If you’re looking for the sonic equivalent of staring at a bobber for six hours while slowly dehydrating, Sluice’s new album ‘Companion‘ is your new best friend. This album doesn’t just play…. it loiters in your mind. It’s got that perfect, mid-tempo existentialism that pairs beautifully with a four-pack of Hamm’s tall boys and the realization that you’ve been staring at Lake Michigan so long your retinas are vibrating.
Listening to “Beadie” feels exactly like that 5:00 AM moment when the sun hits the water and you realize you forgot the bait, but you’re too buzzed on lake air to care. It’s grounded in the “dawning contentment” of staying put, much like when you decide you aren’t moving from your lawn chair even if the fish aren’t biting. Then you’ve got “Zillow,” which captures the specific brand of modern anxiety, “where will you live?”, that only a quiet morning on the pier can temporarily cure. It’s one of the few scrappier moments, staying with you like the stubborn smell of a single trout, carp, or whatever yer pulling in on your favorite hoodie.
By the time the eight-minute sludgy prayer of “Unknowing” rolls around, the album reaches its peak “zen-dirtbag” state. It’s the ultimate soundtrack for catching absolutely nothing and feeling like a king anyway, perfectly framing the labor of life against the labor of just being there. It’s music for people who understand that “fishing” is just a socially acceptable excuse to drink beer before noon.
Luckily, you don’t have to wait until summer to catch these vibes in person. Sluice is bringing the whole beautiful mess to Falcon Bowl here in Milwaukee on Thursday, May 7, 2026. The show kicks off at 8:00 PM, which is arguably the best time to start thinking about your next morning beachside. Grab a ticket, grab a Hamm’s, and prepare to drift. Click here to buy your ticket!!
Links of interest:
https://www.instagram.com/sluice.ig/
https://sluice.bandcamp.com/album/companion