My Denton Music spotlight: Sleep Whale

by Sarah Crisman of My Denton Music

Sleep Whale

Have you ever been going about your life not necessarily paying attention until the light catches your eyes in just a way that you suddenly notice the tiniest detail on a button or the branch of a tree -- and you get these warm shivers of remembering that you're alive? This is what Sleep Whale (formerly known as Mom) does to me. The first time I saw them, it felt like a window opened on the far end of the Universe and let in just that sort of light. I went home from the show and immediately listened to their album, Little Brite, all the way through. I didn't even take off my shoes. I just sat on the floor next to my record player and listened. And that's where I am now (I've taken my shoes off since, but the soundtrack remains the same).

Joel North and Bruce Blay serve as the creative backbone (and I mean that in the most sacred sense of the word) behind the ambient project formerly known as Mom. The pleasure of the Sleep Whale experience at the point of writing this article is two live shows and approximately three weeks of listening to their album at every possible moment. When I'm not listening to them, I kind of wish I was.

Their new album is due out very soon. Judging by the boyish excitement in their eyes when either of them speaks of the record, I would wager we have something special to look forward to. Little Brite, the album released under Mom, is an audiophile staple (and available on vinyl). I actually listened to it all night and had the most vivid and beautifully realistic dreams. I could taste the beer I was drinking in my dreams, and any music that makes my subconscious taste of Blue Moon and a slice of orange is OK by me.

But I digress.

The live music experience of a Sleep Whale show is nothing short of a spiritual exploration of sound. I suggest leaning against a wall or sitting right on the floor (as much of the crowd at Hailey's was doing this week when they opened for Balmorhea). If you try to stand during a show, you're just going to tip over. Plus if you're leaning against something, Joel's cello playing will creep right up through the earth and into your bones. The constant tinkling of bells transcends anything else I've heard locally, and I have to remind myself that I don't actually live in some sort of magical Icelandic clock. I am quite certain that Bjork is going to suddenly manifest on stage at some point. I want Sigur Ros to listen to Sleep Whale, and then I want to see them all play a show together. Music is many things to many people, but Sleep Whale to me, is exactly what music should be.

You can let Sleep Whale shatter your perception of reality Saturday, June 27th at Hailey's with Power Animal; and be sure to spend some quality time on http://myspace.com/sleepwhale.