By Raushan Melton
Staff Writer
Chvrches, a scottish trio that spins out synth-pop, released “Every Open Eye” as their sophomore effort, leaving listeners with a raw, lyrically powerful album.
“Every Open Eye” has a friendly sound, generating songs that are designed to help pick a listener off their feet in an uplifting tone. With catchy and feminine vocals but strong, edgy lyrics, matched with 80s-like synth, the group recognizes what makes them unique and perfects their sound.
“Every Open Eye” pinpoints what the band has aimed for since the beginning – which is a techno dance beat paired with vibrant lyrics. Formed in 2011, Chvrches consists of Lauren Mayberry, Lain Cook and Martin Doherty. Their 2013 debut, “The Bones of What You Believe” hit the top fifteen in the United States and launched them into the mainstream.
The new album takes the band a step further in their unique, colorful tunes. The band’s sound is heavily influenced by 80s music, utilizing electronic synthesizers. On Chvrches’ first album, they worked with only three keyboards and a microphone, but on “Every Open Eye” they expand their style, playing with a multitude of different instruments. The beats created by Lain and Martin harmonize with Mayberry’s soft voice perfectly. Each song aims to please it’s listeners sonically and lyrically. The band has grown a lot since the beginning, figuring out the ideal combination of rhythmic sounds and powerful vocals.
A catchy, uplifting tone is built with opener “Never Ending Circles”, an energetic tune. With lyrics like, “It’s time to save your neck, And I will try to find my feet and go, I am braced for words that never come, But I choose to decide that, I don’t regret it,” Mayberry dapples in independence and a fierce attitude that she embraces throughout the whole album. Her courageous tone projects strength, and one can sense the emotional outlet the album will soon lead up to.
Tailing behind, Mayberry creates an emotional backboard for listeners in “Leave a Trace”, giving a diary-like outpour with the lyrics “You think I’ll apologize for things I left behind, But you got it wrong, And I’m as sane as I ever was”. The lyrics emotional effect can resonate in a listener. Mayberry’s vocals are bright and her lyrics can speak for many. The album is filled with heartfelt words that could easily get a crowd of their fans going.
Even in the middle of the album, songs differ and the trio keeps variation and effort until the last song. “Make Them Gold”, has a positive, cheery feel and solid intertwining between the beat and lyrics. “High Enough to Carry You Over”, switches vocals from Mayberry to a man’s, adding flair and a new step to the band. These stylistic changes are concrete evidence that they are experimenting their sounds and expanding successfully.
Overall, Chvrches has grown in “Every Open Eye”. The trio knows their best sound and how to get their fans excited. They soared past any errors made in “The Bones of What You Believe”, perfect what propelled them to top charts, and then added on furthermore. It wouldn’t be surprising if this album garners even more popularity for the group, as it’s expertly written words and steady rhythms spin a solid piece of work. The album is available for purchase on iTunes for $11.99.
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