Sleep Thieves

After branding their trademark sweeping electronic style back in late February with “City of Hearts”, Irish trio Sleep Thieves are back and better than ever with new single, “You Want The Night”.​

Taken from their similarly titled new album set for release this June, “You Want The Night” is a darkly hypnotic and throbbing sample of new-age electro that sits somewhere in between Chromatics and Drive soundtrack alumni Desire. Much like the aforementioned film, the track is a throwback to 80s style production, kicking in with a simple but intoxicatingly sinister bassline whilst Sorcha Brennan’s vocals veer in between lustful and hauntingly malicious.

The band hail from Dublin, which may not exactly hail a city synonymous with deranged yet sexy synth-pop, but if this trio have their way then Celtic music could find itself easily replaced as the city’s chief musical export.

You Want The Night is released on 17 June via Minty Fresh.​ Pre-order here.

Sleep Thieves will perform at Birthdays, London on 19 May in support of Gazelle Twin. - The Line of Best Fit

2014 has been another bumper year for synthpop releases, but it’s also been a year where quantity has often ruled over quality: 2014 saw many, many decent synthpop singles and albums released throughout the year, but only a small handful have had that “wow” factor. The big-hitter artists – old-school classic bands who’ve seen such a resurgence in the past few years – were largely absent this year (with one big exception), so it was left to the young upstarts to carry the synthpop flame.
While Taylor Swift gave us her kid-friendly spin on synthpop with her hugely successful 1989 album (which I’ve tried to like but find it mostly made of meh), the underground synthpop sub-genre known as synthwave saw a massive rise in popularity. This post-Drive style has its roots firmly planted in synthpop, so I felt duty-bound to give it due consideration when coming up with this Top 20.
So here then are what I thought were the best synthpop albums of 2014: 20 albums of excellence that I think you’ll enjoy if electronic music is your thing! Of course, you might disagree with me; surprised to see there’s no representation from Client, Röyksopp, Future Islands, La Roux, or Gazelle Twin. Those are all good bands with some great songs this year, but for this Top 20 I concentrated on complete albums that gave me that joyous tingle that only quality synthpop and electronica can do.
So let’s get started!

Sleep Thieves – You Want the Night
Dublin’s Sleep Thieves shimmer awake with You Want the Night, a disco-noir delight of analogue electro with new wave sensibilities. Singer Sorcha Brennan has the looks of Curxe‘s Roberta Fidora and a voice part Enya, part Katie Stelmanis. Her breathy, enchanting styling perfectly fits the discotronic pulse that beats throughout this dreamy, fairy-tale of an album.
Recommended: City of Hearts, Sparks, French Kiss - Pansentient.com

A fantastic album of synthpop from Ireland. Features a super fun mix of 80s soundtrack era style songs and dark wave. Singer Sorcha Brennan could be the Irish version of Robyn or Kylie Minogue. A dream pop version of Crystal Castles. - Amoeba Records

Hailing all the way from Dublin, disco oddity Sleep Thieves are releasing their debut album You Want the Night on June 17 via Minty Fresh, but will be able to be streamed right now below. Featured on other sites like NYLON, Pigeons and Planes, and The Line of Best Fit, the band are considered to be one to keep your eyes peeled for.

The band has already shared stages with your other favorite disco noir bands including MS MR and Austra, and have no intentions of slowing down as the debut album will serve as a followup to their 2012 EP Islands and their 2013 single "Sparks."

You Want the Night comprises of sleek synths and '80s oddities as they coalesce with Sorcha Brennan saccharine timbres. From the expansive and majestic "Ishimura," the earnest and doozy "Tusk," to the energetic and bouncy-synthed "Sparks," the album takes its leanings from 80's oddities, haunting pop nuances, and nostalgic new wave. Stream You Want the Night below and preorder here. - prefixmag.com

“‘You Want the Night’ is one of the best Irish albums that I’ve heard in a while and their cinematic, haunting but entirely danceable set was brilliant from beginning to end. Sorcha Breenan effortlessly owns the stage and her voice is just superb. Looking at her I was constantly reminded of Roisin Murphy. Yes, they’re that good.” - Joe.ie

“Sleep Thieves wake up Body & Soul at EP 2014”
“Their set skipped seamlessly through You Want The Night, the Dublin electro pop trio’s breakthrough summer album. By the halfway mark, they’d already gathered the first big Body & Soul crowd of the weekend” - Hotpress

This weekend the fifth annual Culture Collide festival descends on Echo Park showcasing bands from around the world. Cheaper that a plane ticket, it’s a chance to catch up-and-comers so you can claim you saw them way back when. Our picks: Quantic, Nina Perssons (formerly of The Cardigans), PINS, Kamp!, Alphabetics, Nervous Nellie, Miles Tackett, and Sleep Thieves. - LA Magazine

“Similarly, you’ve the wonderful howl of Sorcha Brennan, who fronts the Sleep Thieves, two tents up. Draping the stage with sparkling gold feels apt - Sleep Thieves make shiny and glamorous electronic pop. It’s like the soundtrack to Drive in band form - no bad thing.” - BBC Across the Line

ALBUM: Sleep Thieves – You Want The Night
DESERVES THE MERCURY PRIZE BECAUSE: Sleep Thieves are an example of a hard-working Irish band who are unafraid of pursuing a style that may fall outside the norm of their native music scene. The album is accomplished and stands up to offerings from more established artists. - In Dublin Magazine

“A trio with a simply captivating sound, Sleep Thieves have emerged as one of the Irish music scene’s most promising acts with the album You Want The Night making them a definite must see.” - The Last Mixed Tape (nominated for Irish blog award 2014)

Selected by Nialler9 as no.11 in his 2014 list. - Nialler9.com

Why oh why do we love remixes so much? Cause they make good songs out of good songs, in a lot of instances (sometimes they don't: they make 'em worse, and we don't like that so much), and in this case, up-and-coming musicmaker REID has remixed Dublin trio Sleep Thieves to veritable perfection.

The original 'City Of Hearts' sounds like a bonus track for the Drive soundtrack: a punchy, slo-house beat with '80s aesthetics drives forward with squelchy saw-wave bass, synths soaring in the dark above, cutting the sky, ever thicker as the track goes on, and undeniably beautiful vocals weaving in and out.

Fellow Dubliner REID gives it an even darker makeover, combining a deep foundation of constant and sometimes distorted sub-bass rippling with understated kicks, electronic bubblings, an occasional (& spooky) sharp intake of breath, rustling hi-hats and the stark snap of a snare rimshot, an assault on the brain whilst being hypnotised by singer Sorcha Brennan's vocals echoing into the abyss, a choral masterpiece veiling the ravaged twilight surroundings that REID has conjured up. Quite something.

'City Of Hearts' is taken from Sleep Thieves' debut album, You Want the Night, which is out now and available for purchase here (if you're this side of the Atlantic) or here (if you're in the US). - The 405

There must be something in the water in Ireland at the moment as up and coming electro- acts are cropping up left and right. Dublin band Sleep Thieves seem to have had a busy year, signing to Minty Fresh, releasing a debut album winning over a slew of sites. They have brought in equally exciting producer REID to remix their stand out track ‘City Of Hearts’, who has given it a glitched out, bubbly, dark remix. Has a bit of Purity Ring vibe to it. Cool stuff. Listen up. - www.therepeatbutton.com

More bounty from Dublin, and this time a soothing song ideal for these cold of winter. Sleep Thieves are a trio who’ve been neatly coined as ‘disco noir’ by the Irish Times. I’m quite jealous of that. A first album’s again promised soon. - Some Of It's True (UK blog)

The magnificent dream-poppers Sleep Thieves provide support; their performance is marked by the wonderful showmanship of frontwoman Sorcha Brennan, and the gorgeous atmospheric haze they generate with tracks such as Oceans and Islands. The band conjure up a sound that is ethereal and dreamy, and they deliver an enthralling performance. - Vodafone centre stage

Bewitching, beguiling, dark-hearted electropop from the Dublin trio.
- Jim Carroll - On the Record - The Irish Times

Dublin’s Sleep Thieves – Sorcha Brennan (Vocals, Keys), Keith Byrne (Guitar, Keys) and Wayne Fahy (Vocals, Keys and bass) – unveil the video (by Neil Hoare) for their splendid electro-pop jam ‘Sparks’, produced by Rian Trench of Solar Bears.They are currently recording a full length follow up to their moody and hypnotic 2012 EP ‘Islands’. - http://www.famemagazine.co.uk/

Photographer Ruth Medjber captured days two and three of this year’s Hard Working Class Heroes Festival in Dublin, which saw sets from some of the country’s finest independent artists including Cat Dowling, Ships and Sleep Thieves (above). Check out her photos from Friday and Saturday below - The Thin Air (UK)

Dublin’s Sleep Thieves are cooking up the kind of spacey, danceable, girl-fronted electronic pop that sounds so good these days. Except they have been doing it fora few years. And somehow getting no love!? “Sparks” is exactly the kind of pulsing midnight groove that does their name proud. And I bet more than a few remixers once they wise up to it… - The Burning Ear (L.A. USA)

With our heads dizzy from a weekend of band-hopping around the capitol, we’re presenting this visual taster of some of the bands from the weekend shot by Olga Kuzmenko in advance of our more extensive photo gallery. For your pleasure, here are Hozier, Bouts, Sleep Thieves and Tvvins. - State.ie

You instantly know where you are with Sleep Thieves. That big, bouncing bassline hits from the very first second, wrapping the rest of the track inside its dark-of-the-night 80's stylings. Listen closely however and you’ll find much more here; the undercurrent of soft synths that stream just below the surface, the soft stab of occasional guitar and, of course, Sorcha Brennan’s vibrant vocals that fully propel the track forward.

Sparks is the Dublin trio’s latest single from their forthcoming new album and, following on from their show at Button Factory last week, we’re pleased to bring you an exclusive look at the tracks brand new video. - goldflakepaint.co.uk

Electro-pop outfit Sleep Thieves have unleashed the bright and bouncy 'Sparks', a preview of their currently untitled forthcoming 2014 album. Listen below. - Hotpress (Ireland)

I'd not heard of Dublin electro-pop trio Sleep Thieves until this track, "Sparks", popped into my inbox earlier this week, the follow-up to a May 2012 debut EP called Islands (available via their Bandcamp) and the first taken from their forthcoming debut album.

"Sparks" combines much of what has become a successful formula this past year with hypnotic, glittering synths and gorgeous, breathy vocals paying a big nod and wink to the sound of the 80's or the recent Drive soundtrack but done with modern technology, slick, shiny tones, full of catchy melody and beats - ultra infectious. - Just Music That I like .com (UK)

Largest city in the world, Dublin. Why? ‘Cos it keeps on dublin, and dublin and dublin. AMAZING jokes aside, today we have a new reason to be rather fond of the Irish capital. That’s because today is the day that Dublin – you see the link? – three-piece Sleep Thieves wafted into our lives and stole our hearts.
Yes, they’ve previously supported Spector, but for the love of God don’t hold that against them. ‘Sparks’ is nearly four-minutes of lush, digital pop featuring the swooping vocals of Sorcha Brennan nestled snuggly around needling, old western move guitars and clipped, dry drums. This is highly focussed, but wonderfully woozy dream-pop.
We’re told an album is on the way in the near future. Upon that great promise we wait, but for now let Sleep Thieves carry you off to bed with the delicious ‘Sparks’. Best of all, you’ll get to do it all over again when you wake up. - When the Gramaphone Rings (UK)

If ever they film a sequel to Nicolas Winding Refn’s hyper-stylish film Drive, Irish trio Sleep Thieves should be on the short list of for scoring duties. Sunny and soaring, new single “Sparks” stomps along with retro flair, announcing the band as a welcome force in the electro-pop (or ”Disco-Noir,” as the Irish Times put it) landscape. Not to be too wrapped in the past, the Sleep Thieves toss enough details and modern-leaning elements into the mix to keep an already enjoyable song from ever feeling like retread. - Pigeons and Planes (US)

Dublin electro-pop group Sleep Thieves have been making terrific synth pop for a couple of years now and are gearing up to release a new album next year.
This new tune Sparks has a wobbly synth running through it that will reel in indie-pop fans and anyone who has been Chrvches splendid debut album will enjoy the downbeat yet earworm-y chorus on offer. - GCN

Last May, Dublin trio Sleep Thieves stepped up a gear with a collection of hypnotic electronic songs on the Islands EP. ‘Sparks’, the new single from the band’s as-yet forthcoming 2014 album finds them continuing down the path of pairing vintage synths, sweet vocals and driving rhythms into a neon-hazed glow. - Nialler9.com

Dublin band SLEEP THIEVES return this week with “Sparks,” our Balcony TV Blog Track of the Day. This bittersweet single is the perfect reintroduction to the dreamy electro Irish band who wowed with their Islands EP last May. “Sparks,” a song that washes over you like déjà vu of your most favourite day, is the first piece off music released off the group’s highly anticipated new full length EP, which they are currently recording in their home studio. The LP is expected out next year and sees RIAN TRENCH of SOLAR BEARS on mixing duty once again. If “Sparks,” a killer track that gives it-band-of-the-moment CHVRCHES a real run for their money, is any indication of what’s in store then we’re in for a really exciting release from this three-piece in 2014. - Balcony TV

… sparkling, swaggering electro-pop... Definitely worth staying up late for - The Ticket, The Irish Times

The songs are dipped in atmospherics and are all the better for it. The EP’s five tracks are introduced by a brooding synth and vocal refrain on ‘Out Of The Darkness’, a stepping out into the clearing of sorts that indicates the band’s new identity and mood. ‘Oceans’ recalls both Austra and Fever Ray in its gothic synth textures and its pitched down vocals up against Sorcha Brennan’s siren call. The title track is the closest to the band’s old material and shows up just how far they’ve come while ‘Spirit Animal’ reaches for growling warehouse synth jams. The EP was recorded and produced by Sean Corcoran (who is a good friend as it happens and has produced records by Super Extra Bonus Party, Funeral Suits and Le Galaxie recently). Islands is out now from Bandcamp and streamable below. Highly recommended. - Nialler9.com

Stream of the week :
the new Sleep Thieves‘s EP Islands
think wave-y-gothic vocals (Austra/Fever Ray/The Golden Filter)
floating in and out from the dark to the bright side and back! - Deer De Bois (NL)

Dublin trio Sleep Thieves ‘Islands‘ EP is a collection of high quality throaty electro goodness. Lead singer Sorcha Brennan’s angelic preternatural voice deploys an eerie spectre across soundscapes of throbbing keys, bass, and beautiful bleeps. At times Brennan’s voice is reminiscent of Natasha Khan and Ladyhawke while the music has a suitably dark yet uplifting quality to it.
Out Of The Darkness plays like a baroque cello interlude transferred to a Moog while Oceans strange morphing beauty and the beast vocal exchanges create an enjoyable mid paced Sci-Fi lullaby. Title track Islands has a more organic rock feel thanks to the throbbing electric bass line which propels the song from start to finish
The gritty swaggering fuzz bass of Spirit Animal takes Sleep Thieves successfully into more hardcore territory, think Belgian dance maestros Goose. No doubt this track will set alight dance floors thanks to it’s epic outro. This EP sees Sleep Thieves move beyond potential to the ranks of quality assured. - Alternative Ireland Music

Sleep Thieves as “12 acts you MUST catch at Electric Picnic” - Breakingnews.ie

“Starting with 2012′s excellent EP Islands, Sorcha Brennan, Wayne Fahy and Keith Byrne hit on a sound that they have since wrapped themselves in, a glittering canvas of disco-noir synthesizer and digital production…..Brennan’s vocals have a sashaying celestial quality to them that wasn’t there before and it’s central to the album’s appeal – a bed of turbulent low-end anchors the feminine high-range she utilises, as on ‘City Of Hearts’ and ‘Oceans’ for example.” - Nialler9.com

There must be something in the water in Ireland at the moment as up and coming electro- acts are cropping up left and right. Dublin band Sleep Thieves seem to have had a busy year, signing to Minty Fresh, releasing a debut album winning over a slew of sites. - www.repeatbutton.com

Top Ten acts to see at Castlepalooza: “Dubliners Sleep Thieves have garnered support from the likes of The Guardian, MTV and Irish Times in the mere three years since their birth. Like a lethargic Crystal Castles, their sound wavers on dreamy electronica fused with disco-pop and the odd exploration with a guitar, smoothly complimenting front woman Sorcha's haunting voice.“ - InDublin magazine

Top Ten acts to see at Castlepalooza: “Well if you want your sleep to be stolen, then this band are the ones to take it. They will replace your sleep with laid back, electro, synth simmering energy. Pure rising vocals, layers of pop opulence wrapped in a genre defining performance.” - Dublinconcerts.ie

“As their name predicts, SLEEP THIEVES are ready and set to keep Picnic punters awake and kicking this August. With addictively glistening electro-noir sound waves that flourish from dark to light, here stands an irresistible trio who deliver a captivating and stylistic sound. Translations of hypnotically moody, electro resonances, silver-lined by Brannan’s angelic vocals are set to surround and captivate the Stradbally estate. The Dublin based trio have just released album, You Want the Night, and be sure they will leave you wanting just that. “ - Festival Republic and Electric Picnic

(The) most anticipated band at Culturecollide. Sleepthieves were fantastic. - The Sound Of Indie

You Want The Night is the first full-length album by the Irish synthpop outfit Sleep Thieves. Since their initial EP release in 2009, the band have taken their time to develop their style and identity. Their debut album confidently slinks in with sultry synthesizers on its opener "City of Hearts". Exploring the excitement and loneliness of living in a city, lead singer Sorcha Brennan gazes “I wanted not to be lonely but still alone” before its wistful chorus arrives. She commands focus as the album shifts between several moods, from the shadowy world of the title track to "Sparks", a song that could sit amongs a classic John Hughes soundtrack. The bewitching heart of the record is "Through A Sea". Opening with sparse synths, the song laments a lover who fled. After two ominous minutes it takes an unexpected turn as beats start to stutter in and steers it into full force dance-pop. The trio appear to have an experimental approach to songwriting that is simultaneously rooted in a love for melodies, like the unforgettable bassline of "French Kiss". For their first album, Sleep Thieves have crafted sensual and brooding electronic pop with lyrics that encapsulate the sprawling feelings of our inner worlds. - No Fear of Pop