Reviewed by Ian Phillips.
By The Eight Five Two, Independent 2022.
The Eight Five Two is a four-piece band from Sydney and Shiver is their impressive debut single.
The band is an offshoot of the de la Hoyde brothers who are known for their work (both individually and together) with various electronic artists, with pop artist Nick de la Hoyde, and also with their alternative rock outfit Monks of Mellonwah.
The brothers, John, Joe, Nick, and Timm, were born in Australia but grew up on Hong Kong’s Lantau Island at a place called Discovery Bay.
After moving back to Australia, they all found their way to music.
John and Joe via the various bands that they played in before moving to composing and production; Nick who discovered music whilst playing football in Barcelona; and Timm whose love of Asian culture has expressed itself through time spent in Tokyo doing manga drawing and the discovery of Ableton, a German music software company.
They’ve brought these varied life experiences to their composition and performance.
The sound on Shiver is lush, as it has been on all the tracks I’ve heard from them, suggesting they are comfortable with the studio and recording process.
They are also good musicians who can produce a carefully crafted song that is sonically interesting and not just one dimensional.
Shiver is about not being able to let go.
Recollections of the past that are held on to with a hope of somehow rekindling the feelings.
Memories that produce that shiver down your spine.
The memory that lingers and defies time.
While I’ve reviewed other songs released by Nick and the other brothers, I think that Shiver is the first I’ve heard from them as a collective involving all of them.
The brothers are pushing boundaries and exploring numerous musical opportunities at the moment, but I think that there is a lot of potential in The Eight Five Two.
Shiver is a good start. Let’s see how they can build on it.
