Hilly Eye is the duo of guitarist/singer Amy Klein (formerly of Titus Andronicus) and drummer Catherine Tung. At its best, Hilly Eye's debut full-length, Reasons to Live, holds a strange hypnotic power. Psychedelic loops and droning guitar effects ebb and flow, punctuated by spare electric guitar riffs, primitive drumming, and feral bursts of sound. Similarly, Klein’s vocals range from detached and deep in the mix to a soft falsetto or an unhinged howl. This combination of abrasiveness and vulnerability comes across most effectively on “Jersey City,” “Amnesia,” and “Almanac.” Elsewhere, the somber and melodic “January” is countered by the manic energy of “Animals,” propelled by edgy and relentless drum patterns. Based on themes of exploration and escape, Reasons to Live is a dynamic first effort by an intriguing band.