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Sleepwalker
Vibraphone Records
Some say dream pop — that drenched in reverb sound linked to bands
like The Verve and My Bloody Valentine — will always be known as nostalgic.
True, it was fully realized in the '80s and early '90s, but San
Francisco's Astral manage to keep it alive and well, mainly due to the
heartfelt sincerity of their sound. Sleepwalker, the band's sixth release,
features 10 ethereal and majestic melodies all recorded on 8-track analog
tape, giving it that warm, fuzzy atmosphere that seems to be missing
from a lot of recordings these days. "Ways and Means," the sixth track, is an instant favorite, taking you back to England circa '85, while the shoegaze of "Hindsight" reveals a post-punk edginess. Sleepwalker won't change your world, but it'll transcend you to a beautiful dream state, if only for a little while.
- Buster Betty
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