Peter Buck produces old friends in Portland band Eyelids

Portland band Eyelids has released the video for the song “Found at The Scene of a Rendezvous That Failed.” The track appears on their new album in collaboration with poet Larry Beckett, The Accidental Falls, out February 14, via Jealous Butcher Records.

In addition to producing the album, R.E.M.’s Peter Buck plays bass on "Found at the Scene of a Rendezvous that Failed," which was originally written in 1966 by Tim Buckley and Larry Beckett but not released. Rachel Blumberg, who has made videos for Iron & Wine & Gillian Welch, animated the video. Watch and share here.

From John Moen (vocals, guitar): “We Eyelids proudly present a lovely music video made by a dear friend with whom we share much history! From drumming with Bob Phonic in Beth’s attic (for a real rager) in the late 80’s, to quitting another band at the right time in the early 2000’s (to give poor John a drumming job of his own), to stints with Bright Eyes, M.Ward and Califone- former Portland resident, Rachel Blumberg, has graced us this time with her visual art. It’s a beautiful painting that just so happens to move in time to our humble rendition of ‘Found at the Scene of a Rendezvous that Failed’ written by Tim Buckley and Larry Beckett.”

When acclaimed poet and former Tim Buckley collaborator Larry Beckett first offered Chris Slusarenko and John Moen of Eyelids to write new lyrics for their next record as well as giving them access to his words from the last four decades, the musicians weren’t sure Eyelids soaring brand of guitar driven rock would jibe with someone else's lyrics (including a song that was written with Buckley). “It was Larry’s trust in us that really caused us to think we should do it,” Moen says. “When someone like that is into your work to the degree they want to collaborate, it definitely feeds your confidence.”

On The Accidental Falls, the band step firmly out from the considerable shadow cast by the band members’ second-to-none pedigrees earned from time spent in Guided By Voices, The Decemberists, Stephen Malkmus and Elliott Smith’s bands. Buck also plays on the record with Tucker Martine (Decemberists, My Morning Jacket, Neko Case) and Heba Kadry (Deerhunter, Bjork) who mixed and mastered the record respectively.

Created with band members, Jonathan Drews (guitar), Jim Taltstra (bass) and Paulie Pulvirenti (drums), Eyelids’ fourth album finds the outfit as both stewards of a classic sound (Alex Chiltonites and disciples of early REM or later XTC will fall hard for this project) and accomplished artists propelling their craft to thrilling new heights.

Slusarenko’s relationship with Buck goes back to 1983 when R.E.M. fanboy Chris wrote Peter a gushing letter that Buck answered, leading to a meeting in ‘84, displaying how full circle things have come for the songwriter and guitarist. The magic of being fated to find one of your heroes producing your record a half a century later isn’t lost on Slusarenko. “Peter has always been amazing for us. Having your hero become a friend and collaborator is such a dream and does so much for the band,” the guitarist says. “Even though we’ve been working together for years now, sometimes you look up in the studio and think ‘Holy shit, we’ve got Peter Buck working on our record.’”

As they typically write the music first and add lyrics later, Beckett’s compositions allowed Eyelids to wholly focus on the music and the result is stunning. Already the band’s trademark, the delectably shimmering guitar playing on The Accidental Falls is utterly spellbinding and deeply imbued with joyous emotion—rock n’ roll as catharsis.

The Accidental Falls sees the band expound upon that sound and push it to new heights. The paisley psychedelia of “Dream” and “River” provide a perfect sonic palette cleanser to the cacophonous crashing of drums and guitars the peaks of songs like “Ceremony” and the Elliott Smith-indebted “Monterey” provide. The Accidental Falls casts a hypnotic spell over the listener and triumphantly reminds us, hearts fully on sleeves, why we fell in love with rock n’ roll in the first place.

Pre-order The Accidental Falls

Tour Dates:

Dec. 14th - Seattle, WA Tractor Tavern - w/ Dream Syndicate
Jan. 24th - Athens, GA - 40 Watt Club - w/ Camper Van Beethoven
Jan. 25th - Athens, GA - 40 Watt Club- Eyelids backing John Cameron Mitchell
Feb. 28th - Seattle. WA - Clockout Lounge- Record Release Show
Feb. 29th - Portland, OR - Mississippi Studios - Record Release Show
March 13th - Los Angeles, CA
March 15th- San Francisco, CA
April 3rd - New York, NY
April 4th - New Haven, CT - Cafe 9
April 5th - Washington, DC - Comet Ping Pong
April 6th - Philadelphia, PA - Ortlieb's
April 10th - Atlanta, GA - Club 529
April 11th - Athens, GA - Caledonia
May 29th - Milwaukee. WI
May 30th - Chicago, IL - Space
May 31st - Madison, WI - Kiki's House of Righteous Music