Solar Eyes is the brainchild of Birmingham duo Glenn Smyth and Sebastian Maynard Francis, the pair create technicoloured tunes that stretch across acid-dipped sonic landscapes and blissed-out melodies that have drawn comparisons to Primal Scream to the Chemical Brothers to ELO. Reaching into topics as far-flung and far-out as metaphorical prisons, to unsavoury past acquaintances, the thrill of new-found love. They release their self-titled debut album this month following three previous EP releases ‘Dreaming Of The Moon’, ‘Alcatraz’ and ‘Naked Monkey On A Spaceship’
The album opens with `Alcatraz` where the federal prison is used as a metaphor for a relationship that vocalist Glenn was in years ago and struggled to escape. It`s a fairly mesmerising, enticing listen with vocals that have a slightly distorted texture and a musically revolving undertone. I visited the deserted San Franciscan prison many years ago and all I can say is that this must have been a pretty harsh liaison. There`s a kind of euphoria to `Bulldozer` which is unsurprising as it`s about that first flush or thrill in a new romance when it`d take a crowbar to keep you apart or a bucket of cold water. The title is also a kind of nickname or reference as to the singer`s previous attitude and approach to life in general.
`Dreaming Of The Moon` does have some spaghetti western tinges and initially had me picturing a cowboy galloping into town on a horse. It has an underlying rhythmic drumbeat with some delightful hand tapped percussion later on. It is a contemplative composition penned about that celestial body, the moon, a planet we have been obsessed with since prehistoric times. There`s a Phil Spector “wall of Sound” come Jesus and Mary Chain feel about `Top Of The World`. A song that I can imagine somebody like Marc Almond belting out.
Ironically `She Kissed The Gun` is what Phil Spector said when he was arrested. The track is a slow burn with some delightfully fuzzy riffs about victimhood and had a trippy Primal Scream vibe about it. There`s a real electronic heading to techno feel to `Acid Test (The Walls Are Closing In On Me)` which i`m sure would have gone down a storm in those acid house – e popping times. The last minute or so veers off into an acoustic strummed mediative reflection.
When I initially heard `(At Least) Paranoia Loves You`, I thought it was gonna be `You Could Be Mine` by Guns n` Roses but it heads off into its own pounding rhythmic beat and becomes a superb hypnotic foot tapper. The singer has shared that `It’s Gone Forever` was originally going to be a song about love and optimism, but his mood dictated it to be one of anger and bitterness. Although the lyrics may touch on resentment, I thought it was much more pensive and absorbing .
`Take Me To The Man` has an entrancing nigh on spellbinding ambience to it but becomes a little more forceful musically and amplified volubly towards the end. We have a more psychedelic rumbling, revolving rock like mood to `Roll The Dice` which is an anthem or aphorism that encourages us to `carpe diem`, seize the day, take the bull by the horns and as trainspotting encourages us to “choose life” and forget what others think.
Bass driven `Let’s Run Away` has a similar sentiment to `Take Me` but comes from a lower status or perspective on this number that races along. The album closes with `Deep Trip` which more or less sums this number up. A fairly cinematic offering with some illusory colours which becomes pretty trance like and kind of Floyd-ish.
I have to say I loved this debut album from these fellow Brummie psychedelic cosmonauts. It was just over forty five minutes of aural pleasure that really drew me into it`s vibrant yet surreal depths.
Once again this `City of a Thousand Trades` or `Venice of the North` have another band from this seething cauldron of musical activity to proudly boast about.
Rating 9/10
