Inanimate objects messing with you? Machines doing the opposite of what they're supposed to? Time speeding up when you're really short of it? And everything (and more) in the same day? Of course that must be the universe playing tricks on you to amuse itself watching your reactions! You try different methods of getting back in the saddle but nothing works. It's all been efficiency proved before being thrown out at you. You: a) get very angry b) laugh c) you write a song about it d) all of the above. 
Just as complex as the answer to the irony of life can be was also the making of this song. It kept playing in my head for months and months, without me being able to make sense of how to express it - there was no melody, idea, chords or rhythmical form to start from. 
Finally I took the chance and just played and sang the closest I could to what I felt it was. It turned up a groovy funny paranoid sweet frustration sort of entity. 
Looking back on it, the whole situation and the result of it couldn't have made a better point. 
The beautiful helplessness of human beings in their frantic race for control.


general conspiracy 
trying to keep you away from me 
general conspiracy 
trying to keep you safe from me 
I did my best to get there on time 
but they simply planned it all too fine 
there's a general conspiracy 
trying to keep you safe from me 



I tried to get to you on time 
but my dress zipper just broke down 
so it's back to my jeans and sport shoes 
so much for looking pretty for you 

there's a general conspiracy 
trying to keep you away from me 
there's a general conspiracy 
trying to keep you safe from me 
I did my best to get there on time 
but they simply planned it all too fine 
there's a general conspiracy 
trying to keep you safe from me 



I really tried to get it right 
but my old car just wouldn't start 
though I used my best technical skills 
hitting the steering wheel and kicking the wheels 

there's a general conspiracy 
trying to keep you away from me 
there's a general conspiracy 
trying to keep you safe from me 
I did my best to get there on time 
but they simply planned it all too fine 
there's a general conspiracy 
trying to keep you safe from me 


[guitar solo] 

I did my best to get there on time 
but they planned it all too fine 
there's a general conspiracy 
trying to keep you safe 


then when I could finally start it 
I went on and got caught in the traffic 
there was some demonstration for human rights 
well what about my right to get there on time 

there's a general conspiracy 
trying to keep you away from me 
there's a general conspiracy 
trying to keep you safe from me 
I did my best to get there on time 
but they simply planned it all too fine 
there's a general conspiracy 
trying to keep you away from me 
general conspiracy 
trying to keep you safe from me... 
[etc...]


Credits
 
Recorded at Bardo Music Studios 
Mixed by Scud Noonan 
Vocals and guitars Ana Patan 
Bass and percussion Jamal Evans 
Drums Zoltan Csörsz

Spice, Gold and Tales Untold

General Conspiracy

Wallachian by birth, European by choice and a citizen of the world by unavoidable casualty, Ana Patan brings a melting-pot type of music luggage, congenial and familiar, still difficult to place. 
Ana's sultry voice, guitar playing abilities and her impacting genuineness come out as extrovert music, rich in contrasts: organic and intellectual, funny and critical, energetic and laid-back, a multi-facetted hymn to everyday life, a mirror held to individual and humanity with all faults and splendour.

Ana Patan's album "Spice, Gold and Tales Untold" has been recorded on 2 inch tape, with only minimal compression/EQ and no computerised timing, the result being a soothing, natural and dynamic piece of work of unrestricted and skilled artistic interaction, that took almost seven years to produce.