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Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of En Absynthia, When She Goes Down, The Time Traveler's Constant, Scratch The Aether, and Inappropriate On Purpose.
1. |
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Suffice it to say that I find myself often enough living in a time without any visual referent, anything that could in any way be construed as a singular subject/object by which I can emotionally access my life, my past, or substantial meaning directly or critically thereof. In other words...
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2. |
Hollow
03:08
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Get real!
Broken, burdened, told them, curtains
Here
Somehow, some way, I’ve got to find a lead
To substantiate, to repress my heinous need
If I can suppress it I’m sure to heed the call
And bring about the end and death unto us all
I feel!
Sober, burned down, death is certain
Steeled
Tried, contrived for sure, and peeled down past my skin
Don’t you know, my friend, there’s nothing meaningful within
If I die before I wake my bones will burn in flames
After all these years my face is pain imbibed, engrained
Oh I’m fallow and short of breath
It’s sickening, and I’m sure that you’ll agree
But I’ve done my best
And I’m hollow....
Hate!
Is this just my imagination, or is this real?
Greed!
Is this where you go when you’re evil?
Lies!
I’ve never believed in a hell
Pain!
Until one day I looked deep inside myself
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3. |
An Unexpected Visit
01:17
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4. |
Paste
03:21
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For all the stones you might have thrown
All of the effort has been wasted
For all the good you might have meant
Bittersweet honeyed love you’ve tasted
She said that everything would be all right as long as we just held on
Do you ever wonder if all these apples we picked will make them sick?
Do you ever wonder if all these apples we picked will make them sick?
Floating in their bellies, nothing but a gullet full of paste
In the night the moon does carve her face
Implacable as the wasted mountains
The tides of dreams will pull you under
Remembrance of sweet kisses and held hands
I held her in the night, a child so fraught with worry and so pale
Do you ever wonder if all these apples we picked will make them sick?
Do you ever wonder if all these apples we picked will make them sick?
Floating in their bellies, nothing but a gullet full of paste
Her hands white with worry, and such a tense, sad face
And her eyes, so harried, speak my mind, forget my place
With lips like alabaster and the mounting sense of fear
My heart breaks like age-old plaster, my guise coruscating tears
Do you ever wonder if all these apples we picked will make them sick?
Do you ever wonder if all these apples we picked will make them sick?
Floating in their bellies, nothing but a gullet full of paste
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5. |
Hazards of Time Travel
01:32
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6. |
Periscope Down
04:15
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Periscope down
I can see your bowels
And it seems that you’re tense
From holding in all your sins
Say that you love me and
See if you can hold your face like that
Hold it long enough so that I can tell if you’re lying or not
Say that you want me and
I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt
I’ll only doubt you as far
As I can throw
You
Our ship moves slow inside
The thickness of your hide
Deep into your mind
Right there next to your spine
Say that you love me and
See if you can hold your face like that
Hold it long enough so that I can tell if you’re lying or not
Say that you want me and
I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt
I’ll only doubt you as far
As I can throw
You
Here we move nice and slow
Through your eyes the light shows
Now I know what you know
The wicked ways your heart goes
Thank you sadly I say
Would you please go away
I can’t handle this
Just one last deep kiss
And I’m gone where I’ve gotta go
Say that you love me and
See if you can hold your face like that
Hold it long enough so that I can tell if you’re lying or not
Say that you want me and
I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt
I’ll only doubt you as far
As I can throw...
Say that you love me and
See if you can hold your face like that
Hold it long enough so that I can tell if you’re lying or not
Say that you want me and
I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt
I’ll only doubt you as far
As I can throw
You
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7. |
Lovely Lies
03:11
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Say you’ll always love me so
Tell me that you’ll always, always be there
Tell me lies
Don’t waste all that restraint on me
I’m done with proud nobility
Hold me close, and tell me lies
The air is sweet from your lips as you embolden me
I play the fool
Your two-times tongue is forked and flickers pleasantly
Don’t make me repeat myself, break don’t bend the rules
Bring some of that love to me
Is it sweet, no no, so salty, like I like
Now tell me lies
Your words are like a bad disease
Can’t get enough, down on my knees
Heed my cries, and tell me lies
I bite my lip and shiver nervously
I’ve got goosebumps all across my skin
I hang on every word precariously
Telling fibs you know the trouble that you’re in
Oh, but I want you to
Don’t you know I’m not playing
Can’t you see a good thing
With the camera in your face?
You’re not so clever but you’re sticky sweet
And the smile doesn’t reach your eyes
For all your trouble though, it’s such a treat
To hear all of your lovely, lovely lies
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8. |
Fear Knot
04:17
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They say I am a fool
To want to be close to you but
No matter how hard I try I cannot stray
Whether wicked or willing
Whether boiling hot or chilling
I only pray you can be patient please and wait
How can I possibly explain: I am afraid of you
And could it possibly be that you’re a little bit afraid of me too?
Or am I asking for
Too much charity
Please don’t fall but willingly into my trap
I set my watch and check my pulse
Twitching nervously I wonder at your thoughts
Close my eyes tight to shut out the room
You keep your face plain while I contemplate
The thoughts come, but the tongue cannot articulate
The heart goes thump against the ribs; it’s too soon
How can I possibly explain: I am afraid of you
And could it possibly be that you’re a little bit afraid of me too?
Or am I asking for
Too much charity
Please don’t fall but willingly into my trap
I’ll fall....
Can’t you see how I’ve waited
So long
The sun is setting on my heart
They still sustain I am a fool
But it seems I can’t get too far from you
And I am a better man for the trials
Whether you planned this from the start
Or if you knew eventually you’d break my heart
You were the salt for the stew set on the fire
How can I possibly explain: I am afraid of you
And could it possibly be that you’re a little bit afraid of me too?
Or am I asking for
Too much charity
Please don’t fall but willingly into my trap
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9. |
Pianoforte Interlude
00:30
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10. |
Prelude to the Nocturnis
03:28
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Gather round now, my young sailors,
And hear the words of my many years
If you see a strange shadow ‘neath the surface
Tell the helmsman to steer clear
There’s a craft more feared than the Nautilus
That travels beneath the same waves
It’s the submarine called the Nocturnis
A sight that I pray that you’ll ne’er have to face
She’s a hulk of an undersea warship,
Dwarfing her peers by at least twenty times
But she slips through the deep like a dancer
At fifty-five knots as I am alive
And her captain is sworn, by the Queen I’m told,
To blow pirates out of the sky
But he’ll just as soon board you and cut out your throat
If you’re in the wrong place, the wrong time
Well, McLeod is his name and he has one goal
Upon which the Crown does rely
He hunts the fell Captain Thorngauge
To settle a passing slight
The Nocturnis has tracked the Hinderscipe
From Port Royal to Liverpool
The submariner and the air pirate
In a trans-Atlantic duel
Woe-oh-oh-oh...
So if your lookout says he sees
An eagle clashing with a shark
It might be McLeod and Thorngauge ahead
Applying powder to the spark
And if that’s the case you’d best seize the helm
And steer your poor vessel away:
For the Nocturnis’ guns will not be deterred
When the sub captain sights..........
His prey!
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11. |
A Pirate Plots Vengeance
01:20
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12. |
Hinderscipe’s Lament
02:30
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Thorngauge:
It’s just a ship
Band:
It’s a ship
It’s my name they fear
Ah!
All I need is a means
Need!
To make them pay
Die!
I feel the bittersweet hands of eternity, confounding dreams
I’ll find my way
I’ll make them pay
They’ll bleed
It seems we have a common goal
Mother, oh please, it’s not time to leave, just stay here with me
and I’ll be what you need
An end to pain
Ah!
They’ve called me evil, rank, even
Stones! Give me the first throw! The gallows! No, at the stake!
BURN HIM!
But now they’ve broken me free from all restraint
What have we done?
I feel the cool winter breeze and I shudder to think how my new disease
Will mark their skin
Do their lungs in
Yes, I’ll set them free
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13. |
Away Into the Emptiness
03:26
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Can you give me one last kiss
Before you push me off over the edge?
I’ve tried to inoculate myself
But every time I try I fail
Come away with me, into the hollow space
Where you left me when you went away
I’m just a pet, a beast of burden for you to cannibalize
I will not be your meal or hear
Your lies
I’m afraid there’s no one left to talk to
I’m afraid my dear they’ve all moved on
So you’ve gone out on your way
To break more hearts, or mend them, none can say
I find myself angry and chagrined
None to accept what I have to give (not likely)
Come away with me, into the hollow space
Where you left me when you went away
I will not bend to this, I will build a box around this prize
Constrict my heart’s fair bleeding, brace myself
And ward my eyes
I’m afraid there’s no one left to talk to
I’m afraid my dear they’ve all moved on
But if you feel it deep down in your soul
Perhaps some old poor fool will give you love
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14. |
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15. |
Bled Soul
05:09
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Can’t you see
What this violence brings
What you’re doing to me
Oh, you’re breaking me down
With your delicate nails
You’ve surely pierced my heart
But I won’t let you leave
Until I
Untie the ropes that are binding your heart, wresting control
Away from your mind
Darling I know you hurt inside
Behind those tight lips and dark-circled eyes I see your light
I’ll tame your fear
Darling, you will be mine
Don’t you know
You’ve fed this demon inside
And it’s built a cage
Around your weary heart
But I won’t give in
No matter how hard it gets
It’s in your face my dear
You know you’re all mine
In the dark night I am standing alone with a fire-wrought sword
And you feel it deep down
Your heart and soul are at war inside
I’ll slay all the devils that blackened your hope and you’ll hear the bells toll
Deep in your heart
Life your gaze to my eyes
Don’t apologize, it’s not your fault for breaking down
Just look into my eyes babe, did you think I could do anything
Anything but love you
So here we stand
Blood, tears, and knives in our hands
Against darkness and death
And they don’t stand a chance
Untie the ropes that are binding your heart, wresting control
Away from your mind
Darling I know you hurt inside
Behind that bright smile and shining sweet eyes I witness your light
I’m forever here
Darling, you’ll always be mine
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16. |
Crimson Heart
04:57
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Can you please explain how you let me down again
Spare me no detail, oh regale me how you’ve failed
Your majesty, how many dragons have I slain
Countless scars, blood spilt with no complaint
But of these hallowed jewels of which you speak
There is but one I fear that I must keep
And the skies they opened wide
Revealing serpent-demon’s crimson eyes
Clearly now, Sir Knight, you speak a jest
For such heresy I’ll quickly have your head
As you’ve sworn, obey my each command
Lay thy bounty surely in my hand
As surely as thine face and hand are fair
I can bear thee, my Queen, no ill repair
But her Ladyship will fast adjust her tone
Else I strip her bare before her throne
As her eyes grew wide
A fountain of pure flame belied the night
Scores of my long years and youth lost for her favor
For a face, a hand, a heart cold as ice
I revel in this moment and forever
Oh mistress mine, here is your chance to pay the price
As she spied the belly of the beast
That rest, at his command, upon his heels
She unsheathed a jewel-encrusted sword
And knelt it at the feet of her new Lord
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17. |
Little Boy Blew
03:52
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Little boy peeped
Couldn’t keep his mouth shut
She quickly spun his tale to gold
Bedraggled with bare feet
His face blue-black and swollen
His back is straight, his eyes are cold
I’ll die knowing nothing more than the darkness of this place
Somewhere my parents are glowing, embers in some gentile’s fireplace
And she quickly replaced his fears for tears
Cobbled in a heap
The pile of shoes lies growing
He wonders next he’ll chance to eat
She’s a wonder with a whip/weal
But no fear his eyes are showing
He vows he’ll bring her to her knees
If I die knowing that I’ve brought you even just one ounce of pain
I’ll leave a corpse with rictus smile showing, knowing that I haven’t died in vain
Believe me when I say you’ll pay
[Voice of progress]
I can’t wait for destiny; I’ll take matters into my own hands (I can’t wait)
You can’t wait for life to bring you a collection of golden eggs (you can’t hope)
And if I break some yolks, well that’s just how it goes (that’s just how)
You can’t pretty pictures without some impetus!
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18. |
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Flashing white, my mirror blind
Escape ahead, and death behind
Screaming sound, my ship it waits
Through space and time, and hell’s own gates
Clad in white, heart of black (deceiver)
Cold dead eyes set your trap (believe her)
‘Neath your cowl a grisly hide (lives to kill)
Rotten, foul personified (is evil)
Black your hat, dark your soul
Scores mine eyes, and yours like coal
Eyes borne wide, baring teeth (
Chilling smile for deadly deeds (
Steeple arms pray for life (
Fear no harm, unsheath thy knife (
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The Extraordinary Contraptions Atlanta
Part lover's caress, part pugilist’s fist, songs of THE EXTRAORDINARY CONTRAPTIONS are sonic space-time adventures. This patent-medicine man, time-traveler, gentleman explorer, and madman advance the steampunk rock movement with 2012 album The Time Traveler's Constant, employing danceable prog rock and Victorian aesthetics in genre-bending, aggressive-waltzing stories of steam and strife. ... more
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