Underwater Sleeping Society – The Dead Vegas

Releasedate: 18-02-2009; Label: Backstage Alliance
By: Sabine van Gameren

Underwater Sleeping Society is a Finnish band coming from Helsinki. You can expect some indie pop from them. The released their third album “The Dead Vegas” via Backstage Alliance.

Compatriot bands like Rubik and Wiidakko are surely points of reference to get an idea of what they are about, but they stepped away from that typical Finnish music style and brought international well-polished songs.
I felt like I was listening to my vinyl from Editors, while the sadness and drama was not there as much. Where Editors have that depressing Joy Division atmosphere in their sound, Underwater Sleeping Society is not that deep, which makes it more delightful, open and relaxed. I loved the different touches that the band gave, for example in the fifth song “Painting The Dead” where the guitar sneaks in a bit of the eastern music approach.
A lot of things are to find out when listening the album, like opening Matroschka dolls… there is no end, you just keep on getting surprises the one even more subtle than the other.

For people who are know with their release of 2007 “All Other Lights Go Out”, you can see “The Dead Vegas” as a logical following up. They have taken it all a step further and exceeded on their selves.

Line Up:
Okko Nieminen – Vocals, Guitar
Tomi Tiitanen – Guitar
Jussi Hietala – Bass
Olli Varis – Keyboard
Sampo Fagerlund – Drums
Matti Olavi Töyli – Saxophone, Clarinet, Synths

Links:
Underwater Sleeping Society MySpace