Sleepy Sun - Fever

While we are welcoming England’s current sunny situation, it couldn’t be more a perfect time for the release of Sleepy Sun’s new album ‘Fever’, which comes to us a year after the bands debut album ‘Embrace’. ‘Embrace’, ‘Fever’, there is some kind of theme going on here that sums up Sleepy Sun in seconds.

‘Fever’ contains a nice injection of that hazy, laidback Californian style - the six-pieces’ birth place. The admirably paced nine track album opens with the easy going ‘Marina’, which oozes 60s psychedelia and spirituality. Caught somewhere between Hendrix and the summer of love, the track fights for its individuality with singer Rachel Williams’ tender, delicate vocals. The song peaks in due time with a traditional, tribal sounding drum section and then slowly trickles on to the tongue-twistingly named ‘Rigamaroo’.

The first half of the album continues in this lingering haze. The weather is warm, the reverb is building and the bluesy feel is present. Somewhere in these tracks you will find happiness, and subsequently be thrown into the second half of the album. From the crashes of ‘Desert God’ it seems the tempo is heightened and in a state of euphoric peace. This hits on to the angrier sounds of ‘Open Eyes’, in which Williams’ almost desperately pleads with us to open our eyes.

Almighty closure to a brief stop in nirvana comes with ending track ‘Sandstorm Woman’. Easing you in with harmonican sounds, it’s not until later in this epic nearly-nine-minute track that the urgent 70s rock shines through. The worming guitars and vocals willing you to sleep, take you on a blues journey through deserts and mirage.

It’s perceptible that throughout this album is a strong tranquil vibe baked in a smokey haze, yet this is not a subject of ambivalence. Sleepy Sun know exactly where they are going, and with strong summer imagery, the right mix of stoner rock, experimentality and pure relaxed bliss they are taking us with them. I, for one, am more than happy to follow.