Scottish synthpop trio Chvrches built themselves up as makers of palatable, catchy, play-it-safe singles with The Bones of What You Believe in 2013. While their debut was much-loved, Every Open Eye plunges the group into rougher waters, as we see them take more risks than before.
The first half of the album is a cascade of classic Chvrches-style eighties-inspired ventures, staying true to the band’s roots as Lauren Mayberry’s sweet vocals contrast with crashy, looping synthesisers.
The slower ‘High Enough To Carry You Over’, acts as the glue holding both halves of the album together and sees Martin Doherty take lead vocals, lending it a rougher, slower, almost R&B feel. The second half of the album shows the band’s darker, morbid side, with tracks such as ‘Down Side Of Me’, ‘Playing Dead’ and ‘Bury It’.
It’s tricky for electropop to come across serious and sombre – but there’s a delightful contrast between Mayberry’s soft vocals and her harsh words, as she determinedly sings “You can tell me to move and I won’t go, You can tell me to try and I won’t go” in ‘Playing Dead’. All this builds up to the drawn-out, ethereal ‘Afterglow’, a fitting end to an album packed with different styles.
While Chvrches’ distinctively popular sound means that their songs can have a tendency to merge into one another, Every Open Eye is a big step towards the braver for the band.
