Single Review: LAZYEYE - "Bout Time'

The first glimpse of new Midlands solo project LAZYEYE takes place in the form of brand new tune "Bout Time', a progressive composition that consistently manages to tease at it's eventual effects-soaked crescendo, all the while continuing to maintain it's signature sedate pace throughout. With religiously thematic lyrics that juxtapose the song's dark running undertones and planetary-sounding guitar sitting atop a mind-altering chord structure, “Bout Time' sets the bar high for any future releases that LAZYEYE may have to offer.

Opening with nothing but a single clean guitar track that allows one to hear the looping chord sequence making up the majority of the song, the intro soon drops out and gives way to LAZYEYE's simplistic yet memorable vocal melody. While the glassy sounding rhythm guitar that instantly brings early Verve and Jeff Buckley influences to mind continues, a secondary rotary tremolo-guitar line comes into play that gives the song it's heady, swelling quality.

The first hint of any percussion, a tom-lead beat that progresses the song into it's second verse, proceeds the subtle shimmer of chimes and distant voices that lay beneath. It seems that this, along with the almost biblical imagery of the lyricism throughout- "Wash my hands with fire", "The sun is cold outside"- is included to intentionally throw the listener's mind into a state of confusion between joy and melancholy. The latter lyric in itself is an outright juxtaposition; and indication as to where the track is heading.

Naturally, production is a factor just as important as the songwriting itself on "Bout Time', and is what provides the track with it's tripped-out moodiness. Careful not to overshadow it's composition, the well-balanced overdubbing of harmonies and delayed vocals alike intensify the layered nature of the song and in turn help progress toward it's final euphoric climax. These layered vocals become even more prevalent as the song moves toward it's  middle-eight section, helped along by a bizarre and playful chord sequence that throws the listener into further uncertainty as to where the track is going, all to be brought back down to reality as the bridge surrenders to it's trademark riff. "Bout Time' only now introduces the first substantial drum beat into it's arrangement, manifesting a sense of musical release. 

Vocals are replaced by the lost-relic crackling audio of discussion between a talk-show host and his female guest- listen closely to the conversation and see where the macabre tones that plague the song throughout draw from. 

The still-lingering delicacy of female vox is snatched up in a vortex of bursting drums and a plethora of intertwining keys, guitar and vocals that bring the track to it's climactic pinnacle. Needless to say, the track's opening moments of solitary guitar do little to prepare for the cloud-scraping ecstasy of it's finale. The crescendo's grungy abrasion is smoothed out by a Slowdive-esque bed of technicolor noise and saturated effects, rising with each reverb-clad guitar note and vocal falsetto, and dropping out as quick as it came crashing in. Allow the talk-show guest explaining her failed suicide attempt relax your mind in the final seconds of the song as you're brought back down to Earth. 

To check out the full IGTV video for "Bout Time', head over to @whothefuckisjoshmorgan