Snakadaktal – Sleep In The Water (12/08/2013)
The indie five-piece, Snakadaktal, new album Sleep In The Water was recently released and is definitely something to listen to. The band have already been seen as up-and-comers by other big name indie bands, such as Alt-J, who they recently had Snakadaktal as their supporting band.
The Dream Pop band has acquired a large following of fans, with their music being played on Triple J with even a few tracks landing in the Hottest 100. Air was one of the third most played songs on Triple J after it was released and was #22 in the Hottest 100, 2011. Dance Bear was voted #93 in the Hottest 100, 2012.
Snakadaktal has already been putting out some fantastic songs that are getting recognition in Australia. Their debut album will definitely add to their growing success, with Sleep In The Water dripping with dreamy pop, floating away with ambient synths and overflowing with mystifying vocals.
Fall Underneath is the first track off the new album. The mixture of a catchy beat, great guitar riff and Phoebe Cockburn’s vocals come through the layers of mystic. Sean Heathcliff lends his vocals for the main chorus which gives a fuller sound. Hung On Tight was one of the pre-released songs from the album and is definitely one of the standout tracks. Sean’s honeyed voice takes the lead while Phoebe sings the bittersweet notes in the background. The song perfectly sums up holding on to someone tightly because you believed that you were in love with them.
The track, Deep, leaves a hazy feeling in the air. The layered vocals and crisp guitar mixes well with the drum beat and the heavy synths. An ambient blanket of sound and echoey vocals is what a listener is in store for. Isolate, Too Soon and Union all are great tracks on the album. While they are not the standouts, they are definitely not something to look over. Snakadaktal have back beats and enveloping synths covered. The mix of Phoebe’s ethereal vocals and Sean’s sorrowfully honeyed sound work so well together. All three tracks have a fully immersive sound, also with an underlying water feeling.
One of the other noticeable tracks on the album, Ghost, has a layer of synths that are truly calming. Echoing vocals of Phoebe’s vocals and the atmospheric feel truly flows through the bones. Feel The Ocean Hold Me Under is one of the more upbeat songs on the album. The title of the track speaks for itself, with the sound definitely holding one under the waves. But not in a bad way. Not at all.
Beat 0033 is a bit different to all the other tracks on the album, with it having a bit more of a retro feel to it. Seeing as these ‘Synth Kids’ have all their knowledge of hazy pop sounds down, it’s not surprising they experimented a little bit. Even though the song was not similar to the other tracks, it was just a bit of a shame it was so short.
The Sun I is the most acoustic sound on the album. Well, as acoustic as Snakadaktal can get. The sorrowful vocals of Sean, crisp electronic guitar and a little bit of synths really round out the short track. The Sun II is another standout on the album. The track has a fantastic beat with the song continuously building. The chorus leaves one wanting more of the immense build up. The full finish of the track truly tantalises the taste buds.
Sleep is quite capable of making one fall asleep, the soft guitar and Sean’s vocals work well together. The song, however, does build at the end. The choir-esce type vocals will have anyone singing along to the lyrics of ‘use your voice / sing to me’. A goosebump inducing track. The final song on the album, The Sun III, may leave you asking if Snakadaktal could possibly produce another great song. But the pure crisp sound of the guitar is dominant in this track, with Sean’s and Phoebe’s calming vocals rounding off the finish of the album.
Over all, the name of the album is definitely met by Snakadaktal. The hazy tunes are reminiscent of semi-conscious dreams, while some of the effects have an underling water feel. Whether its cascading waterfall flowing into a ravine or the slow dripping of water from a loose faucet.
With all these different elements, the considered ages of the members and the outcome of this album. It is no doubt that Snakadaktal have possible fitted themselves into the best albums of this year section for 2013.
Elizabeth Alderslade
The Dream Pop band has acquired a large following of fans, with their music being played on Triple J with even a few tracks landing in the Hottest 100. Air was one of the third most played songs on Triple J after it was released and was #22 in the Hottest 100, 2011. Dance Bear was voted #93 in the Hottest 100, 2012.
Snakadaktal has already been putting out some fantastic songs that are getting recognition in Australia. Their debut album will definitely add to their growing success, with Sleep In The Water dripping with dreamy pop, floating away with ambient synths and overflowing with mystifying vocals.
Fall Underneath is the first track off the new album. The mixture of a catchy beat, great guitar riff and Phoebe Cockburn’s vocals come through the layers of mystic. Sean Heathcliff lends his vocals for the main chorus which gives a fuller sound. Hung On Tight was one of the pre-released songs from the album and is definitely one of the standout tracks. Sean’s honeyed voice takes the lead while Phoebe sings the bittersweet notes in the background. The song perfectly sums up holding on to someone tightly because you believed that you were in love with them.
The track, Deep, leaves a hazy feeling in the air. The layered vocals and crisp guitar mixes well with the drum beat and the heavy synths. An ambient blanket of sound and echoey vocals is what a listener is in store for. Isolate, Too Soon and Union all are great tracks on the album. While they are not the standouts, they are definitely not something to look over. Snakadaktal have back beats and enveloping synths covered. The mix of Phoebe’s ethereal vocals and Sean’s sorrowfully honeyed sound work so well together. All three tracks have a fully immersive sound, also with an underlying water feeling.
One of the other noticeable tracks on the album, Ghost, has a layer of synths that are truly calming. Echoing vocals of Phoebe’s vocals and the atmospheric feel truly flows through the bones. Feel The Ocean Hold Me Under is one of the more upbeat songs on the album. The title of the track speaks for itself, with the sound definitely holding one under the waves. But not in a bad way. Not at all.
Beat 0033 is a bit different to all the other tracks on the album, with it having a bit more of a retro feel to it. Seeing as these ‘Synth Kids’ have all their knowledge of hazy pop sounds down, it’s not surprising they experimented a little bit. Even though the song was not similar to the other tracks, it was just a bit of a shame it was so short.
The Sun I is the most acoustic sound on the album. Well, as acoustic as Snakadaktal can get. The sorrowful vocals of Sean, crisp electronic guitar and a little bit of synths really round out the short track. The Sun II is another standout on the album. The track has a fantastic beat with the song continuously building. The chorus leaves one wanting more of the immense build up. The full finish of the track truly tantalises the taste buds.
Sleep is quite capable of making one fall asleep, the soft guitar and Sean’s vocals work well together. The song, however, does build at the end. The choir-esce type vocals will have anyone singing along to the lyrics of ‘use your voice / sing to me’. A goosebump inducing track. The final song on the album, The Sun III, may leave you asking if Snakadaktal could possibly produce another great song. But the pure crisp sound of the guitar is dominant in this track, with Sean’s and Phoebe’s calming vocals rounding off the finish of the album.
Over all, the name of the album is definitely met by Snakadaktal. The hazy tunes are reminiscent of semi-conscious dreams, while some of the effects have an underling water feel. Whether its cascading waterfall flowing into a ravine or the slow dripping of water from a loose faucet.
With all these different elements, the considered ages of the members and the outcome of this album. It is no doubt that Snakadaktal have possible fitted themselves into the best albums of this year section for 2013.
Elizabeth Alderslade