10 November 2023 - 0 Comments

Nighteyes, the evocative solo project of New Zealand-born and Melbourne-based multi-instrumentalist Rachel Trainor, unveils her haunting debut album The Way Back Down today. This ethereal collection of dark rock, folk and electronica navigates an intricate narrative through realms known and unknown, traversing themes of trauma, love, sorrow, environmental consciousness, connection, and transformation.

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Rachel Trainor, the visionary behind Nighteyes, masterfully blurs musical boundaries, seamlessly melding electronica with the haunting resonance of doom-inspired guitars and vocals. With a rich background in diverse musical, circus, and cabaret acts, Trainor's captivating performances have graced international stages, solidifying her presence in the professional circuit. Her impressive multi-instrumental prowess is showcased in this album as she skilfully takes on almost every part, further attesting to her remarkable musical dexterity.

The Way Back Down is a deeply personal story that guides the listener through a journey from darkness to light. The album's opening track, Down By The Sea, is an ever-evolving slow-rock number and tells a poignant tale of fading love, where a couple clings to the fragments of their relationship, forever tied to memories of a house by the ocean. This emotional journey continues with tracks like Lowlight, an eerie doom-electronic number with walls of fuzz-driven guitars and glitchy electronic percussion which paints a vivid picture of a moonlit night on a deserted beach, and Hollow Tree, a dreamy love song tinged with darkness.

My Only One is a slow-burning track that pushes and pulls with ominous finger-picked guitar riffs, echoing percussion and a cathartic release of head-spinning rock. Venturing into the realm of mental health, it is an autobiographical account of the author's struggle with anxiety. In The Wake follows, featuring a full-bodied acoustic guitar as Trainor's distant cries stir a haunting atmosphere, addressing the helplessness felt in the face of environmental catastrophes, painting a vivid picture of a burning shore and the mourning of a land beyond repair.

Plenty, the lead single, serves as a poignant commentary on human-driven climate change and societal progress. This foreboding track opens with Trainor's graceful vocals, gradually building momentum, culminating in a haunting crescendo of distorted electric guitars and resounding drums.

The album culminates with Third Eye and Spiral. Third Eye is a hauntingly ethereal exploration of family dynamics and generational echoes. Graceful, optimistic guitars interlace with the airy vocals of Trainor, painting a celestial soundscape. Spiral is a reflective journey through the mind's darkest corners during the 2020 lockdown in Melbourne. This final track encapsulates the cyclical nature of thought loops, with a transformative shift from darkness to hope, evoked through uplifting harmonies and an evocative synth section.

This stunning debut from Nighteyes is filled with graceful moments that stir introspection and hope, contrasted by weighty and intense impending doom created through unique soundscapes and powerful subject matters. It skilfully unravels a flowing and ever-evolving journey that immerses the listener in a transcendent experience rich with emotion and intensity.

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