DREAM THE ELECTRIC SLEEP – Beneath The Dark Wide Sky (2016)
Hailing from Lexington, Kentucky, DREAM THE ELECTRIC SLEEP has been exposing the world to their brand of progressive rock for seven years. After two self-produced independent releases, 2016 marks the release of “Beneath The Dark Wide Sky” on Mutiny Records.
They combine prog-rock from the Seventies with ’80s rock&pop crafting an expansive, eclectic sound. It’s prog, but not just prog. Dream The Electric Sleep’s music also is firmly planted in the post rock camp, even adding some Eighties darkwave into the mix.
Frost* are the nearest equivalent I can associate them with, but there are echoes of many other acts from different genres, all sounding very modern from arrangements to production, handled by Nick Raskulinecz (Rush).
Opening with ‘Drift’ which has an acoustic intro with vocals singing as though you are awaking from a dream, as the song carries you into a hypnotising melody.
Lead single ‘Let the Light Flood In’ is as uplifting as it is catchy, the guitar technique is beautiful with clear attention to detail with the flow of the song. With all the songs on this album the bass and drum play in unison, building tension into soaring climaxes that raise the hairs on the back of your neck.
‘Flight’ takes us on a mellow journey through harmonies and emotions, which leads us into ‘We Who Blackout The Sun’. This instrumental number creates layers of well crafted riffs, entwined with a thundering bass and almost prog guitar solos that take you back in time.
As it fades out ‘Hanging By Time’ opens with powerful vocals mixed with a nice melody. ‘Culling the Herd’ showcases the emotion in Matt Page ’s vocal performance, which is heightened with lyrical content that is soulful and heartfelt. Then there is a mesmerizing dynamic from the keyboards/piano and strings on ‘The Last Psalm to Silence’.
‘The Good Night Sky’ is one of my favorite tracks, I can imagine it going down well live. It is tuneful as it builds up with a catchy verse and chorus, sliced together with guitar riffs. Their latest single ‘Headlights’ is skilfully written song, with rolling drums that carry you on a journey.
‘Black Wind’ is a mix of vocal distortion that adds layers of texture to a pounding drum beat that again create this aura like dream state, that mixes well with the guitar. Final track ‘All Good Things’ has melodies that carries us to the end of this beautiful album of modern prog rock.
The Dream The Electric Sleep are full of energy and write songs that may not be complex 20 minute epics with numerous time changes, chord structures that require an excess of digits to replicate but they are still “Prog”, but in a modern style, mixing disparate elements and forging their path.
In conclusion, if you like the idea of music that refuses to sit in a box with a neat label on it, if you like contemporary production values were the sum is greater than the parts, then take a listen.
01 – Drift
02 – Let The Light Flood In
03 – Flight
04 – We Who Blackout The Sun
05 – Hanging By Time
06 – Culling The Herd
07 – The Last Psalm To Silence
08 – The Good Night Sky
09 – Headlights
10 – Black Wind
11 – All Good Things
Matt Page (vocals, guitar)
Joey Waters (drums)
Chris Tackett (bass)
BUY IT !
mutiny-records.com/product/dream-the-electric-sleep-beneath-the-dark-wide-sky-cd-digipack/
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