relax and enjoy

snapshot the art of noise (who's afraid of the art of noise, 1984)

lyrics(there are none)
the art of noise is a great group composed of some very very talented people, who put together these wonderful uncanny electronic compositions, like the one above. it was used in a great documentary about the band to great effect


i am a camera. the buggles (adventures in modern recording, 1981)

lyricsMemories, how they fade so fast Look back, there is no escape Tied down, now you see too late Lovers, they will never wait I am a camera I am a camera Take heart, I will never let you go If you wanna let your feelings show Lovers all, how they never broke your heart You lose them if the feeling starts I am a camera (I am a camera) Camera, camera I am a camera (I am a camera) Camera, camera There, by the waterside Here, where the lens is wide You and me, by the sea Take heart, I will never let you go If you wanna let your feelings show Lovers all, how they never broke your heart You lose them when the feeling starts I am a camera, I am a camera (I am, I am, a camera) I am a camera, I am a camera (I am, I am) A camera, camera, camera, camera (I am, I am) A camera There by the waterside Here where the lens is wide You and me by the sea
It is very very difficult to say what my favorite buggles song is. That would probably go to We Can Fly From Here, but this song has had an unbeatable impact. A slightly morose take, from an otherworldly album. Synth-pop may not get better than this. Haunted by memory just as the lyric describes.


get out of my house. kate bush (the dreaming, 1982)

lyricsWhen you left, the door was Slamming You paused in the doorway Slamming As though a thought stole you away Slamming I watched the world pull you away Slamming So I run into the hall Lock it Into the corridor Lock it There's a door in the house Slamming I hear the lift descending Slamming I hear it hit the landing Slamming See the hackles on the cat Standing With my key I Lock it With my key I Lock it up With my key I Lock it With my key I Lock it up I am the concierge chez-moi, honey Won't let you in for love, nor money "Let me in!" My home, my joy I'm barred and bolted and I Won't let you in Get out of my house! No stranger's feet Will enter me Get out of my house! I wash the panes Get out of my house! I clean the stains away Get out of my house! This house is as old as I am Slamming This house knows all I have done Slamming They come with their weather hanging 'round them Slamming But can't knock my door down! Slamming With my key I Lock it With my key I Lock it This house is full of m-m-my mess Slamming This house is full of m-m-mistakes Slamming This house is full of m-m-madness Slamming This house is full of, full of, full of fight Slam it With my keeper I Clean up With my keeper I Clean it all up With my keeper I Clean up With my keeper I Clean it all up I am the concierge chez-moi, honey Won't let you in for love, nor money "It's cold out here!" My home, my joy I'm barred and bolted and I Get out of my... Won't let you in Get out of my house! No stranger's feet Get out of my house! Will enter me Get out of my house! I wash the panes Get out of my house! I clean the stains Get out of my house! Get out of my house! Get out of my house! Get out of my house! Won't enter me Get out of my house! Get out of my house! Get out of my house! Get out of my house! Yeah! Won't let you in! Get out of my house! Get out of my house! Let me in! Woman, let me in! Let me bring in the memories! Woman, let me in! Let me bring in the Devil Dreams! I will not let you in! Don't you bring back the reveries I turn into a bird Carry further than the word is heard Woman, let me in! I turn into the wind I blow you a cold kiss Stronger than the song's hit I will not let you in I face towards the wind I change into the Mule I change into the Mule Let me in
The Dreaming is probably the best Kate Bush album, in its eclectic glory, a burst of energy. From front to back she nails it. Get out of my house is the apex of this feeling. I get the most vivid goosebumps each time I hear it. The feeling she describes here, fear, of the past, the man in the wind, the mule. It's chilling.


booji boy's funeral. devo (unreleased)

lyricsThe river of time conveyed my tunnel of life yanked me from deep inside the capsule where I slept darkness that shrouded me burst with a sickening light when I was born my hands were small but they grew big to pick the fruit that made me think forget the ways so I could go reverse the flow back where I came from to the tunnel of life to the tunnel of life
the idea of this song is that the wretched boy, booji boy, was killed in a horrible accident, which is meant to be humourous but this song is anything but. It is far and away my favorite song of theirs.


games without frontiers. peter gabriel (peter gabriel, 1980)

lyricsJeux sans frontières Jeux sans frontières Jeux sans frontières Jeux sans frontières Hans plays with Lotte, Lotte plays with Jane Jane plays with Willy, Willy is happy again Suki plays with Leo, Sacha plays with Britt Adolf builds a bonfire, Enrico plays with it Whistling tunes We hide in the dunes by the seaside Whistling tunes We're kissing baboons in the jungle It's a knockout If looks could kill, they probably will In games without frontiers, war without tears If looks could kill, they probably will In games without frontiers, war without tears Games without frontiers, war without tears Jeux sans frontières Jeux sans frontières Jeux sans frontières Andre has a red flag, Chiang Ching's is blue They all have hills to fly them on except for Lin Tai Yu Dressing up in costumes, playing silly games Hiding out in treetops, shouting out rude names Whistling tunes We hide in the dunes by the seaside Whistling tunes We piss on the goons in the jungle It's a knockout If looks could kill, they probably will In games without frontiers, war without tears If looks could kill, they probably will In games without frontiers, war without tears Games without frontiers, war without tears Jeux sans frontières Jeux sans frontières Jeux sans frontières Jeux sans frontières Jeux sans frontières Jeux sans frontières Jeux sans frontières Jeux sans frontières Jeux sans frontières Jeux sans frontières Jeux sans frontières
It was on a random whim that this song found me, and thank god. At the time, my headphones were broken and only worked in one ear. When I finally heard it in stereo, it was the most incredible feeling. Truly. Every second of this song is compelling.


stagnation. genesis (trespass, 1970)

lyricsHere today the red sky tells his tale But the only listening eyes are mine There is peace amongst the hills And the night will cover all my pride Blest are they who smile from bodies free Seems to me like any other crowd Who are waiting to be saved Wait, there still is time For washing in the pool Wash away the past Moon, my long-lost friend Is smiling from above Smiling at my tears Come we'll walk the path to take us to my home Keep outside the night The ice-cold knife has come to decorate the dead Somehow And each will find a home And there will still be time For loving my friend You are there And will I wait for ever, beside the silent mirror And fish for bitter minnows amongst the weeds And slimy water I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I I want to sit down I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I I want to sit down I want a drink I want a drink To take all the dust and the dirt from my throat I want a drink I want a drink To wash out the filth that is deep in my guts I want a drink Then let us drink Then let us smile Then let us go
when I go the pond, this song, without fail, summons a turtle. this is really the most beautiful song. I had to replace my other genesis pick with something less intense, I think.


sundial. lemon demon (unreleased)

lyricsDon't mind me, I've just got some problems to work out I'm only passing through or maybe just right out Somehow something set my sundial backwards, tilted and upside-down Now the shadow hand is pointing time right out of town I cease to see you when I start to shut my eyes And I forget that I had said my last goodbyes Quickly I reopen them and bid you all "Cheerio, my friend" This goes on for hours and it never seems to end I don't remember what it is that I just said to you I've got Anubis on my back and something in my shoe Don't walk backwards, don't be jealous You're so bloody overzealous I think, I think I am unsure of what to say Live long and prosper while the winter melts away Sticks and stones and traffic cones May keep me safe while they break my bones Needles live in haystacks like a swarm of tiny drones Can't keep my extra senses charged for very long Can't bear to tell you that you're wrong, so very wrong Can't believe this brief reprieve Is stretching outward and up my sleeve Simply begs the question, how could I be so naive? I don't remember what it is that I just said to you I've got Anubis on my back and something in my shoe Don't walk backwards, don't be jealous You're so bloody overzealous Don't walk forwards, don't be silly You're the heel they call Achilles Don't enjoy this private screening This one doesn't have a meaning
Probably the most technically proficient lemon demon song, and certainly the prettiest.


this must be the place. talking heads (speaking in toungues, 1983)

lyricsHome is where I want to be Pick me up and turn me round I feel numb, born with a weak heart I guess I must be having fun The less we say about it the better Make it up as we go along Feet on the ground, head in the sky It's okay, I know nothing's wrong, nothing Hi yo, I got plenty of time Hi yo, you got light in your eyes And you're standing here beside me I love the passing of time Never for money, always for love Cover us and say goodnight Say goodnight Home is where I want to be But I guess I'm already there I come home, she lifted up her wings I guess that this must be the place I can't tell one from another Did I find you, or you find me? There was a time before we were born If someone asks, this where I'll be, where I'll be Hi yo, we drift in and out Hi yo, sing into my mouth Out of all those kinds of people You got a face with a view I'm just an animal looking for a home, and Share the same space for a minute or two And you love me 'til my heart stops Love me 'til I'm dead Eyes that light up, eyes look through you Cover up the blank spots Hit me on the head And ah-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh Ah-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh Hey Ah-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh Ah-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Every person on Earth loves this song and no wonder why; it's perfect.


mermaid smiled. xtc (skylarking, 1986)

lyricsFrom pools of xylophone clear From caves of memory I saw the children at heart That we once used to be Borne on foaming seahorse herd Compose with trumpeting shell From lines across their hands A song as new as new moon As old as all the sands Shrank to stagnant from Atlantic wild Lost that child 'til mermaid smiled Summoned by drum-rolling surf As laughing fish compel The young boy woken in me By clanging diving bell Breakers pillow-fight the shore She wriggles free in the tide I'm locked in adult land Back in the mirror, she slides Waving with comb in hand I was lucky to remain beguiled Grown to child since mermaid smiled
Before I went on my pilgamage to Europe I knew I needed to do something very special for the plane ride, so I downloaded Skylarking to my mp3 player. I'd been told it was the best XTC album. The real standout, of course, was this wonderful wonderful song. Mournfully left out on many pressings. Between the themes of youth and love and water and mermaids, its as if the song were lab-grown. And everytime I hear it I get that thrill of being high up above the clouds.


survival. yes (yes, 1969)

lyricsSunshine is creeping in And somewhere in a field a life begins An egg too proud to rape The beginning of a shape of things to come That starts the run Life has begun Fly fast the gun The mother flew too late And life within the egg was left to fate Not really knowing how The world outside would take it when it came And life's the same For things we aim Are we to blame? Don't doubt the fact there's life within you Yesterday's endings will tomorrow life give you All that dies Dies for a reason To put its strength into the seasons Survival, Survival They take away and they give The living's right to live (it's all that we need to give) The living's right to know The egg breaks all is out The crawling bird begins to scream and shout Where is the parent bird? A loneliness arose and heard it's name ring in For lives, begin Survival win Survival sin So soon the evening comes And with it runs the aching fear of hate Could someone still remain Who thinks he still could gain by escaping fate? It's much too late Don't underrate Appreciate Don't doubt the fact there's life within you Yesterday's endings will tomorrow life give you All that dies Dies for a reason To put it's strength into the seasons Survival, Survival They take away and they give The living's right to live (it's all that we need to give) The living's right to know Survival, Survival They take away and they give The living's right to live (it's all that we need to give) The living's right to know (it's all that we have to show) And we're all going (and we're all going) And we're all going (and we're all going) And we're all going somewhere
The first time I ever heard this song was in the car with my family. It was on my Yes - highlights CD, which I bought because it included Leave It. When I moved away, the song became a great comfort for me, and really changed my attitude on the cycle of life and death. That this is one of the band's first songs is astonishing.