Sleeping Pulse – Dreams & Limitations

Some 12 years ago, Mick Moss of Antimatter and Luís Fazendeiro of Painted Black released their debut album under the name Sleeping Pulse. Entitled Under the Same Sky, the album might not have been revolutionary, but it was such a strong release that it was undoubtedly one of the finest albums of that year.

So, what was it that made this album so good and, ultimately, so unique?

Well, the songwriting was exceptional, and there seemed to be a unique magic arising from the collaboration between the two musicians. It’s one of those qualities that is difficult to pinpoint but is ever-present and makes all the difference.
So, with more than a decade having passed since the release of their only album, will the duo be able to create something that strong and unique once again, or was the 2012 release simply a lightning-in-a-bottle situation?

The music on Dreams & Limitations is, like its predecessor, written by Fazendeiro, with Moss providing the lyrics and vocal melodies. Overall, Sleeping Pulse picks up where Under the Same Sky left off, meaning that this is another dark, emotionally charged rock record. However, Sleeping Pulse is sonically more complex than that description suggests, implementing a wide range of influences and giving the music a distinct Pink Floyd-inspired progressive feel. At the same time, it possesses a modern quality that occasionally evokes A Perfect Circle. It also goes without saying that traces of the two musicians’ respective bands can be found throughout the album.

Dreams & Limitations sees the band dialing up the intensity and energy, coming across as heavier than its predecessor. Fortunately, that does not mean the band has compromised the fragile beauty that characterizes its music. Dreams & Limitations is every bit as dark and emotional as the previous album, but the increased intensity gives it a more immediate and edgier feel.
Yet the aspects that made the debut so special are not necessarily related to the overall nature of the music itself, but rather to the quality of the songwriting and the chemistry that emerges when Moss and Fazendeiro work and perform together. This album was, of course, not 12 years in the making, but the evidence of the band taking its time to get things right is apparent throughout. Nothing feels rushed, and the attention to detail is striking.

With Dreams & Limitations, the band has managed to maintain the exceptionally high quality and uniqueness established on its debut. They have achieved this by taking their time, staying true to themselves, and at the same time moving their sound forward. Dreams & Limitations is a lesson in musical honesty and craftsmanship, and the result lives up to the colossal expectations placed upon it.
The album has also proven that the quality of the debut was not a one-off, and we can only hope that the follow-up will not take another 12 years to arrive. On the other hand, if that is what it takes for Moss and Fazendeiro to bless us with another release of this caliber, then that is time well spent.

www.sleepingpulse.com