Album review: Something Sleeps by Something Sleeps

Listening to Something Sleeps is a dreamy delicacy. Their warm vocal harmonies and soft, subtle string arrangements will have your spirit lost in a welcoming embrace, but this folk project isn't just about soothing the soul. On this debut eponymous album, they address evil big business with their version of Sarah Ogan Gunning's 'Company Bosses (I Hate the Capitalist System)' and call out female victim blaming on 'Trains', always retaining a sense of melodic composure that helps their messages speak volumes.

Their modesty rings true on 'Fishes', based on a debilitating period of OCD and isolation yet the nature of Something Sleeps is to turn it into a soothing lullaby, and they even go as far as to offer us a dedicated 'Lullaby' which might just become your perfect mediative moment. 

Something Sleeps is a collaboration of old friends, songwriters, and former Tell Tale Tusk members Fiona Fey and Rey Yusuf joined by violinist Monica Viñoly and cellist Josh Considine - a heady quartet whose LP arrives just in time to reflect on the passing into autumn with 'Summer's Lament', a wistful look over the shoulder, indicative of their soulful mindset. Elsewhere they offer fresh takes on traditional folk songs both English 'My Bonny Boy' and Tenerifan '¡Ay, Bajamar!' by updating the former's lyrics to be gender neutral and adding an original jig, while the latter is performed a cappella. 

Sit back, let their musical inventiveness and almost-whisperingly emotive lyrics swoon over you. 

Something Sleeps by Something Sleeps is out now. Catch them on tour on Sunday, September 29th at 

The Jenny Lind in Hastings (info). Watch their videos for 'Bonny Boy' and 'Fishes' below.

Band image by Don Shades.