For those unaware, Eustacia Vye is a character in Thomas Hardy’s book, The Return of the Native. I didn’t know either until I typed it into google. There’s not a lot of info about these Lincoln lads out there on t’internet, although I did come across one very interesting snippet of information as I was doing a little bit of background research:
“Harry & Mark were in McFly when a London-based management company came across the “Control Is A Device” EP and saw some good in it. They immediately sent Harry into a studio to record some acoustic songs for them. Next thing they know, they have to make a demo within 2 weeks! Through musical differences Will & Charlie left McFly and Eustacia Vye was formed with the addition of Al & Ben. The EP was finished and sent away and next thing they know all hell is breaking loose! Eustacia Vye`s favourite gig so far was undoubtedly their debut gig, held at the Duke Of Wellington, the place that gave McFly a footing almost a year previous. “It seemed the obvious place to play our first gig because Steve at the Duke was always so good to us” says Harry. “There was this huge turnout, probably because people wanted to see what became of McFly, hopefully they were pleased with the results”.
That came from part of a profile of the band on an internet site, so god knows if it’s true or if it’s just some kind of attention-seeking wind-up. I’m sure someone will fill us in below. Regardless of how the band came into being, this three-tracker references the likes of Incubus and Biffy Clyro and only just manages to sneak onto the PT radar – there’s a chance some of our other reviewers would have dismissed this as unsuitable material for reviewing. What swung it for me was the fact this quartet are actually pretty good and worthy of your attention. From the first notes of ‘The Artist and the Liar’ to the closing strains of ‘Our Worlds Collide’, this is a well produced and creatively written record.
There’s a definite US alternative rock feel to the band’s sound, one that gravitates from ultra-melodic in one breath to something a little more spaced out during a verse or pre-chorus. Vocalist Harry Johns certainly has an impressive range, while his bandmates create swirling riffs around him. The third and final song is by far the best; Johns’ vocals and a huge guitar hook leave the band coming across like Kneehigh or a band of a similar ilk. The singer has a touch of the Brandon Boyd’s about him, which is not bad thing as he’s unafraid to stretch his talents, and this adds to the overall quality the band convey. This EP is short and sweet, but it shows talent and means EV – bad name or not – have enough potential to keep an eye on.
www.eustaciavye.com
Paul