PSY/OPSogist

PSY/OPSogist’s Kings of Sleep snuck up on me, while I enjoyed his previous effort, Suffused With Static, I didn’t think he had a new album coming out this year. I’m pleasantly surprised to hear a new full length record from PSY/OPSogist and also happy to report that it’s a record of note, worth your attention and time. The style is best summed up in his ‘About me’ page, it describes the sound of his music as being ‘Atmospheric headphone music’, and after spinning the record a few times on headphones, I’d have to say that’s an apt description of what this is. Music one puts on to enjoy themselves, best experienced isolated from the world. Well placed samples and generally excellent production give the album it’s distinct flavor. And did I mention it’s legally free?

Points:

Samples define the mood on Kings of Sleep often. While it’s not ‘dark’, It is suitably moody and often sets the direction the album takes for a short time. Each movement is defined by the sample that precedes the music. Mood is key to Kings of Sleep as it’s largely defined by mood and atmosphere. It’s worth noting how tricky this is to do. Depending on mood to drive an album, like crafting a great horror film, the mood must never change too rapidly, but it can’t be one note. Kings of Sleep does an excellent job balancing consistency and variety. The shifts on the album feel natural and unforced.

As a side note: If you ever needed proof that it’s passion that defines good music, this should be it, created and crafted without the interference of a record label, distributed online for free in addition to being offered as numbered CD packages, PSY/OPSogist has crafted an album that doesn’t compromise quality. You’ll never notice this is ‘free music’ because the production never sounds cheap

It’s not without flaws, it’s an album that’s sequenced in such a manner that you lose something when you separate it from it’s place on the album. In addition to that, PSY/OPSogist lets beats ride on a bit too long at time, it’s not that the songs need trimming, it’s that they need shifts to keep the album interesting. Despite that, Kings of Sleep is one of the best of the year. It’s an album the never needs to make an excuse for a lack of something. It’s a soundtrack for those times when you may find yourself in bed, it’s music that’s best experienced as an experience.

A link to Kings of Sleep.

A small edit and an apology to PSY/OPSogist who’s name I misspelled three times. My fault not catching that.