Dog Eyes
Blue Bird Rain Cloud
Grand Jury
Everyday people living everyday lives are of great interest to indie-folk duo Dog Eyes, who dig into the minutiae and concerns of common people on the lush and intricate EP Blue Bird Rain Cloud. Little victories and stolen moments become pregnant with deeply human meaning, like in the title track, when Hailey Firstman and Davis Leach sing, “Go on in, I’ll be a second,” long work hours intruding on domestic bliss. Innocence isn’t lost on them.
That’s the beauty and purity of Blue Bird Rain Cloud, where a glimpse into that sort of unremarkable, yet totally relatable duality can leave a lasting impression, as they gently continue, “Take the car once ‘round the block / I should be all wrapped up then / And you can come pick me up.” The night goes on, good coffee and conversation keeping them from going to bed. It’s a beautifully articulated scene, simple and free of drama. Balance has been restored for now, but some questions are left unanswered. Life goes on, and so does Blue Bird Rain Cloud.
Not exactly bedroom pop, too restlessly creative to settle into back-porch Americana, Dog Eyes’ minimalist melding of sterling acoustic guitar picking, electronica, and purposeful, varied instrumentation – woodwinds whirring and plinking piano wrapped in soft reverb on “Blue Bird” – gracefully drifts from space to space in its rather spare home. Late dinners, lonely drives, and necessary changes reluctantly accepted are soundtracked with lithe intimacy and elegance, the sandy, clip-clopping percussive textures of an atmospheric, swaying “I Remain, You Stay the Same” moving things along at an easy gait and a bittersweet “Trophy, Honey” delicately tangled up in light gold and blue, impressionistically painted and poignantly reaching out for tender and true connection.
And while the whimsical and oceanic “Nano” may be an outlier lyrically, its surreal narrative about old technology being repurposed in grandiose fashion charmingly told, it fits seamlessly into Dog Eyes’ arresting musical oeuvre, sweeping and whispery. Almost swallowed by waves of didgeridoo sound, lightly strummed, and achingly beautiful, it’s a music box of hypnotic allure, different elements coming to the fore and then fading like memories. When Blue Bird Rain Cloud takes flight, it knows it’s able to land smoothly.
