Sleepy Fish | Everything Fades to Blue | Beet Reviews
*sigh*
Where to start with this one. Sleepy Fish no doubt must be amongst the most recognisable figures in the lofi hip hop space nowadays (other than the platforms themselves) and this release serves only to cement the pure talent and unique approach to the genre this guy has. It seems a regular occurrence aspiring producers now seek to achieve this guy’s one of a kind sound and to date no one has come close.
With the third and final album of the trilogy “Everything Fades to Blue”, the story of Sleepy Fish is brought to a close, as the lost fish in the ocean finally finds its owner once more and sails off to find a new island for the earthquake stricken, ship dwelling humans to settle on. The record soundtracks this process and certainly feels like it connects strongly with the narrative in the visuals, though not sure what happened with the song titles there...
The record is easy listening manifest, with a signature blend of gorgeous soulful piano, twangy, sensitive, intentionally sloppy guitar work and whispy vocals floating over more recognisable drum samples that are somehow both soft and pokey in equal measure. It’s nothing new for Sleepy Fish, but one would argue it doesn’t have to be, contributing to a well rounded trilogy of records that together make for a lovely evening of listening all in all, further bolstered by Chillhop’s partnership with the sleep app Relax Melodies, who took the story and transformed it into a Bedtime Story.
Going forward now the trilogy is over, it will be interesting to see how Sleepy Fish can develop his sound further, perhaps utilising more daring chord progressions and pushing the boundaries further. It’s a great way to round off the trilogy, but all in all it certainly feels like now is the time to take off the safety blanket and try something new with the sound, time will tell.
Review by Loaf Eye Beets
Stand Out Track: “Witch Hat”
Rating: 🍞🍞🍞🍞🍞
Listen: https://chillhop.com/releases/sleepy-fish-everything-fades-to-blue/