The musical world is full of questions of what if and possible alternate timelines that were never realized. And that is never more true than in the case of Apple Eyes. Having first played together in The Hidden Messages, Claire and Matthew formed the first version of the band, and even caught the ear of legendary DJ Tom Robinson, but the loss of a bandmate meant that working on the songs without him became too painful, and so the project was put on hold.
But now, with the passing of years allowing the necessary healing, the duo realized this was an unfinished story, and the old material was good enough to form the basis for a new take on the band. “Freaking Out” is one of those early, live favorites that has finally seen the light of day as a single.
And I’m so glad it did. It’s brilliant. Urgent, staccato indie woven through with smart pop chops, a bass-driven, mathy yet melodic groove, shimmering guitar, slashes, ornate sonics, gorgeous boy-girl vocals, and a dynamic that runs from spacious infectiousness to an almost shoegaze density. It has the lot.
Inspired by both the joy and slight anxiety of contemplating the sheer size of the world and the endless potential it holds, that feeling of being slightly lost yet at liberty to explore, of dislocation yet freedom, is cleverly echoed in the moves and grooves that drive it.
Had the band’s story not taken the tragic turn that it did, who knows where the band might be right now? But there is plenty of time left; Apple Eyes clearly have the songs to cut it, and returning to the fray with older, wiser heads is never a bad thing. I predict great things!
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