Perfect Blue Sky – The Eye of Tilos
Perfect Blue Sky
The Eye of Tilos
Soft Rock, Psychedelic Rock
Released: 19th May 2017
via Scarecrow Music Group (SE) Right Recordings (UK)
Perfect Blue Sky, is the highly anticipated collaboration between one of the founding members of the Swedish metal act Netherbird Pontus, Pna Andersson and Australian solo rock vocalist, Jane Kitto. Together they formed the band in 2014 based out of Stockholm, Sweden. I have to say going into this album, The Eye of Tilos, I knew little to nothing about them. With that, I had absolutely no expectations when first playing this. On first listen I had no idea what I was in for. Just vague non-descriptors from a PR statement. With a clear mind I listened on and found that this is one of the most pleasant sounding albums I’ve listened to in a while.
I was hit with tight songwriting and smooth production. The music was this 70’s style soft rock, you know the kind of stuff that we don’t usually cover here on Valkyrian Music. This really beautiful soft acoustic soft rock, with light elements of psychedelic indie rock music. The sounds are so fluent and cerebral. It has this way of getting lodged in your brain. It’s not catchy as such, there are no real ear worms here. More just beautiful tones that sink into your memory without you even realising it. There’s some creative riffs and superbly simplistic, but effective, writing ideas. The harmonies really grab your attention in a way that you wouldn’t think. All of the songs are designed so that you pay attention to them as a whole, instead of nitpicking the individual aspects. It’s the same joy I feel from listening to stoner metal or outlaw country music. Just music that switches off my overthinking capacity and switches on my pure enjoyment.
I don’t want you to think that this production is small scale or under planned. There’s a lot of work that goes into making music that sounds like this. To achieve this the duo have recruited a pretty nice backing band that really bring all of the elements of this album together. Names like, Frank Bessard (Joe Satriani, Stanley Clarke) and Dave Getz (Big Brother Holding Co.) on Drums. Danny Oakhill on Keyboards (Queen Tribute, Turk Tresize). Jerry Donahue on Guitar (Fairport Convention, Hellecasters). All of them bring their energy to the album, yet like I’ve said the production never lets any one member really over shine the others. There is is this really nice balance to it all. So the listener never feels overwhelmed by any one part of the production.
Genuinely, I have loved this album. It’s a beautiful sounding record with a lot to offer in its production and in its songwriting. With songs of passion, abstract concepts and social commentary. The Eye of Tilos is such a nice sounding album. It mixes old school hippie jams with classic rock and adds some modern style production to really keep it in today’s market. I am really liking this band. Hopefully this won’t be the last I hear from them. Also, it makes for awesome driving music.
5/5
Mick Birchall
Valkyrian Music 
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