aaamusic | On 26, Feb 2011

Once upon a time in the days of the Belgian Franc, Chantal Acda made the acquaintance Adam Bryanbaum Wiltzie, and the two became fast friends through a mutual love of disco bowling, and 1970’s Danish scary movies. They first collaborated with vocals together on the infamous last track, ‘The Struggle’ on Mr. Wiltzie’s 2004 ‘The Dead Texan‘ (kranky)

Now, over the course of 10 years, this strange friendship has slowly developed into a musical collaboration which at this point is a rarity for Mr. Wiltzie, because of his notorious slow burning output for his deservedly or unlawfully, but undeniably legendaryStars of the Lid.

For their new release, ‘With Our Heads in the Clouds and Our Hearts in the Fields‘, these two have somehow gone back in time to capture the sound of glacial moving, dark cough syrup pop music. Mr. Wiltzie has manipulated his trademark Stars of the Lid sound of haunting ambience, deconstructing, and funneling it through the beautiful voice, and song compositions of  Acda. Together, Sleepingdog have gently abducted these gaseous tones, and choruses of pacific tree frogs into some beautifully crafted melancholic orchestration that reminds us all that we exist in a world of strangers, drifting only two feet apart.

Acda and Wiltzie are joined on this record by some very special guests: Hildur Guðnadóttir (cello) and Chester Desmond(violin).

‘With Our Heads in the Clouds and Our Hearts in the Fields‘ is Sleepingdog’s third album after; ‘Naked in a Clean Bed‘ (Zeal – 2006) and the critically acclaimed ‘Polar Life’ (Gizeh/Zeal – 2008).

Chantal Acda is one half of True Bypass with Craig Ward (ex-dEUS). Adam Wiltzie, whilst continuing with Stars of the Lid is currently working on a new project A Winged Victory for the Sullen with pianist Dustin O’Halloran.