Something about the west coast seems to bring out the psychedelic in musicians. While the east adds grit and edge, the west seems to slow things down and throw them in a time warp. It only perpetuates that everything moves in cycles, and for one group of musicians, the summer (or fall) of love has only just begun.

Sleepy Sun has the most appropriate band name for the sound produced that I’ve heard in a long time. This past July the band joined the rank and file of stoner rockers with their acid washed debut Embrace that begs you to ask, “Am I in the right decade for this kind of stuff?”

Originally from Santa Cruz, CA, the six piece has since relocated farther north to San Francisco for deeper inspiration, soaking in the sun, fog, and mountains, turning them all into sound. The music spans from Sufjan Stevens-like folk (“Duet With the Northern Sky”) to acid blues sludge bombs (“New Age”). It’s a low-key combination, but a seducing one at that.

Embrace is a long trek, with tracks nearing the ten-minute mark allowing the six to stretch their legs and let it all hang out. Recorded in British Columbia, the band managed to weave their love of the occult into something less scar and more mystical, like you hear on the swirling, bass heavy “Red/Black”. The end product manages to be one hell of a debut record.

When I hear their music, I can’t help but think of exactly what their name describes, a waning sun at the point right after the western sunset climaxes. One track, “Golden Artifact”, is exactly that moment in a [Beck's] Sea Change kind of way, with country-inspired atmospheric acoustics all echoing on top of each other.

Sleepy Sun’s music is easy to get caught up in. They’ve managed to create retro magic on their first full length and that’s no easy feat. Yes it’s another throw back rock band, but after hearing tracks like “Snow Goddess”, you won’t doubt their captivating power. Man, I wish I had a time machine.

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