UK Private Press 58:35
https://www.materialeyes.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/MaterialEyesBand
www.facebook.com/groups/795345227682100/
A top, top, album for me and a well-deserved 100/100 score
These three, young at heart, old ‘Yorkshire Tykes’ have done it again in producing another wonderful album of Progressive Rock saturated musical splendour. Their latest album titled “Inside Out” is a masterpiece of contagious melodic charm, a series of musical scores embracing a whole host of subtle time changes and vicissitudes in musical direction throughout the entire score. Each of the five songs is so differently conveyed in musical terms that it leaves you quite flummoxed as to the immense range of ideas and musical concepts that they put together and deliver so brilliantly.
It is so obviously apparent that these guys are masters of their craft, and that in all respects their compositional skills in assembling their music that is both interesting, topical and ingeniously constructed. For example, the apparent simplicity at the commencement of each track is a complete subterfuge. It is in effect a compositional trick that eases you gently into the body of the music before the complexity of the harmonic arrangements shine through in all their progressive glory.
One can detect many influences throughout the entire score, little fragments of familiarity creep into the frame generated by huge helpings of beautifully structured guitar and dynamic keyboard interplay. Little snippets of jazz-flavoured guitar burst forth quickly onto the scene before exquisite flute sequences and tricky bass runs command your attention. The busy multi-sounds from the keyboard and synthesiser are the contributions that seemingly act as the central glue that holds the individual sets together. The range of keyboard interactions are totally unbelievable and are beautifully administered, especially in the ‘Clayman’ track which, I must admit, brought a lump to my throat, as it is, such a gorgeous piece of music. But having said that there is an abundance of individual flair and instrumental expertise that is revealed throughout this excellent album, especially after several plays when other ingenious instrumental combinations come to the surface.
All of the vocals have a lovely homely feel with a nice folky edge.
Summary: A brilliant album from three wonderful musicians who deserve all the plaudits. Guys who are totally immersed in their music and who are doing so just for the pure joy of entertaining us and not for personal gain.
MaterialEyes are a prog rock band from Yorkshire, England. The band was formed by musician/songwriter Dave Westmoreland and guitarist Will Lawery, and joined shortly after by ex-Roadster guitarist Martyn Howes.
Dave Westmoreland – vocals, acoustic guitar, keyboards, flute
Will Lawery – vocals (Clay Man), guitar
Martyn Howes – vocals (Eric Upon Tweed), guitars, keyboards, bass, drums, engineer, producer
From The Press Pack:-Opening with This World, a nine minute track which reflects man’s apparent disregard for mother earth. This is followed by Eric Upon Tweed, a humorous story about a County Durham coal miner. Next up is Longship, a haunting story about our seafaring Viking ancestors. Track four, Horsemen, is inspired by the 1921 film The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. The final song, Clay Man, is an epic 21 minute track inspired by a dream following a particularly heavy Wensleydale cheese eating session by Will.
