1. |
1
00:39
|
|||
|
please out the way (they said)
disconnect (pretend)
and i took it in
feel my fingers now
on my own skin
the sticky horse chestnut buds
rainwater through the soil
sun baked
hold yourself showcase
to a gaze
high up
low down
across the street
on screens
breathe into myself
the images i chose
the sounds i make
the clack clack of
sycamore branches
and train rails
|
||||
2. |
2
06:13
|
|||
|
so small
oh so small
so small
i've got so many questions
so small
oh so small
so small
that's how this started
it was your example
your example
it was your example
i hold you responsible
it's your example
your example
you need to look at
what the fuck you're doing
what's this noise
what is this noise
this noise
in my nervous system
no stillness
empty fucking culture
filling up on
starving hungry
it's your example
who's example?
where do you put this?
who's responsible?
where do you go?
how do you place it?
this fucking disgrace
and i'm fucking sorry
there's so much here
woven together
stuck in my muscles
under my ribcage
what do you do?
how do you start?
pick it apart
piece it together
who's responsible
someone's responsible
point the finger
(look in the mirror)
what do you do?
where do you go?
this disgrace
i'm so sorry
these specifics
the full breadth
all the threads
in some relation
chew hard
sleep tight
big buildings
you fucking listen to me
|
||||
3. |
3
04:08
|
|||
|
look at us smiling
repeat conversations
we've nothing to talk about
if we talk about nothing
look at us smiling
repeat compromises
bite back life
hold it somewhere safer
look at us smiling
role play reactions
same worn out formulas
linear, literal
look at us smiling
repeat conversations
hemming each other in
with i tell, you tell
this isn't enough
it can't be enough
this isn't enough
it just can't be
this isn't enough
it can't be enough
this isn't enough
it just can't be
lying to you lie to me
and fear has made fast
no space between the
question and the answer
push me to put into words
all the things i can't articulate
can't you feel it?
connection
no connection
disconnection
feel it
connection
no connection
disconnection
connection
we're smiling
repeat conversations
nothing to talk about
if we talk about nothing
|
||||
4. |
4
02:43
|
|||
|
these straight lines
across mountain ranges, lakes
cut and divide
map and marry
this land without people so said, through lives
deep sea between the takers and the
taken back, tracing history to the roots
dug up, displaced, reschooled and stolen
and the white voice hammers conflict resolution
stuffed suits passing notes under the table
packaging up peace mission with free trade
that feeds nobody else and nothing else
with power and lies and violence and violation
and god save the fucking nation
how much do you need to see
before you actually see
make money because you
can't make anything else friend
dead skin layer closed down
shut down to the
running dull red blood routine
watching a flickering screen fed image
drown in your transaction crime
the way dead men pass the time
how much do you need to see
before you actually see
|
||||
5. |
5
05:16
|
|||
|
carve out spaces she said
for the sense making
we've got something here she said
don't want to waste it
a few moments trip in the rhythm
to speak, to listen
stop the absurd she said
a point of contact
make space to breathe she said
space to meet
rooms full of people, heat,
huge mountains, swing fire,
old stones, sing with our hands
carve out spaces she said
great swathe of cloud cover
where the sea sweeps the ground she said
that you stand on
public, open, secret, close,
collect in our bodies,
taste, sweat, touch, print,
dance, frame a passing
carve out spaces she said
when things tighten
widen it out she said
hear into the pauses
let go, rest back
take a hold and share brave steps
to redefine it
using a shorthand
because there's so much
to cover
let some tears come
so we can really
laugh together
carve out spaces
to dream of things better she said
than this she said
can we carve out spaces
to dream of things better she said
we'll carve out spaces
to dream things far, far better she said
carve out spaces
to dream of things better she said
|
||||
6. |
6
01:00
|
|||
|
and when they built the first railways
they didn't allow for the heat of the sun
and crack of ice
and their railways
built on the sweat of a migrant mass
buckled and bent
and when they built the tall, tall buildings
they didn't heed the movement
of the underearth
plate-shift to rock the foundations
and their buildings built by the
hungry and the homeless
cracked and crumbled
and when they built the first bridges
they didn't listen to the sound
of the strong winds
and their bridges assembled by
disposable faceless cheap labour
swung and snapped and fell
and they have only
modified their
psychic architecture
(still on and over)
just enough to hold back
wide rivers, flood plains (nearly)
modified armour
overlayed stamp on the
curve and the sweep
body and mind
those deaf to, blind to
and dumb
|
||||
7. |
7
04:44
|
|||
|
there is a tree
bent by the wind
there is a hill, a dip, the cliffs
there is the sea
at the edge of the land
now i am naked
now i am walking
over the flint, chalk,
feet wet, sand deeper
now i am swimming
there is the horizon
still water, no waves
cold current out a way
i can see the headland
now i am under
now the sun is hot on my skin
now i am whispering
(remember)
beautiful the ocean
and all who swim in her
|
||||
8. |
8 & 9
06:06
|
|||
|
8.
so full of life
more than you know full
walking through
people passing
orange road
sway crowd lurch past
dead to the world
it's later home time
ducking aside
from the one step in front of the other
where are all these people going
together, are they together?
evening entertainment (read alcohol) over
beds are calling
lie flat then stand up
and it's monday again
this rhythm of a not life
and always moving to someone
else's stare
never your own swing
this waste
9.
stop hovering to the right of me
stop hovering right behind me
stop hovering to the right of me
and look up
social ettiquette
says sit like a lady
hold silenced barred a self defence
not tongue tied or foot bound
still scratch at the dictate
and sing out
stop hovering to the right of me
stop hovering right behind me
you occupy too much space here
you occupy far too much space
move inside, outside, outside, among
there is a context
this context
need to move in dark spaces
out from under the radius of a lamp
and look up from what has
neither song nor story
to find the plough and the pole star
i'll open my voice, open my voice
and say you're standing
too close to me
open my voice, my voice and say
you're too close to me
need to move in dark spaces
out from under the radius of a lamp
and look up this that has
neither song nor story
look up to find the
plough and the pole star
|
||||
If you like claque, you may also like:
Hope/Currency
by rPH and Kins of Spade
This album by Kenyan electronic producer rPH and poet Kins of Spade reflects on the impact of religion in their lives and society.
go to album
In a lane all his own, aint about me lays moody spoken word over rippling soundscapes on songs that feel cinematic in scope.
go to album
Bonjour Mon Amour
by Camille Bertault
featured on Bandcamp Radio Jun 6, 2023
go to album
Playing with Esu / Where will Ogun Live
by Neo Griot & The Afrocentric Prince
featured on Bandcamp Radio Jan 25, 2022
go to album
Fodder
by Douglas Kearney & Val Jeanty
Poet Douglas Kearney and composer/producer/drummer Val Jeanty link up for a a compelling LP that feels like the written word come to life.
go to album
On her new EP, Japanese producer Mikado Koko deconstructs the traditional, mixing avant-garde vocals and glitch breaks with koto.
go to album
This Is Madness
by The Last Poets
featured on Bandcamp Radio Jun 23, 2020
go to album
