Tuesday 19 January 2016

Electric Eye - Different Sun

Article by Del Chaney


Following on from 2013's epic debut release 'Pick-Up, Lift-Up, Space, Time', immense Norwegian space-rockers Electric Eye have returned with their ingenious sophomore album 'Different Sun' that's penned-in for release on February 5th via Jansen Plateproducksjon. Full of intensely fuzzy neo-psychedelic soundscapes, Electric Eye have continued where they left off with their debut release by once again bringing their listeners on a sonic journey through spacey '60s psych, prog and krautrock that's intertwined at times with hints of droning Indian instrumental tones. This is a must-have album for fans of The Black Angels, Wooden Shjips, Pink Floyd's 'Pompeii' days and for fans of the influential The Brian Jonestown Massacre and The Dandy Warhol's.

Droning organ swells announce the arrival of 'Silent By The River', track one on this impressive release, and we're swept along with its addictive shuffling tempo and its enticing guitar lines. At times it radiates melodic '60s psych infused with space-rock but there's a modern day twist underpinning its structure. The vocal and its accompanying effects are to die for and to be honest I'm instantly hooked. 'All Of This Has Happened Before And It Will Happen Again' begins like a '90s dance track with its synth swells and percussion lines. For me, it's only when the krautrock inspired vocal lines appear on the scene that everything comes into focus musically. This track builds and builds until it's an immovable reverberating wall of synth organs, screaming guitars, sitars and vocal samples. Its a like a sonically influential monster wave building in intensity, eagerly awaiting to crash down on the musical landscape. Pretty impressive!  

If ever you were looking to hear a modern day '70s prog-rock inspired, spaced-out tune within today's diluted music scene then look no further than 'Mercury Rise'. This track is an addiction in musical form. Fuzzy guitars, impressive vocals and a monotonous, repetitive drum beat that's interspersed at times with organ hits and piano stabs. Truly a work of art and possibly my favourite track on this entire release. Brilliance absolute! Psychedelic funk is what I can only describe are the opening bars of track four, 'Bless'. From the addictive bass lines to the soaring guitar lines, the intense vocals and the steadying drum pattern, this is blissful space-rock in its entirety. Get down on your knees and pray to the reverberating psych gods. The atmospheric 'Heavy Steps On Desert Floor' is reminiscent of Pink Floyd and typifies the experimental psych scene of the '70s, whilst track six, 'Never Fade Away', again introduces us to the funkier, spaced-out side of Electric Eye with its addictive throbbing bass lines, wailing organs and shuffling guitars.

The album's closer 'Part One' is a dark and slow, strung-out affair. Again I can hear 'Dark Side Of The Moon' era Pink Floyd on this track. It begins with atmospheric synth swells & hushed vocal samples, all straddling a lazy drum beat until the immense reverb-soaked guitar line spreads out its vines and winds itself around the track brilliantly. Three minutes in we're introduced to the throbbing bass line and synth line that seems to lift the track out of its intense dark slumber, if only for a short time. Uplifting vocal parts join in adding flair to proceedings and this helps with the track's overall aesthetic, but I cant help but feel that this is a rather tame ending to what was overall an impressive album.





Electric Eye's website

Pre-order: 'Different Sun'





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