‘In That House’ is the second single from Awkward Branches, and features on their forthcoming EP 'Melody for a Friend', coming Spring 2023

Written, performed & produced by Mike Barrett & Phil Swan
Mixed by Mike Barrett & Mathew Keightley
Mastered by Mathew Keightley

lyrics
at the garden’s edge
the lamb presses its face to the fence
wondering
what these strange creatures are doing
what are they doing
in that house

at the garden’s edge
the seagull swoops down
wondering
what these strange creatures are doing
what are they doing
in that house

wondering
what these strange creatures are doing
what are they doing
in that house

In That House

A Frame (Not a Window)

Melody for a Friend

'A Distant Room' is track 5 on the debut EP - 'Melody for a Friend' - by Awkward Branches. What began as a few tender sketches some years ago has grown - unhurriedly - into a set of 6 lovingly crafted alt-pop songs. From the acoustic opener and debut single, ‘A Frame (Not a Window)’; the balearic dream-pop of ‘Summer of the Pine’; to the nostalgic title-track which closes the collection, this EP showcases Awkward Branches knack for weaving melody texture and lyricism into compelling and rewarding songs.

released May 4, 2023 via TipTop records

Written, performed and produced by Mike Barrett & Phil Swan
Mixed by Mike Barrett & Mathew Keightley
Mastered by Mathew Keightley

EP release date:
4 May 2023

A Distant Room

Summer of the Pine

Just up the M4

A Frame (Not A Window)

A Distant Room is the penultimate track on Awkward Branches’ debut EP, 'Melody for a Friend', due for release on May 4th 2023. The song was the most recently recorded addition to the collection - the final piece of the puzzle, pulling together various elements from the rest of the EP - and the 7 year cycle that birthed it.

Written, performed & produced by Mike Barrett & Phil Swan
Mixed by Mike Barrett & Mathew Keightley
Mastered by Mathew Keightley

Lyrics:

cool music serenade me
cover me in glory
I’m so small and far away
too far away to care
to be cool, cool, cool as air

eyes look up
and eyes look down
skin searching for heat
I know the shape of these words
but I can’t speak

just like the fall
from a dreaming wall
a fever of the mind
the believer in all
just like the rhythm
wakes up the tune
I hear you all the time
I hear you all the time
from a distant room

blues, circumnavigate me
wrap me up in stories
l’m just a moon
so far away
too far away to care

just like the fall
of a stalling plane
a fever of the mind
the maker of rain
just like the rhythm
calls for a tune
I hear you all the time
I hear you all the time
saying ‘come back soon’

(Instrumental)

eyes look up
and eyes look down
skin searching for light
I know the names of these creatures
but I can’t fight

just like the fall
of a chandelier
a fever of the mind
the bringer of tears
just like the rhythm
wakes up the tune
still hear you all the time
still hear you all the time
from a distant room

A late summer remix of our most summery of summer songs. Featuring additional guitar by Nick Barrett and bass by Rob Shuttz.

Written, performed & produced by Mike Barrett & Phil Swan
Additonal guitar by Nick Barrett
Live bass by Rob Shuttz
Mixed by Mike Barrett & Mathew Keightley
Mastered by Mathew Keightley


lyrics
a restless dream that won’t sink in
the steel and tarmac

I scan the air for lemon, thyme
and traces of you

somewhere, somewhere we align
summer of the pine

on your sea so dazzling
my pen can’t draw it

the empty bar plays sad guitar
for cats, not tourists

somewhere, somewhere we align
summer of the pine
on my mind

as hot as… something very hot
as dry as… something very dry
another chance
another year floats by

awkward branches
reaching to the sun
awkward branches
reaching out for someone

somewhere, somewhere we align
summer of the pine
on my mind
all the time
on my mind

Summer of the Pine - REDUX

Awkward Branches is the new project of singer, keyboardist Mike Barrett and guitarist Phil Swan. After writing and performing with each-other in numerous other projects - including a 6-piece experimental collective (Holy Island Sketchbook), gothic trio (Sweet Heave) and as part of Mike’s dream-pop project (Brand New Moon) - they felt it was finally time to put a name to their own project, and thus Awkward Branches was born.

Awkward Branches

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