Eye – Second Sight
http://eyemusic.bandcamp.com/

Rating: A

Ohio space rockers Eye have just unleashed their latest offering entitled Second Sight. The band which consists of Matt Auxier (guitars, keyboards, voices), Matt Bailey (bass), Adam Smith (keys) and Brandon Smith (drums) have been cranking out their one of a kind, top notch progressive/ psychedelic rock for a couple of years now. Already armed with one full length album, a live cassette (yes I said cassette) and the promise of more music to come early next year, this new album finds the band standing on the precipice and poised to blow the doors wide open to wider recognition.

Bathed in the warm, fuzzy cocoon that can only come from analog recording, Second Sight consists of five of some of the most potent and epic rock jams ever committed to tape. The album begins in grandiose fashion with the twenty minute opening track “Lost Are The Years”. The first half featuring dreamy Mellotron passages and other subtle, psychedelic textures, blending seamlessly with Pink Floyd inspired guitar work and laid back vocals, before the whole thing morphs beautifully into a searing jam in the second half, that features some great keyboard work and scorching wah-wah drenched guitar soloing overtop some absolutely frenetic work from the rhythm section of Smith and Bailey. What a way to kick off an album! Things mellow out considerably with the second track “Wooden Nickels”, a great orchestral, Mellotron heavy number that wouldn’t sound out of place on one of The Moody Blues’ early progressive albums. The third track “Cultrider” begins as a thundering Sabbath inspired stomp, before quickly shifting gears into something altogether different. One of the great things that you learn early on about Eye is that these guys do not sit still very long and several different voyages are contained within one composition. “Cultrider” is one of these tracks where no stone is left unturned on their journey to the cosmos. This segues perfectly into the title track, which is a short three and half sound collage that acts as a natural stepping stone to the closing number “Waiting For The Tide”. Once again framed by delicate acoustic passages, beautifully layered, dreamy sounding vocals, all amid the glorious wash of the Mellotron, the textures mapped out here definitely feel very Floyd like.

Second Sight is the kind of musical trip that needs to be played from beginning to end to fully appreciate all the layers and multi-textural nuances that you’ll find within. Definitely recommended for fans of Pink Floyd, Hawkwind and The Moody Blues, but even those reference points really only scratch the surface of what this band is all about. Check out their page, listen to the tracks and then pick yourself up a copy of this album ASAP. You will not be disappointed.

By Ryan Sparks