We are on the verge of being three EPs into Sleeping at Last’s open-ended Atlas series, but I figured IATU readers should be caught up before we tackle the forthcoming Space EP. Darkness and Light are two sides of a record (so to speak) that are also the first two releases in the Atlas series. After the breathtaking Yearbook series came to an end, I could hardly wait for what would come next from this Wheaton, IL based artist.
Darkness presents all that we know and love from recent Sleeping at Last yet at the same time shows remarkable growth. “The universe began with our eyes closed…” Ryan O’Neal ever so eloquently croons over the ukelele in “Overture,” a beautiful way to launch us on this journey that Ryan doesn’t even know the ending of yet. “Woodwork” is a beauty of sweeping soundscapes that envelop us in a rather earthy, yet cinematic manner. “I’ll Keep You Safe” is a love song of reassurance that swoons with a gentle passion and caressing repeating melody on the piano and xylophone. This is one uplifting love song that avoids being too touchy feely or cheesy. This writer has a low tolerance for “mush” and this is a love song I can get on board with. “Bad Blood” takes on a contemplative mood, exploring concepts of grace and also some of the musical tones set in “Woodwork.” “Uneven Odds” is a nothing less than a lyrical masterpiece, and a musical one too – it clocks in at nearly 6 minutes long. “Maybe your beauty is a seed / and the darkness, the dirt / in spite of the uneven odds / beauty lifts from the Earth” croons O’Neal in the chorus. This is a prime example of how there are many layers of interpretation to dig through in Sleeping at Last compositions.
Color me convinced that the Atlas series will be every bit as good as the Yearbook series.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eV5hfXDMpr4&h=297&w=450]
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