The London band Sleep Eaters are a unique addition to the already impressive PNKSLM roster. The quintet makes music that is tinged with hints of country and what we'd have called cow-punk here in America some years ago. And while those terms apply, the tunes here on the group's newest EP, Holy Days, exist in their own space as well, a space that owes as much to The Mekons as it does to The Birthday Party, for example.
"Bad Love" rambles impressively, while "Valley of Dogs" surges on the strength of the spindly, ramshackle racket this five-piece manage to whip up. At their best, like on the Triffids-recalling "Don't Sell Your Soul", Sleep Eaters transcend their influences, even as they crank up noise that feels thankfully familiar. Holy Days ends with "Life of Sin", a number that veers into another kind of space, one that's both melodic and discordant. As such, the cut echoes Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds stuff. Recorded by Euan from Younghusband, Holy Days is a taster of a band to keep an eye on going forward.
Holy Days is out on PNKSLM on Friday.
More details on Sleep Eaters via the official Facebook page.
[Photo: PNKSLM]