Ghastly City Sleep

They could collapse or explode at any moment.
All at once fragile, vulnerable, delicate and struggling, Ghastly City Sleep is also a powerful force filled with conviction. On “Furrowed & Down,” singer Brandon Evans repeats “Everything is alright / alright with me” as if he were convincing himself it’s the truth. Behind him is a beautifully texured wall of sound, possibly his own creation used to hold him up or maybe conversely representing the powerful forces of paranoia beating down on him. Either way, it’s that tension that gives Ghastly City Sleep’s songs that special something.Former members of beloved Virginia hardcore/emo/post-rock bands such as City Of Caterpillar, pg. 99, Majority Rule and Gregor Samsa, the members of Ghastly City Sleep moved to New York City in 2005. Taking time to the develop their sound, they released their stunning eponomynous debut EP in 2007. Amazon proclaimed, ”It isn’t often new music surfaces that is so deeply intense, just hearing it may induce instant nostalgia…”

Full length debut Moondrifts saw the quartet take their sound in new directions. Where Ghastly City Sleep was primarily comprised of epic, atmospheric post-rock, Moondrifts was more suffocating, and confrontational. Dark, paranoid and rocking a bit harder, they didn’t abandon their earlier sound as much as build upon it. While some fans may have been upset with the changes, Sputnik called it excellent (giving it a 4.0 out of 5) and stating, ”The emotional effects of Moondrifts are clear and precise, and Ghastly City Sleep are scarily efficient and consistent at tugging on your nerves. On the other hand, the band displays their ability to perfectly craft songs that leave your mouth agape in wonder.”

Ghastly City Sleep’s newest release, Lunic Driftwood: Remnants & Remixes of Moondrifts, acts as a supplement for their expansive 2010 full length debut, Moondrifts. Comprised of three new compositions, as well as three remixes of songs off of Moondrifts,Lunic Driftwood begins where its predecessor left off. Atmospheric opener “The Looming Speck” sets the mood with its intricate textures and drifting mood. “Furrowed & Down” then livens things up, carried along by a lovely piano melody. “Being; Or, What You Will” (download mp3) provides the monumental climax of Lunic Driftwood. Building up slowly, the song erupts with blistering brass. For the second half of Lunic Driftwood, Moondrifts tracks “Into The Dark,” “1994; It’s A Weird World” and “Seven” have been reimagined with remixes by Alan Siegler, GCS and Andrew Davis, respectively.