It’s not very often that an unknown band really blows my mind, but that’s exactly what happened when I dropped the needle onto Pick-Up, Lift-Off, Space, Time, the first release from Norway’s Electric Eye. Comprised of well known names on their side of the world in the psyche-rock game, this seven song LP brings together a sonically charged assembly of noise-rock, kraut-rock, space rock and puts it through a filter of meticulous songwriting prowess that illuminates so many ideas in rock ‘n’ roll from the ’60s onward that it’s nearly hard to keep up.
The album starts out with a nine-minute instrumental, “6 AM.” Coming from a band that is obviously unconcerned with mainstream appeal, this charged opener is not unlike the Flaming Lips with gym memberships meets Maserati, plus the addition of handfuls of guitars. “Lake Geneva” follows and marries classic rock with slow droning space rock, and side A ends with “Tangerine,” another lengthy exploration into psyche-rock that takes Eastern influences and adds traces of Pink Floyd and The Beatles.
Side B is not quite as aggressive as the first three tunes, although it still packs a sonic punch, even if in a more reserved, eclectic fashion. “Morning Light” brings the Flaming Lips to mind again, albeit in a more robotic sense. “The Road” is one of the most interesting songs, with bluesy riffs and driving rhythms and that segues into the hazy, post-punk of “Krustkontroll,” which would sound right at home in the mid ’80s in England. The album fades out with “Electric Eye,” a languid, blurry and almost tropical sounding closer.
These are songs for the in-depth listener. You won’t find any three-minute tracks with the standard verse, chorus set up and the radio friendly hook. Hell, the first single off this album is nine minutes long – further proof that Electric Eye isn’t concerned with the status quo. If you’re willing to invest the attention into this album, prepare to find truly interesting and unconventional sounds that few bands are replicating today.
