The Black Atlantic - Darkling, I Listen EP (2012)

by The Black Atlantic

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althrioan beautiful stuff in here.

Ben Blalock Another gorgeous record from The Black Atlantic, this time much more expansive and elaborate than the almost minimalist Reverence For Fallen Trees, but possibly even more beautiful. Favorite track: The Aftermath (Of This Unfortunate Event).

Clayton Giles I never get tired of this album. They sort of remind me of a very subdued Cosby, Still and Nash. Favorite track: Quiet, Humble Man.

Ryan L Harris Great EP, I heard "An Archer.." and have been looking forward to this for a while. Favorite track: An Archer, A Dancer.

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1.	The Aftermath (Of This Unfortunate Event) 05:17	lyrics

2.	The Flooded Road (Built on Sand) 03:26
3.	Darkling, I Listen 04:20	lyrics

4.	An Archer, A Dancer 04:58	lyrics

5.	Quiet, Humble Man 05:20	lyrics

about

From the near classical guitar intro of the opening, brooder-song “The Aftermath”, it is clear that ‘Darkling, I Listen’ is a much different sonic animal than the intimate, and mostly acoustic, affair of The Black Atlantic’s debut album ‘Reverence for Fallen
Trees.’ Clocking in at 23 minutes and 23 seconds, ‘Darkling’ contains five fully sculpted songs with a wide array of elements and influences, from 70’s psychedelic folk–rock to Phil Spector-esque orchestrated chamber pop and 60’s Motown soul
sensibilities. It also takes informed cues from current indie epitomes such as Grizzly Bear, Fleet Foxes, and Bon Iver. The Black Atlantic wears these influences on
its sleeve without sounding inauthentic. ‘Darkling I, Listen’ is an immersive listening experience, rustic and pastoral, but without the obvious pretty embellishments. It is impressionistic in its scope, full of wide-open vistas and cavernous sonic swells.

credits

released January 13, 2012

All songs written, arranged and performed by The Black Atlantic.
All lyrics by Geert van der Velde.
Produced by The Black Atlantic.
Track 1 was mixed by Chris Coady at Gigantic Music, New York.
Track 2 was mixed by Paul Pilot at Keusgen Tonstudio, Haldern-Rees.
Tracks 3, 4, 5 were mixed by Matthijs Herder at home.
Mastered by Steve Fallone @ Sterling Sound, New York.
Recorded and pre-produced entirely at Keusgen Tonstudio by Klaus-Dieter Keusgen.
All drums and piano recorded at Keusgen Tonstudio.
Lead vocals on track 1 were recorded by RZA at Sony studio, Beijing.
All songs published by The Black Atlantic / Antediluvian Publishing.
Artwork by Matt Moroz and Tracy Maurice.

The Black Atlantic are:
Geert v/d Velde: lead vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, harmonies.
Kim Janssen: electric and acoustic guitars, harmonies.
Simon v/d Heide: drums, auxiliary percussion, piano harp
Matthijs Herder: mellotron M400, harmonies, grand piano, philicorda, Yamaha CS5, Fender Rhodes, bass guitar, ukulele, nylon string acoustic guitar.

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The Black Atlantic The Netherlands

The Black Atlantic is a band formed around singer and songwriter Geert van der Velde, from the Netherlands.

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Track Name: The Aftermath (Of This Unfortunate Event): The Flooded Road (Built on Sand)

Collision complete
The sun became the moon
Stygian clouds,
A fair match for the inside

I don't have to accept what I am
I can drown him anytime

Breath ripe
With horizon fire
The flooded road
Of fleeting desire

Our hope is built on sand
With a different base (basis) in fact

She waits for me there
Clutching a child
Love was lost in the ferns
And rekindled on the slopes

Our hope is built on sand
I don't have to accept what I am
Track Name: Darkling, I Listen: Darkling, I Listen

This is bleak but in beautiful translation
From infinity, to the pen, to the mouth
I sing for the undertow
Darkling, I listen to its crash upon my shore

These scars are but memories to cherish
Promises carved into a chasm wall
I remain hidden inside their words,
Composed like bronze
I bend a knee
Before the sun that dives in the sea

When I die, fling my ashes high,
For the wind to disperse

All my intentions remain ethereal,
All my dreams impossible,
Save the ones I lived

When I die, fling my ashes to the wind
Track Name: An Archer, A Dancer: An Archer, A Dancer

An archer amidst the mirth of birds
His arrow flies through arches of slanted light
Sometimes Time distills
Sometimes it flows by

A dancer bare on a shoal
Her arms raised as if she could exalt the sky
Sometimes Time distills
Sometimes it flows by

You and I are made for this earth
Not for these times
We find comfort in the berth of our pasts
We choose to wonder the lark of furtive futures

I am rudderless and adrift tonight
My pen, in sinews of ink, dries in the maelstrom
Strain your eyes
To span time
Track Name: Quiet, Humble Man: Quiet, Humble Man

Darling, he does not possess the grace
To speak for your honour

Often, he mistakes his own pride for love
Brave and drunk on cynics' nectar

Mostly at night, the unfettered feeds the beast
Thirty years of war have not made him wiser

He wears heavy armour, like a fool
And fails to see you keep the house alight with hope
For a quiet, humble man to hold you

Thirty years of war;
You left the house alight
For a quiet, humble man