King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard : Eyes Like The Sky
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King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard : Eyes Like The Sky

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While not as intrinsic as it once was in its ’50s-’60s heyday, the western is still a much-loved genre in whichever modern form it sporadically manifests. Author Cormac McCarthy’s Border Trilogy were exemplary works of the genre in the ‘90s, Clint Eastwood’s Unforgiven and the Coen Brothers’ True Grit remake proved the classic western can still hold a place in modern cinema. 

Red Dead Redemption crafted a sprawling narrative through videogame, Deadwood provided top-shelf television, and kids’ flick Rango was one of the finest films of 2011 (I will fight you if you disagree). And here we have Eyes Like The Sky, an audiobook LP from still-nascent garage punk collective King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard.

Narrated with the gritty cadence of The Dingoes’ vocalist Broderick Smith, Eyes Like The Sky is the logical extension of Sam Cherry’s Last Shot – the outlier cut on King Gizzard’s debut full-length of last year, 12 Bar Bruise. It’s an ambitious feat, foregoing the band’s signature bratty, laconic punk bursts in favour of a singular, 30-minute involved narrative. We hear the story of the titular mixed-race, blue-eyed protagonist as he becomes legend during the American Civil War.

There are heroes, there are villains, there are many deaths. Written by Smith, the literature is verbose and always engaging. The blown-out guitars and soaring harmonica deftly complement the story’s pacing, and the menacing percussive flow of Drum Run guides the hero’s transformation from Miguel O’Brien into the legend that is know as Eyes Like The Sky.

Despite being crafted by a bunch of Australian lads, this isn’t Meat Pie Western, this is straight Spaghetti Western. There’s some analogy with the coarseness, both in subject and in craft, with Sergio Leone’s oeuvre. And of course, there are tonal and melodic nods to Ennio Morricone’s iconic soundtrack work. Stock sound samples pepper the album to great effect, Smith’s American-accented drawl is recorded with a commanding blend of rawness and clarity – somehow capturing a sense of warmth through the rudimentary laptop microphone capturing technique.

It’s a confounding release in many ways, but ultimately a bold and worthwhile achievement  – a showcase of tenacity and talent.