Alt-folk outfit Sleep Walking Animals prepare to mesmerise with the release of their defiantly fresh new single Rossignol (සිපගන්නාවිට), out now via Black Sea Music.
Inspired by the answer to a question on University Challenge, Rossignol is an un-meditated confession of idealistic love that begs the question – will you miss me when I’m gone? The single explores combinations of sounds that are new to the band. Electronic textures are paired with their trademark folk sensibilities, English lyrics are interwoven with Sri Lankan Sinhala and song form is challenged with a gratuitous rock finale. All this resulting in soundscape of ethereal tenderness against moments of raw drama. Choral harmonic melodies are complimented by lead singer Tom Glynn-Carney’s dreamy falsetto, creating a sound akin to Bon Iver and Radiohead.
Talking about the single, keys player Nuwan Hugh Perera says, “we had collectively spoken about including Sinhala lyrics in one of the songs. I initially translated the whole song into Sinhala. Then I worked on just the chorus and broke it down to two lines to represent what it meant to me. You can hear that the melody too came from the lyric itself. This song was so beautiful and bare in its original conception. It’s come such a long way and has ended up somewhere we never thought it would”.
Born in Manchester, UK, Sleep Walking Animals are Tom (vocals), Nuwan (keys, vocals), Joe Etherington (guitar, vocals), Jack Brett (bass, vocals), Alex Harford (guitar) and Bill Caple (drums). Friends for years before they formed the band, Sleep Walking Animals are bonded by a deep sense of brotherhood. Their lyrics echo a bygone era yet are moulded by the zeitgeist and are underscored by almost filmic compositions. They have sold out venues across the UK and have aired on national TV and radio, most notably on Channel 4‘s Sunday Brunch and Tom Robinson‘s Introducing Mixtape. Previous press supporters include NOTION, 1883 Magazine, It’s All Indie and CLOUT to name a few. Rossignol (සිප ගන්නා විට) once again showcases Sleep Walking Animals’ unique ability to combine poetic lyricism with wistful, dream-folk sensibilities that are undeniably immersive.