Slow Dancing Society – Priest Lake Circa ‘88

Brian Eno is one of those rare and unique artists whose influence on today’s music is only beginning to be fully realized. Not only did he help shape the sound of some of the best albums of the past twenty and thirty years but his own solo endeavors have proven to have a large impact on many of today’s musicians. He believed that “Ambient music must be able to accommodate many levels of listening attention without enforcing one in particular; it must be as ignorable as it is interesting.” Whether or not you agree with that statement, it’s certainly one to be reckoned with and one that Drew Sullivan’s Slow Dancing Society entity has taken to heart.

Sullivan is one of those musicians whose music is heavily influenced by Eno and his music is justly, ambient. Throughout many times — depending on the time of the day — I found myself dozing off to its gentle and warm tones. Not because it was boring but because its utter calmness and gentle demeanor were far too prevalent to fight. Other times, especially with the headphones, I found myself catching the small intricacies that Sullivan included. Whether it was the almost wind like sound on “The Red Summer Sun” or the warbling effect on “Glimmer and Gleam,” these are distinctly exclusive pieces.

The music on Sullivan’s latest effort, Priest Lake Circa ‘88, treads the very same water that Eno’s aforementioned statement enforced. This is slow-moving, slow-growing, reflective music that is meant to be heard alone. And it’s the kind of music you can put on, lay down and simply wash over your thoughts with.

A song like “Sun Spots” is filled with blissful sound-scapes that encompass a misty, obscure skyline with reverb, feedback and lots of droning experiences. The song is minimalist at its core with only a signature guitar occasionally appearing and a sometimes emerging, rugged bass line.

I’d be lying if I said that this is the kind of music I go for but the bottom line is that good music can still be appreciated in any shape or form. One thing is for sure, Sullivan knows how to create lush, varied walls of sounds that are both inviting and engaging. The album’s chief highlight is with “A Warm Glow,” a compelling, richly layered and radiant song. Sullivan prevails with sparkling keyboards and magnetic chords that swell with every downbeat. It results in the album’s triumphant reflection; a wondrous, uplifting listen.

Sullivan surely took what Eno said to heart and he has attempted to follow in his teacher’s footsteps. With his third album in, Sullivan still has a way to go but he has firmly cemented himself as an artist to watch, not just in the ambient field but for music in general.