DIY straight outta the basement, from the album, "Tachycardia." Written, played, recorded and produced by Erik Liddell.
Are you for real? / How can I be sure? / The first that I saw you / I could hardly believe my eyes / My heart fluttered when you woke me up inside / Now, never does a day go with you / Go by without some kinda surprise / Every day new mysteries get revealed / I gotta wonder, baby / Are you for real?... / When you let down your hair / You're like a wild bouquet / When you caress the bees in bloom / You take my breath away / Never does a day go by with you / go by without some kinda surprise / Everyday new secrets get revealed / And so I love you, baby / Cause you're so unreal... / Show me the way your dress unfolds / In the sunlight and make me smile / Cause you know that kinda thing / Just drives me wild / Yeah, I love you baby / Cause you're so unreal... / Are you for real?... / You're so unreal...

Tachycardia

Are you for real?

Behind The Wheel

Back when they were in college in the late '80s, Laura Cantrell and Mac McCaughan were in a band called Bricks. That band didn't get very far, but Laura went on to become an acclaimed country singer-songwriter hailed by the likes of Elvis Costello and legendary BBC DJ John Peel. Mac soon founded Superchunk, who went on to 26 years (and counting) of indie-rock glory, as well as co-founding the phenomenally successful Merge Records.

Even though Laura and Mac have taken different musical paths, they've not just maintained their long friendship, they've both stayed true to themselves and to their art, and carved out respected, sustainable careers. They actually still have a lot in common. So we figured we'd put them together for a Talkhouse Music Podcast and have them catch up, reminisce, compare notes and share a little wisdom.

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Mac McCaughan with Laura Cantrell

Just a quick rendition for St Paddy's Day

The Walls Of Limerick 1

Protecting The Hive - Lyrics

Strangely my dreams just seem to get farther out
The more we stay in the one room
My sleep wants to shout
About my lovers and others 
And my friends from the past
When the world was a party
We all had a blast 		

It’s hard to escape the coming feeling of dread
The streets are still full of people
They’re worried to death
I work on a paper and I read on the wires
They’re making plans for disaster
The leadership lies 			 

I only believe what I can see with my eyes
And I never understood why people pray when they die
I never understood the desperation feeling till now
Coming round to the idea –I’m taking a vow

I’m here in my teenage bedroom staring at flowers
That he bought at the weekend 
When the weekend was ours
Now the colours are fading like it’s 1944 
I’m waiting for my fiancé, to come back from the war



I only believe what I can see with my eyes
I never understood why people pray when they die
I never understood the desperation feeling till now
Coming round to the idea  - I’m taking a vow

The dress I wanna wear tonight hangs lonely on a hook
And the only excitement is my paperback book
- I thought I loved him and the absence makes me 
Randy as hell
But then it could be illusion
I’m stuck down a well

I only believe what I can see with my eyes
And I never understood why people pray when they die
I never understood the desperation feeling till now
Coming round to the idea -  I’m taking a vow

It feels like everything tonight has come to an end
The lonely blackbirds are singing
I’m missing my friends
I’m making cup cakes and waiting
For my soldier to survive
We’re in a war of submission
Protecting the hive

I only believe what I can see with my eyes
And I never understood why people pray when they die
I never understood the desperation feeling till now
Sign me up for conversion - I’m taking a vow


Music by Belle and Sebastian
Cover Photo by Marisa Privitera Murdoch

Protecting The Hive

Protecting The Hive - Stream Only

Formerly of Thanatopop (TeenageUSARecords), E Liddell is a multi-instrumentalist who writes and records and experiments with basement rock, driven by guitars and informed by a quirky, emotive and yet philosophical sensibility. 

Are you for real?

Erik Liddell

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