Arctic Sleep – Mare Vaporum

Arctic Sleep
Mare Vaporum

Back in the day, KXLU used to occasionally play this insane, minimalist song by a band called Slug that consisted of a single sludgy distorted chord being played over and over some standard Velvet Underground drumbeat for about 15 minutes with no vocals. For some reason, instead of switching the radio station, I’d sit there mesmerized in the car while the beat quite literally went on.

Arctic Sleep ain’t exactly like that, but there are moments when I thought they were similar. Likewise, their EP Mare Vaporum wasn’t exactly the music I’d listen to everyday but held me oddly captivated. The music is extremely distorted space rock / shoe-gaze, but there are different stylistic and melodic elements here that make it stand out. It’s sort of like Pedro the Lion or early Sebadoh being played by Flying Saucer Attack. The deep ocean distortion doesn’t flay you alive, but instead caresses you with kindness. There’s another band who I saw a few times that they sort of remind me of called Ativin. The 5 atmospheric tracks on the EP have really made for some lovely listening in this sweltering heat of late – turn on the A.C., and turn up the Arctic Sleep.

Visit:
Arctic Sleep on Myspace

by Palebear