Label: Tonzonen Records: TON137 32:40mins
Soulfood Music
Psychedelic Rock and blues with tinges of Country
https://www.facebook.com/deadmanseyes
Rating 85/100
From experience, any music released on the ‘Tonzonen’ label is always worthy of close examination and indeed a published review. Such is the case with Cologne-based band ‘Deadman’s Eyes. A gloriously melodic multi-faceted out-fit with an outwardly country pop-orientated rock sound. However, drilling down to the actual core of the bands’ individual components it is soon realised that the makeup of their music is far from just being a selection of neat and straightforward pop rock tracks with great hooks. The entire affair is packed with myriads of wonderful instrumental frills, loaded with magical arrangements with an abundance of melodious hooks and bridges. Probably most of which is only detectable on subsequent plays. But the ideal of integrating a complex edge to what could be construed as a basic pop / rock programme is very ingenious in concept. For the musical connoisseur, there are avenues of clever instrumental passages to follow. Whilst for the festival goer there is an abundance of jaunty melodic grooves to sing and sway along to.
There are simply so many surprises to be found around every corner of the album as the music progresses through each individual track. Nine individual tracks of supreme musicianship and compositional delight. The percussive side of things is particularly interesting with gorgeous energetic bass lines that flow sweetly on, driving the music ever forward with style and panache. Although, there are no actual lengthy progressive rock style lead guitar and keyboard interactions the music takes on a more rhythmical approach with all of the individual instruments coming together as one unified sound. That is albeit, the individuality of wailing harmonica, country styled steel guitar and staccato electric guitar incursions which at times shine intermittently through the main body of the music. The dynamics of the album do change slightly giving the impression that the band wanted to display a kind of port-folio to show-case the full range of their instrumental and compositional abilities.
The softly projected vocals too are delightful and add much charm, in a way very slightly and just a tad reminisce of the old UK seventies band ‘Mungo Jerry’.
Summary: A really nice tuneful album with a deep and underlying beauty that can only be gained and appreciated from closer and more studious attention to the clever musical arrangements. It is a shame though that the album length is barely 33mins which by today’s standards is very short
Track 1: High On Information (04:13)
Track 2: I ́ll Stay Around (03:37)
Track 3: In My Fishbowl (03:36)
Track 4: Time & Space (03:12)
Track 5: Take Off Soon (05:03)
Track 6: On The Wire (02:42)
Track 7: Into The Madness (02:24)
Track 8: Never Grow Up (04:27)
Track 9: Nobody At All (03:27)
- Dead Man’s Eyes:
Simon Reichelt (Gitarre, Bass)
Peter Engel (Gitarre, Vocals)
Nima Davari (Gitarre, Keyboard, Bass)
Simon Mead (Bass, Mundharmonika, Vocals)
Phil Eulgem (Schlagzeug, Percussion)
