A sleep-deprived instrumental adventure
Not all music is created to be catchy. Heck, not all music is meant to be sung. Like any genre (country, metal, jazz), instrumental tunes are not for everyone. To some, simply the absence of vocals makes instrumentals skippable. Usually instrumentals only keep interest if it’s something that people already recognize, like the Harry Potter soundtrack, for example. What instrumental music and a fair amount of not-written-with-catchiness-in-mind vocal music often do very well is create moods, feelings and sonic atmospheres. Whether it’s a mental trick that makes us focus more on the music simply due to the absence of vocals (which usually occupy most of our attention) or the actual composition, varies from chart to chart. Immersion’s new album, Sleepless, is a ten-track collection of moods with each piece functioning as a brief look into sleep-deprived lives.
They did not cheap out with their intro. “Microclimate” is a precious peek at the world between lullaby and dream, where everyone is saying momentary goodbyes as their real selves are about to power down for rest. It conjures up the flowery levels from the classic game, Galaga, some of the more colorful planets in Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith and artwork like the cover of Petit Biscuit’s album Presence. Wonder, beautiful amazement are the most likely thoughts of someone strolling through the land lime-lighted by this opener. A smile coupled with an appreciative head nod ensue with the striking of the very first chord.
Does the album start strong? Absolutely. Too strong? Not quite, but the bookends might be unnecessarily large for the books being held in place. Despite the most unique name of the bunch, “Propulsoid” (track five) is unfortunately uninteresting, though still enjoyable. The closer, “lo,” is a good ending in the sense that the album ends on a strong note, though it’s not quite spilling with conclusiveness. Its chords are incredibly well-chosen, seeing that it’s near impossible to not comprehend the vast amount of adventure and beauty life beholds.
The majority of the song titles are good fits, proven by “Microclimate” right off the bat. “Humming Sea” sounds so much like its title, bathing in oceanic vibes and bubbling sea foam. A young couple staring at the aquatic blanket in front of them as they bunch together in their sunny-day clothing on a 50 degree seaside night. Thoughts and reality swim past each other, acknowledging but ultimately ignoring the other. This is easily the sleeper hit of this project.
“Manic Toys” is the weird, energetic younger sibling of that one friend from middle school. Both outer space and rural countryside come to mind in a puzzling yet sort of captivating mix. The title number effectively uses a bari sax ostinato throughout and serves as desert-wandering head space. Temptation and malicious intent fight the moral compass in “Seeing is Believing,” a tune which attempts to recreate the frustration of soon-to-be-Vader Anakin Skywalker, without using John Williams’ terrific score.
While it can be a challenge for individual songs to shine in an album of similarly-sounding tunes, Sleepless accomplishes that very task and shares a synapse-firing album cover, moods aplenty and insight into the world of the sleepless. Give this one a spin to take a break from the Top 40.
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