Wintersleep - Welcome To The Night Sky

Hailing from the wilds of Nova Scotia, Canada, has allowed this five-piece to hone their skills at story-telling and their use of effects-laden melodies. With undertones of Interpol and even REM this album resonates with quality and an understanding of music that is most definately missing from the mainstream indie-rock genre. But Wintersleep are no one-trick pony. 'Welcome To The Night Sky' is their third album, and was shortly released after being given the 2008 Juno Award for New Group Of The Year.

Coming in at a shy over 40 minutes this is a journey into the soul and takes the listener on a journey about heartbreak, failed relationships, hopes and dreams. All good content for heart-riddled music. The opener 'Drunk On Aluminium' is a slow and steady whispery tale of violence which allows the listener to feel a little uncomfortable but also to bask in the wonderful deep vocals of lead singer Paul Murphy. The mood starts to rise (albeit with the music, not the content) with Archaeologists, a dank tale about the finding of a boys remains. One of the highlights of this record is track 4, 'Weighty Ghost'. A song about losing oneself as a ghost, the track happily jumps through its 3 minutes and 39 seconds. The use of various instruments and the sing-along chorus at the end are what makes this band perform so well.

The rest of the album moves along at a steady pace and is well recieved. The REM-esque 'Astronaut' is a light relief, which segways into the tremendous finale that is 'Miasmal Smoke & the Yellow Bellied Freaks'. This 8 minute track truly rounds out this body of work in enigmatic style. Using feedback and long interludes of just guitar, bass and drums this track is truly what Wintersleep speak for.

Wintersleep's previous two albums were mearly a prelude to this. Accessible without being overtly indie and 'art school', 'Welcome To The Night Sky' allows the listener to tune out of their everyday routine and experience what the soundtrack to the wilds of Canada would be like.

This band has earned the right to take the music scene by the balls and give it a good shake. If this is the direction that their musical style is going, Wintersleep, along with bands like Frightened Rabbit, The National and Elefant, can take over the crown from bands like Arcade Fire or Interpol.