The Third Eye

Multi-instrumentalist/tape manipulator Brian Lucas has returned with the third LP for his Old Million Eye project, Quartz Hive. Released in February, the improvised, electronic, and always psychedelic record has been called a “swirl of cloud sound based on the kind of music that makes all your inner walls melt like wax.” That’s an excellent description of the experimental clusters of textured sound that burst from the seven tracks on this terrific new album.

Quartz Hive features many collaborators, including many who have regularly worked on Old Million Eye recordings, such as Steven R. Smith, Sheila Bosco, and Kevin Van Yserloo. New collaborators include harpist Ceylan Hay (Bell Lungs) and saxophonist Zekarias Thompson (Agnes Martian).

Brian Lucas is also a member of 43 Odes and Dire Wolves, and like those bands, Old Million Eye makes psychedelic music that doesn’t hew to any stereotypical formula. Instead, it bends, twists, and snakes through the speakers with incredible grace, boldness, and originality.

“Among The Blue Rushes” begins the party, immediately inviting listeners into a realm of transcendental sounds. The chanted vocals may remind you of Dire Wolves, as the layers of a what feels like a million different sounds envelope the track and shine like crazy diamonds. “Albadross Daze” also calls from deep places in the subconscious, pulsing with enigmatic energy. Thompson’s saxophone lends a spiritual jazz vibe, as it does throughout much of the record.

“Longer Light” feels more in tune with outer space, with each ethereal note setting the mind free to wander. “Slender Sail” is another highlight. Like much of the record, the ambient textures bring a dream-like atmosphere, and the psychedelic undercurrents ripple throughout. “Sister Rock” is a bit of a misnomer, as the song is not your typical rock ‘n roll. Instead, it’s one of the gentler ambient tracks, a song that feels like a living, breathing entity.

The record closes with “Delta Stars,” with Old Million Eye turning its inner eye closer to the secrets of improvisation. The spontaneity kept this listener on the edge of his seat, as I never knew what weird, new sound would come next.

Fans of Dire Wolves and Jeffrey Alexander + The Heavy Lidders should love what Old Million Eye has created with Quartz Hive. The hypnotic rhythms and celestial sounds feel meticulously crafted yet unbound by musical conventions. The band surrenders to its higher powers and leads us into a sonic unknown. If you like Quartz Hive, check out Old Million Eye’s previous work, including 2022’s The Air’s Chrysalis Chime. Enjoy!

Check out Quartz Hive by Old Million Eye on Bandcamp here.

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