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Wintersleep

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Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Website: http://www.wintersleep.com/

Bio: "Miasmal Smoke + The Yellow Bellied Freaks" starts its marching build with echoing drums and an organ bleeding out a nervous buzz. Epic and ... (more) lonely, it's the score for the flickering light of a glowing soul that closes the door to Wintersleep's third album, Welcome to the Night Sky.

Like its final song, the album built up gradually over the past two years. From a mass of ghostly melodies, half-finished lyrics and nervesplicing drum beats, it has shaped into the band's finest collection to date.

Following the release of their 2005 self-titled sophomore album, Wintersleep spent months on the road touring through Canada, America and Europe. Upon return to their native Halifax, the band enlisted the ear of veteran producer Tony Doogan (Mogwai, Belle & Sebastian and Super Furry Animals), and hid themselves in studio for April and May of 2007. It was during this time that the ten tracks of Welcome... grew into their final stunning form.

The album shows continuity with the band's previous work, but also marks a significant development. The uneasy pacing of "Drunk on Aluminum" voyages into unexpected depths as the song's plaintive notes collect themselves into an offensive against the darkness that threatens to engulf. Although lyrically related, "Dead Letter + The Infinite Yes" counters this with organic chords, soaring melodies and a backbone of pounding rhythm. From the howling chorus of "Archaeologists," to the drifting-conscious of "Lasers Beams," the emotional and thematic cohesion of the album never loosens.

Each song in its own way points to the fact that sometimes looking too hard reveals things best left unseen. But still, hope grows beneath these sable clouds and distant stars, and a lightthem all. Until then, welcome to the night sky... (less)