‘Live Freaky! Die Freaky!’ It’s fucked up, but SOLAR EYES pull magic out of the chaos

AFTER months of feverish anticipation, Birmingham’s psych-shocking, sonic-rocking duo SOLAR EYES unveil second album, ‘Live Freaky! Die Freaky!’ via Fierce Panda Records.

The duo, Glenn Smyth (vocs/guitar) and Sebastian Maynard Francis (drums) recorded the long player at Courtyard Studio, Oxfordshire, Ian Davenport responsible for co-production, mixing by long-term collaborator Jeff Knowler.

‘Live Freaky! Die Freaky!’ was first conceived with 2021’s ‘I See the Sun,’ Knowler remarking the demo sounded like it belonged in a Quentin Tarantino film.

Intrigued, Smyth ultimately ended up reading a copy of Tom O’Neill’s ‘CHAOS: The Truth Behind The Manson Murders,’ which takes an in-depth look at the investigations and background motives for the 1969 Tate-LaBianca murders – the album’s title coming directly from one of the book’s subheadings.

Smyth describes his lyrical themes as sinister, brutal, vicious, for this is an album dark of nature, one influenced by the West Coast sun, by The Velvet Underground, and even a touch of Charles Manson on closer ‘Hello Charlie.’

But it’s also an album of California melodies, San Francisco harmony, and one guaranteed to set your soul on fire.

Solar Eyes, October live: 15: London, Old Blue Last * 16: Liverpool, Kazimier Stockroom * 17: Birmingham, The Hare & Hounds * 18: Bristol, The Lanes * 21: Sheffield, Sidney & Matilda * 24: Paris, Supersonic Club

Solar Eyes online: HERE