Written, produced and performed by Kar Stanton
Mixing and additional production by Joe Rodwell
Mastered by Pete Maher
Artwork by Spencer Robens

Lyrics

We’re at the appointment
It’s a Saturday morning
It’s not that important
It’s not like I’m dying
As the man takes me through
what I need to know
I look over to you
You raise your eyebrows

Cos you said

If you want me to be there
I will be there
If you need me to be there
I will be there

We go on a trip
we’d rather not go
maybe I don’t mind
as much as you do
But you come along
and you make them laugh
They are glad that you’re there
They feel better about us

Cos you said

If you want me to be there
I will be there
If you need me to be there
I will be there
(repeat)

And we don’t mind feasting on scraps
Cos the scraps are all we got
You can’t always say yes
so I am careful when I ask
We found a way to make it through
a path we can both hold to
And at the end of every day
You will come home to me
And at the end of every day
You will come home to me

We’re at the appointment
it’s a week day morning
It’s not that important
It’s not like you’re dying
Then the man says your name
Calls you out of the room
And now I’m alone
I feel my eyes close

Cos I said

If you want me to be there
I will be there
If you need me to be there
I will be there
(repeat)

Be There

Written, performed and produced by Kar Stanton
Mixing and additional production by Joe Rodwell
Mastering by Nick Lewis at Old Cottage Audio
Artwork by Susie Jones

Description

Lyrics:
I wasn't expecting a free ride
For this to be fine
To all be alright
Maybe some hard work has paid off
Or maybe it's me
Maybe I've changed
I looked to escape from the danger
I looked for a way out of harm's way
And suddenly here in a new place
I am surprised to find I'm alive

Hope is closer than you think
It caught me unaware
It was just round the corner
Hope is closer than you think
It caught me unprepared
As if out of nowhere

I've always been dragging a grey cloud
Waiting for pain
And waiting to fail
Contentment is here at my door
Look it straight in the face
And don't be afraid
I always believed if you held it
Then it would be gone
Been anxious so long
But once in a while there's a blue sky
So dare it to stay
We're starting to play now

Hope is closer than you think
It caught me unaware
It was just round the corner
Hope is closer than you think
It caught me unprepared
As if out of nowhere

Hope Is Closer Than You Think

Written, performed and produced by Kar Stanton
Mixing and additional production by Joe Rodwell
Mastering by Nick Lewis at Old Cottage Audio
Artwork by Susie Jones

Description

Lyrics:
I was on the other side
Now I am a stereotype
On just one thing
I took a different line
Now I’m out of your life

You know that I am more than this
You know that I am more than this
On just one thing
I took a different line, now I am a stereotype

How did a sphere become a coin?
Flattened it out til there were only two sides
Nowhere to land except one or the other
They stamped it out til there were only two sides

We absorb our environment 
It sinks in through our eyes and our ears
No defences
I don’t blame you
I am not innocent

You know that I am more than this
You know that I am more than this
On just one thing
I took a different line, now I’m out of your life

How did a coil become a line
Straightened it out til there was only one view
Nowhere to stand except on the line
Don’t slip or you’ll be out
Guard your mouth

You know that I am more than this
You know that I am more than this
You know that I am more than this
You know that we are more than this

Two Sides

Written, performed and produced by Kar Stanton
Bass played by Joe Rodwell
Mixed by Joe Rodwell
Mastered by Nick Lewis at Old Cottage Audio

Lyrics:

I can see it coming
I know I'm failing
I close my eyes
I'm just a child
Can't make it go away
I don't think I'm strong enough
For what's gonna come for us
I know the kind of person I've become
And I know I let you down
And I will again

When it comes down to it, am I a coward?
(I know I let you down)
Will I ever stand up and be counted?
(I'll do the same again)
When the walls divide
Which side will you find me on?
(I brought it on myself
I brought it on myself)
And will you forgive me for what I've done?

Every day I have a choice
Do I choose to use it?
Am I too sensitive?
Can't handle any friction
And you see straight through me
Know me completely
My loyalty so easily broken
That it's barely there at all
But you don't let go

When it comes down to it, am I a coward?
(I know I let you down)
Will I ever stand up and be counted?
(I'll do the same again)
When the laws divide
Which side will you find me on?
(I brought it on myself
I brought it on myself)
And will you forgive me?
I need you to carry me over the line

Coward

A song about power and privilege.

Written, performed, produced by Kar Stanton
Mixed by Joe Rodwell
Mastered by Nick Lewis
Bass, trumpet and guitar solo at the end played by Joe Rodwell

Lyrics:
If you play with fire
You're gonna get burnt

You make it so easy
how can you blame me?
For taking what's laid out right here before me
I just give them what they want
I just give them what they want
If you're coming after me
you better watch out

I am taking action
I'm the captain
And I will do whatever it takes to defend the nation
I am taking action
I'm the statesman
And I will do whatever it takes to make it right
To save our way of life

If you play with fire
You're gonna get burnt
If you play with power
You're gonna get hurt

I was born to this
I was born to this
I was born to this
I accept nothing less

Born To This

Written, performed and produced by Kar Stanton
Bass and clarinet played by Joe Rodwell
Mixed by Joe Rodwell
Mastered by Nick Lewis at Old Cottage Audio

Lyrics:
You showed up like you'd never gone
Almost forgot it had been so long
I've never seen you look so alone
We were the ones who had it all
The kids too privileged to fail
You thought that you would cure the world

Cos we were the brightest
And we were the kindest
With all of our prospects
Held in our soft hearts
We were the sequel
And we were the brightest
And we were the kindest
If we could only go back
Give it all another try

What would it have looked like
If you had never gone away

You were golden
You were voted by your peers
You were perfect
I never could keep up
Every summer
There's a flicker in my memory
When it mattered
Did you ever really believe

What would it have looked like
If you had never gone away

Cos we were the brightest
And we were the kindest
With all of our prospects
Held in our soft hearts
We were the sequel
And we were the brightest
And we were the kindest
If we could only go back
Give it all another try

I know that we have made mistakes
But it's not too late

We Were The Brightest

www.karstanton.com 
'The Body Count'
Available for download on Bandcamp, Amazon, iTunes and Google Play.  Available to stream on Spotify and Apple Music.  Also available almost everywhere else you can get music online. ;-)

Written by Kar Stanton 
Vocals, cornet, piano and synths by Kar Stanton
Strings, bass and percussion arranged and programmed by Kar 
Vocals and cornet recorded at The Burrow Bournemouth with engineering by Matt Musial 
All other recordings by Kar 
Mixed and mastered by lola demo at Strudel Girl studio on Ithaca Greece 
Artwork by Ted Stahl

The Body Count

Written, arranged and performed by Kar Stanton
Mixed and mastered by Matt Musial
Recorded in Kar's home and in the studio at The Burrow Bournemouth

From the album 'Protagonist' -https://soundcloud.com/karstanton/sets/protagonist-by-kar-stanton

New Year

'She Can'
Written, arranged, performed by Kar Stanton 
Kar sang and played recorder, synths, bass and programmed beats and other instruments
Engineered and mixed by Matt Musial 
Mastered by Pete Maher 
Art by Monika Koclajda 
From the album 'Protagonist'
www.karstanton.com

Lyrics:
She'll create a beat that will make you weep 
She can do it right now standing at the station 
She can make you cry reading black and white 
Turning up the colour and turning on the light 
I can see you brother on the other side of the world 
Give me a smile and tell me you're alright 
Cos now that everybody's got a story starring the girl 
She can, she will 

She can, she will, watch her 

She'll create... 

She shot a video of you 
Spinning in slow motion 
Shopped it and filtered it just right 
And then you were floating 

She can, she will, watch her 

Her gifts don't tick your boxes 
She'll never excel your exams 
Her skills won't fit your audit 
She's making moves that you can't understand 

Her gifts don't tick your boxes 
She'll never excel your exams 
Her skills won't fit your audit 
She's making moves that you can't understand 

Her gifts... (She'll create...) 

I'll create a beat that will make you weep 
I can do it right now standing at the station 
I can make you cry reading black and white 
Turning up the colour and turning on the light 
I can see you brother on the other side of the world 
Give me a smile and tell me you're alright 
Cos now that everybody's got a story starring the girl 
I can, I will 
I can, I will, watch me

Protagonist

She Can

'New Year' 
Written, arranged, performed by Kar Stanton
Kar sang and played synths, electric guitar, bass, and programmed beats and all other instruments, except arpeggiator synth played by Matt Musial
Engineered and mixed by Matt Musial 
Mastered by Pete Maher 
Art by Monika Koclajda 
From the album 'Protagonist'
www.karstanton.com

Lyrics:
We're going out, we're going out 
Oh we never go out anymore 
We're dressing up, we're dressing up 
Oh we never dress up anymore 

But tonight, tonight, 
you know we feel more alive 

What the future holds, I don't know 
And how the year unfolds, I don't know 
So I will hold you close, for a moment 
Tonight we live in hope, 
There's a purpose to all of this 

I'm cleaning out, I'm cleaning out 
Cleaning out the clutter 
I'm clearing out, I’m clearing out 
Clearing out the old year 

Cos tonight tonight 
You know I feel more alive 

And what the future holds, I don't know 
And how the year unfolds, I don't know 
So I will hold you close, for a moment 
Tonight we live in hope, 
There's a purpose to all of this 

He knows, he knows how it goes 

We're going out, we’re going out 
Oh, we never go out anymore 

He knows, he knows how it goes

'The Loon' 
Written, arranged, performed by Kar Stanton 
Kar sang and played acoustic guitar, acoustic bass, piano, cornet and programmed all other instruments from acoustic samples
Engineered and mixed by Matt Musial 
Mastered by Pete Maher 
Art by Monika Koclajda
From the album 'Protagonist'
www.karstanton.com

Lyrics:
Once I was the best, no-one could touch me 
I was the youngest man playing in the band 
I wish you could have seen it, the stories I could tell you 
The people we met, the trouble we got into 

Once I was the best... 

So look, look, look what time took 
I'll show you my hands 
So look, look, look what time took 

I knew from the minute she entered the room 
It was like the movies 
And she was like a movie star 
Look I'll show you her picture 

So look, look, look what time took 
I'll show you her picture 
And look, look, look what time took 

Just last month, my sister and me went down to the promenade 
They loaded us up, me and my wheels, in the back of the cab 
And the beach ballroom still stands but the dancehall band is long gone 
Yeah I don't know any of those lads, you know they've all passed 
I was the youngest one 

So look, look, look what time took 
And look, look, look what time took 
It was a fine time 
And look, look, look what time took 
They called me the loon and I didn't mind 
No, I didn't mind

The Loon

'Overcome the Monster'
Written, arranged, performed by Kar Stanton 
Engineered and mixed by Matt Musial 
All instruments played or programmed by Kar Stanton
Mastered by Pete Maher 
Artwork by Monika Koclajda
From the album 'Protagonist'
www.karstanton.com

Lyrics:
The pasts not gonna change 
Leave it in its place 
You didn't know what you know now 
You were not full grown, no 

I dream you are taking a 
masterclass 
You address every question with 
compassion and tact 
It's a difficult subject 
But you can handle it, you can handle it 

You will overcome the monster that's robbing your future 
You will overcome the monster that's telling you it's over 
You will overcome, you will overcome, you're gonna get better 
You will overcome, you will overcome, overcome the monster, the monster 

I dream there's a party 
With all of our friends 
You know that your ok 
Cos you looked forward to this 
You are standing so comfortably 
In their company 
You talk so easily 


There is a monster that's robbing your future 
A horror that's telling you it's over 
But you will overcome the monster 
you will overcome the monster 

There is a monster that's taken the last three years 
Stolen away great swathes of your life 
But you are gonna do something great 
with what remains, with what remains 

You will overcome the monster that's robbing your future 
You will overcome the monster that's telling you it's over 
You will overcome, you will overcome, you're gonna get better 
You will overcome, you will overcome, overcome the monster, the monster

Overcome The Monster

'A Simple Life' 
Written, arranged, performed by Kar Stanton 
Engineered and mixed by Matt Musial 
Kar sang and played acoustic guitar, bass, cornet, piano and organ, and programmed all other instruments
Mastered by Pete Maher 
Artwork by Monika Koclajda
From the album 'Protagonist'
www.karstanton.com

Lyrics:
Can you get your brain to slow down for long enough to forget the lists 
Bring all your thoughts to a bed of rest 
Demands detach relax collapse upon the course 
And the playing fields transform to a bed of grass 
A raucous symphony drops to a single line of melody 
All your ambitions wait patiently 

I want a simple life 

It seems like another world 
It seems like another girl 
The things I used to handle 
A bundle of trouble 
But no-one will bother me 
No responsibility 
I might be a coward 
It's all I can manage 

I want a simple life 
Get it where you can 
Cos responsibility finds you easy enough

A Simple Life

'In Sickness'
Written, arranged, performed by Kar Stanton
Engineered and mixed by Matt Musial
Kar sang and played acoustic guitar, acoustic bass, piano, cornet, and programmed all other instruments
Mastered by Pete Maher
Artwork by Monika Koclajda
From the album 'Protagonist'
www.karstanton.com

Lyrics:
I'm just waiting for the money to run out
I'm just waiting for the money to run out
I'm just waiting for a change to come around
For whatever's in your brain to work its way out

For richer for poorer 
For better for worse
In sickness and in health

For richer for poorer
For better for worse
In sickness and in health
There's nowhere else that I would be

And I don't know how long it will be
Til I become so bitter
Like a stain that never lifts
Like a debt that can't be paid

And I'm just waiting for you to remember I'm here
To remember I matter
To remember you care

I'm just waiting, I'm just waiting 
For the black dog to leave
Cos everything is different 
Everything is different when he's away

I'm just waiting, I'm just praying 
For the black dog to leave
Cos everything is different
Everything is different when he's away

For richer for poorer 
For better for worse
In sickness and in health
I'm not gonna leave

For richer for poorer
For better for worse
In sickness and in health
You'd do the same for me

Never lose hope

In Sickness

'Youth in Bloom'
Written, arranged, performed by Kar Stanton
Engineered and mixed by Matt Musial
Kar sang and played or programmes all instruments
Mastered by Pete Maher
Artwork by Monika Koclajda
From the album 'Protagonist'
www.karstanton.com

Lyrics:
We use boys for wars and girls for whores
Boys for wars and girls for whores

She's new, she's youth in bloom
Her blood's redder, her skin's softer
She is the vigour, She is the colour

She's new, she's youth in bloom
You do what you do to feel as good as you can.

We pulled her from the ground she grew up in
Shook off the soil and cut right through the stem
And she was new and beautiful 
And displayed in our home

We use boys for wars and girls for whores
And your sons and daughters are our dolls and toy soldiers
We use boys for wars and girls for whores

We pulled her from the ground she grew up in
Shook off the soil and cut right through the stem
And she was new and beautiful 
And displayed in our home

Make room for the fresh flesh
you came home with the fresh flowers

And I want a new skin
And I want a new everything

Youth In Bloom

'In The Darkness'
Written, arranged, performed by Kar Stanton
Engineered and mixed by Matt Musial
Kar sang and played or programme all instruments, except the drums which were played by Matt Musial
Mastered by Pete Maher
Artwork by Monika Koclajda
From the album 'Protagonist'
www.karstanton.com

Lyrics:
I'm tired of everything
I'm tired of everyone
My time it never came
I've not done anything
I've achieved nothing
And when I try I never get very far

In the darkness

Tomorrow's coming for me
Tomorrow's out to get me
I never had much strength 
I was never the brave one

If you would stay with me
So I am not alone
As I lay with the dead fruits
As the teeth come down

In the darkness
In the darkness
In the darkness
There is a light

In The Darkness

'Kids'
Written, arranged, performed by Kar Stanton
Engineered and mixed by Matt Musial
Kar sang and played or programmed all instruments
Mastered by Pete Maher
Artwork by Monika Koclajda
From the album 'Protagonist'
www.karstanton.com

Lyrics:
If we had met, when we were ten
I think we would have been best friends
If we had met when we were ten
I think we would have been best friends

I was singing splendid nonsense in the back seat of the car
I'm in the space ship, I am the captain
And all my crew have names like sycamore
We're drawing pictures, we're drawing spaceships
Were telling stories were making words up

If we had met when we were ten 
I think we would have been best friends

We would have been best friends
We would have been best friends
But we've seen a lot of life since then
Now everything is closing in

Now we are grown ups
Now we are useless and used up


If we had met when we were seventeen, 
I think we would have been best friends
If we had met when we were seventeen 
I think we would have been best friends

I was painting, trees and faces
City landscapes, street lights and pavements
We went to the gigs, we knew all the words
I'm making mix tapes, you're making mix tapes
If we had met when we were seventeen 
I think we would have been best friends

Sometimes you say you wish we were still young
That those were the days, those were the good ones
Everything stretched out before us
Everything we could want and more yes
Sometimes you say you wish we were still kids
With all of the day, all of that promise
Everything stretched out before us
Everything we could want and more yes

Now let's do a video, I'll do the tune, you do the cartoon
Tonight lets go to a gig, discover the best band in the world

And we can still believe the future is possible
And we can still believe the future is beautiful
And we can still believe is me and you... Me and you
And everything good

Be my best friend, be my best friend for the rest of my life
Be my best friend, be my best friend, for the rest of my life.

Kids

This is one for the playwrights and poets, the authors and lyricists and all kinds of scribblers.

Freehand by Kar Stanton

This, this is as good as it gets
Sat with a pen at a clear clean desk
This, this is as good as it gets
Sat with a pen at a clear clean desk

There’s a room
I’m in the centre
There is no clutter
There is no other
I will shake it out
lay every piece out
it’s all shown in the light
of the clean white page

This, this is as good as it gets
Sat with a pen at a clear clean desk
This, this is as good as it gets
Sat with a pen at a clear clean desk

Clear the room
clean it all out
I got something
I don’t know about yet
I will shake it out
lay every piece out
it's all shown in the light
of the clean white page


This, this is as good as it gets
Sat with a pen at a clear clean desk

She marked the day in her calendar
nothing else is gonna get to her

This, this a freehand,
This, this is the homeland

She marked the day in her calendar
Nothing else is gonna get to her

This, this is as good as it gets
Sat with a pen at a clear clean desk

Credits:
Written, arranged, performed by Kar Stanton
All instruments played or programmed by Kar Stanton
Mixed by Matt Musial
Mastered by Pete Maher

Freehand

I often describe Belle and Sebastian as the musical love of my life.  I first fell for them as an awkward Dundonian teenager nearly 20 years ago.

A few weeks ago Stuart gathered lyrics from fans in lockdown and put together a work-in-progress song with the rest of the band.  They put out the stems for fans to work on: https://soundcloud.com/belle-and-sebastian/sets/protecting-the-hive.  I took Sarah’s flute, Stuart’s vocal, and made up the rest.

I hope you enjoy listening.  I loved making it! :-)

Protecting The Hive

Written and performed by Kar Stanton
Produced by Kar Stanton and Robin Pearkes
Mastered by Pete Maher
Artwork by Mollie Forsyth

Lyrics:
It’s hard to switch it off, some kind of addiction
I know I’ve had enough and now I am sinking
When the worst of all the earth is here in my hand
And now I’ve seen it all but I don’t understand

All the wonders and the terrors
I’m not a child anymore
Don’t know what to do with it all
All the wonderful things and the terrible things
How can we live in a world like this?

You spread your righteous anger, do you feel better?
There’s no more room for nuance, where are the colours?
I know I soak it up, have the thinnest skin
I’m taking it all in, I feel everything

So feed me, feed me more
Give me what I want

All the wonders and the terrors
I’m not a child anymore
Don’t know what to do with it all
All the wonderful things and the terrible things
How can we live in a world like this?

Trouble on the other side of the world
Trouble on the other side of the sea
It was playing on my screen
Trouble on the other side of the street
On the other side of the wall
now it’s walking through my door

Nations fall, the earth shakes
and the waters roar and foam
I remember my God
I’d forgotten all about
As the days fall away
But the desperation stays
I remember my God

The Wonders and the Terrors

Hi, I’m Kar and I'm an indie-electro artist and producer.
 
Growing up in a musical household in Dundee, Scotland, I played in orchestras, brass bands and ensembles of seemingly-random combinations of instruments. 
 
I was a member of critically-acclaimed indie miserablists The Scottish Enlightenment, playing bass and cornet. My highlights were supporting Idlewild; making the Eyes video which was shown on MTV2 and VH1; and singing on the celebrated St Thomas album.

I'm now settled in the boldly-creative city of Manchester, England, soaking up its musical legacy.

Kar Stanton

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