Sleep
Sleep recently released their new single “Have Spacesuit Will Travel” via Third Man Records, their first new music since 2018’s The Sciences, and also released the first issue of the Sleep Comic Book, written by bassist and songwriter Al Cisneros. “Have Spacesuit Will Travel” begins Sleep’s first mission without Matt Pike on guitar. The music and art are alive and after the decades of obstacles that Sleep has overcome, it is time to move forward and make songs and albums. Al wishes Matt the best on his earth bound maneuvers.
Alongside Cisneros, the latest incarnation of Sleep features Dale Crover (Melvins) on drums and Bubba Dupree (Void) on guitar. Al, Bubba, and Dale as a trio looks really good on paper, but the only way to see if it worked was to get everyone in a room and play. Al says the answer made itself evident immediately: “The vibe of the first jam was obvious. It was blue sunglasses-era Iommi in the quality, and equally awesome is Bubba is also one of the coolest people I’ve been able to make music with.”
“Have Spacesuit Will Travel” at no time tries to pick up where The Sciences left off. There’s a considerable amount of new blood in the band, so imitation, as Bubba notes, would greatly limit the potential of three very unique and talented musicians. That being said, Sleep answers to an incredible recorded history, so it would not be surprising that Al, Dale, and Bubba would find themselves composing in the spirit of that which had been established so long ago. The three of them were able to make something that can truly be identified as genuine Sleep music, yet with a sharpness and agility to the recordings.