Julee Cruise, the singer best known for lending her voice to the ethereal channeling of the complexity of Laura Palmer’s tragic plight in the groundbreaking television show Twin Peaks, sadly passed away last June. But her classic album Floating Into the Night is receiving a special reissue from Sacred Bones Records.

A hauntingly beautiful, critically acclaimed work that showcases Cruise’s unique vocal style and the atmospheric, dreamlike music of composer Angelo Badalamenti, the 1989 album was produced and co-written by Badalamenti and filmmaker David Lynch, who had previously worked together on the soundtrack for Lynch’s Blue Velvet. In the wake of both Cruise and Badalamenti’s recent passings, it’s more valuable than ever to honor their respective musical legacies and contributions to both the sonic and cinematic landscapes.

Floating Into the Night is widely regarded as a masterpiece, a definitive moment in the development of the so-called “dream pop” genre, and the unofficial soundtrack to Twin Peaks, before that album proper was released. 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 incredible vocals, which are often described as angelic and otherworldly, gliding over Badalamenti’s lush, cinematic arrangements, perfectly complementing his combination of retro styles and modern ambience. The song’s lyrics (most penned by Lynch) often touch on themes of love, longing, and loss, adding an emotional depth to the already evocative music.

A must-listen for fans of Lynch’s cinematic work, as well as experimental music and lilting indie pop in general, Floating into the Night was a critical and commercial success upon its release, receiving widespread praise for its innovative sound and moody, atmospheric vibe. 

At once genre-defining and era-defying, this 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 razor’s edge of humanity, an edge that has become increasingly precarious in modern times. Floating Into the Night is at once a gorgeous romantic narcotic and a bottomless container for fear and sadness. To order the re-release on vinyl, click here.