VISION AND AGELESS LIGHT

This Ohio band was founded by drummer Brandon Smith and keyboardist Lisa Bella Donna. They have two new members : Michael Sliclen and guitarist Jon Finley. The music is deeply rooted into vintage prog with mellotron, organ and the all the keyboards sound of the 70's. The intro "Book of Dead" make me think of "Watcher of The Skies", switching into some pure electronic music. All the instruments are back with "Kill The Slavemaster" with a jazzy passage and a couple of guitar solo before a huge keyboard sound. We are not too far from the music of Hawkwind here. We can hear some Space/psychedelic vibe throughout this album. "Dweller of the Twilight Void" brings some original interplay with the spacey keyboards and the acoustic guitar. The 27 minutes epic "As Sure As The Sun" is a real treat with his journey to some Pink Floyd Space/Psychedelic era, the mellotron sound and some impressive overall keyboard lines that goes into some electronic soundscapes moments. You get the feel that the band is playing an homage to their multiple influences from different bands of the past even if it only for a short 30 seconds span. If you enjoy the vintage prog, you will not want to miss this album with songs that are well crafted where the atmosphere is more important than technique.

I ordered online a physical copy of Edensong's Years in the Garden of Years which arrived finally but with the wrong merchandise. Instead of the New York group's fine opus, I got and ultimately kept, a rather obscure CD from an American band called Eye, which I looked up and found to be potentially interesting. Upon listening to this "Vision and Ageless Light" 2016 release, I was overcome with a variety of impressions, most of which were rather surprising. Nominally a space rock/psychedelic group from Ohio led by talented drummer Brandon Smith , the de facto leader who has added new musicians for this mission, namely keyboardist Lisa Bella Donna, bassist Michael Sliclen and guitarist Jon Finley. Comparisons to fellow Yanks Astra is fair but there is also a pervading predilection for Hawkwind, Pink Floyd, Nektar and hints of heavier acts like Black Sabbath. That being said the opener does have some mellotron-infested swirls that recall early Genesis and sets the mood for an ambitious but grungy voyage into the distant universes.

The bruising "Kill the Slave Master" has a metallic heaviness that leaves no asteroid unturned, chugging into the cosmos like a spaceship superstar, sounding much like vintage early Hawkwind but lathered with shredding Jon Finley guitar pyrotechnics and spacy voices. The keyboard work is stunning, organ being the main instrument of choice, though there is an unexpected and yet splendid electric piano work straight out of Jazz-rock a la Soft Machine that will blow your mind. The bass bites hard on the pedal and the drum kit pounds furiously. A total winner. This segues immediately into the equally oily "Searching", even more vintage sound being shoved into the noisy mix, a thrusting vessel of shifting riffs, fluctuating drum patterns and uncontrolled insanity. The production has a raw feel to it, nothing overtly polished, which gives the experience a natural feel.

Things quiet down with the serene sounds of "Dweller of the Twilight Void" , a supremely spacy electronic feel not unlike vintage Gong , what with the Tim Blake-like synthesizer follies and the smooth quirkiness in the massed singing voices, escorted by resonating acoustic guitars, all involved for the ride. This all prepares for the magnum opus , the 27 minute+ "As Sure as the Sun" which displays a clearly Floydian utopia infused by dense psychedelia, acoustic guitar and floating voice setting the tone, mighty mellotron to follow. Lisa does real well on the keys, showing some Jan Hammer like fluidity on the synthesizers. This colossal epic takes different routes to the same galactic destination, Finley in particular oozing quite a Hendrixian influence in his scorching leads, full of grit and sizzle. Slower moments get suddenly propelled forward at warp speed, dizzying and barren playing a tennis game of sorts, alternate worlds, different galaxies yet all bathed in the same milky way. Drummer Smith even indulges in a mini solo, a rather classic mosaic in the space tableau and they even dare some massed voice chanting (Gong again) to add even more confusion to the mix.

I wouldn't call "Vision" a masterpiece but definitely a very entertaining and original sounding Space rock album that I am glad to now possess, even if by force majeure. It's an honest, truthful, unpretentious and clearly enthusiastic expression of musical ability.

4 Orbs

To me EYE had really reached new heights with Vision and Ageless Light and a lot of that is Lisa Bella Donna taking the band to creative levels with the most impressive keyboards heard on the album. The band also received new members too. They still have that grungy sound but an even stronger prog feel. Lisa Bella Donna uses tons of vintage gear including a real Mellotron. Even that weird tape choking effect lets you know she's not using an M-Tron. "Book of the Dead" is largely electronic with a bit of that Berlin School feel. At the time I felt Lisa Bella Donna should record some solo albums in that style and my wish had later come true as she had did such (although not all her solo material is in the Berlin School style) and she's recorded a ton of stuff. "Kill the Slavemaster" and "Searching" has that typical EYE feel although "Dweller of the Twilight Void" is an amazing largely acoustic piece that reminds me of Pink Floyd meets the Moody Blues. What I really love is that Moog solo. "As Sure as the Sun" starts off acoustic with a spacy Crosby, Stills and Nash vibe but with a spacy synth break. Then eventually it goes electric, and I hear some symphonic prog leanings here but the psychedelic elements are intact. To me it's certainly their highlight and really worth hearing. After a couple of years I was starting to wonder if EYE was going to put out new material. Turns out they're no more. Ken Golden of Laser's Edge (who released Vision and Ageless Light) was on Pete Pardo's Sea of Tranquility YouTube channel, and he said they're no more. That's too bad, given how Lisa Bella Donna was steering the band to new heights. At least she has a very prolific solo career worth checking out, but much of it is in the Progressive Electronic vein.

EYE were from Columbus, Ohio releasing three studio albums before calling it a day. The four piece lineup was the same for the first two records but major changes for this final 2016 release. In fact, only the drummer was left standing after their "Second Sight" record from 2013. The most difficult task in my opinion would be replacing the keyboardist who had a wealth of vintage equipment. Enter Lisa Bella Donna who actually has even more vintage keyboards, plus a guitarist who can bring it, and an upfront bass player(thankyou). The result is my favourite from the band called "Visions Of Ageless Light".

I love this record! A top five for 2016 which was a really strong year for me. It's just unusual to have such gifted players in a psychedelic band. Some mention ASTRA which is a good comparison. Lisa was added to the site here recently under Electronics for her solo work which started the same year this album was released in 2016. We do get vocals here, both male and female, sort of in the HAWKWIND style. The guitarist offers up some ripping solos on this album, but some variety as well. The bass is huge! Then add the mellotron, synths, electronics, fender rhodes and on and on from Bella Donna, and the result is a masterpiece of this style. HAWKWIND, RUSH, BLACK SABBATH and ASTRA came to mind.

What can I say about the opener? "Book Of The Dead" opens with the waves of mellotron for 2 minutes. Come on! Drums and synths then kick in, but how about the sequencers. I did not see that one coming. "Kill The Slavemaster" has such a heavy start with the bass shaking the soundscape when the tempo picks up. Crank it up! The mellotron and synths sound great but man the fender rhodes is priceless. Lisa has a Jazz background and the lady can play that electric piano. When the e-piano stops then mellotron and synths return. Killer tune! "Searching" and "Dweller Of The Twilight Void" contrast nicely with the heavier "Searching" giving way to the strummed acoustic guitar led sound on the latter. Male vocals with some cool lyrics on that one.

"As Sure As The Sun" is an over 27 minute ride into the cosmos. This track has it all. Repeated themes and I like the combination of Rock and Psychedelia. The spacey mellotron and synth led passages, to the ripping guitar led parts where the bass crushes it. A light show here from the guitarist at times.The man can shred. It opens with the sound of running water as acoustic guitar and reserved vocals help out. Mellotron a minute in as the vocals step aside. Chunky bass and mellotron late but this is such an adventerous trip. Love the drumming before 13 minutes. Jazzy 14 minutes in. What? The male singer sounds like the MOTORPSYCHO vocalist. Honestly to describe this song would take up more space than the rest of the review.There is so much to this suite.

This is my music right here. I'm actually surprised this album didn't make more waves. 5 ageless stars for this one. And of course a spot in my "best of" psychedelic list.