There was a time when the Eye in the Cloud seemed a mere romantic doom-projection, a quest that involved snake charming melodies, words and cadences that put us at a distance from that near-future we have since achieved. Now old parts of my mind and this city are being leveled. The hazy primary-colored plastic signs of corner Chinese joints are being replaced with a blinding, blinking, blue-backed light. Perhaps this type of light as Devin sings, “this is the darkness for me”.
But these songs feel from some other time, a time of joy rides in sweltering heat when we still had cars to drive off in and desire seemed more habitual however wise or foolish. These songs were the arc between the point A’s and point B’s, the crests and cradles amidst the hellos and goodbyes.
The path to understanding comes through cacophony and camaraderie not calcification. To me, this is the essence of music. Old recordings new recordings they all occupy a place that is always within. The resurfacing of Eye in the Cloud is a reminder of this: that things can be had and taken, but songs stay. They are a warm capsule of truths, half-truths, and wild imaginings. Real earthquakes entwined with dream visions.
-Birdie Busch, Philadelphia
released November 3, 2006
Produced by Devin Greenwood
Recorded by Rachel Russell at Scullville Studios, Scullville, NJ
Mixed by Shelly Yakus, Rachel Russell and Devin Greenwood at Scullville Studios
Assisted by Kim Hall, Vanessa Rud and Jonny Szczesniak
Additional vocal production by Darcy Ataman
Additional engineering by Devin Greenwood
String and horn arrangements by Matt Davis
Mastered by Dave McNair, Dave McNair Mastering
Executive Producer, Jerry Klause
Cover image by Nim Ben Reuven
All songs written by Devin Greenwood copyright © 2006 Secret Piney Music
Devin Greenwood – lead and backing vocals, bass guitars, baritone, electric and acoustic guitars, lap steel, piano, hammond B3, wurlitzer electric piano, philicorda, kalimba, juno106, qs8, accordion, hand claps, mandolin, percussion, chanter, additional drums on This Over Here
Ross Bellenoit – electric, acoustic, 12-string electric, baritone, classical and slide guitars, lap steel, geoffery family band piano, juno106, piano and drums onThis Over Here
Ivan Funk – drums
Joe Boruchow – electric and slide guitar
Sean Hoots – electric guitar
Larry Campbell – pedal steel, banjo
John Francis – harmonica, backing vocals
Michael McShane – backing vocals
Todd Erk – bass guitar on Bamboo Forest
Andrew Keenan – electric guitar on Passion Weak
George Stanford – trombone on Passion Weak
Bryan Rogers – tenor and baritone saxophone
George Barnett – french horn
Mike Cemprola - flute
Jason O'Mara – oboe
Meg Kajino - violin
Josh Sussman - violin
George Burton - viola
Matt Roberts - cello
Nathan Barnett - tamborine