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Over the summer, I attended Chicago’s Pitchfork Music Festival in July. One of the performances I was most excited for was Chvrches (pronounced “churches”). I’ve been a fan of Chvrches ever since I heard their album The Bones of What You Believe, featuring hits like “The Mother We Share” and “Recover,” in 2013.
The Scottish band is comprised of lead vocalist and backup musician Lauren Mayberry, and backup vocalists and musicians Iain Cook and Martin Doherty. The members had been in bands previously and had become successful in Chvrches early 2013 in Scotland, then the UK, and finally in the US after they performed “The Mother We Share” on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.
After the band finished touring for their first album, fans were left wondering when new music would be coming their way. Their questions were answered when the album art was released on July 16, 2015, and their first single, “Leave a Trace,” the next day. Check out the music video for “Leave a Trace” below:
The day after their first single was released, I saw them perform live at Pitchfork. I remember thinking it was a weird time for them to be performing, since their last tour had been long over and they had only one single out.
But man, once again, they did not disappoint.
Not only is their music so lively and exciting, each member is genuinely good at what they do. Lauren Mayberry constantly says that they are a band, the attention isn’t all on her. They are all talented, unique singers and musicians working together.
Seeing them perform live again at Pitchfork was awesome, but then I knew I still had to wait months to get more new music.
That wait is now over, because tomorrow, September 25, Every Open Eye will (finally!!!) be released. And, before you buy it (because we all still pay for music nowadays, right?), you can stream it right now!
I’ve been listening to this new album all week, and I can’t get enough of it. Every song has a unique buildup of synth and vocals
The opening song, “Never Ending Circles,” taps in to the band’s original sound, with Mayberry’s classic high-pitched vocals, synth, and 80s-styled beats.
Following is the first single of the album, “Leave a Trace,” which is still a strong contender for my favorite track on the album. Their second single, “Clearest Blue,” might be coming up next to it. Check out the lyric video for “Clearest Blue” below:
We find fellow bandmates Iain Cook and Martin Doherty doing vocals for track 6, titled “High Enough To Carry You Over.” The guys had previously sang in “Science/Visions” on The Bones of What You Believe, and it’s good to see them make a return on this one, reinforcing Mayberry’s reinforcing statements saying they are all a part of one band.
Another contender for favorite song of mine is “Playing Dead.” This song makes me feel like I’m fighting in a sunset battle with tough fairytale creatures. A similar feeling is evoked in me in “Bury It,” except now my fairytale warrior friends and I have won the battle and are celebrating in a dance club.
The album ends with “Afterglow,” in which the bouncy bass and shifting synths are replaced with an ambient-like tune, as Mayberry sings “I’ll find my own way back/ back to the past tense./ We wait for the afterglow to cover the blind side/ And I should know.”
Every Open Eye is finally the Chvrches revival we’ve been needing.
Stream the album here and be sure to get it for yourself when it officially releases tomorrow!! And, as always, let me know your thoughts on the album!
-Sonia
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