HERETICS

As the pounding rhythm of Dream the Electric Sleep's new album 'Heretics' blasts its way into your ear canals, you can tell that you are in for some inspired, incredible music. Dream the Electric Sleep hails from Lexington, KY; not exactly a hot spot of progressive activity. Yet, the band has crafted what will surely be seen as one of the best of 2014, for sure. Aside from having a great name based on Philip Dick's novel, Dream the Electric Sleep has loads of massive sounds to share with us, and they also seem to have a connection with their fans that is pretty rare nowadays.

The band is made up of Matt Page on vocals/keys/guitar, Joey Waters on drums/vocals, Andrew Hibpshman on guitar, and Chris Tackett on bass. The guys display a mix of sounds and influences that are quite eclectic. I once described their music as a mix of indie rock and Anathema's style of climactic melodies with a vocalist that reminds me of Kim Benzie of Dead Letter Circus. I think I'd stand by my description for the most part, but I would also add U2 in there somewhere. With delicate acoustic guitars and roaring electric licks, pounding and well-mixed drums, awesome bass, and ultra-melodic and atmospheric keys; the band has a fresh sound that feels seasoned, mature, and inspired on multiple levels. The first thing that caught me about this album was the style of melody. As I said, they are rather climactic, but the beauty and variety are even more noteworthy. There is something so pure and so emotional and so real about the way this band composes music, and you cannot help but feel they are right there in front of you. The melodies are very distinct for each song, and many of them feel very much like an old favorite for some reason. They are as original as they come, but the melodic style of Dream the Electric Sleep is such that the music just feels right.

'Heretics' is more than music, though. It is a concept album based generally upon the women's suffrage movement, and the torn hearts that its proponents held within themselves. One thing that really impresses me about Dream the Electric Sleep is there clarity of mind. Fans want to know what lyrics mean, plain and simple. The band provides this in their Guide to Heretics, a loose breakdown of the album. As one that appreciates lyrics, this is seriously impressive. The content, then, is rather emotional and moving, and the band certainly wants it that way.

Again and again this album floored me. I didn't really connect on the first listen, but I was really gripped on the second time. 'Heretics' is a fantastic introduction, but it leads into my favorite song on the album, the delicate and pleasant 'Elizabeth'. Matt Page's vocals are truly sublime on this track, and throughout the album, even. Yet, the album never lets up, as it delivers the massively acoustic 'Utopic', the lovely 'To Love is to Leave', and the strangely groovy 'It Must Taste Good' (my second favorite). Excellent songs join each other end to end, and the album pushes on breathlessly. The album finishes with the climactic 'How Long We Wait' and the slightly heavier 'Ashes Fall', both amazing and rather theatrical in some ways. 'Heretics' never lets you go, and this is especially true because of the variety on the album. We get emotionally heavy songs, delicate nostalgic ballads, complex structures, and experimental collaborations. I just love it.

Dream the Electric Sleep's 'Heretics' is a must-hear for 2014. It's that simple. Any serious progressive fan should hear it, but the music is such that anyone could love this album. With overarching melodies, giant displays of finesse, varied compositions, and even occasional chaotic moments; 'Heretics' is truly something distinguished from the pack and exceptionally produced. Get this album, as it's FREE for download on their Bandcamp page. That's right, it's FREE, though you should really give them at least a little for this monster album. Give. Support. Share.

4.5 stars

Some of the best music I've heard all year. The music has an energy and urgency and excitement that is rarely felt in modern studio music. Great songwriting, great musicianship, great vocals, songs that pack a wallop yet are filled with many unexpected twists and turns. Heretics puts up some awesome, but not over-the-top, walls of sound. If there is a drawback to some of it, it's that it often sounds and feels too derivative of the music of U2--including the vocal stylings sounding like U2 lead singer, Bono. Otherwise, this is, start to finish, an exciting album of high-energy rock. I have a feeling that Heretics will win over a lot of new fans for this group of American alt/prog rockers. There are some very special songs on this album, especially the title song opener, "Heretics" (4:51) (10/10), which takes The Beatles and King Crimson to places they never dreamed of going! It opens with powerful chords that hook you in from the opening riffs. The closer, "Ashes Fall" (8:08) (9/10), is another stunner, this time for the continuous list of "waiting"s heart-wrenchingly read by a female voice.

Favorite songs: "Heretics;" the U2 War-ish and doves-like "Elizabeth" (8:22) (9/10); the doves-like "Utopic" (6:38) (8/10); the brief folk-with-Bono-ish "Lost Our Faith" (2:06) (8/10); the full-out U2 sounding "How Long We Wait" (9:29) (8/10), and, of course; "Ashes Fall."

Solid four star album of high quality, highly creative, highly detailed music.

DREAM THE ELECTRIC SLEEP are a band out of the state of Kentucky. Man I haven't been through that state since I was a kid. Anyway, the album clocks in at well over 70 minutes and features modern sounding vocals both of which are a negative for me. Still, over time I have grown to really appreciate this album. Even after my first listen it was clear that this was a talented band with some incredible songs. The music is quite heavy at times, I really dig the rhythm section but we get a lot of variety as well.

"Heritics" is an instrumental that has an excellent heavy sound to it. I like the vocal melodies later on as well. "Elizabeth" isn't as heavy and we get vocals before a minute. Nice chunky bass and it kicks into a higher gear before 2 minutes but contrasts will continue. A calm before 4 minutes with reserved vocals before it kicks back in. A cool PORCUPINE TREE-like atmospheric section ends it. "Utopic" is a top three song for me. Beautiful acoustic guitar to start but bass, drums and more arrive quickly as it builds. Vocals follow and the song settles each time for the chorus which is gorgeous. Nice guitar solo after 5 minutes. "To Love Is To Leave" is ballad-like with reserved vocals to start but it turns fuller with heavy bass lines before 1 1/2 minutes and these contrasts will continue. A tasteful guitar solo 3 1/2 minutes in. It turns intense after 5 minutes. So good! A calm ends it. "The Name You Fear" is catchy and heavy with some cool vocal melodies. The bass is huge. Nice guitar solo after 4 minutes and later on as well. Check out the drum work as well. "It Must Taste Good" opens with faint guitar experssions as a melodic picked guitar arrives but both are drowned out by heaviness. Sounds like an early nineties Alternative song to be honest. I like the vocal melodies too. Themes are repeated.

"I Know What You Are" features acoustic guitars before drums, vocals and more take over in a dramatic way. Atmosphere only as it calms down to a whisper then almost spoken vocals arrive. It turns loud before 4 1/2 minutes and this majestic section will stay to the end. "Fist To Face" is another top three for me. Love the guitar melodies that are featured throughout. A full sound kicks in quickly. Vocal melodies late. Great tune. "Lost Our Faith" is a short tune with what sounds like two acoustic guitars and reserved vocals before it turns heavier around 1 1/2 minutes in. "How Long We Wait" has this feel good guitar line to start, it turns fuller quickly. This is uptempo as the vocals join in. It settles back 2 1/2 minutes in then turns even quieter at 3 minutes. It's building as the guitar lights it up. Another calm before 4 1/2 minutes before it builds again. "Ashes Fall" is my other top three. What a way to end this record. I like the menacing guitar and heavy duty sound here. The vocal melodies are cool, they really use them to great affect on this album. Vocals before a minute and these guys are kicking ass. A calm at 4 minutes with lots of atmosphere. Sampled voices can be heard then the vocals return before 5 minutes. There's a great PORCUPINE TREE-like instrumental section after 6 minutes then those sampled voices are back to end it.

Just an excellent effort from these boys who live where the grass is blue and horses rule the sports world.

US band DREAM THE ELECTRIC SLEEP (DTES from now on) was formed back in 2009, and from their base in Lexington, Kentucky, they have explored their particular brand of progressive rock on two full-length albums so far. "Heretics" is the most recent of these, self-released by the band in early 2014.

DTES comes across as a modern band on most levels, and a band that doesn't look all that much backwards in time for inspiration either. Familiar sounding details appear here and there, vocals similar to both Bono and Thom Yorke, Rush style harder edged but light toned riffs and soloing, post rock textures and the nervous moods of bands like Radiohead. With a few possible nods towards Pink Floyd and Porcupine Tree to boot. But while many details sound familiar, the end result really doesn't compare directly to any other artist I can recall. Progressive rock with a foundation in the music of today if you like, incorporating select details from multiple styles and traditions into a new whole. A band and a CD that merit an inspection by those intrigued by that description, and one I'd guess should interest those who enjoy their early '80s Rush just as much as late 90's Radiohead.

A power trio from Kentucky U S that has floored many reviewers with this dynamic album "Heretics". I was drawn to Dream the Electric Sleep for two reasons; I'm a Blade Runner fan and love the novel of Philip K Dick, and second, the album has hit the top 10 lists of many a collaborator I discovered. I wanted to find out what all the fuss was about so with the magic of Internet technology was able to hear this album before the deadline of top 10 votes. After hearing it the album immediately went on my list too. It is a fantastic album with some awesome tracks. The metal guitar sound is highlighted by great vocals and wonderful rhythms. The melodies are catchy and there are some complex time sigs throughout.

The highlights are Heretics, Elizabeth, To Love Is To Leave, It Must Taste Good, I Know What You Are, How Long We Wait and Ashes Fall.

It is a well produced album from Matt, Joey and Chris with a soundscape that sits somewhere between Anathema and Porcupine Tree at times. I like this album because it never gets pretentious but has a genuine quality ignited by fire and passion on every track. There are done real emotional moments and in places the lyrics reflect on the struggles of life and coping with pain and fear.

Overall this Dream of Electric Sleep album comes recommended as one of the highlights of the year.