LAND OF PLENTY
The first song Land of Plenty refers to a state of the nation, and is a direct reference to websites such as Plenty of Fish that offer seemingly endless opportunities for sexual encounters. The starting point for this was Cole Porter’s Anything Goes, and what he would have made of these twenty first century shenanigans 70 years after a mere “glimpse of stocking” caused moral outrage. The lyrics also refer to the popular hobby of “fishing” in the context of “baiting” and “hooking” a member of the opposite sex using phones, laptops and tablets as “digital fishing rods”. The “batman in the wardrobe” was perhaps based on an urban myth.
OUT THERE
Was derived from a song initially conceived in 1993 but never recorded. A couple of weeks in to recording, in January 2016 and the news of David Bowie’s death had such an impact that it became a tribute to the man who had been such an influence on our generation. The idea of using Bowie’s famous cut up technique on his own lyrics was employed with mischievous dexterity to create an ironic self - penned elegy. A biblical Lazarus who refuses to lie down is referenced and continues to “live” through his legacy.
MUNT GROOVE
Could as easily refer to the definition of a Munt given by white South Africans to native blacks as “munts”. The bass-driven instrumental was imagined as the coolest music that might be played in the world’s grooviest fictional nightclub (past or present). We had some tribal Africans and Peyote induced Mayans spotting motherships in the rain forest as early sources of inspiration.
ANTIPATHY FOR THE DEVIL
Beginning life as a Stones inspired blues number, this quickly became a gospel anthem. The central theme is life’s road, the often tedious journey, continually stalked by temptation and other distractions that seem to form a queue behind us
marching conspiratorially. At least if the Satan is kept at the back, there is hope we will make it to the finishing line unscathed. The Devil wears Primark.
SOME KINDA WONDERFUL
The inspiration for this song came whilst I was on holiday in New York, it suddenly clicked as both an ode to the city and the unrequited content of a dream. I thought that
I would attempt writing an ambiguous lyric that applied both to the city and to loves labours lost. As we worked on the song Andy identified the scope for a female vocal “response” along the lines of Fairytale of New York. The reference to Woody Allen’s Manhattan and Rebecca are not connected, but relevant to the plot in that they help to anchor the story both geographically and emotionally.
MY BOOTIFUL LAUNDRETTE
Returning to a familiar theme of urban myth, a latter-day Arnold Layne is exposed by an unscrupulous Sudanese laundrette owner when he is caught on camera stealing women's underwear. His subsequent punishment is to become the unpaid Duty
Manager of his own Bootiful Laundrette with free rein to satisfy his lustful paraphilia.
OUT FROM THE BLUE
An upbeat song of hope that suggests that out of adversity there might always be the possibillity that something good could happen. The second song to feature lead vocals by Joan Fearon.
KRAZY DAZE
Remember a time when life seemed so simple? A three minute whirlwind celebration of the good times . Foot - stomping hedonistic blur with a Glam Rock soundtrack to our lives back in the "dayz of the glitz". Vocals by Andrew Roberts
FINALE
An anthem that seeks to reconcile mortality, and is an invocation for us to live boldly and implores us to not just "go gentle into that good night," but to rage against it. Even at the end of life, we can still catch the last merry go round ride.
PUSSYFOOTING
The air was filled with a phantom, wandering hither and thither in restless haste, and moaning as she went. Throughout which the sleeper lies passive, dreaming of an encounter that happened many years before, but now seeming strangely immediate. Featuring vocalist Steffi Lorena , who also performs in the video.
BOOK OF CHEER
The Little Book of Cheer is the Haynes Manual for living a rewarding life. It consists of poetry, life lessons and presumably an ideology for general fulfillment. Sound too good to be true? Then it probably is.
THE GIRL FROM LESSER NOWHERE
Madeline reflects on her past and the ups and downs as a British Cinema starlet of the early 1970s. Where did it all go right? Joan Fearon features on vocals.
TELSTAR
A radical cover of the old 1960's Joe Meek production. We aimed for the stars with a sound akin to Giorgio Moroder on steroids, mastered arpeggiators yet didn't quite tame some wild analogue synths.
KNOWN NOT WANTED
Normally a man is innocent until proven guilty
MOST PECULIAR
Bedrock Joe and Cindy Red forge an unconventional relationship after they meet under the Westway.
THE CALL OF THE GAME
"The Game? There is only one game in town, oh yeah, the game of love brother that's what I'm talking about here". (Overhead conversation between two quite elderly men out on bikes in California)
BEING A MAN
The trials and tribulations of being a man in the twenty-first century