Eyestrings - Burdened Hands

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Eyestrings - Burdened Hands

Artist:	Eyestrings
Title:	Burdened Hands
Label:	Split Difference SDR78001
Length(s):	66 minutes
Year(s) of release:	2004
Month of review:	[03/2004]

Line up

Mathew Kennedy - bass, moog
Ryan Parmenter - voice, synth, mellotron sampler, trombone
Alan Rutter - supporting voice, guitars
Bob Young - drums, percussion

Tracks

1)	Recovery	10.00
2)	Itchy Tickler	4.05
3)	Dead Supermen	6.37
4)	Anachronism	5.42 MP3
5)	Funnel	4.28
6)	Just A Body	4.59
7)	Slackjaw	8.45
8)	Nothing	5.09
9)	Time Will Tell	3.36
10)	Empty Box	12.37

Summary

Eyestrings is Ryan Parmenter's band, debuting with this album. Bass player Mathew Kennedy is a former Discipline member. Aside from Having the same last name as Discipline front man Matthew Parmenter, Ryan is his nephew and a big fan of the band, whilst Kennedy is a long friend of MP

The music

The connection with Discipline clearly shows in this album, which displays a very mature sound, even more if you consider this album is a debut, combining the styles of such greats of modern American progressive as Discipline and Echolyn (although the latter isn't mentioned as influence in the bio).

A track as Itchy Tickler is a bit playful, snappish in a way, with its biting vocals and to the pointness. The tempo is pretty high, and the track feels like a heavily instrumentated Ben Folds track.

Dead Supermen has a bit of a lazy feel about it, vocally led, with the guitar and piano gaining in strength as the track progresses. And shortly before the end the guitar moves to a strong climax, to lead to a still pretty grand finale.

The theme of Anachronism has a mesmerizing feel about it. The strong basis of mellotron synth and guitar is as before. Parmenter's vocals keep showing their strength, fitting whatever atmosphere the track has. This track has the wonderful flow that completely emerges one, jeez, what a great track!

The double vocals in Funnel at times remind a little of early Godley & Creme solo works. This track is more riffy at times, although the progressive themes keep coming through, working up towards a pretty nice climax.

Just A Body has an interesting tongue in cheek look at the human body, observing as dryly as Crack The Sky used to do. Even though at times there is a CTS-like lightness in the vocals elsewhere too, nowhere is it as clear as here. This is enhanced by the short polka intermezzo.

Slackjaw is almost Tom Waits, Parmenter sings in a hoarse manner, and with the piano the feeling's almost there. Ok, the happiness of the track is more Ben Folds than Tom Waits, but it's the thought that counts. As the track progresses synth and guitar move more to the fore. The instrumental outro starts out jazzy on piano to be slowly taken over by synth, mellotron and guitar, enveloping all.

Nothing is a song, Fender Rhodes, vocals and rhythm, not the sort of track as has gone before.

Time Will Tell is a shortish track with loads of piano and guitar, once again bringing Ben Folds to mind.

Empty Box starts out as more of a melodic track, with gentle singing and a rather normal guitar solo after a couple of minutes. This bridge, however, doesn't return to the original theme, but takes the track further along on a Disciplinary trip.

Conclusion

Yes, Eyestrings is influenced by, akin to even, Discipline. Having said that, the band is its own original. I find myself getting lost in the music regularly (which doesn't happen all that often to us cynical reviewers). Next to the Discipline there is the tongue in cheeckness of the Crack The Sky's or Ben Folds's of this world, and all other things making this a varied album that is fresh and original.

Where last year's start was pretty poor, this year sets a pretty high goal so early on. It would only be the year where an album like this would not make it into my top three. Great stuff.