The gorgeous, understated “Failed Coronation” flows with weightless charm. A lulling, symphonic presence lurks alongside twinkling keys and a lullaby-set vocal tone, with a haunting vocal and bass-laden addition arising as the one-minute mark approaches. The track has a magical feel throughout, especially in the touching ambient conclusion. This is a masterwork in texture and atmosphere from Sterile Cuckoo, an ambiguous one-man project who aims to provide “the soundtrack for this indefinable moment between sleep and wake, for situations full of dreamy nostalgic memories and the burdens of reality.”
