Although the beginning of existence of the San Francisco based Psychedelic Rock band is generally set at 2007, the actual origins of the band go a little further back in time.
Not too much though : while attending UC Santa Cruz, students Bret Constantino (vocals) Matt Holliman (guitar), Evan Reiss (guitar), Brian Tice (drums) and original bassist Herbert Guy founded the Garage Rock act Mania in 2005. The quintet swiftly progressed from their original stylings into something more psychedelic, until in 2007 they decided to rename themselves, taking on their current monicker, and progressing further by adding former Birds Fled From Me's Rachel Fannan to the line-up as co-singer. The original line-up of Sleepy Sun was thereby established.
The now-sextet soon set forth writing and recording its debut album Embrace, which they self-released in 2008 to positive reviews. Guy however decided to leave soon after the album's release, to be replaced by current bassist Jack Allen. The band's first official release would be the 7-inch single White Dove, released in November 2008 through the small Sol Diamond imprint. The band then signed a deal with the British All Tomorrow's Party Recordings label, which first released the 10-inch EP New Age (March 2009) prior to re-issuing the band's debut full-length Embrace on June 16, 2009 (both on CD and LP, by the way). August of the same year saw the release of the band's second 10-inch Sleepy Son. Throughout the year, the band went on several tours, their shows becoming a subject of acclaim as time went along. In March 2010 the band went on a US tour, supporting UK's Arctic Monkeys. By then, they'd already spent time in the studio, and as a result ATP Recordings first released the digital-only EP Open Eyes in April, the Fever full-length CD/LP in June, the Marina 10-inch in September, and the Wild Machines digital single in November. Earlier in the year, the band had also collaborated with British Trip Hop legends UNKLE on the track “Follow Me Down”, which was featured on the album Where Did The Night Fall (issued May 10, 2010 by Surrender All).
Meanwhile, some discordance had arisen within the group, as a lack of possible input in the band's music had led Fannan to more personal conflicts with the other members, the whole leading to her departure from the band in October 2010. She continued in music as a solo artist, and already has the album Deeper Lurking to her name. Although Fannan was already ousted from the band, a digital single for the track Desert God was still released in May 2011. Noteworthy feet for the band was to go on another US tour, this time in support of Black Angels. The first Sleepy Sun release not featuring Fannon, would be the band's third full-length Spine Hits, released on CD and LP on April 10, 2012. It would be the first album by the band also to be released through a US based label, namely The End Records. (note: info thus far culled from the band's page at Wikipedia)
It found the band going on a complete European tour (taking in the UK, Holland, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Norway, Sweden and Denmark) in September and participating to ATP's 2012 I'll Be Your Mirror Festival and both Primavera festivals in Spain and Portugal. Prior to that, August saw the release of a 4-track semi-acoustic set through Daytrotter.com, and a limited “Tour Edition” of the Spine Hits album, containing a free 12-track Live In Vancouver album, recorded earlier that year at Vancouver's Biltmore venue (neither of these releases was mentioned on the band's page at Wikipedia when I checked it for info). On home round, the guys shared the stage several times with The Dandy Warhols. 2013 found the band spreading its wings even further ashore, spending a week of gigs in Australia, and continuing their relentless live activities throughout California and beyond, supporting City & Coulour on the latter's US tour from October 21 through November 9, while also playing their own headline shows in between. A new Sleepy Sun EP, details about which were not found, was made available on October 17, 2013.
Meanwhile, the band singed onto the Dine Alone Records roster, who recently released the band's 4th full-length as the first installment on their deal...and that's how eventually a download promo copy of the album got to us at Concrete Web. Now, according to the info sheet which came along with that download, Sleepy Sun consider the likes of The Verve, The Brian Jonestown Massacre and The Velvet Underground as their peers...and I have to say the band falls well into that same style of Psychedelic Rock. But the guys have a singer to-dream-of, as you will be able to find out by yourselves by surfing to the band's own (www.) sleepysun.net : in the “video” section there, you'll be able to view the video clip to the album's leading single and opening song “The Lane”, as well as a teaser video for the album the track “Galaxy Punk” and a lyric video for “11:32”. There's more videos of course, including material with Fannon, which I regrettably neglected to check for possible resemblances to My Bloody Valentine (you know, because of the female vocals...).
Hey...I still don't have Internet at home, doin' my research on the network PC at the job, but you can already check that possibility now! Me, I guess I'll be checking on my next series of 12-hour shifts! Because this band intrigues me, let that be understood! To the point where I wanna get more music of the band in my collection...to the point even to transplant Maui Tears (say...I was wondering...whence the Hawaii reference?) into my “Best Albums Of 2014”-lists! Oh, in case you're interested, the band also has Facebook and MySpace pages, which I did not bother to check, having found most of what I needed already!