Julee Cruise – Floating into the Night LP Sacred Bones

Julee Cruise’s 1989 album Floating Into the Night is a hauntingly beautiful, critically ac- claimed work that showcases her unique vocal style and the atmospheric, dreamlike music of composer Angelo Badalamenti. The album was produced by Badalamenti and David Lynch, who had previously worked together on the soundtrack for Lynch’s film Blue Velvet. Today in the wake of both Julee Cruise and Angelo Badalamenti’s passing it’s important to honor their musical legacy and contribution to both the sonic and cinematic landscapes.

The album is widely regarded as a masterpiece, a definitive moment in the development of the Dream Pop genre, and the unofficial soundtrack to the cult classic television show Twin Peaks. And while the album’s best known song may be the show’s iconic theme song “Falling,” it also contains many of Cruise’s most beloved hits including “Rockin’ Back Inside My Heart” and “The Nightingale.” Each of the album’s 10 tracks showcase Cruise’s ethereal vocals, which have often been described as “angelic” and “otherworldly,” gliding over Badalamenti’s lush, cinematic arrangements, perfectly complementing his combination of retro styles and modern ambience. Her lyrics often touch on themes of love, longing, and loss, adding an emotional depth to the already evocative music. Floating Into the Night was a critical and commercial success, receiving widespread praise for it’s innovative sound and moody, atmospheric vibe. It remains a beloved classic of the dream pop and indie rock genres, and a must-listen for fans of Lynch’s cinematic work and experimental music in general. This magical genre defining and era defying opus has continued throughout time to enchant new audiences and reveal new layers of cultural significance. The music’s juxtaposition between soothing and somber, which have always paired particularly well with Lynch’s psychedelically saccharine worlds filled with underbellies of vast darkness, perfectly straddles the razors edge of humanity, an edge that has become increasingly precarious in modern times. The album is at once a gorgeous romantic narcotic and a bottomless container for fear and sadness.