Lots of bands describe themselves as “cinematic.” Far fewer bands feature a “live video score” and credit the videographer as a full member of the band. And so knowing that, when I listened to Idle Voices, the newest full-length from Milwaukee/Chicago/St. Louis group Sleepersound, it felt like something was missing from these songs.

Don’t get me wrong: I first listened to the album before I learned that they considered the video aspect of their performance as an essential part of their identity, and on that listen, there seemed to be a narrative weaving its way through the songs. Not just the lyrics, per se­—which are actually pretty rare here—but in the instrumental passages. The songs shift between movements like a soundtrack or classical symphony, vocals occasionally marking moments of significance. That’s not too unusual—I listen to too much post rock to be surprised by that. But when I read about their live performance, it clicked. It’s one thing for a band to conjure abstract cinematic images, but to actually feature those images as an inherent part of their performance is a rare ambition.

Luckily, that ambition doesn’t end at the proof of concept. These tracks are meticulously crafted and recorded (in the home studio of drummer Dan Niedziejko). Effects-heavy guitars slither and soar in a synthesizer-rich atmosphere (three of the four musicians are credited with keyboards). The drums and bass move almost more like a conductor than a rhythm section, shifting the band through moods like plot points. The band shifts from pensive post rock to lullaby-like synth interludes to urgent post punk to dramatic art rock ballads with the same conviction and skill.

In twenty-eight minutes, they meander through a broader sonic palette than many bands do in an entire career. And what’s more, they do it without ever sounding unfocused or inauthentic. There are some vague points of reference (Radiohead, Sleeping at Last, Unwed Sailor), but they’re a poor descriptor for Sleepersound’s sound—as evidenced by the fact that the three bands I mentioned sound nothing alike. But what’s important is that throughout the different sounds on the album, they always have a clear voice. Now if only I could find a way to watch their video work too…

-Nathaniel Fitzgerald

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