Sleepy Sun/ Fever

Sleepy Sun
Fever
(ATP Recordings)

Sometimes you don’t miss something until it’s gone, and sometimes you don’t realise you’ve been missing something until you’re introduced to it. In this instance I had no idea I had a big hole in my record collection where 'Fever' by Sleepy Sun should clearly be.
A six piece from California featuring the dual vocal talents of Bret Constantino and Rachel Williams, Sleepy Sun fall somewhere between Santana and Hawkwind. 'Fever', their second release on ATP, sounds like it could have been recorded in the seventies yet somehow doesn’t feel dated. Blending a heady mix of blues/space/stoner rock, the band have created a sound that gives you the feeling of being in the Californian desert with a hazy sun beating down on your acid tripping mind.
‘Marina’ (the first track on the album, but not the longest), is full of surprises. Starting with a guitar solo reminiscent of Jimi Hendrix, it ends up feeling like a distant relative of Santana’s ‘Jingo’. Things settle down a bit for ‘Rigmaroo’ and the more reserved ‘Ooh Boy’, while closing track ‘Sandstorm Woman’ (coming in at just under 10 minutes) is so laid back it’s almost horizontal.
I love this album; it’s just a shame I have to take it off to listen to the others!