Despite some stating how post-rock is beginning to stagnate as a creative vessel, our underground national scene directly contradicts such a notion. Parasomnia see’s Dead Cosmonauts continue to build upon the legacy of our humble scene and we’re overjoyed to premiere it.
The debut LP from the Sheffield quintet, Parasomnia is a painstakingly intricate body of work that defines Dead Cosmonauts as an entity for pure creative ingenuity. However, it’s also a record that defies standard convention. Impossible to pigeonhole in thanks to it’s organic incorporation of sludge, psych, prog and retro-synth motifs and releasing following recent endeavours that saw the band release EPs on DIY lathe cut vinyl and performances in a genuine cemetery, Parasomnia is the full encapsulation of what makes this act so brilliant. Whilst it would be oh-so easy to compare this record to the likes of Russian Circles in thanks to it’s atmosphere, 65daysofstatic in due to it’s driving synths or Din Of Celestial Birds and Mountain Caller in relation to it’s rich storytelling, in truth, even making such elementary comparisons would be doing the band’s scope a disservice. Parasomnia is the unfettered and well-articulated expression of the band’s in ingenuity delivered with instrumental charisma.
Though be a great record on it’s own musical merits it may be, what truly makes Parasomnia so special it’s thematic concept. Directly inspired by the filmography of Tarkovsky and other fantastical workings that abstractly ruminate on our fractured sociocultural way of living, Parasomnia is an Orwellian concept record that explores living in an inhospitable end-time engineered through the callous hands of those who govern us. A bold concept yes, but the subtlety maximalist fashion in which this act document such themes is fantastic. By utilising an expanded instrumental pallette incorporating strings, keys, double bass and more, the realisation of the theme refrains from being overtly overbearing whist still being as vividly cinematic as the works that inspired it. Truthfully, the way in which Dead Cosmonauts warn us of the future we are barreling towards and the dystopia that awaits us in reality is on par with the art of fellow post-rock orientated acts such as Modern Technology, Torpor and even genre juggernauts Godspeed You! Black Emperor.
On the record, the band states; “We want Parasomnia to be a reflection of the world and current affairs that we feel trapped within, highlighting themes of mental health struggles, societal collapse, political unrest – and how the news and social media have become things to fear and keep us up at night, unwillingly ingraining into our collective subconscious. It’s our nightmare and unfortunately everyone else’s too.” Parasomnia is released via Trepanation Recordings (CD, Cassette) and Do It Thissen (Vinyl) on November 17th. Pre-order the record here, and listen to it exclusively below.