Electric Eye
Different Sun
Jansen Plateproduksjon

Electric Eye is a Bergen based space-rock quartet with a motto being the phrase 'the journey is the goal'. Not that they believe the journey (the performance, the sound, the substance of the song) is more important than the destination (the song itself), but maybe going there is 'as important'. Well, enjoy the ride, which I guess goes for the band itself as well as the audience.

Electric Eye launched their debut album Pick-up, Lift-off, Space, Time (Fuzz Club Records) in 2013. With Different Sun the band has matured, and they have refined and honed their songs. Øystein Braut (guitar, vocals), Njål Clementsen (bass), Anders Bjelland (keyboards), and Øyvind Hegg-Lunde (drums) makes the quartet. The band has 'sprung out of' experienced bands such as The Low Frequency in Stereo and The Megaphonic Thrift as Clementsen played (plays?) with both. Braut was in The Alexandria Quartet, while Bjelland used to be in a band called Hypertext. Hegg-Lunde is a graduate jazz/improv drummer known from Building Instrument and numerous other acts (including José González' Junip). Anyway, Electric Eye's path is the droned, Kraut-affected, space-psych-rock side roads.

Different Sun is an indeed efficient travel, as the seven tracks clock in at less than 39 minutes. They are quite clearly influenced by bands, music and sounds from the 60s and 70s, but I also sense some Spiritualized and Brian Jonestown Massacre through some songs from this album. The opening "Silent By The River" has got a nice Kraut-motoric drive, as does (partly) the more space rocking, free-floating "All Of This Has Happened Before And Will Happen Again". The catchy "Mercury Rise" makes for a few seconds/riffs recall T. Rex as the song reminds me (briefly) of "Get it on". "Bless" got more of a groovy approach, in melody and rhythms. More in Stone Roses' direction, actually, but that's before the vocals slides in. "Heavy Steps On Desert Floor" is the monstrous epic of the album, and that is not only because it is the longest track. It is for sure a space rock flight, stretching for miles and miles and miles. Seemingly taking place outdoor despite being indoor all the time. The album ends with the Pink Floydish (early 70s phase) instrumental "Part One" before fading to black as the sun sets - or rises? Who knows? It's a different sun, you know. Different Sun is not flawless but it is a way cool and groovy record. Like I said: Enjoy the ride.

Copyright © 2016 Håvard Oppøyen