Birmingham`s psychedelic cosmic explorers Solar Eyes who comprise of Glenn Smyth and Sebastian Maynard Francis release their second album, ‘Live Freaky! Die Freaky!` this month. The album has a kind of loose concept running through it inspired by reading the book ‘Chaos: Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties’ and watching “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood.” Singer and guitarist Glenn Smyth then fictionalised/visualised himself as a member of ‘The Family’ who manages to escape before the murders.
The album opens with `Murdering Hippies!` a trippy dance tinged number with an underlying edge about it which Glenn has shared “It’s about the self-imposed psychological torment of being trapped inside the Manson cult. I was imagining I was desperate to escape but emotionally entangled with one of the girls. The song is about paranoia, drug-fuelled delusion, losing grip on reality, torn between love and survival, haunted by the knowledge that the person they love is capable of murder”. We have in `Time Waits for No One` a song about being stuck and desperate to get out and live life in the best way possible. Another absorbing swirling spaced out dance floor filler.
`Set the Night on Fire` is apparently all about the devils’ temptations and the desires to cause carnage. For me it had that rolling Kasabian vibe with a chorus that veers towards The Monkees (I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone. There`s a gentle compelling melodic trippy dreaminess about `A Couple of Kisses` which will have you drifting off into another luxurious dimension.
`Your Love is Like a Drug` is a trace like engaging outing while `Speedball Lovers` is a rolling hypnotic tale of drug choices that seem to bring together co-dependent romance or love.
`No Rider on the Horse` had a kind of cinematic feel about it and `Rubik’s Cube` a much more contemplative dreamlike quality.
`I See the Sun` and `Mr. Magpie` both conjured up an expansive cinematic spaghetti western vibe with the latter having quite a troubling air of potential oncoming unknown destiny about it.
`An Eagle Flies Alone` was a magnetic meditative psychedelic trip of sorts. A lyrical metaphor possibly as an eagle signifies strength, power, freedom, wisdom, and a connection to the divine, representing spiritual guidance, national identity, and victory. We close out with `Hello Charlie` a final dreamy contemplative reverie which had a kind of cathartic ambience about it.
‘Live Freaky! Die Freaky!` is fairly compelling both musically and lyrically and I’d be lying if I said I fully understood it but as with a lot of concept tinged albums there`s a danger of trying to overthink it rather than just enjoying the cosmic musical ride. I`m sure the more I listen, the more I’ll comprehend.
Rating 9/10
