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Halflight

by The Phosphenes

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1.
Watershed 03:52
Every day I’m thinking about everything, and every day I never finish anything. But it’s okay, ’cause there’s another coming up and, come what may, I’m gonna wash my coffee cup and make it all brand new. Tell me a thing or two: it’s true. Taking it all the way, pulling out the stops and pressing the pedals down all the way. I don’t care if I’m impressing nobody else but me, because I left my frightened child in the twentieth century – the one that’s left is running wild and making it all brand new. Tell me a thing or two, it’s true. I told you, it’s alright if I wake up in the night; I’m alive, and I’ve managed to survive this long. Every day I look at the sky above me. Come what may, I don’t care who’s thinking of me. I don’t know anything, but I don’t mind: I suppose I will find what I will find and make it all brand new. Tell me a thing or two, it’s true; what’s it to you?
2.
My Eloise 03:22
She came to me with blood in her eyes and a hole in her pocket, my Eloise; told me her name, and then I forgot it. She’s such a tease: she pulled on my ear, and I told her to stop it. She said to me: “your future’s so vague”. My Eloise, I know you feel the same. I told her the time and she looked at me like I was a prophet. Electricity, to lighten her mind, to plug in her socket. She’s my ideal: the blood in my veins, the smoke from my rocket. She disappeared… the stain on my shirt, my Eloise, I know you feel the same. She came to me with blood in her eyes and a hole in her pocket. My Eloise told me her name and then I forgot it. She’s such a tease: she pulled on my ear, and I told her to stop it. She said to me “the future’s so vague”. My Eloise, I know you feel the same. My Eloise, I hope you feel the same.
3.
It couldn’t be you, but it could’ve been me if I wasn’t wandering ’round with my head on the ground and my heart in the deep-freeze. Now it all makes sense: how I sat on the fence watching the world going by, with a tear in my eye and my eye on the TV. I know… why go when it’s over? Oh, but it’s good to see you. You’ve come a long way since those crazier days, with a child of your own, and a happier home, and a place in the scene. And I bided my time ’til I found a good rhyme: now I’m singing a beautiful song, with my favourite shirt on, and there’s plans for a movie. I know: why go when it’s all working out so perfect now? But it’s good to see you. (It couldn’t be you; but it could’ve been me.)
4.
Once, long ago, you said you loved me one-and-a-half times. Back then I did not believe you: couldn’t make sense of your rhymes. Talk to me, I like hearing from you, baby – one-and-a-half times – say something, even if it’s nothing but another one of your lines. Add it up! It comes to nothing. Two, three, four times; multiply, divide by nothing, every time we say goodbye. First, in a bar we saw each other one-and-a-half times. I knew then you’d be my lover, one-and-a-half times. You used to make me melt like ice cream in the setting sun. Won’t somebody wake me from this daydream? Might you be the one? Add it up! It comes to nothing. Two, three, four times; multiply, divide by nothing, every time we say goodbye. Tried to find a reason for leaving; they all said to stay. Went separate ways for many days, your friends might say it was just a phase. Were you gonna leave me tomorrow? Was it gonna be today? Add it up! It comes to nothing. Two, three, four times; multiply, divide by nothing, every time we say goodbye. When we made love it used to feel like one-and-a-half times; when I was down, you’d say “it’s alright” one-and-a-half times. In the night time – through the darkness – I can still see the sun shine.
5.
Halflight 03:42
I woke up falling. I don’t know where I started from. I missed my calling – I don’t know where I started from. I had theology: I don’t know where I got it from. I had biology: I don’t know where it started from. I had an overview (I don’t know where I got it from): I had it going, too. I don’t know where it started from. I met my mismatch: I don’t know where that started from. Receipt, and dispatch… I don’t know where I got it from. In the halflight, I can see the other side: and it’s not so close, but it’s alright. You don’t have to know: it doesn’t really show, and I don’t even know… I woke up? I don’t know… I found it? I don’t know… I picked the pieces up; I don’t know if I got ’em all, but it was big enough: ungainly, but tolerable. In the halflight, I can see the other side, and it’s closer than it was the other night. In the halflight, I can see the other side, and it’s oh so close, and it’s alright. It’s alright!
6.
Taste the wine from divine that hangs from above. All the signs point to you that you’re not the one; you’re so removed from what I feel right now. I love myself, and I want to cry. Take what’s mine – I don’t care, I’ll leave it all behind. Let me stay for just one day, until the end of love. You’re so removed from what I feel right now. I love myself and I want to cry. Maybe one day you could love me too. While you’re immortal, I waste away with you.
7.
Little While 03:10
He’s flying in, she’s driving out: they’ll be together for a while. I’m staying in – I’m hanging out – I’d better keep a low profile. But I can smell her on my pillow, see her in my mind… I don’t lock anything no more, and I don’t care if she’s not mine. They’re going out, they’re staying in: the’re making up for lost time. I’m chilling out – I’m digging in – feel like I’m waiting in line. And I can feel her in my fingers, taste her in my mind… I don’t lock anything no more, and I don’t care if she’s not mine. He’s flying up, she’s driving back: she aches anticipation. I’m cleaning up, I’m kicking back; she comes, all agitated, and I can feel her with my body, look her in the eye. Every time that she returns, for a little while she’s mine… love takes a little while… just a little while
8.
I am an invisible man. I live where nobody can see me. I don’t fit in with the crowd, not even allowed to breathe. Nothing I do makes any sense to you — you laugh and just take offence at me. I can’t deny what I see, but it doesn’t matter ’cause nobody can and nobody wants to see me. I am an invisible man, I’m out here in no-man’s land. You’re welcome to come where I am: just follow your heart to me. Invisible man…
9.
Walking through the clouds, feet don’t touch the ground. Stardust in your eye… forever gonna fly, yeah. Riding waves on the sun, flames don’t burn my skin. I talked to Man in the Moon; he knew I’d be there soon. Freedom for the oppressed, and the birds must fly from their nests. Your thoughts and your feelings repressed – I tell you, “I’m not impressed, no”. Interstellar void, present futures past. I was overjoyed: infinity always lasts, lasts and lasts. Freedom for the oppressed, and the birds must fly from their nests. Your leaders with their minds at rest – I tell you, “I’m not impressed”, no. Halo, pitchfork, wings: I don’t need these things. You’ve won all your life – that don’t make you right.
10.
Two Places 02:55
There’s two places you can go, and the third one is “I don’t know”: ’cause you’re terrified of “yes”, but you’re not impressed with “no”. There’s two colours you can see, and the third is something in between: ’cause the one is all washed out, and the other’s ebony. You could lose your balance like Wallenda,* but I will catch you if you fall: no matter if to take you in my arms or simply lay you gently down and walk away. There’s two songs you like to sing, and the third one covers everything: though the words are hit and miss, the music is amazing. And the sunshine’s in your eyes… do you know you make me realise that I ain’t seen nothing yet, and it’s good to be alive? You could lose your balance like Wallenda, but I will catch you if you fall: no matter if to take you in my arms or simply lay you gently down and walk away. But there are places we can go; there are many colours we can see; there are songs that we can sing, and the music is amazing.

about

Halflight is a journey from the watershed to the sunshine via holey pockets, television, an interstellar void and the Flying Wallendas. Along the way the guitary pop of this reticent quartet was delicately sprinkled with keys and reeds to emerge exuberantly from the gloomy winters of the last few years. Channeling four songwriters and astride a decade of history, Halflight lives!

credits

released October 23, 2013

Lovingly handcrafted in Melbourne Australia. Recorded and mixed by Idge at Soundpark between November 2011 and April 2012. Produced by The Phosphenes and Idge. Mastered by David Briggs. Band and cover photos by John A Watson, others by Dean Lombard and Jason Cutler except watershed pic (found randomly on the internet). Design by Dean Lombard with Jason Cutler and Joe Lombard.

These songs were written and this album was made on the stolen land of the Kulin Nation, where we and our people live and work without their consent. We acknowledge and pay our respects to the traditional custodians of the land and their Elders, past and present; and look forward to a true and just reconciliation between our peoples.

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The Phosphenes Melbourne, Australia

The Phosphenes create imperfect three-minute pop songs from a standard dysfunctional rock line-up (with added harmonica for your convenience) that - replete with catchy hooks and upbeat rhythms, armed with poignant and quirky humour, and dripping in vocal harmonies - stick in your head and get you out of your chair. ... more

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