Sleeptheives CD review

Sleep Thieves

It was only a Satellite E.P. and City Lights single

Angela Macari O’Looney

Indie/Electro/Pop band Seep Thieves comprises Sorcha Brennan-Vocals/keys/Synth/Glock/Guitar, Wayne Fahy- Bass/Synth/Vocals/Programming and Derek Murphy-Guitars/Synth/Keys/Programming. They got together in 2008, from the ashes of other bands and blend well, seeming to really enjoy creating new sounds. This band is particularly entertaining to watch live, when they alternate between instruments for different numbers.
With Sorcha’s light vocals combined with catchy melody lines and electronic arrangements that are appealing, Sleep Thieves have begun to develop their music further, exploring newer ingredients to enhance each interesting song.

It was only a Satellite is their debut E.P. with four excellent tracks.

Winter

An electronic keyboard intro takes you into this number, with rhythm joining in. Wayne performs the verse and Sorcha the chorus, which is sweet and has a cheerful pop beat. The lyrics are happy and uplifting. Harmony is delicious and both singers combine their vocals well, with Wayne doing a refrain with the last chorus, where a glockenspiel riff creates a magical atmosphere.

Osumi

An electronic riff throughout this upbeat song is the key feature for me. Lots of weird and wonderful sound effects and percussion make it exciting. A strange disjointed guitar solo is unexpected, but adds to the space aged mood. Sorcha’s vocals are haunting.

Make your move

The baseline in this number is a big feature. Lots of trickling electronica throughout is quite appealing in this mainly instrumental piece. Sorcha sings a short chorus and things are laid back, with a dancey beat.

This is not an Exit

Promo lyrics, experimental style keyboards and a fast moving beat give this number life. Sorcha shouts out the words in a commanding voice, while complex instrumentals surround her and although quite short in length, there’s a whole lot going on throughout the piece. Like the E.P. itself, you get a compact and very enjoyable trip as you journey with this band and their various hi tech sounds.


City Lights

This fast moving song has a pretty simple melody line, with a catchy synth riff featuring. Sorcha paints a picture with her lyrics that’s quite romantic and the descriptions are great; In the morning we went out walking, we walked all day/ And we let the wind and the sea air blow all our worries away.

Bands from the 80s such as O.M.D. come into my head when I hear this plethora of electronica teamed with a musical vocal. There’s a nice combination of sweetness in Sorcha’s voice plus rhythmic, systematic beats and notation all very intricate, but really memorable. This new single is an enjoyable escape.

Sleep Thieves are a gentler version of electro act, with a female fronting it. Think of Fight Like Apes, Ham Sandwich, or Grand Pocket Orchestra, with less aggression and easily remembered, defining melody lines and it describes this young trio. They have played support to Fight Like Apes, Cranes and Dark Room Notes and also performed in the IMRO Showcase and Fringe festivals. Their debut album has a picture of a satellite in the night sky on it and perhaps a shooting star in the night sky would be a nice thought for their next CD, reflecting new age music, ambition and hope!