EP Review: October And The Eyes – Dogs And Gods

New Zealand born, and now London based, singer & songwriter October And The Eyes recently signed to KRO Records and has now released her debut EP “Dogs and Gods“. Having been raised in a musical family in a rural farm October turned to music at an early age, even learning to record and produce her own music by age twelve. after moving half a world away to London, UK, although with hindsight this might not have been the best timed emigration in history, but it did provide her with the opportunity to hole up her in flat, in an unexpected and enforced return to her isolated writing style, and pen the tracks that populate her debut EP.

October And The Eyes debut EP is a darkly kaleidoscopic affair, the drum machine and grinding guitars on the opening track ‘Playing God‘ are evocative of The Sisters Of Mercy, this is combined with a Siouxsie-esque vocal to create a perfect storm that would have been right at home in the sweaty matt black alternative clubs of the late 80’s. If you were expecting a full on gothfest then ‘All My Love‘ swiftly stamps on your expectations, a moody electro stomp that recalls Goldfrapp‘s finest moments. ‘Wander Girl‘ continues the random skitter through the dark side of alternative culture with an irresistible beat that sees October And The Eyes take a detour into stark danceable pop. The second half of the EP is no less disconcerting, ‘You Deserve It‘ takes a psychobilly riff and melds it with a rapid skittering dance beat, no sooner have you got into groove than the unsettling electropunk of ‘The Unravelling‘ hits you before the gothic finalé of the harrowing ‘Dark Dog‘ brings things to a striking close.

There’s a rock ‘n roll yelp present in October‘s vocals that when thrown into the convoluted mix of ‘Dogs and Gods‘ leaves you with a constant feeling that the songs echo elements of long lost tracks from the likes of Bauhaus, The Sisters Of Mercy, Depeche Mode and Goldfrapp. ‘Dogs and Gods‘ has a sound that October has termed “collage rock”, and that is pretty much the perfect description of “Dogs And Gods“. October And The Eyes firmly embrace the fringes of alternative culture and music, blending post punk, psych and dark synths with a twisted theatricality, something that makes October And The Eyes an intriguing prospect for the post covid world when live music makes it long awaited return.

“Dogs And Gods” can be streamed and purchased here