Although this is an eponymous debut from the Baltimore four-piece, who formed in 2007, the album is split, vinyl-style, into two halves compiled from their previous two e.ps titled Bad Blood and Winter respectively. Jim Morrison is the obvious hero for lead singer, Will Kelly, who must surely have done this in a Doors tribute band before to have mastered the inflections so well. Not only is the vocal hauntingly reminiscent, so is the sexual undertone of the song in "Lay with me". Some Nektar-influence appears in the guitar-work of the next song, "Better things", whilst vibrant Hammond and searing guitar chords evoke the late 60s acid-head era in "Bad Blood" which exits in a superb, fuzzed and reverb-heavy outro. Even earlier 60s influences are apparent in the organ and guitar riff which introduces "Don't point your God at me" while the last track from the first e.p., "She comes to it", is a solemn and moving lament for love lost.
The songs from the second e.p. are in the same vein, perhaps a tad more adventurous if anything, making the whole album consistent and seamless. "We are not alive" is a big-sound, steaming rocker but still with time to show its subtlety in a psychedelic, spacey interlude. "Red Sheets" is a slow-burning, smoky piece with fuzzed-out, grimy guitar and a neat, off-centred riff. "Around the Bend" continues this mellower, reflective theme with the Jim Morrison influence here at its peak. "Winter" opens with electronic effects, invaded by an increasingly heavy rhythm before the song develops a kind of gentle swing and Will's Jimbo impression returns evoking a drug-induced psychosis with another excellent outro. "King of Nowhere", a more tinkly, acoustic number, closes this first-rate collection with a hint of Meddle-era Pink Floyd to it.
If the Doors, Cream, Hendrix and late-60s retro in general is your thing, The Flying Eyes have it in spades.
Track Listing
1. Lay with me
2. Better things
3. Bad Blood
4. Don't point your God at me
5. She comes to it
6. We are not alive
7. Red sheets
8. Around the bend
9. Winter
10. King of Nowhere
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