Sometimes, when I get lonely I think of you,
All of this loneliness and nothing to do…
If a foreigner or tourist visting our shores would ask me to name an album that truly reflects the sound of Australia, its people, its landscapes, and its cultural heritage, my first thought would be to name Blue Planet Eyes, the debut album of rock band The Preatures. Released in 2014, the album is a glorious blend of pop rock, new wave, and Australiana, nearly packaged and presented in less than 40 minutes, with songs that linger in your head without a minute wasted. The album peaked at No. 4 on the Australian ARIA charts, whilst the critically lauded single, Is This How You Feel, climbed to No. 9 on Triple J’s Hottest 100 in 2013.
Two things immediately stand out once having listened to the album – first, the warm and energetic tone from singer Izzi Manfredi and her fellow musicians, and second, the outstanding production and sound. The bright and fun tone is evident throughtout – but particularly on rock tracks like Somebody’s Talking, Cruel, and Ordinary, complemented by lovely melodies with that Australiana rock vibe. The sound and technical production, which is brilliantly impressive, is truly what sets it apart as a great Australian album. Listen out for the following highlights:
- The gorgeous synth melodies on Two Tone Melody and Business, Yeah which are achingly beautiful
- The dynamics change in Rock and Roll Rave, where the audio is decreased to almost silent and increased to loud
- The harmonic melodies between guitars and vocal on tracks like Blue Planet Eyes, Is This How You Feel, Ordinary
The album features 10 songs in total – with five on each side. Opening track, Blue Planet Eyes, heralds the dawn of an Australian summer day at the beach, with the backing bass line complementing Izzi’s relaxed vocals well. It is a beautiful opener that sets the relaxed and warm tone of the album, which is also echoed by the album’s cover – a headshot photography of Izzi poking out of the water. This glowing theme is continued on lead single Somebody’s Talking – a brilliant rock track I first heard at university back in 2016, and the one which led me to their music. Smash-hit worldwide single Is This How You Feel needs no words or explanation – other than it being a true classic that will be remembered for years to come.
Bouncy rock tracks are also abundant throughout – notably on Ordinary, Cruel, and It Gets Better, which all feature a wonderful harmony of Izzi’s vocal range with the guitar riffs from guitarists Jack Moffitt and Gideon Bensen, creating some catchy danceable tunes. Quieter and slower moments are also present with the rock sound stripped down on Two Tone Melody, Rock and Roll Rave and closer Business, Yeah. Rock and Roll Rave – one of the best sounding tracks on the album – takes the listener to a 90s or 2000s electronic nightclub, with its sound echoed in following track Whatever You Want. Business, Yeah, is a sentimental and rather forlorn (but brilliantly executed) closer, leaving the listener wanting more.
The album’s standout track for me, however, is Two Tone Melody, with the sound toned down with only Izzi’s vocals and a synthesiser, which reach achingly beautiful heights with a ballad story of unrequited love. It is an excellent example of the band’s outstanding sound production, and also a wonderful love song for late night listening.
Blue Planet Eyes is an outstanding debut album, filled with gorgeous melodies and sounds, and is a prime example of Australian alternative rock at its very best.
Rating: 10/10
Andrew Reviews 