Eyes Just Like Forest Fires is the full-length debut
album by
SLEEPER SET SAIL. The next chapter in the quartet’s
evolution, the album clearly defines the quartet’s place as one
of Canada’s finest new guitar-based rock bands. Produced by Julius
Butty (Alexisonfire) and mastered by Nick Blagona
(The Police, Bee Gees, Deep Purple), the ten-track album finds this young
band creating an album unified in theory that isn’t necessarily
a concept album in its entirety.
“Since we first started writing together it was always crucial to
us that recordings maintain a holistic value,” says band guitarist
Casey Baker. “Our full length albums will not be ‘collections
of songs’ such as our Sonic Unyon debut EP A Foreward is. Instead,
Eyes Just like Forest Fires is intended to
embody a continuous flow that lasts from beginning to end.”
The album is not depicting a continuous chronological story however it
does loosely follow the path of a plot graph. They start with an inciting
incident, and move onward through a rising action and a climax. “The
intent is to unify the songs through overlapping lyrical ideas while also
positioning sound effects to establish layers and depth,” explains
Baker. “There are recurring themes and symbols that weave themselves
in and out of the songs (water, drowning, death) and much like a novel,
the songs should be viewed as chapters which together form a larger creation.”
The summer of 2004 saw the quartet return to Julius Butty’s
Silo Studio, the same place they recorded the songs that make
up their first two CDEPs, to commence work on what has become Eyes
Just Like Forest Fires. “Julius understands our ideas
and concepts with great perspective,” says Baker. “He approaches
each song with the same amount of heart and conviction that we do while
contributing sophisticated experience and knowledge of sound. We decided
without question to work with him because we trust Julius with our creations
and invite him to be a part of them. He encourages the best possible performance
from everyone.”
“We’ve matured overall as a band and as songwriters,”
explains Baker in reference to the tweaking of the band’s sound.
“Our strengthened unity as a team with the inclusion of Mike
(Dasilva, guitar) has allowed us to expand our sounds into edgier
and sometimes faster musical options. Our confidence as musicians is stronger
now that singing is such a large part of the songs. The vocals have also
allowed for terrific audience interaction. The bond that forms between
an audience and a band while everyone sings together creates a surreal
feeling.”
Formed in late 2002 by three St. Catharines, Ontario high school friends,
SLEEPER SET SAIL started like so many have before them,
practicing in their parents’ basement until the time was right.
Almost immediately after their first live performance, the band self-released
a six song EP, Correlation: Escapism, which
was recorded and produced by Julius Butty at his
Silo Studios.
Much to their surprise, the 1000 copies of the EP quickly sold out and
the band lost their (original) lead guitarist in the process. With the
core of the band still intact – guitarist Casey Baker,
bassist Trevor Speechly and drummer Tom Van Den
Ende - they soon discovered young Mike DaSilva,
only sixteen years old, and welcomed him into the fold with open arms.
Sonic Unyon
took note of the band’s raw talent - an energetic live show that
features the juxtaposition between flailing limbs and instruments and
the soft spaces in the music that make it hard not to connect with their
output - and invited them to join the roster. As longtime fans of the
label, the band was happy to accept the offer to become part of its ongoing
history.
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