The Controller

TON 618

Sandcastle, Pt. 3; A Screaming Return

Sandcastle, Pt. 2; From Knuckles To Gloves

Sandcastle, Pt. 1; Blue Sky Turning

A twin song to The Sun... Not identical twin, at all, but twin. Or close sibling at least. Inspired by Aviciis The Nights and The Days songs, this is kind of my take on the same formula. Hope you like it.

LYRICS:
The moon has eyes all over
Can’t hide inside for evermore
And it’s only getting colder
So don’t shutout forever

Head for the stars
You’re one of us
You’re not your scars
Not ever, whatever

The moon has eyes all over
Can’t hide inside no more
Its only getting colder
And you’re only getting older

So head for the stars
’Cause you’re one of us
And you’re not your scars
Not ever, whatever

The moon has eyes all over
Can’t hide inside for evermore
And it’s only getting colder now
So don’t shutout forever
Whatever, whatever, whatever…

The Moon

All things Great Wide: linktr.ee/greatwide

”Thalassa (/θəˈlæsə/; Greek: Θάλασσα, translit. Thálassa, lit. "sea"; Attic Greek: Θάλαττα, Thálatta) was the general word for 'sea' and for its divine female personification in Greek mythology.”

So, I’ve always pictured death as an ocean, a massive dark body of water, and life as this tiny wooden row boat, bobbing about with very little protection against the waves and sharp cliffs, the white sharks and killer whales, and worst of all, the stray green string of unknown type of plant that doesn’t quite break the surface and stretches far down towards the bottom and is engulfed by the mind numbing darkness. Ugh. Yes, I am Thalassophobic. And maybe, just maybe, this is why, I am not really afraid of large bodies of water (although I am, I definitely am), maybe I am just afraid of death, and somewhere along the line I have confused the two. Well anyway, now I’ve written and recorded a song about it, death that is, and it’s called Thálassa. It was important for me to keep this recording simple and sparse - I wanted it to feel like it could be both gigantically large, and very, very tiny, all at the same time. Like death. So death got to be represented by a lone pump organ, and I’m the tiny row boat. To this day we have explored only about 5% of the planets vast oceans, and we likely know even less, a lot less, about death.

LYRICS:
Deep
This darkness runs deep
No bottom
Beneath my feet

I’m dead
The vultures are fed
Be honest
And remember what I said

Now stay
You’re on your way

Get out
Get out of one car
And into
Another speeding off far

And all this time
It’s all been in my mind
I’m searching
Looking for that sign

Now stay
You’re on your way
Stay
You’re on your way

So long
Where ever you go
I thank you
You made her happy I know

Thálassa

All things Great Wide: linktr.ee/greatwide

"A walk-in is a New Age concept of a person whose original soul has departed their body and has been replaced with a new, different, soul. Believers maintain that it is possible for the original soul of a human to leave a person's body and for another soul to 'walk in' during a period of intense personal problems on the part of the departing soul, or during or because of an accident or trauma. A walk-in soul also does not experience the conditioning of childhood and has a different relationship to life because they were not born, and has no emotional connection to prior memories."

'Walk-In' follows, in some respects, lyrically at least, in the footsteps of Nick Cave - more specifically in his 'Murder Ballads' footsteps. Like 'Where the Wild Roses Grow', 'Walk-In' depicts a kind of dialogue between a killer and his victim - in this case between a serial killer and his many victims. The character in this story is fictional, but draws inspiration from a bunch of different killers, and in particular a deeply disturbed one, early on dubbed The Walk-In killer; Richard Ramirez, a.k.a the Night Stalker.

This is a love song, albeit a twisted, unrealistic, and very dark love song.

LYRICS:
I never wanted any of
All the things I stole
The things that meant the most to you
I left out in the cold
The light reflected in your eye
Reminds me why I hide
I flick the switch and turn around
A cross inside my mind

Never expected the soul to show

From 22 to 25 we survive
We share a thousand moments
Inside of one single night
I can’t remove the mask I wear
So I tear off the mask you wear
I wish you knew as much of me as I know you

I can’t remember much at all
Except a key deflects the dark
That dark reflecting in your eye
So I hold it close to heart

I never expected your soul to glow

From 22 to 25 we survive
We share a million memories
Inside of one single mind
I can’t remove the mask you wear
For this I shed a thousand tears
I wish I knew as much of you as you know me
No tomorrow

Be my sorrow
No tomorrow

I never wanted any of
All the things I stole
The things that meant the most to you
I left out in the cold

Walk-In

Blog AnalogueTrash wrote: "Do hear a lot of Neil Young in the vocals at times, a smoky fusion of rock and folk, we liked that sound a lot."

Blog Alt77 wrote: "That's a very interesting set of influences you brought to this! I like how the gentle instrumental parts take the listener on a journey. And I like the melancholy captured in the vocals. It's quite good"

Blog mp3hugger wrote: "A very definite romantic leaning to this track and that is even before I realised the titled. Yes Great Wide are deep in the wooing process, vocals turned out for candlelight dinner scenes even if there is a melancholy to the drift which is suggestive of a less than smooth journey for these two. But it is managed with a tenderness that you just know will conquer all and the result is a soothing few minutes for quiet moments or even more pertinently time spent with your better half."

LYRICS
Dogs are barking tonight
At the moon and it’s frightening light
The shadows stretch out of control and so
they cover every single inch of our soul

So I am right and you are wrong
What does it matter when we're gone?
All I really wanna say - and I can' find better way,
though sometimes it’s not true all the way through

I love you

Birds are chirping away
At the sun today
Trees are playing with the wind in ways
that makes them sing and makes them sway

So you are right and I am wrong
What does it matter when we're gone?
All I really wanna say - and I can't find better way,
cause sometimes it is true all the way through

I...
I...
I love you

I Love You

All things Great Wide: linktr.ee/greatwide

In the heart of Stockholm, a musical force emerges in the form of Great Wide, a solo project masterminded by the multi-talented Joachim Dahlberg. Set to release their debut album, "The Controller," in May next year, Great Wide offers straightforward pop-rock and cinematic soundscapes, spanning shorter organ-driven pieces about death to 12-minute tripartite suites. Dahlberg's musical journey unfolds in his personal sanctuary, The Mire Cabin studio, where he himself performed, recorded and produced the entire album.

Inspired by Peter Gabriel's lunar release strategy, Great Wide adopts a monthly unveiling of the albums first five tracks in order, comprising the entirety of Side A on the vinyl, leading up to the album launch, commencing today with "The Sun."

The first single, a compelling alternative rock composition infused with electronic pop influences, tackles the weighty themes of mental health struggles among the youth, bullying and suicide - all the while encouraging perseverance and the resilience to overcome adversity. Aptly balancing melancholy with hope, "The Sun" is a musical testament to endurance and the promise that a new day always dawns.

Irish indie music blog mp3hugger describes "The Sun" as a progressive piece reminiscent of Jean Michel Jarre’s grandiose light shows, coupled with a Thom Yorke-like vocal delivery. The review praises Great Wide for seamlessly weaving intricate elements into a single work, creating a musical spectacle that demands energy and attention.

An intriguing fact adds depth to the single – the whispered voices in the instrumental section are Joachim reading passages from Stephen King’s debut novel, “Carrie,” a narrative intricately woven around the theme of bullying. Another creative twist is his decision to refrain from using guitars in “The Sun,” despite its original composition being guitar-based.

The single's cover art, a minimalist red design adorned with the song's lyrics, is crafted by the talented Jesper Sundberg Örtegren. The impeccable mix by Frans Hägglund, among other things known for his work with The Hives, and the masterful mastering touch of Magnus Lindberg, renowned for his involvement with Cult of Luna and many others, further elevate the sonic experience.

Great Wide has previously left an indelible mark with the EP "The Pilot" in 2021, featuring standout tracks like "Soldier On" and "I Was," the latter making it onto respected music journalist Per Sinding Larsen's Top 20 list that year.

As Great Wide's musical journey unfolds, "The Sun" serves as a compelling introduction to what promises to be a groundbreaking debut album. 

LYRICS:
Don't get too comfortable back there in the dark
Rev up your engines, time to start
So, pry those eyes open wide for sight
We've barely scratched the surface of this life

Now, there’s still much time, rewind your mind

The sun will come out
And dry our eyes
No more tears will fall
As the sun comes out

The sun will come out
And grace the sky
No more rain will fall
As the sun comes out

The voices will silence as time moves along
Noone will remember the how and the why

As the sun comes out and parts the clouds
No more rain will fall as the sun comes out

The sun will come out
And dry our eyes
No more tears will fall
As the sun comes out

The sun will come out
And part the clouds
No more rain will fall
As the sun comes out

The sun will come out
And pry your eyes
No more tears will fall
As the sun comes out

The sun will come out
And grace the sky
No more rain will fall
As the sun comes out

The Sun

All things Great Wide: https://linktr.ee/greatwide

Great Wide is a recording project sprung from an urge to create music somewhere in between the experimental songwriting style of lofi royalty Grandaddy and the outside-the-box production thinking of grandiose art-rock outfit Grizzly Bear. So basically aiming for the stars. And landing on the moon. Or in some sort of moon shaped pool at least.

Some years have been spent perfecting the craft; carving away at those songs 'til they fit whatever mold the preconceived creative mind set up long, long ago - only to abandon the mold, and keep on carving...

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