Sleeping At Last has released a new single called “Have,” and it’s a reminder of why his music often reads less like performance and more like an undercover mail. Recorded at the hallowed Abbey Road Studios in London and finished in his own Illinois studio, the track holds an intimate clarity that only a deeply personal origin can provide.“Have” is a fine slice of songwriting, all O’Neal’s work again, written and produced with the emotional precision that has come to define him. “Have” unwinds gently, exactly like a conversation you didn’t realize you needed. It doesn’t move quickly, it’s just there, and as such, it makes room for the listener to breathe, reflect and feel.
The arrangement is inspired by warm strings from Sharon Mulfinger Gerber and Anya-Katarina Gerber whose lines sweeps through gracefully. Perhaps the most moving component is bringing in O’Neal’s daughters, Lily and Iris O’Neal, to supply backing vocals that add an additional pinch of chill. Their voices float in like a soft blessing, and that family warmth gives the song an authenticity that is hard to fake.
“Have” is a lovely tempered release, simple in its construction, but deep in emotional impact. It’s a song that doesn’t have to talk loud in order for us all to hear, it just needs to be felt. And in a world that’s perpetually moving too quickly, Sleeping At Last has given us a moment of stillness worth saving.
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