The New Zealand band October and the Eyes have an odd name but a fairly accessible sound. Wrapped up in the trappings of alternative rock, the group's songs are bracing and direct. The debut EP, Dogs and Gods, is out now via KRO Records.
The whole project is centered around the vocals of October and with one listen to any of her performances here and you will understand why. From the cacophonous opener "Playing God" and to the Siouxsie-inspired "All My Love", the tunes here instantly find their footing in a familiar sort of post-punk. If things are a bit too clean, at least there's power in the material, especially October's vocals on the propulsive "Wander Girl", or the Garbage-like "The Unraveling", a highlight here. Still, I wish that there had been more here like "Dark Dog", the moody closer to this brief release.
Dogs and Gods is out now via KRO Records.
[Photo: Alexander Schipper]