Since 2009, Lo Recordings mastermind
Jon Tye and monster-obsessed illustrator
Pete Fowler have been operating their
Seahawks project from what may as well be a deserted island paradise somewhere in the middle of the South Pacific, with a perfect, unobstructed view of the galaxy. In reality, they're based in Cornwall, England, but their mix of yacht rock, cosmic disco, and psychedelia, combined with oceanography-inspired artwork, transports listeners into a celestial realm of the mind that resembles a much calmer, more magical place. While some
Seahawks releases have leaned closer to the sort of slo-mo disco that
Tye has included on his
Milky Disco compilations,
Eyes of the Moon continues in the new age-influenced direction of albums like 2018's
Eternal Beams. On opening track "Emergence," soft, swirling synths and sleepwalking beats are accompanied by a trippy guided meditation from a spaced-out narrator who speaks of "birds of paradise" and a variety of emotions which "coalesce and cascade." Ocean waves and bubbling note sequences soothe and pacify the brain on tracks like "Run Through My Mind." The swaying saxophones and lilting rhythm of "Over & Over" approach a sort of wayward island dub. "5th World Symphony" (going one sphere beyond
Jon Hassell's
Fourth World aesthetic) gradually adopts a slowly chugging lite-disco beat after several minutes of bird calls, distant flutes, and softly beating hand drums. "Moon Bump" is a bit more active; its interlocked guitar, synth, and drum machine pulsations are nearly enough to work up a sweat.
Seahawks describe the album's concept as viewing the Earth from the moon and witnessing the destruction that humans have caused, yet their music is devoid of any sense of fear or anarchy. Instead, it resembles transcendence from all of that, placing hope in a future where all conflict is resolved and the entire world can peacefully coexist.