Chvrches 2nd album “Every open eye” is up there with the best albums of 2015. They picked up where they left off from their debut “The bones of what you believe” and then step it up a gear. The Glasgow 3 piece almost have the electronic pop market cornered. Although I’m sure there are plenty of other bands out there doing similar; none are doing it on quite the same scale as Chvrches. Both in terms of popularity and the sound they produce.
My favourite track on the album is “Clearest Blue”. It has this magical build up till lead vocalist Maybury sings “Will you meet me more than half way up”. Then the song just goes into overdrive and becomes a dancefloor filler. I can imagine their gigs across the world where everyone is just anticipating the moment and then everyone just goes mad. It is that good.
Like “Clearest Blue”, most of the album has an upbeat feel to it. Singles “Leave a trace” and “Never ending circles” lead the way. Although I think this is a better album as a whole than their debut. I don’t think these singles quite reached the peak of “The Mother we share” from their first album which is just so explosive. I think one of the things that separates Chvrches from the other bands in their genre is Lauren Maybury’s vocals. They are just so unique. I think they realise this too as there is one track on the album “High Enough to carry you over” where Martin Doherty sings. He proves that he is a good singer but Maybury’s voice to me will always be the sound of the Chvrches. Therefore I think that this track should have really been kept for a solo record rather than be on this album. Some bands work having 2 vocalists – eg – Of Monsters and Men where they have a nice balance between the 2. But on this occasion Maybury’s vocals are just too good.
The album finishes very fittingly with the tender “Afterglow”. After all the jumping around this song will send you to sleep and you will have dreams of going to see this band live.
Overall a great album. Yes I did have a thing about Doherty doing vocals on one track but it is still a great track and won’t stop you listening to this album over and over again. They have upped the standard from the first album and are definitely on the list of bands to see live at least once.
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