For the most part embracing a sparse, meditative approach similar to his contemporaries Final Fantasy and Little Wings, and at times delving into skittery electro-pop and lush indie pop territory, Sleeping States proved to be a quiet departure from Starkie's noise-pop roots. Releasing his first album as Sleeping States in 2004 (Distances Are Great), Starkie went on to release albums, EPs, and singles prolifically over the course of the next three years; recordings from that time period include 2005's A Year in the Life of Sleeping States, a self-titled Sleeping States cassette EP (also released in 2005), a split EP with Francois (2006), and 2007's full-length There Are the Open Spaces, not to mention a passel of split singles and comp disc appearances. ~ Margaret Reges