Album Review: Snakadaktal - Sleep In The Water

You'd be hard pressed guessing how old Snakadaktal's members are from the music presented on debut, Sleep In The Water. The fact the five-piece range in age from 18 to 20 is simply remarkable given the maturity of music on offer here. Originally discovered by triple j's Unearthed High, Snakadaktal have taken their music to a new level from 2011's seriously promising self-titled EP. The music is probably best described as a dreamy, soothing form of minimalistic pop, where – like the waves depicted on the album's cover – layers of ethereal sounds tend to drift over the listener. It's in the song construction, though, where the band truly defy their age, showing an ability to structure tracks around an innovative rhythm section that's light years beyond many far more experienced bands.

That being said, sometimes the emphasis on minimalism is a little overstated. For instance, on opener, Fall Underneath, and first single, Hung On Tight, I kept on hanging for a dominant melody to be layered over the top to provide more of an emotional connection. Although it may be just my own love for big melodies coming through, I feel Snakadaktal need to be careful of being a little too restrained, for despite the music's sophistication, it's occasionally hard work getting emotionally attached to some tracks here. This is easier in the album's superb second half though, starting with The Sun I, where the layers of music are foregone and Sean Heathcliff goes it alone with his solitary guitar. The Sun II builds on this, leading up to powerful album highlight, Sleep, before Phoebe Cockburn delivers some gorgeous vocals on Union to help round off what may be the year's best debut album.