Recorded all the way back in 2002 with both limited equipment and limited expertise, nevertheless this was the song that people seemed to notice back in the day.

Maybe it was the tiny practice amp bass, the pointless time signature changes, or perhaps the hilarious outro (ROK).

This song sets the tone for the early Citizen songs - if there was a way it could be made 7mins+, it would be done.

01. War TV (from Nivelo - 2002)

Cyantouris was the last track from The Citizen's debut - Nivelo.

Another song with a taste for the unreasonably epic, an interesting factoid on this one is that the drums were recorded on a minidisc player with an old PC mic.

The glitchy drum sound at the beginning was a complete accidental use of an autofilter - due to PC and software limitations I couldn't even dream of cutting up drums at this point :)

02. Cyantouris (taken from Nivelo - 2002)

This was the first Citizen song to be both piano led and in 5/4, but is in a similar vein to the previous album's material.

ie any excuse for a big outro (even to the extent of reversing half the song...)

03. White Hills (taken from White Hills & Dark noise 2003)

The first short song to appear on this collection, "Start" was originally a link track. 

But listening back to the rest of "No Standing On Air" it stood out amongst a pile of overthought and overly complicated songs and gives an unusually chilled moment in the early Citizen canon.

04. Start (Taken from No Standing On Air - 2004)

Although I had been using fruity loops for years, this was the first song that brought electronic beats to the foreground in earnest.

Its also the first one I found that is an out and out pop song and it seems to have somehow stood the test of time. Oddly it includes an accounting reference long before I became an accountant!

05. Dream of a Drug Death (taken from 2005's Street Light, Hate's Delight)

Another track from 2005's Street Light Hates delight. 

Taking full advantage of having access to a decent drumkit whilst drumming in Dolore, I took a song written on an acoustic on a rooftop in Spain (I only mention that as stuff like that doesn't happen often) and turned it into a ballz out rock song

06. Gift (Taken from 2005's Street light Hates delight)

Recorded exclusively in a tiny terrace in Lancaster, this song sticks with me because of that unexpected breakdown

07. Happiness #1 (taken from 2006's Waiting for the Leaves)

Taking a bit of Frusciante, but also a healthy dose of stock outdoor recordings (found at the local library) that typified this album. It all makes for a nice atmosphere....

08. Interlude (taken from 2006's Waiting for the Leaves)

This song, like most from this album was mostly recorded on a borrowed portable recording device as in '07 I didnt have the space to set up my PC.

It makes for a nice, more minimal approach than other Citizen stuff. Enjoy!

Cracks in the pavement holes i

09. The Good Life (taken from 2007's Cracks in the Pavement, Holes in the sky)

The Citizen makes Cumbrian Bo pop music for the ears of those who like bears, mountains, hotel rooms, snow and accordion based hip hop.

Anyway please enjoy the latest sound of the lakeland underground!

The Citizen

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