PowerPopAholic writes: Opening with the dreamlike harmonies of the title track it launches into a Jellyfish-like pop gem with “Round x2,” it’s driving beat marches along with a shimmering guitar lead. The band successfully navigates a variety of pop stylings from the gentle jangle of “Float” to the insanely catchy “Across The Divide,” with an earnest Elvis Costello-like approach. All the songs are good, but a clear majority are simply great.

Listen.

The second Slumberjet album “World of Sound” is produced by Duncan Maitland, who has previously worked with XTC, Pugwash and Colin Hare of the Honeybus as well as being a solo artist in his own right. Also featured on the album is Keith Farrell – producer of the first Slumberjet album, this time on bass duties – and drummer Johnny Boyle who has previously worked with Marianne Faithfull, The Frames and Pugwash {to name but a few}. One time Sub Pop artist Eric Matthews features on Brass once again.

 

Barry O’Brien explains.

 

 

What was the moment you knew you were on to something?

 

I sat down with Duncan Maitland to play him the acoustic demos I had gathered, and he was very enthusiastic from the start, he felt I did the groundwork with these songs which was great to hear as I felt I did too.

 

How did this record come together?

 

After the first Slumberjet album was released my band dissolved and I decided to start writing the next album. I was also planning on what kind of album it would be. From the very start, I had many different discussions with Duncan Maitland about this and he had a keen interest in my ramblings so it seemed like the most logical thing that he produced the next Slumberjet album. Duncan had a studio and engineer in mind {Leslie Keye at ARAD Studios in Dublin} and I had for a long time wanted to take Johhny Boyle {Drums} and Keith Farrell {Bass}into the studio who are incredible players individually but together they have something special.

 

 

 

What’s the gig you will always remember? And why?

 

Slumberjet got to play The Cavern in Liverpool as part of the IPO festival in 2010 that was pretty special for obvious reasons, actually, the photo on the back of the first Slumberjet album is from that very gig.

 

When was the last time you thought ‘I just wrote a hit!’?

 

I think “Float” off the Slumberjet album World of Sound could be a hit if I could only figure out how to get people to hear it?

 

 

 

Is recording a record easier than getting it heard nowadays?

 

In a word “yes” anyone can record now, you have albums being recorded on iPhones that if you we’re told we’re recorded in Abbey Road you’d find it hard to argue with they sound so good, getting it heard well there are so many platforms now to put your music on but I do believe if the music is good it will get heard even if it doesn’t sell a million copies.

 

Which 5 records would you bring with you for your stay on Mars

 

In no particular order The Beatles -Revolver, The Beach Boys – Pet Sounds, The Police- Regatta De Blanc, Jeff Buckley -Grace, Jane’s Addiction- Ritual De Lo Habitual

 

 

Vinyl is back, Spotify is ruling, tickets for concerts are becoming more and more expensive, everybody can record songs, social media is the marketing tool, Coldplay stops touring … how will the music industry look like in 5 years?

 

It’s constantly changing and evolving, the gap between the first Slumberjet album and the second is almost ten years and coming back to it and releasing “World of Sound” is a completely different ball game, everyone’s on Spotify now, I myself still buy CD’s and vinyl and I know there are people who do the same and I’d like to think there is a younger generation that is discovering buying vinyl even though it’s a small niche. Who knows where the music industry will be in 5 years’ time but I do believe it’s anyone’s game.