Tokens of Appreciation
So, my friends I’m back after a laptop change and lifestyle adjustment as I try to settle the feud between my cat and 2 kittens that we have brought into the house. Yes, there has been blood, mainly mine and amidst the ensuing noise and cat fights I am still reviewing. Today I have the new Sleep Token and what a joy it is against the backdrop of my usual insane and deliriously incoherent existence.
Hands across the water, we begin with ‘Atlantic’ and be sure to get sucked in by the stunning piano introduction, you won’t be turning back now. Under ‘Hypnosis’ you will want to be ‘Mine’ as we continue the intriguing and beguiling journey, which is just as mystifying as the creator. Sleep Token are a co-operative. much like my friends Scarred By Truth, a group of artists come together to produce material as the situation arises, but in this case, they are keeping their identities undercover. The idea is to concentrate entirely on the music and not be distracted by looks. The first single is ‘The Love You Want’ and the video reminds me of Dante’s journey through Hell, a lonely figure finding his way through, maybe not fully understanding but determined in his endeavour. The lyrics again are important, for example ‘save your love for someone I am not’ a dagger to the arteries my friends. The band are led by the mysterious gent known as Vessel, he is elusive, yet his music is intrusive and immersive, he digs away silently at the wounds you thought you hid.
The acapella sound of ‘Fall For Me’ ushers in the gentler side, as on this album you will find these slower pieces cosy up to the more industrial and heavier aspects. The second single is ‘Alkaline’ a love song that takes inspiration from the periodic table, a chemical imbalance maybe but nothing that needs to be challenged, it is clever in its delivery with words like ‘she’s an undiscovered element’ a sense of humour is appreciated greatly right now. Keeping with the scientific theme we encounter ‘Telomeres’ admittedly I had to look this up, these are part of our cell structure and basically their job is to prevent our DNA strands from damage. Here I think it is quite relevant as we are now out of lockdown and much has been ruined, we need to find a way forward with what we have left.
For me the entire album is a hymn book, it is choral and liturgical, there is drama, yet it is austere, there is thought and presence of mind here, all shaping up to be a colossal release for this year. To listen to this is an act of worship, solemn and sublime, sacred and untainted.
It is time to open the book of stories you haven’t told, settle down my friends, there’s plenty of room in this tomb.
Sleep Token – This Place Will Become Your Tomb out now via Spinefarm Records