ALBUM REVIEW: ASTRAL~SLEEPWALKER
November 16th 2007 23:18
I do enjoy the thrill of a new album by one of my top ten bands - right from that very first moment when the postie drops a packet in the mailbox and I find it is a CD rather than a bill, through to playing it so often that I have every note and lyric stuck in my head. 2006 gave me new treats from Madelia, Keith Varon, LYP and Shades of Day - and here I am in 2007, with a brand new Astral album to indulge in!
Sleepwalker is a ten-track compilation of that uplifting solid-wispiness Astral can claim as their archetypal sound. You cannot help but relax into this music; as drifty and daydreamy as incense vapors, as restful as Savasana - if you don't have time for a siesta, play this CD!
CRACKED - Wheeling, rolling bops topped with 80's style distorted vox.
WATERFALL - Cascades of mellow, gentle waves. Restful. Soft floating vocals & perfected instrument blending.
TRANSMITTER - Waves of crisp boom bass-base covered in clear words and accompanied by acoustified guitar melodies.
HINDSIGHT - A quiet start, clear guitar strums, sweet drifting singing, bouncing smoothly along.
A LULLABY FROM AMSTERDAM - Soft and gentle vocals absorbed into the overall sound. Clicks with a bass rollover repacing interphonicaly.
WAYS AND MEANS - The drums go on a spree, joined by electro-spacey guitar sounds and sweet 80's style vocalization.
IN CIRCLES - As per title, the main melody and vocals twist in circles, supported by a soundful undercurrent of supplementary instrumentation.
WINTERS IN MAY - A tranquil instrumental track. Calming - you could sink right into the sound and disappear - except that you are pulled out of the sinking-sand-slumbers by the drums retrieval of your consciousness. Excellent blending of instruments.
WHITE TIGERS - The shortest track strolls in to your ears with tribal drum and jungle chatter effects as if the very place the title creatures dwell. Strong 80's style vocals take us through this environmental imagery.
SLEEPWALKER - Back to typical Astral atmospherics for the longest and final track. Sweet distorted singing, rolls of sound, and drums to insist your toes keep tapping whilst your body sways along and sinks deeply into the music. A bass interlude steals you back to awareness before full surrender into these sounds float you fully away.
All tracks come from the hand and heart of Dave Han, with all but song #5 having additional writer-creators. Over 40 minutes of music as soft, smooth, and soothing as a bubble bath after a day spent hard at work in the garden. This album will definitely stay in its new home in my 'regular play' pile.
Further information on the band and music can be located at www.astralsf.com
CRACKED - Wheeling, rolling bops topped with 80's style distorted vox.
WATERFALL - Cascades of mellow, gentle waves. Restful. Soft floating vocals & perfected instrument blending.
TRANSMITTER - Waves of crisp boom bass-base covered in clear words and accompanied by acoustified guitar melodies.
HINDSIGHT - A quiet start, clear guitar strums, sweet drifting singing, bouncing smoothly along.
A LULLABY FROM AMSTERDAM - Soft and gentle vocals absorbed into the overall sound. Clicks with a bass rollover repacing interphonicaly.
WAYS AND MEANS - The drums go on a spree, joined by electro-spacey guitar sounds and sweet 80's style vocalization.
IN CIRCLES - As per title, the main melody and vocals twist in circles, supported by a soundful undercurrent of supplementary instrumentation.
WHITE TIGERS - The shortest track strolls in to your ears with tribal drum and jungle chatter effects as if the very place the title creatures dwell. Strong 80's style vocals take us through this environmental imagery.
SLEEPWALKER - Back to typical Astral atmospherics for the longest and final track. Sweet distorted singing, rolls of sound, and drums to insist your toes keep tapping whilst your body sways along and sinks deeply into the music. A bass interlude steals you back to awareness before full surrender into these sounds float you fully away.
All tracks come from the hand and heart of Dave Han, with all but song #5 having additional writer-creators. Over 40 minutes of music as soft, smooth, and soothing as a bubble bath after a day spent hard at work in the garden. This album will definitely stay in its new home in my 'regular play' pile.
Further information on the band and music can be located at www.astralsf.com
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