Unsigned: Eventide

Eventide, from Plymouth, are no doubt a nice bunch of lads.  The sweet sounding music that is found on their debut EP is clearly evidence of this.  The band mixes this sound with plenty of esoteric sound effects and moody atmospherics.  A pleasant listen, but one without the urgency to warrant further scrutiny.

The EP (which is available for download on the band�s website, http://www.eventideonline.com/) shows great promise for the band�s future recordings.  This is especially evident with regard to the overall soundscapes.  There is a languid beauty in which the songs play out.  Deftly utilizing acoustic guitar, gentle piano and other-worldly sound effects, Eventide craft breezy, mellow tunes to while away an afternoon.  Unfortunately, the lyrics and the vocalizations of them are at times swallowed up by the lofty production.

�Reverse New York�, the lead track, begins with static radio transmissions that are followed up with vocals that sound as if they are being sung from a makeshift tin-can telephone.  The backing vocals, with compliments to bassist Tim Dunseath, have a ghostly, Jacob Marley-ish feel to them, which works nicely.  Acoustic guitar is soon joined by repetitive electric strains, courtesy of Daniel Atkins, and is reminiscent of early U2.  Towards the latter half of the song, some strong piano work by keyboardist Neil Evensen emerges.  This compliments the beautiful backing vocals beautifully.

The second track�s title, �Slumber�, is an apt word to describe the song�s sound.  Breezy, dreamy music to be cast off to sleep by.  More sci-fi type sound effects, a little backwards-y electric guitar and warm, emotive vocals are the key ingredients here.  The moaning by lead singer Paul Giles towards the end of the song is a little off rhythmically, and, a bit disconcerting as well.  It�s this vocal bit at the end that may just raise you out of the Snow White-like sleep it put you under to begin with.

On �Add/Invite�, the closing number, the band tricks you into thinking that everything is business as usual.  Half of the tune slides gently by without much notice, until the band summons a force that rouses the listener awake.  Granted, the band does not turn into a Black Sabbath cover band or anything of the sort, but the effect is still quite stirring.  Gentle, melancholic piano by Evensen remains constant, even through the layers of synthesizer, guitar and various other noises.  The noisy buildup is soon struck down by the lulling calm of Giles� voice and acoustic six-string.

The nagging quibble with Eventide is one which plagues many British bands of late, that of a certain sameness of sound and attitude.  This �nu-acoustica� movement as seen in bands such as Starsailor, Coldplay and Travis, is beginning to wear a bit thin.  For the band to rise above this malaise requires certain boldness many of the aforementioned bands lack.

However, as the final strains of Add/Invite trail off into the ether, the urge is found to click play and listen to these warm songs all over again.  Repetition soon sparks respect, respect leads to enjoyment and enjoyment of Eventide makes the wait until their first full-length is released that much longer.

Brett Hickman