Based in the Outer Hebrides on the Isle of Lewis, multi-instrumentalist Matthew Newsome – aka Sleep Unhealed – is no stranger to seclusion.
Yet with years of experience behind him, playing across UK DIY Punk scenes in bands up and down the country, his current project is a deeply profound and personal one. Laid out as an assembly of Progressive Folk and Ambient Music, harnessing complex fingerstyle guitar, droning organs, piano and layered vocals, Sleep Unhealed’s “Safe in the Hard Place” thrives in that space between art and music. His new single “Hailed by Light,” is out worldwide now, leads the charge in advance of the release of the album next month on Isolation Strategies.
“‘Hailed by Light’ is one of the longer pieces and more indicative of the LP as a whole,” explains Newsome. “It delves deeper into the sense of folk horror throughout the album and plays with the contrast between tense drones and bright baroque interludes, between airlessness and the release of ritual.”
Recorded alone at home and inspired by the darkness, beauty, and peace of his remote environment, lyrically the album is haunted by the ghosts of its past. Sailing close to the psychedelic winds of Six Organs of Admittance and John Martyn’s unique technical style of guitar playing, across seven songs Newsome’s compositions envelop the listener in arcane movements. From the baroque pop of Scott Walker to the solo endeavours of David Sylvian, even the heavier influence of bands such as Swans ensure that Sleep Unhealed is neither bound nor in thrall to convention.
Purchase and Stream the single on Bandcamp:
“Safe in the Hard Place” is released on March 07, 2025 via Isolation Strategies | Pre-Order on Bandcamp: https://sleepunhealed.bandcamp.com/album/safe-in-the-hard-place
Tracklist:
01. Safe In The Hard Place (I)
02. Starving Day
03. A Better Life Elsewhere
04. We Can Bring You Back
05. Hailed By Light
06. Powder Blues
07. Safe In The Hard Place (II)
