Sleep Moscow, unlike what the band name suggests, do not hail from Russia; they are a Swedish alternative/prog rock band. Their sophomore album, Of the Sun, has just been released on Majestic Mountain Records and it’s a thing of beauty. It is at once spellbinding and serene, a concept album about a cosmonaut leaving a dying earth and everything behind for something bigger.
Retro is quite the ideal word to describe this mood-driven, 39-minute, 9-song musical journey into outer space. From the opening instrumental track, “Home”, segueing into the instantly memorable “Light Will Meet Us”, the music here dazzles. Echoes of Pink Floyd, ghosts of late ‘70s/early ‘80s modular synthesizers are in full display and bring a magical genuineness to the proceedings. The third track, “Gift of Life”, gives the impression that we are immersed in a comfortable bubble without a care in the world. The piano-centric title track follows with delicate splendor. Singer Arvid Hällagård’s ethereal vocals effortlessly take us far away from this plane of existence throughout the album. He’s accompanied by a plethora of dreamy strings, soothing piano, and gentle electronic noises. The above-mentioned strings are at the forefront in the superbly heartbreaking instrumental “Memories“. Next up, “Far Beyond Gone”, is quite possibly my favorite song in an album of favorites. It is ageless and feels like you’ve always known this song, like an old childhood friend. “Alone” is a gorgeous, restrained song with a guest female vocalist for the second half of the song. The last two songs, “Facing the Clouds” and “You Are Over”, constitute a perfect one-two punch to end this remarkable expedition; multi-layered and hypnotic, lingering in your head long after the music stops.
This is another must-have album, folks. With more than half of the year behind us, 2021 has to be one of the strongest years in recent memory for indie doom/stoner/metal/psych/prog music. The Sleep Moscow trio is a force to be reckoned with and have crafted an absolute masterpiece with Of the Sun. This record has immense replay value and I think it’s safe to assume that it will only get better on subsequent spins and is likely to age like the finest of wines.
Sleep Moscow’s Bandcamp page: https://sleepmoscow.bandcamp.com/releases
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