French trio Eyes and Legs met while studying sound design in Lyon. Each member had already been involved in a range of projects, ranging from punk rock, post-hardcore, electronic, coldwave and EBM (I believe that stands for Electronic Body Music!).
This helps give their new EP ‘Gravel’ an intoxicating, explosive sound that constantly knocks you off balance. It’s a witches’ brew of styles that lose none of their individual potency. Rather than a mixed-up cacophony, these elements sit side-by-side in each track like co-existing dimensions.
‘Nothing Sticks’ – A hard-driving, tactile sound with nostalgically analogue synths. Somehow, though, it manages to sound completely modern. Sparse in places, with an effortless groove and a confidence to just lean into the juxtaposition of genres – it’s the perfect introduction.
“Nothing sticks to my root
I won’t choose so I won’t lose
Maybe if I don’t move
Nothing bad will become true”
‘No Dog’ – I loved those wonky synth chords. The bass line is like warm machine-gun fire, and the frenetic, shuffling drums keep the tension high. I thought the vocals were incredible too, melting into the cracks of the track. A relatively simple song that manages to constantly reveal new surprises until the very end.
‘Grey’ – The production on this record is fantastic – there is a crystalline clarity, but with a warmth that is perfectly controlled to deliver a strong, punchy sound. Everything has just the right space and presence – elements swirl around you like a groovy tornado.
‘Saved by’ – Like the evil twin of ‘Low Rider’ by War, this impossibly catchy bass line (and the low chanting vocal) feels like it could be from any decade from the 70s to today. It has crazy synth lines, wonderfully characterful vocals and (of course) – more cowbells! The band say that lyrically, they dwell on things that fade, decay, or disappear – but these songs have an ever-present sense of humour that provides a nice balance.
“They say everything is great
It’s kind of accurate
They say everything’s a mess
And I’m kind of convinced”
‘Nobody’ – The most straight-up punk track closes the EP, and it’s another example of a trio that is firing on all cylinders. It’s a raucous, unstoppable bulldozer of a song. It’s also the shortest track with the simplest lyrics. The strained, desperate cry of “I need everybody, but nobody needs me” dominates proceedings at first, whilst the final third settles into a satisfyingly solid & funky workout.
Eyes and Legs’ hits with the weight of a band twice its size, and for a sophomore EP, ‘Gravel’ feels incredibly mature. It showcases a richer, more experimental sound than their debut, while keeping melody and groove fully intact.
This formidable trio’s sound is built on contrast. Their influences co-exist, and their music is a mosaic of distinct styles, embracing – not flattening – differences. Each new track feels like it could be a different band, but make no mistake – ‘Gravel’ weaves these diverse threads into a cohesive whole. A masterful balancing act indeed!
Written by Grubby
