Admittedly, when it comes to music reviews, it’s easy to be insular. We like familiarity—artists of certain genres, languages, and locales. We like what’s accessible. Spotify and similar services only enforce this behavior further by grouping artists in these ways. In short, it’s easy to miss what’s going on in the world at large musically, apart from cases where an artist gets a huge break (Bloc Party and Gorillaz are good examples).
London-based alt-rock quartet Another Sky is a prime example of just what you’re missing if you’re fixed solely on the US market. Now, they’re set to debut their first LP to the world. I Slept on the Floor is peppered with bombastic rock that is equally aggressive and graceful. It’s not hard to imagine some songs on the Madden soundtrack, while others feel at home on the dance floor. It’s a sound that thrives on a specific dynamic.
Catrin Vincent’s voice is dressed in a lovable androgyny, much like fellow English artist Ed Tullett. And much like in the case of Tullett, Another Sky’s music is graced with dreamy, ethereal vocal textures that distinguish them from otherwise-run-of-the-mill indie acts. Vincent effortlessly drifts between modal register and head voice, much to cinematic effect.
Musically, there’s a mix of “Hide and Seek” type vocoder parts, synthy arena rock segments, pop ballads, mid-2000s alt-rock, and more. Each artistic risk is paired with something more palatable. It’s like what you might expect from a collaboration between Florence and the Machine and Radiohead. Things get weird, but they never get too abstract for the typical listeners.
Lyrically, Vincent largely speaks of forms of displacement: of physically being away from home, of being vocationally unfulfilled, the struggles of being a woman. The songs rarely show this desperation overtly; instead, it hides quietly, like a smile of someone holding back tears. The album’s title sets the scene nicely: we picture Vincent in an apartment with boxes yet to be unpacked, and physical exhaustion and psychological distress are so overwhelming that she can’t even make it into bed, instead collapsing on the floor.
Certainly, this sentiment is not completely obfuscated, and many of the lyrics are fairly blunt. However, the songs are layered and intricate, and there’s a lot to pay attention to. Listeners are probably more likely to grasp the initial feeling the first time around and pick up on the lyrics later on. Vincent’s voice, regardless of the words, is fascinating in its own right, and the gripping melodies only cement the power of her poetry.
The rest of the band is in full force as well. The rhythm section is particular strong across the album, and drums and bass arguably even eclipse piano and guitar melodies on some songs. “Let Us Be Broken” sees the whole band at their best, and it’s a great entry point for the new listener.
I Slept on the Floor sits somewhere between a scream and a whisper. It is bold without being overbearing. It is self-aware and calculated, even in its moments of entropy. Its peppy facade belies an existential journey to find home and identity. And that’s something that transcends nationality. Another Sky offer listeners a captivating debut that feels leagues beyond their US counterparts.
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