SLEEP STATION

Today's post was supposed to be about the New Jersey group New London Fire and their new album (out today) Sing the Body Holographic. First things first, though....

NLF leader David Debiak is also the primary creative force behind Sleep Station - a somewhat... well... "sleepier" sounding outfit than his current side-project. Mr. Debiak has an obvious fondness for concept albums, and this may send some of the less hearty souls amongst you scurrying for the hills. Hell, it would have sent THIS less-than-hearty soul scurrying for the hills but for the happy fact that I heard the man's music before I started reading about his rather esoteric and analytical proclivities.

Now, I fear I'm doing Sleep Station a great injustice by suggesting that their songs are somehow both dull and dense. And the very term "concept album" tends to conjure thoughts of cold, emotionally impenetrable, oft-times tuneless sonic terrains. Thankfully, Sleep Station proves to be the exception to that rule - with songs that are warm, inviting, and gently infectious, much like Debiak's voice.

Up until recently, Sleep Station had been almost impossibly prolific, producing five records in just four years. Lately, though, Debiak (along with his brother Jason) has been focusing on the aforementioned New London Fire. Still, Sleep Station has not been retired entirely, apparently; it's just on a bit of a hiatus.

Finally, Sleep Station is incredibly generous when it comes to sharing their tunes with the masses, so you'll find endless MP3s on their website [here], MySpace page [here], and on their record company's (Eyeball Records) site [here] as well. Dig in.

From the LP After the War, 2004 >>>
[MP3] "Caroline, London 1940"

From the LP Hang in There Charlie, 2003 >>>
[MP3] "Broke Your Trust"
[MP3] "Fading Out"

From the EP Von Cosel, 2003 >>>
[MP3] "My Last Desire"

From the LP Runaway Elba-1 (v. 3.0), 2002 >>>
[MP3] "Goodbye Elba-1, Part 2"
[MP3] "Silver Hills"
[MP3] "Chicago (Reprise)"

From the LP Anhedonia, 2001 >>>
[MP3] "Happy"