EP Review: Hilly Eye (Amy Klein of Titus Andronicus) girl duo release "Fireworks"

Hilly Eye- Fireworks

Brooklyn, NY
Released Oct. 8, 2010
Self Released

Fireworks:
1. Double Dutch
2. Jersey City
3. Grand Canyon
4. Loopy

Hilly Eye is a two-piece girl band featuring Amy Klein of Titus Andronicus on guitar and friend Catherine Tung on drums with both singing. The band cites musical influences such as Afrirampo, Sonic Youth, the Pixies, and, of course, Sleater Kinney, Lightning Bolt, and Marnie Stern. Quite a list of! The band describe themselves as "Sleater Kinney meets Lightning Bolt meets a watery bridge at the end of town."

First song "Double Dutch" is a mostly instrumental song with just one line: "I can see what you are." The guitar here moves back and fourth, drawing you in with its steadiness, allowing you to get lost, swept up in the swirling sound. The guitar playing is similar to that of Marnie Stern.

Second song, "Jersey City" is a psychedelic song with a steady drum beat and guitar strum with just five lines. The last two, "You think you're so calm, You got an appetite for destruction," are the most sung in the song. Amy's voice soars on this track. There are lovely harmonies over the rugged intensity of the drums and guitar.

Third song "Grand Canyon" gets wordier and more intense. The vocals are loud and soft. This is a jam I can easily get into. I guess it takes a more traditional musical song structure. Any reference to Arizona, intended or not, also makes me happy, as a former resident of the Grand Canyon state. The guitar playing is flipping great. Finally, "Loopy" is another psych song with flowy guitar.

Overall, this is a cool release, experimental in some respects, but I'd like to hear more vocals. It feels like half instrumental, half full songs. The vocals are lovely and strong and I'd love to hear more of that present. I'd love to hear some screaming. Amy put together some facts about the band, so if you're interested read that here.

The band have three shows this weekend in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Philly:

11/5 @ The Charleston, 174 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, 21+, 8pm with The young devochkas, The shackeltons, and Mini Boone

11/6 @ ABC No Rio, 156 Rivington, NYC, ALL AGES, 4pm [info]

11/6 @ Tritone, 1508 South Street, Philadelphia, 21+, 9pm with Solanin, Bells Bells Bells, and reading from Klein and Sara Marcus, Girls to the Front [info]