Deeper into Dream

Self-produced and recorded at his home studio, *Deeper into Dream* is the most personal and idiosyncratic album of Ben Lee’s career. The title track is a gorgeous, meditative piece that, like most of the album, explores Lee’s experience during the three years he spent with renowned therapist Jan Lloyd pursuing dream analysis. “Lean into It” deals in ethereal ambience. “Indian Myna,” with its spirited trumpet and bouncy flow and handclaps, takes the unabashed pop route of his previous material. However, Lee has publicly stated that he’s no longer trying to consciously write hit singles. This newfound dedication to creating a holistic song cycle means the album plays best as one grand piece. The spoken-word tracks (“My First Dream,” “My Second Dream”) create necessary bridges to the tunes. “Pointless Beauty” is positively baroque pop. “When the Light Goes Out” churns as it’s filtered through modern production effects. Best are the moments where Lee’s at his most somber and contemplative: “I Want My Mind Back” and “Dirty/My Third Dream” round out the album to make its pop music feel anchored in wicked gravity.

Ben Lee has always been interested in dreams and has been a constant theme with his music. With Lee’s eighth full-length…

Recorded and self-produced at his Laurel Canyon home studio, Australian singer/songwriter Ben Lee's eighth studio album, Deeper into Dream, lives up to his recent claims that his days of "chasing alternative hits" are over.