Sleep is fertile ground for creative types. Sparks of inspiration emerge from the abstract and take on lives of their own. For Kevin Rieth, “When I Sleep” originates from the disorientation that one feels when suddenly awakened. With a jolt to the system, the supercomputer that is the human mind boots up and won’t power down naturally. As a result, the mind’s start up sequence commences, leaving you wide awake. With the assistance of a smooth, free flowing soft rock sound, Rieth reinforces the stillness of night while dealing with a bout of paralyzing insomnia.
To set the tone, Rieth opts for a straight shot of symphonic, soft rock. It makes for a compelling backdrop for the eeriness that accompanies nighttime. We walk through our daily lives with noise and then, with nightfall, there’s silence. This opening melody extracts the unease that this absolute quiet brings.
For good measure, Rieth throws in some edgier guitar riffs to amplify the pangs of anxiety that accompany being jarred from a deep sleep. Tearing through the feathery soft veil, these jagged guitar spikes keep this tune from becoming completely safe and restful. Not to be outdone, the darker, closing number features an emerging reverb that snaps the listener awake.
In the midst of all this, Rieth details the swift and unnerving transition from being dead asleep to wide awake. “When I sleep, when I fall in a dream, overwhelmingly out of control,” Rieth says. “I’m stood up and I land on my sheets. Thinking what did she mean?” While fast asleep, your natural senses are shut off and you are along for the ride. However, when you are ripped away from dreamland, your waking senses scream all at once. In this case, Rieth’s mind fires up to ponder a burning question.
“When I Sleep” is a cool, smooth take on the quiet, yet contemplative after dark period. Mixing up a blend of soft rock with just enough edgy guitar, Rieth effectively gnaws at a peaceful night’s sleep.
Written by Travis Boyer
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