The London-based collective holybones have built a reputation on mystery. They hide their faces in bandages, speak sparingly about their origins, and let their music do most of the talking. With their debut EP I got a good night’s sleep, the group finally offers a fuller glimpse into the world they have been sketching across early singles, and it is one that balances intimacy with disconnection, melancholy with a stubborn sense of hope.
Across six tracks, holybones weave spoken word into fractured electronics and lo-fi textures that feel at once lived-in and uncanny. Opener “Saltywater” sets the tone with a restless pulse that shimmers beneath meditations on youth, while “Everywhere Break” collapses layers of synth and percussion into something hazy, like fragments of memory flickering in the dark. The standout “These Are The Rooms” leans toward the dancefloor, euphoric yet grounded in reflection. The group has described it as a song for their friends, and you can hear that sentiment in the warmth bubbling under its jagged beats.
Elsewhere, holybones scale things back. “whet” strips the production down to restrained guitar and voice, pulling the listener close in a way that feels uncomfortably honest. “Leavers” closes the record with a sense of release, a reminder that letting go can feel just as powerful as holding on.
What makes the EP so compelling is how it avoids easy categorization. Holybones pull from club culture, lo-fi pop, and the intimacy of poetry readings, yet their sound never settles neatly into any of these spaces. I got a good night’s sleep is less about answers and more about documenting the sensation of being young, lost, and reaching out for connection. It is music that feels both solitary and communal, the kind of work that lingers after the final track fades.
Featured Images: Artist Supplied
