, Jarboe, HNAS, Jim O'Rourke, Skinny Puppy's cEvin Key, forming The Tear Garden. Ka Spel accompanied Skinny Puppy for a small part of their 1988 European 'Head Trauma' tour in Sweden. Key also appears on the 1994 album 9 Lives to Wonder.
Echo Police
The Legendary Pink Dots Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
in the backroom... Double spotlight, they whistle tunes. They hole you up,
a hollow wall... They hear you call. The needle's in the red. The print-out
scribbles overload! (in code). No-one shows an ounce of mercy; no-one
turns a hair. You scream, you shout and they shout back. Exact, in tune....
no room for argument. The Echo Police just don't know how.
In "Echo Police" by The Legendary Pink Dots, the recurring theme is that individuals are being silenced by a totalitarian state. The "Echo Police" are symbolic of the government. The first line is quite direct, stating that they will shoot first and ask questions later when dealing with civilians. The "shady sessions in the backroom" refers to secret meetings and plotting that is hidden from the public. The "double spotlight" is a metaphor for constant surveillance, always being watched by the government.
The line "The needle's in the red" plays off of the notion of records being kept on citizens by the government. In this line, it represents the pressure being put on someone by the government, pushing them to their limits. The "print-out" is the transcript of the person's actions, which highlights how deeply they are being monitored. The line "no one shows an ounce of mercy; no one turns a hair" emphasizes how power can often corrupt those who hold it, turning them into unfeeling automatons who blindly follow orders without questioning or attempting to do what is right. The final line, "The Echo Police just don't know how" highlights that they are dispassionate and unable to comprehend the ramifications of their actions.
Line by Line Meaning
The Echo Police shoot twice and ask you Zero Zero questions.
The Echo Police are trigger happy and shoot before asking any questions.
Shady sessions in the backroom...
The Echo Police operate in secret and behind closed doors.
Double spotlight, they whistle tunes.
The Echo Police use bright lights and distractions to disorient their targets.
They hole you up, a hollow wall...
The Echo Police trap their targets and leave them isolated and vulnerable.
They hear you call. The needle's in the red. The print-out scribbles overload! (in code).
The Echo Police monitor communications and use advanced technology to do so, making it difficult for targets to evade detection.
No-one shows an ounce of mercy; no-one turns a hair.
The Echo Police are cold and ruthless, showing no empathy or emotion.
You scream, you shout and they shout back. Exact, in tune.... no room for argument.
The Echo Police use intimidation tactics and are always in control, leaving no room for negotiation or discussion.
The Echo Police just don't know how.
Ironically, despite their power and control, the Echo Police lack the ability to see beyond their narrow viewpoint and cannot empathize with their targets.
Contributed by Vivian L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.