There was a time when the Eye in the Cloud seemed a mere romantic doom-projection, a quest that involved snake charming melodies, words and cadences that put us at a distance from that near-future we have since achieved. Now old parts of my mind and this city are being leveled. The hazy primary-colored plastic signs of corner Chinese joints are being replaced with a blinding, blinking, blue-backed light. Perhaps this type of light as Devin sings, “this is the darkness for me”. But these songs feel from some other time, a time of joy rides in sweltering heat when we still had cars to drive off in and desire seemed more habitual however wise or foolish. These songs were the arc between the point A’s and point B’s, the crests and cradles amidst the hellos and goodbyes. The path to understanding comes through cacophony and camaraderie not calcification. To me, this is the essence of music. Old recordings new recordings they all occupy a place that is always within. The resurfacing of Eye in the Cloud is a reminder of this: that things can be had and taken, but songs stay. They are a warm capsule of truths, half-truths, and wild imaginings. Real earthquakes entwined with dream visions. Birdie Busch - Philadelphia -- Produced by Devin Greenwood Recorded by Rachel Russell at Scullville Studios, Scullville, NJ Mixed by Shelly Yakus, Rachel Russell and Devin Greenwood at Scullville Studios Assisted by Kim Hall, Vanessa Rud and Jonny Szczesniak Additional vocal production by Darcy Ataman Additional engineering by Devin Greenwood String and horn arrangements by Matt Davis Mastered by Dave McNair, Dave McNair Mastering Executive Producer, Jerry Klause Cover image by Nim Ben Reuven All songs written by Devin Greenwood copyright © 2006 Secret Piney Music Devin Greenwood – lead and backing vocals, bass guitars, baritone, electric and acoustic guitars, lap steel, piano, hammond B3, wurlitzer electric piano, philicorda, kalimba, juno106, qs8, accordion, hand claps, mandolin, percussion, chanter, additional drums on This Over Here Ross Bellenoit – electric, acoustic, 12-string electric, baritone, classical and slide guitars, lap steel, geoffery family band piano, juno106, piano and drums on This Over Here Ivan Funk – drums Joe Boruchow – electric and slide guitar Sean Hoots – electric guitar Larry Campbell – pedal steel, banjo John Francis – harmonica, backing vocals Michael McShane – backing vocals Todd Erk – bass guitar on Bamboo Forest Andrew Keenan – electric guitar on Passion Weak George Stanford – trombone on Passion Weak Bryan Rogers – tenor and baritone saxophone George Barnett – french horn Mike Cemprola - flute Jason O'Mara – oboe Meg Kajino - violin Josh Sussman - violin George Burton - viola Matt Roberts - cello Nathan Barnett - tamborine