The best record to come out of Australia in 2008 comes in the form of Sleep Parade's debut record. Complete with a myriad of textures, soundscapes, ambiance, and crunch, it's amazing that the turmoil that the Melbourne trio have endured in recent memory (losing their rigs and instruments in a fire, frontman/guitarist Leigh Davies' father battling schizophrenia, an ugly fall-out with a former keyboardist) have created such a stunning record. Helped in part by Forrester Savell (who has worked with fellow Aussies The Butterfly Effect and Karnivool, among others), the record's sheer beauty is mesmerizing, with equal emphasis on electronics and synthesizers (listen to "Passengers" for one example) and guitars and percussion (try album opener "Carry On" or the epic two-parter "Everyday"). The album's theme comes straight from Davies' history: a family member with a severe mental illness struggles, and the relationships that individual has with his family members (and the relationships between the other family members collectively) can always change. The anthemic mantra "All we are is all we are" is repeated consistently throughout the record, and combined with the singer's insight, it's wondrous how a dark and disturbing topic can be presented in such a beautiful manner. The band's even-keel balance throughout the record is surely noteworthy, but the juggernaut "Weeping Walls" - a thundering, yet majestic closer - is rife with multiple layers and melodies, and the ever-building crescendo explodes in one of the most dramatic climaxes heard this year, encapsulating the listener within walls of pounding toms, screaming guitars, and one of Davies' many vocal highlights on the record. The Butterfly Effect and Cog may have released some excellent records this year, but newcomer Sleep Parade unquestionably delivered the most triumphant record out of Oceania in 2008. For fans of Oceansize, Porcupine Tree, and any of the aforementioned (Cog, The Butterfly Effect, Karnivool).
3 Bumps | Bump |
