After exorcising past demons and embracing new directions on their stellar 2011 release The Valley, Eisley decided to go back to their roots somewhat (while taking some of that new found edge on The Valley) on their brand new EP Deep Space. Recorded and produced by the band (along with engineer/mixer Andy Freeman) in their hometown of Tyler, Texas, the DuPree clan (Stacy, Sherri, Chauntelle, Garron, and Weston) were inspired by the works of sci-fi novelist Ray Bradbury and turned a five-song EP into a remarkable love story set in space that fully enraptures you.
That classic, whimsical Eisley sound is in full force on opener “Lights Out,” which features a beautiful back and forth melody between Sherri DuPree-Bemis and Stacy DuPree backed by smooth guitar riffs. The hushed fuzz of “Laugh If Off” gracefully flows in the vein of a Feist track, as Stacy’s soulful vocals mesh well within the aura of her Rhodes piano. Both tracks are nods to previous Eisley recordings, but they are beefed up by the group’s continual improvement in their songwriting craft.
The highlight comes halfway through Deep Space, as the song that shares the same name features the core concept of the EP. It’s also might be the best song in Eisley’s discography, a claim that is backed up once the first chorus hits. The delicate first verse quickly transitions into a distorted frenzy led by Sherri and Stacey’s soaring give-and-go vocals. The track combines its atmospheric tendencies with garage rock undertones (in which Chauntelle drops a killer riff), making it one of the band’s brashest songs.
Because the group found themselves in a such a happy place while recording Deep Space, it allowed for them to let go and try out some different things. The folksy twang of “192 Days” is an adorable love song, while the aptly titled “One Last Song” begins in a dreamlike trance before drifting off into a bluesy, gang-vocal infused outro.
While some of this EP might be rooted in the band’s past sound, you can hear the progression from that throughout Deep Space, as the quintet added different dimensions and layers to each track, a sign that the DuPree’s are just starting to hit their stride. The momentum witnessed on The Valley has been conveyed into Deep Space, as Eisley continues to write its best songs.