As far as indie-rock goes, Friend Roulette’s sophomore album I See You. Your Eyes Are Red. is pretty gothic. I don’t mean “gothic” as in Bauhaus and bats, but more in the sense of classic literature imbued with feelings of terror and longing. This six-piece band from Brooklyn is both bold and bizarre, featuring violin, clarinet and two percussionists along with guitar and bass, and vocals by Julia Tepper and Matthew Meade. The resulting sound is eerie and orchestral, with a darkly folksy twist, like a cross between These New Puritans and Karen Elson.
I See You. Your Eyes Are Red. is an imperfect album with flashes of brilliance, smartly front-loaded with its best songs. “Strange Girl,” “Dutch Master,” and “Stoned Alone” are all incredible, haunting compositions, blending jarring dissonance with ethereal melodies. Experimental, jazz, and neo-classical influences are balanced perfectly with pop. After the first three tracks, I was momentarily convinced that I was listening to the album of the year.
It didn’t last, though. Maybe it was unfair of me to expect that such excellence could be maintained. The fourth track, “You Drank All The Eggnog,” was a disappointment. Its Christmas theme feels inappropriately goofy and unseasonable. While the chorus has a strong hook, it feels grating, an unwelcome earworm rather than a haunting melody.
The rest of the album is uneven. There are gorgeous moments in every single track, but there also times when the songs become mired in repetition and homogeny. Even Julia Tepper’s lovely vocals become wearing as she hovers consistently in her upper register. It sounds like she’s using her head voice for the entire album. I get exhausted just listening to her. There is one last stand-out track, “Feed.” Starting slow and quiet, it builds ominous momentum through percussion and effective backing vocals.
I See You. Your Eyes Are Red. is like a fever dream: it’s beautiful, trippy and fascinating, but it wears on you, and ultimately you want it to be over.
