Sleep

Today, the legendary band Sleep releases new single “Have Spacesuit Will Travel” via Third Man Records, their first new music since 2018. In addition, the band announces a fall North American tour, as well as releases the first issue of the Sleep Comic Book, written by bassist and songwriter Al Cisneros.

“Have Spacesuit Will Travel” begins Sleep’s first mission without Matt Pike on guitar. The music and art are alive and after the decades of obstacles that Sleep has overcome, it is time to move forward and make songs and albums. Al wishes Matt the best on his earth bound maneuvers. 

Alongside Cisneros, the latest incarnation of Sleep features Dale Crover on drums and Bubba Dupree on guitar. Dale has been in some serious bands, like the Melvins and Redd Kross. That Al would seek him out makes sense, an almost elementary choice that probably wouldn’t raise too many eyebrows. Bubba Dupree, from the fiercely loved band Void, hailing out of Columbia, MD, is a pick that is not only completely mind-blowing, but a choice no one would have seen coming. Just the thought of Bubba, who was amazing from the first Void shows on, playing guitar in Sleep is almost too much for the mind to comprehend. 

Al Cisneros, Bubba Dupree, and Dale Crover as a trio looks really good on paper, but the only way to see if it worked was to get everyone in a room and play. Al says the answer made itself evident immediately: “The vibe of the first jam was obvious. It was blue sunglasses-era Iommi in the quality, and equally awesome is Bubba is also one of the coolest people I’ve been able to make music with.”

“Have Spacesuit Will Travel” at no time tries to pick up where The Sciences left off. There’s a considerable amount of new blood in the band, so imitation, as Bubba notes, would greatly limit the potential of three very unique and talented musicians. That being said, Sleep answers to an incredible recorded history, literally decades in the making, so it would not be surprising that Al, Dale and Bubba would find themselves composing in the spirit of that which had been established so long ago. The three of them were able to make an album that can truly be identified as genuine Sleep music, yet with a sharpness and agility to the recordings.