Album Review: Eyes Eat Suns - Alive 2.0

by Zachary Valladon

In September of this year, dynamic Los Angeles transplant duo, Eyes Eat Suns, dropped a long anticipated follow-up to their sophomore EP, Alive. This new collection -- an eclectic (and electric) set of remix renditions serves as a remarkable transition to what may be an idyllic sound-point for the group.

http://eyeseatsuns.band/

Originally hailing from Raleigh, North Carolina, the duo (Ayisa Adderley and Caige Crampshee) relocated to Los Angeles, California earlier in 2017 to further pursue their music. After the release of this new collection, it's no secret why.

Alive 2.0 is, in many ways, a maturation of the sound that defined their last release. The first track, 'Alive,' pulls us right into the mix. It's deep, melodic and almost transfixing. Though not an immensely far cry from the original track, the vibe has certainly changed. The vocal harmonies are given a new chance to shine in a composition that now hangs over the listener a phantom; it hits hard, but it lingers.

The updated 'Navigate' has a certain je ne sais quoi.. What do the kids call it? A bop. It creeps into your bloodstream and pins you to your seat in the same way as 'Alive,' but if you stick around (nearly two minutes in) - the drop is bonkers. Seriously, my bedroom is a fucking mess every time.

Perhaps the most enrapturing song on this EP is 'IV 101' - Adderley's chilling voice is enough to reduce even the casual listener to a puddle, and Crampshee's guitar shines most vibrantly here. This song has layers, and deserves a few listens for comprehensibility. There is more here than meets the ear.

The record closes with a track that just won't let me go - 'Tick' is less haunting than its counterparts, but I swear that I never knew what ASMR was until Adderley delivered "'cause I know mine are biding time 'till they" on top of the newly synth driven track. It's almost as if it's casual for these two to give their listeners the chills.

While I have virtually no complaints about this set of songs, it's really too damn short, and it leaves the listener desperately wanting for more. If anything, I want to hear the instrumentation of Caige Crampshee shine even more on whatever they choose to share with the world going forward. The connection between voice and instrument here is enough to give you a new spiritualism, and I want to hear it all shine even brighter.

This short collection is stellar; an easy 4/5 stars from me. If this sort of sound is what we can come to expect from the now LA-based duo, their next release is going to be soul melting.

http://eyeseatsuns.band/