The Sleeper Has Awakened - The Sleeper Has Awakened

The Sleeper Has Awakened delivers their debut in the form of a 3-song self-titled EP with album art vaguely reminiscent of a low-fi version of Crimson's "Court of the Crimson King".

The first track, "Kill Me First, Fast and Again", opens with some harsh metallic sounds before the percussion comes in. The song builds up an interesting slow groove, setting up the entrance of the synth and guitar layers that come in. In addition to this, we hear vocal samples and elements of white noise blended with guitar and electronics, but it's all very rhythmic, not chaotic at all. This song has a great groove to it and definitely falls into that rhythmic noise category, without moving into "wall of noise" territory.

"(Scenes From) A Silent Light" is up next and begins with percussion that seems to be formed from field recordings layered beneath and some drum breaks and vocal samples. There's more moderate tempo rhythmic noise along with some bass and guitar riffs. The third track and final track "That Close" opens with a distorted vocal sample over a heavily delayed clean guitar. Lots of delay and chorus here to create a spacey effect. Eventually beats come in and make this a straightforward electronic/ambient track that in turn evolves into something another rhythmic noise track.

It's short, clocking in at about 15 minutes, but I like the organic feel of what The Sleeper Has Awakened creates in that time; it's good to see someone work at blending traditional instruments with noisy electronic sounds. It's an unusual approach they take, and I look forward to hearing more from them. Apr 24 2012