Sleepy Sun - Fever
So, it was with equal measures of excitement and trepidation I slipped the new album 'Fever' by Sleepy Sun into the CD player. Their debut 'Embrace' made it to my album of the year and so their new offering had a lot to live up to. Could it blow me away or would it result in a shrug of the shoulders and a 'meh'?
Well, unfortunately it kind of does both. The song writing is stronger, leaning away from tunes that sound like raucous jams and towards a Laurel Canyon and even Fleetwood Mac vibe, but still managing to maintain their stoner, freewheelin' groove that was so ever present on the first album.
There are moments of unadulterated glory like on opener 'Marina' where the tune drops out and grows from a tribal, bongo frenzied chant back into the rock behemoth of its origins or the droning and downright dirty guitar work on 'Wild Machines'. Awesome! However, these moments don't come often enough and your left with the impression of a band that have reigned themselves in just a bit too much. Where's the psychedelic freak out of 'White Dove' or the laid back and blissed out groove of 'Lord'?
Rachel Williams does need a mention as it is her harmonies on this album that set them apart from any usual stoner, psychedelic, freak out band. Think Black Mountain but with harmonies that could leave the Everly Brothers salivating. The more liberal use of the aggressive harmonica also adds a new and better element that was missing on the first album.
Overall then an album that puts a smile on the face but few hairs on the chest. Some tracks will leave you yearning for more and some will have you reaching for the skip button and you wonder whether or not with a longer gestation and a bit more touring could this have been a much better proposition. Less a fever, more slightly under the weather!
Top Tracks: 'Marina', 'Desert God'.
Released May 17 on ATP