Arms and Sleepers
Arms and Sleepers are an American indie electronic duo consisting of Max Lewis and Mirza Ramic. Their lush, evocative compositions often contain slow, crunchy breakbeats, atmospheric guitars, delicate piano melodies, and soft glitches. While much of their material is instrumental, they have incorporated vocals on occasion, particularly on the 2009 full-length Matador and 2017's hip-hop-leaning Life Is Everywhere. The pair resist easy categorization, but their work can be likened to trip-hop, the calmer side of post-rock, and the cinematic side of ambient music.
Lewis and Ramic formed Arms and Sleepers in Boston in 2006 after their previous band, Maine-based post-rock group the List Exists, split up after three years. They made their recorded debut with Bliss Was It in That Dawn to Be Alive, an EP released by New Jersey-based Fake Chapter Records. Several releases followed in 2007, including the EPs Lautlos and Arms and Sleepers, as well as the full-lengths Cinématique and Black Paris 86 (the duo's proper debut album, issued by Expect Candy Records on CD and Ericrock on vinyl). Following the 2009 EP The Motorist, the duo released second album Matador, their most vocal-based work to date. From the Inland Sea, a split EP with the American Dollar, appeared at the end of the year. Following limited releases of Matador B-sides and remixes, the pair released the full-lengths Nostalgia for the Absolute and The Organ Hearts in 2011, as well as the A Man, a Plan, a Canal: Panama EP.
In 2012, Arms and Sleepers went on hiatus. They returned in 2014 with the single "Hurry Slowly," which appeared on the full-length Swim Team, an album that emphasized syrupy beats and manipulated vocal samples more than their past work. The EPs Force Majeure and AAS X SG (a split release with Sun Glitters) appeared in 2015, with Miami, Tiger Tempo, and Swim Team Remixed following in 2016. The duo also collaborated with rapper Serengeti on a single titled "Hollow Body Hold." The song appeared on the 2017 full-length Life Is Everywhere, which also featured collaborations with MC Airøspace. The album marked the beginning of a particularly prolific period for Arms and Sleepers, as they followed with another two full-length records, 2018's Find the Right Place and 2020's Safe Area Earth, the latter of which leaned further into their ambient side.
© Paul Simpson /TiVo
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Hermit Kingdom (Remixes)
Blockhead, Yppah, Arms and Sleepers
Chill-out - Released by Future Archive Recordings on 12 Oct 2018
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
Life Is Everywhere
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by Arms and Sleepers on 27 Jan 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Belfast (feat. Sofia Insua)
Trip Hop - Released by Pelagic Records on 8 Dec 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Nostalgia for the Absolute
Dance - Released by Arms and Sleepers on 4 Mar 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
only god forgives (Sun Glitters Edit)
Dance - Released by DXFXWXU Collective on 13 Aug 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Kepesh (Guitar Edit)
Arms and Sleepers, Richard Houghten
Alternative & Indie - Released by DXFXWXU Collective on 16 Dec 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
In the Jaws of Life
Chill-out - Released by Future Archive Recordings on 3 Jan 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Matador Remixed
Dance - Released by Arms and Sleepers on 28 May 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Black Out / Sun Shine (PALLADIAN Edit)
Chill-out - Released by Future Archive Recordings on 17 Sep 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Kanal (Extended Version - Black Paris 86 15th Anniversary)
Dance - Released by DXFXWXU Collective on 11 Nov 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Leon
Trip Hop - Released by Future Archive Recordings on 21 Aug 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
From the Inland Sea
Dance - Released by Arms and Sleepers on 15 Dec 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Blood Song (feat. Andreas Schütz)
Trip Hop - Released by Pelagic Records on 5 Jan 2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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The Motorist
Dance - Released by Arms and Sleepers on 17 Feb 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
little kingdoms
Dance - Released by DXFXWXU Collective on 15 Jul 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
former kingdoms remixed
Dance - Released by DXFXWXU Collective on 21 Oct 2022
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo