The Eye (KUKL album)

Infobox Album | Name = The Eye
Type = Album
Artist = KUKL


Recorded = January 1984
Released = September 1984
Genre = Post-Punk
Length = 27:15
Label = Crass Records
Cat. No.:1984/1
Producer = Penny Rimbaud
Reviews = * Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:5jd4vwmya9rk link]
*"Sounds Magazine" Rating|5|5 Issue: September 3, 1984
Last album ="Söngull"
(1983)
This album ="The Eye"
(1984)
Next album ="KUKL á Paris 14.9.84"
(1984)

"The Eye", was the debut album of the Icelandic gothic rock group KUKL. This album was released in September 1984, through Crass Records and was recorded at Southern Studios in January 1984. [Berger, George "The Story of Crass" (Omnibus Press, 2006)] The album peaked at number 6 in the UK Independent albums chart. Though under half an hour in length, the music ranges widely - from the wild, grotesque and deconstructionist punk rock of "Assassin" and "Seagull" to the almost danceable rhythm and church-like bells of "Dismembered" and several moments of exotic, oriental-styled music which is perhaps due to the influence of band-member Björk's supposed infatuation with the country of Japan at this stage in her life.
The album was named after Björk’s favourite book, "Story of the Eye", by Georges Bataille (1928), a very intense story about a young French couple involved in sexual perversions and violent behaviours.

"The Eye" starts with "Assassin", a powerful track loaded with several instruments including electrically powered guitars backed up by bells and pipes, with lead vocals by Einar Örn Benediktsson and Björk whispering in the background.
"Anna" contains distinctly oriental-sounding flutes and slowly played drums throughout most of its length, which is suddenly broken by stronger layers of guitars and more rhythmic drum beats.

One of the most important songs taken from "The Eye" is "Dismembered", a track that could be considered as a post punk work. Here most of the guitars have been replaced by pipes and bells. The original, more guitar-oriented version of this song first appeared as the single "Söngull" in 1983. The album closes with "Handa Tjolla", a percussion-practise track which sounds more than anything like a Japanese taiko drumming ensemble.

Engineering was in charge of Tony Cook and the art cover was designed by artist Dada Nana.

KUKL were:
*Vocals: Björk Guðmundsdóttir.
*Vocals and trumpet: Einar Örn Benediktsson.
*Electric guitar: Guðlaugur Kristinn Óttarsson.
*Bass: Birgir Mogensen.
*Keyboards: Einar Arnaldur Melax.
*Drums: Sigtryggur Baldursson.

Track listing

Reviews

"Sounds" - September 3, 1984.
Rate: Rating|5|5 (Excellent).Author: David Tibet.
"EFFORTLESSLY DETERMINED, Kukl release an LP which trashes the ho-hum accusations of the Crass-Records-all-sound-the-same ilk. "The Eye" steps boldly out of the supposed confines that the Crass label is meant to impose (confines is meant to exist only in the minds of those looking for reasons to criticise), and drags the listener into a glacial world of confused emotion and shattered visions. Side one: "Assassin", high kicking and jack booting through lengthening horns and scarred surfaces, a 'rock' song being slowly demolished, ending up in screams. Reminiscent ever so slightly of "The Scream", primarily I suppose because of the howling vocals and decaying metal. "The Eye" easily passes beyond that as there is not a hint of contrived control or predetermined melodramatic effect. "The Spire" offers images of Holy Mother Church, with an atmosphere that contradicts the phrases lingering just behind: "I know the power/Pointing up/Raised fist/Exploding penis." And in the background, there is the shadow of menace. "On the other side of a big river/Lies her own body" ("Anna"): reminding me of "Steven" from Alice Cooper's "Welcome to My Nightmare" LP, all haunting vocals that breathe a hopelessness from foreign towns. It seems pointless (patronising?) to mention that they're from Iceland, but it helps to give a pointer towards this desolate, clinging mood that informs the LP: "Dismembered/Hugging shadows/...Play with me" ('Dismembered'). An amazing record, and a swift plug too for the incredible cover by Dada Nana, and for the label. Crass Records who refresh the minds that other labels only brainwash ..."

Note: Text taken from a collection of news articles freely distributed in connection with the band’s concert at Austurbæjarbíó, Reykjavík, on the 21st of December, 1984.

Video clips

*"Anna": [http://www.jsnet.com.br/bjork/kukl_anna___bjorkjsnet_bjork.com.br.wmv MPEG] - directed by Tage Amendrup.

References

External links

* [http://www.hanshan.org/musikk/kukl.php Website about the history and discography of KUKL]