Eaves - Landing Lights, the album.
Discussion
It arrived this morning courtesy of Dom Danher - "popov123" on here, who's in the band.
Here's some of my thoughts - please beware - i've never written anything like a review before so this my be utter crap.
What struck me first was the sheer quality of the front cover. I love it, probably one of my favourite album covers and reminds me of the Hotel California photograph - can't tell you why!
I'm listening to it now, for probably the 4th time. Listening all the way through, not skipping tracks. How listening to an album should be "done", in my humble opinion anyway. Quality of production is stunning, clarity of guitars particular impressive. Track 1 (Don't want the world to know) is a cracker. It immediately sounds right, i could imagine it being used in one of the current teen series (OC/Smallville etc) and it would fit right in. I guess it's because like all decent music it encapsulates a mood, and a time.
Tracks 2-4 keep the theme going. By then end of track 4 you think you know what's coming. Melancholy verse with a good smattering of moody minor chords, leading to a more upbeat chorus with a hook that's repeated more and more till it ends. This is not to say they're boring tracks, far from it, but it does seem as though they are written to a formula. At this point something a little more special is needed, and the title track Landing Lights, delivers it.
In a way it's much the same, but there's something special about it. The light instrumentation in the first minute or two gives it a pure form. The lyrics are brilliant, the hook "if you need some landing lights" is simple yet great, and the backing builds throughout. Track 7 has an accoustic sound, not one of my favourite tracks to be honest. The vocal line seems whiney and the song never really goes anywhere. Track 9 (Dust) doesn't really appeal to me either. Again the vocal line sounds too whingey, too pentulant teenager. Then again, many people think Radiohead are genius' so what do i know? These tracks inparticular cast challenges on the vocals which whilst good, arn't great, like say, Thom York's.
Track 10 (I wish i was you) brings us back to form, a great melancholy sound, a good hook and a lovely guitar sound. This time the strings seem to have been put to particularly good use aswell. Overall the arrangement and production give this track great emotion. Then the album comes to an end with track 12 (who's to say). This is probably one of the most chilled out tracks on the album, which is saying a lot as the whole thing feels very laid back. It's a great track.
This is the sort of album that makes people think. It's moody but relaxed with it. I can imagine it would be particularly good come summertime, with lazy days spent in the sun and a few moments thinking what might have been, and what might be.
A great piece of work. If i didn't have it i'd go out and buy it!
7/10
Rob.
>>> Edited by rob_f on Wednesday 5th January 15:59
Here's some of my thoughts - please beware - i've never written anything like a review before so this my be utter crap.
What struck me first was the sheer quality of the front cover. I love it, probably one of my favourite album covers and reminds me of the Hotel California photograph - can't tell you why!
I'm listening to it now, for probably the 4th time. Listening all the way through, not skipping tracks. How listening to an album should be "done", in my humble opinion anyway. Quality of production is stunning, clarity of guitars particular impressive. Track 1 (Don't want the world to know) is a cracker. It immediately sounds right, i could imagine it being used in one of the current teen series (OC/Smallville etc) and it would fit right in. I guess it's because like all decent music it encapsulates a mood, and a time.
Tracks 2-4 keep the theme going. By then end of track 4 you think you know what's coming. Melancholy verse with a good smattering of moody minor chords, leading to a more upbeat chorus with a hook that's repeated more and more till it ends. This is not to say they're boring tracks, far from it, but it does seem as though they are written to a formula. At this point something a little more special is needed, and the title track Landing Lights, delivers it.
In a way it's much the same, but there's something special about it. The light instrumentation in the first minute or two gives it a pure form. The lyrics are brilliant, the hook "if you need some landing lights" is simple yet great, and the backing builds throughout. Track 7 has an accoustic sound, not one of my favourite tracks to be honest. The vocal line seems whiney and the song never really goes anywhere. Track 9 (Dust) doesn't really appeal to me either. Again the vocal line sounds too whingey, too pentulant teenager. Then again, many people think Radiohead are genius' so what do i know? These tracks inparticular cast challenges on the vocals which whilst good, arn't great, like say, Thom York's.
Track 10 (I wish i was you) brings us back to form, a great melancholy sound, a good hook and a lovely guitar sound. This time the strings seem to have been put to particularly good use aswell. Overall the arrangement and production give this track great emotion. Then the album comes to an end with track 12 (who's to say). This is probably one of the most chilled out tracks on the album, which is saying a lot as the whole thing feels very laid back. It's a great track.
This is the sort of album that makes people think. It's moody but relaxed with it. I can imagine it would be particularly good come summertime, with lazy days spent in the sun and a few moments thinking what might have been, and what might be.
A great piece of work. If i didn't have it i'd go out and buy it!
7/10
Rob.
>>> Edited by rob_f on Wednesday 5th January 15:59
Thats a great, honest review!
I love hearing what people actually think and youve put some very meaningful stuff in your post here - much appreciated! I cannot argue with your comments re the bands 'formula', and this is due to the material being written by one guy in the main. Not an excuse but something that we too have recognised (and will be trying to address in our new recordings).
Just as a point of interest - I took the photo on the front cover, and not having dabbled much in photography before I was pretty chuffed with the results myself!
I love hearing what people actually think and youve put some very meaningful stuff in your post here - much appreciated! I cannot argue with your comments re the bands 'formula', and this is due to the material being written by one guy in the main. Not an excuse but something that we too have recognised (and will be trying to address in our new recordings).
Just as a point of interest - I took the photo on the front cover, and not having dabbled much in photography before I was pretty chuffed with the results myself!
Good man! Thats what we need, people actually hearing us! Im looking forward to getting some more feedback. 
I think....
Ive got several more requests for albums now too so its all looking good. (Although Ive stepped over my preset budget of 30 albums by quite a way now) - Better to be in someones cd player than sat in a box in my cupboard!
I think.... Ive got several more requests for albums now too so its all looking good. (Although Ive stepped over my preset budget of 30 albums by quite a way now) - Better to be in someones cd player than sat in a box in my cupboard!
I had the CD on constant rotation yesterday while working, so heard it a
dozen times at least.
I'll be posting a full review in due course, but you can be very proud of 'Landing Lights'
Obviously excellent musicianship and writing and on a limited budget I suspect,
great production.
I'd be interested to know more of your plans and naturally the websites
don't give any clues at this stage?
dozen times at least.
I'll be posting a full review in due course, but you can be very proud of 'Landing Lights'
Obviously excellent musicianship and writing and on a limited budget I suspect,
great production.
I'd be interested to know more of your plans and naturally the websites
don't give any clues at this stage?
I have'nt had a chance to really 'listen' to the album as yet, altho I have heard the first 5 tracks.
I will be sitting and relaxing soon (I hope) to listen and then offer feedback.
However, my first thoughts which ran through my mind are : Great cover pic' kinda draws you into the album making you want to pick it up.
I would like to have read a little more about the band on the album sleeve.
Excellent clean production.
Of the few tracks I have heard, by track 5 I was hoping for a slight musical twist, perhaps an alto sax backing in the vocal break / perhaps a female voice chipping in occasionally.
I am not a musian, altho I do play Sax (poorly) I appluad the album you have produced and I look forward to listening to it further.
Thus far it is an album that if I had paid 12 quid for I would not have been disappointed at all. Well done fella's, I will write more later.
I will be sitting and relaxing soon (I hope) to listen and then offer feedback.
However, my first thoughts which ran through my mind are : Great cover pic' kinda draws you into the album making you want to pick it up.
I would like to have read a little more about the band on the album sleeve.
Excellent clean production.
Of the few tracks I have heard, by track 5 I was hoping for a slight musical twist, perhaps an alto sax backing in the vocal break / perhaps a female voice chipping in occasionally.
I am not a musian, altho I do play Sax (poorly) I appluad the album you have produced and I look forward to listening to it further.
Thus far it is an album that if I had paid 12 quid for I would not have been disappointed at all. Well done fella's, I will write more later.
popov123 said:
Good man! Thats what we need, people actually hearing us! Im looking forward to getting some more feedback.
Ive got several more requests for albums now too so its all looking good. (Although Ive stepped over my preset budget of 30 albums by quite a way now) - Better to be in someones cd player than sat in a box in my cupboard!
So where can anyone else buy a copy of the CD?
rob_f said:
Track 1 (Don't want the world to know) is a cracker. It immediately sounds right, i could imagine it being used in one of the current teen series (OC/Smallville etc) and it would fit right in. I guess it's because like all decent music it encapsulates a mood, and a time.
Wholeheartedley agree with this
Track 2 sounds very familiar- like I have heard it before somewhere- may be that when I listened to it yesterday it just stuck.
GCerbera said:
I had the CD on constant rotation yesterday while working, so heard it a
dozen times at least.
I'll be posting a full review in due course, but you can be very proud of 'Landing Lights'
Obviously excellent musicianship and writing and on a limited budget I suspect,
great production.
I'd be interested to know more of your plans and naturally the websites
don't give any clues at this stage?
Very good comments again, much appreciated.
Yeah - sorry about the website - need more time and effort spent there I know!
eaves plans at the moment look to be:
Further conversations with a national distribution company to get the album in shops etc!
Speaking with some more venues (including a few in Spain!) to arrange further gigs.
Probably sort another fairly large local (Norwich) gig. (March/April).
Recording some cracking new songs which will be available in a few weeks time! (These will hopefully satisfy the 'twist' factor required).
Keep plugging away with the managers/record labels.
Get the website looking a little more interesting - containing a bit more info - as suggested!
Im sure theres more, cos there always is - but basically we are working pretty hard to spread the word and expand our catalogue at the mo.
Keep the comments coming. It really does help to move forward with constructive genuine feedback! Cheers!
Dom
shadowninja said:
I'm no good at writing reviews so I'll keep it brief. Defo a good album. I have listened to it quite a few times now. I will be recommending it to my friends.
If they wanted to buy it where would they get it from then?
Yep I am also terrible at review writing but needless to say I love the title track "Landing Lights" and also the opening track.
The lyrics are well thought out and it has provided great background music while I have been working today!
A few of my friends have listened to it and are in agreement that it is very good stuff indeed.
Congratulations Dom and I hope it goes very well!
I've listened to the complete album now a few times and found that I genuinely enjoy the music. I feel it deserves air time and I for one will phone in my request.
I came indoors yesterday from the garage and found my wife had put the album on, believe me that is good news, there are very few bands or solo artists that she will listen to.
Let us know when and where we can purchase your next release. We look forward to it
I came indoors yesterday from the garage and found my wife had put the album on, believe me that is good news, there are very few bands or solo artists that she will listen to.
Let us know when and where we can purchase your next release. We look forward to it
Just put the album on and am only on track 5, track one is a great opener setting the mood perfectly,
Track 2 for some reason reminds me of Embrace, not sure why as your a totally different sound but great all the same as they're a fantastic band.
Track 3 again very good and great easy music for listening to round the house. Not an album for the car but I'm more of a rock/metal fan for those times.
For me so far its a great album and certainly one I wouldn't be dissapointed with should I have purchased in the shops.
Best of luck with the band and keep us all informed about other albums and gigs etc, I'm sure many of your fellow PH'ers would be more than willing to shell out and support you at a few local venues.
I'll be sure to let as many of my friends have a listen and spread your name around.
Tony
Track 2 for some reason reminds me of Embrace, not sure why as your a totally different sound but great all the same as they're a fantastic band.
Track 3 again very good and great easy music for listening to round the house. Not an album for the car but I'm more of a rock/metal fan for those times.
For me so far its a great album and certainly one I wouldn't be dissapointed with should I have purchased in the shops.
Best of luck with the band and keep us all informed about other albums and gigs etc, I'm sure many of your fellow PH'ers would be more than willing to shell out and support you at a few local venues.
I'll be sure to let as many of my friends have a listen and spread your name around.
Tony
Hi Dom, thanks for the album again.
I'm going to pretty much echo what has been said above.
I like the album cover, its looks quite moody like the album.
The album itself is very good. Its a deep, dark, thought inspiring group of tracks with the only downfall for me being the tracks can seem quite similar. Track 5 Landing Lights is fantastic.
Some of the tracks could fit in easily with a movie, I have just seen the Girl Next Door which has a excellent sound track and one of your songs could have quite easily fitted into that sort of film.
I think we need to get Radio 1's Jo Whiley to champion Eaves, here is her home page where she talks about bands she is championing this week and here is her email address jo.whiley@bbc.co.uk, I think she would need a CD or MP3 before we could make any impact, but if she receives the CD/MP3 (don't know what is a acceptable practice) and then lots of people start to email her to register interest she may take notice. Just a thought anyway!.
When you do release any new material I will be interested in purchasing it or attending one of your concerts.
Thanks again for the CD,
Lee.
I'm going to pretty much echo what has been said above.
I like the album cover, its looks quite moody like the album.
The album itself is very good. Its a deep, dark, thought inspiring group of tracks with the only downfall for me being the tracks can seem quite similar. Track 5 Landing Lights is fantastic.
Some of the tracks could fit in easily with a movie, I have just seen the Girl Next Door which has a excellent sound track and one of your songs could have quite easily fitted into that sort of film.
I think we need to get Radio 1's Jo Whiley to champion Eaves, here is her home page where she talks about bands she is championing this week and here is her email address jo.whiley@bbc.co.uk, I think she would need a CD or MP3 before we could make any impact, but if she receives the CD/MP3 (don't know what is a acceptable practice) and then lots of people start to email her to register interest she may take notice. Just a thought anyway!.
When you do release any new material I will be interested in purchasing it or attending one of your concerts.
Thanks again for the CD,
Lee.
CD arrived this morning, I will be giving it to my 11 year old daughter and her friends to review.
You may only get a one word review from them, but as long as that words is "cool" then you know it's a cracking CD.
I will aim to listen to it properly this week and post an ageing rockers point of view
You may only get a one word review from them, but as long as that words is "cool" then you know it's a cracking CD.
I will aim to listen to it properly this week and post an ageing rockers point of view
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