oh !... Thought I recognised Beth's strings !..nicely done !! :) well done Beth and Ben !

very beautiful. Reshared and will be featured on next month's playlist at www.twtmusic.com

Spring 2018!

Mel has always been on top of things, after all someone has to run the day to day business of their crumbling theatre company and it certainly isn’t going to be her father. She’s busy, there’s always something to fix, a problem to solve. But occasionally she gets a moment to herself and can lose herself in a book. She loves stories, but will she ever write one of her own?

LYRICS

I’ve read all these
Some several times 
I’ve folded corners 
Broken spines 
Some are cracked where the glue has dried
But the words are all intact inside 
And that’s what really matters 
Though the covers are in tatters 
There are stories inside

Escapism’s the term they call 
Most of the volumes on this wall
“Escape into this classic book”
Written on the back of this one, look
Escape into a story
Like each one’s a magic door we 
Can open wide

But real escape is OUT not IN 
Escape’s a new life you begin
INTO’s not escape now is it?
If it’s INTO then it’s just a visit
We only escape out of things 
With sellotape and stolen wings 
That’s not something books provide
Books are just somewhere to hide

These are my hiding places
That’s what stories are for
But I don’t want to hide anymore 
I don’t want to hide anymore 

And then there’s tales we tell ourselves 
I don’t mean the ones up on these shelves
Myths of history and nations 
Or parental expectations 
Of jobs or class or rank 
Or how much is in the bank 
And what ever else we decide

These are our hiding places 
Our fables, our legends, our lore
But I don’t want to hide anymore
I don’t want to hide anymore

Over the ages 
There have been pages and pages 
Of people’s plots and plans 
Penned and dictated 
Type-set, printed, illustrated 
All of the stages 
Of our romances and rages 
Ready to soar
But what’s it for?

Chapters unwritten 
Legions of lovers unsmitten 
And all those countless authors’ dreams of glory 
Clothe me in their borrowed stories 
Twists and turns  
Lessons learned 
Laurels rested on fester on 
Shock and awe
Hear me roar

I don’t want to hide anymore

I don’t want to hide anymore
In the lives I’ve been shown
Don’t want to hide anymore
Like a fossil in stone 
Don’t want to hide anymore
I want to be out there and known 
Don’t want to hide anymore
In a story 
That isn’t my own.

MEL - Hide

Listen everywhere: https://idol-io.ffm.to/sholto-persephones-perception
Pre-order the album on Bandcamp: https://sholto2.bandcamp.com/album/the-sirens
Listen to the DeepMatter Catalogue: https://tinyurl.com/dm-catalogue


Listen everywhere

Persephone's Perception

You Can Be So Cruel

hickey

i hate this tune  

Listen to Simon Armitage reading 'Nest Box' from Dwell

Katrin has always been a head over heart kind of person, intellect over instinct. But ever since she started researching into the origins of the Tell-Tale Hound she hasn’t been able to do much else. The work consumes her, she starts to obsess over it. She tries to articulate these feelings but they’re not familiar, they have no cultural context. 
They are… animal.

LYRICS 

Between two heartbeats 
There is an eternity 
Between two heartbeats
You can change your mind
Between two heartbeats 
You can lose your certainty 
And between those heartbeats
Who knows what you’ll find 

I was ambitious once 
For what I could not say 
Ambition’s just another word 
For wanting 
In that human way 
We put desires in order 
Chain them to a plan 
My wanting can’t be ordered 
Like lesser wanting can

If Time is a healer 
And a butcher 
Tell me what am I?
Healer? Butcher?
I see them
Gotcha

Between two breaths 
There’s an opportunity 
To change what’s left
Of the song you sing
Between two breaths 
But the breaths get quicker 
And the colours all flicker 
And wither and fade 
To shades of hunger 
Grades of hunger 
And it is of hunger
That I am made

I feel the full weight of the sky
Pushing me onto all fours 
I pause and smell the dark and I
Am muscle and throat and teeth and claws

If Time is a healer 
And a butcher 
Well then so am I
I feel a future
Where I am

Wanting
Like an animal 
Wanting 
One thing
Wanting 
Like an animal 
Wanting  
One thing

Let me in
Let me in
Let me in

KATRIN - Between Two Heartbeats

These two women couldn’t be more different: one has never been to the city and the other has never left it, but they have one thing in common: everything they know is from books. 
It’s time they had some real life experiences, got into a few scrapes, take a few risks, make some of those old mistakes.

LYRICS

I’ve always been practical
I’ve always been clever 
Always a little too tactical
In every endeavour
I read the instructions 
And the FAQs 
For every tool 
I intend to use
In each of these books 
There’s not a thing I don’t know 
But then I stop to look 
And think it’s time I had a go

At some of those old mistakes 
The kind every girl makes 
Let down all of my defences 
And bring on the consequences
Old mistakes 
Something inside me awakes
Cos I’ve been ready for so long
To do a few things wrong

Waiting 
Always hesitating 
Oh it’s so frustrating 
Watching life go by 
I should be learning 
Instead of always yearning
Watching bridges burning 
I’ve just got to try

Some of those old mistakes 
A precious thing that breaks 
I want to misread some confusing signs 
And colour outside the lines
Old mistakes 
Let’s eat all of the cakes 
Be blown off course 
Ride a horse
Punch a guy
Feel no remorse 

No waiting 
Slow disintegrating 
Tired of my breath baiting 
Hoping life will show 
I want thrilling 
My name top of the billing 
Anything: I’m willing 
Let’s just go go go

Enjoy the old mistakes 
For heaven’s sakes
The old ones are all new to me
Those old mistakes 
Whatever it takes 
There’s always someone new to be

And we’re not gonna miss a single moment
We will reminisce about this day
All our favourite things
Are waiting in the wings
It’s all happening  
In every way to us today

Those old mistakes
The old ones are all new to me
Those old mistakes
There’s always something new to be
Those old mistakes
The old ones are all new to me
Those old mistakes
Are all new to me

KATRIN AND MEL - Old Mistakes (with Felix Hagan)

Early evening, a canal bank. Something floats by on the water. Part ghost ship, part fairy kingdom. Flickering candles, shadows and swirling mist. If magic lives anywhere - it's here. The Narrator (tall, foreboding, other worldly, covered in animal pelts) appears looming large. His daughter Mel hops off the boat and rustles up business. The show is about to start…

LYRICS

Gather round
We’ve got a story just for you
Gather round 
And ‘cos we made it up 
We know it’s true
Gather round 
We’ve got the costumes
And the songs
Gather round 
But you ought to know
We won’t be here for long

And you won’t want to miss a single moment
You will reminisce about this day
All your favourite things
Are waiting in the wings
It’s all happening 
‘Cos this is a

Once in a life time
Opportunity
To be or not to be
Repeated
Are you comfortably seated?
Then we’ll begin
Here’s the scene
Drink it in
Latecomers, where’ve you been?
We’re new here so we’ll take it slow
Can you hear me in the back row? 

‘Cos you won’t want to miss a single moment
You won’t want to skip the slightest scene
You won’t want to stop
Your brain’s about to pop
Our wonders surely top your wildest dreams
You won’t want to miss a single moment
Brace yourself for this amazing show
It’s our holy mission
To give you permission
Throw away your cares and just let go
Just let go!
And gather round!

Hush
Do you hear that sound? 
On the breeze 
In the trees 
Rising up from the ground 
I swear it’s following me around
It’s there wherever I am bound
It’s in my heart in every pound 
To my soul it’s tightly wound 
The sound 
Of the Tell-Tale Hound

You won’t want to miss a single moment
We only exist to play to you 
There’s no other place
Where you can embrace
The fiends you fear to face 
And all you’ve got to do 
All you’ve got to do
Is gather round!

RENWOOD - Gather Round

I posted this song over a year ago but removed it as I felt it needed more work. Went back only to find the project file gone. Thought I'd at least post the last version of this so that it's not forgotten comletely, because I still really love this song.

As you can probably tell, I'm using parts of "Aphex Twin - Avril 14'th" from the album "Drukqs" as the main melody. All credit goes to him.

Avril

Relief washes over me in an awesome wave

Sweet Water River was inspired by the Archie Comics TV series 'Riverdale'. I'm a major fangirl of all things teen drama, and especially loved the subverted storylines created for the show. I decided to write this song as a response to that. The verses weave in and out of the characters perspectives as they try to work through murder, betrayal and loves lost. In the end, everything leads back to the river, and in my opinion she is as much a character as any of the people on the show. I think this song has a little something for everyone. And a special place for all you Riverdaddies out there! I hope you enjoy this little piece of my world. xo, Ciele

Lyrics:

[Polly’s Verse]
O lo’, sweet water river
How do you dance so sweet but 
swiftly take my lover?
We were with child and set to be married 
O sweet water river
Your sweetness is a lie

[Archie’s Verse]
O lo’ sweet water river
I once laid beside you and felt your sweet kiss
A gunshot came ringing
And there you were screaming
O sweet water river is he dead or alive?

[Cheryl’s Verse]
O lo sweet water river
My brothers been stolen
Have you seen who’s been by?
Family runs deep
And our blood bleeds red
Thick like the maple that flows through it 
Family runs deep
And our blood bleeds red
Thick like the maple thick like the maple

[Chorus] 
Oh sweet, sweet, sweet water
What do you know? 
What do you know?
Oh sweet, sweet water river
What do you know?
What do you know?

[Jughead’s verse] 
O lo sweet water river
Its cold here I’ll follow you south for the winter
Sleep with the snakes
My demons they linger
Beware of the darkness in him,
They whisper

[Veronica’s verse]
O lo sweet water river
My mother’s been making deals with the devil
Has she been here to see you?
Bribe or beseech you?
She’s sent by my father, sweet water,
Be careful 

[Chorus]

[Betty Bridge] 
Can you keep a secret, I know you can
You told me not to tell it but I know who I am 
Can you keep a secret, I know you can
You told me not to tell it but I know who I am 

He is the river, she is the river, 
You are the river, and I am too. 
He is the river, she is the river, 
You are the river, and I am too. 

[Chorus]

Sweet Water River

Oct 11, 2017

Back in October, just after #MeToo went viral, Vik Bennett got in touch with me to say that she'd noticed that I had used the hashtag on my status. She told me that she was involved with putting an anthology of poems together written by women about their experiences. Her idea was spread the word even further by making a video with her talented partner Adam, with music written by us inspired by the anthology. I was particularly keen to do this because although I've had nothing terrible happen to me, I have witnessed certain behaviours that I felt were inappropriate but didn't feel empowered to act against them. I was also aware of many friends having similar or worse experiences. 
 
A couple of months went by and the the poems were being collected so Vik got in touch again to say that there would be a worldwide launch of the book: #MeToo: A women’s poetry anthology on International Women's Day, March 8th. She sent a digital copy of the poems and I started to read through them. I realised that there were more poets that I knew, apart from Vik, that had contributed to the anthology. This brought me closer to the writing. I wasn't able to read them all in one go, partly because they were very powerful and personal experiences and provoked an emotional response, and partly because I had an 8 month old baby who demanded attention every now and then!

Vik gave us a deadline (which is always useful) so I set aside an afternoon after re-reading the poems many times. I usually like write a song as soon as I can after reading the material, so I sat with a notebook and instruments and read some of the poems again. My immediate response was to write down my feelings and personal experiences and I wrote down some things that never made it into the song, for example a night in Moles, a nightclub in Bath.

Then I had some ideas for chords and melodies on the baritone ukulele and a structure started to form. I ended up going back to one of the first times I witnessed any form of harassment or sexual assault. I remember a girl who was always targeted as a victim of suggestive verbal jibes from our male peers. We must have been around thirteen and I have no idea if she felt bullied, enjoyed the attention or was terrified. I didn't know her that well as she was in a different class. I just remember the boys showing off that one of them had put his hand up her skirt and pinched or felt her bottom. I can't remember if anyone got into trouble but my feeling is that they probably weren't educated as to how that made her feel.

The song goes on in time to when I started to feel pressured by people to go further than I felt comfortable with. I also feel lucky that violence has played no part in my experiences but I'm aware of people, and a lot of the poetry portrays people that have. 

I finished the song and showed it to Ben who had some musical ideas. One night he added some guitar and synth to the track and it became much darker and more atmospheric. We added some cello and Ben started to mix the track.

This morning, after it was delayed for technical reasons, we watched the film for the first time. I didn't know what to expect (although I have seen Adam's Minecraft work before) and I was really moved by it. I don't think I was expecting to see the words written - it was very powerful as some of these were my memories/experiences. 

It's amazing to be asked to collaborate with such artists and to create something which is part of a much bigger story. I hope that it helps to spread the awareness and to raise money for Women's Aid.

Beth Porter

PS: there a video for the song here: https://youtu.be/xwpjLoCS6q8

What We Now Know

Loving lots of different genres and the site to discover new music.

The Bookshop Band write songs inspired by books, and have been playing them
in bookshops, literary festivals and libraries all over the UK and into Europe. The
band began as a collaboration with Mr Bs Emporium of Reading Delights, in
Bath (Independent Bookshop of the Year 2008 / 2011) as part of a plan to help Mr
B’s rejuvenate its traditional ‘author evenings’. The band would read the forthcoming
author’s book in advance and write two songs based upon it, to be performed at
the start of the evening. Their performances are inextricably linked to the books
themselves, as the members of the band take it in turns to describe where the
inspiration for each song came from.

After the first season the band recorded and released their first album, Travels
From Your Armchair. Despite only being available in the bookshop itself, word
soon spread and they were picked up by the BBC’s Tom Robinson who played
them on his national Introducing show on BBC 6Music. More recently the band
had a 10 minute feature on Kirsty Lang’s culture show, BBC Radio 4’s Front
Row, a feature on The Today Program, a commission by BBC Radio 3’s The
Verb, and a feature on BBC News, in The Independent, and Guardian Books.

They have been championed by the authors, publishers, and even have a track being
used in a national campaign to support bookshops around the UK and Ireland.
To date they have written almost 100 songs inspired by over 50 diverse books, from
Andrew Miller’s “Pure” (2011 Costa Novel of the Year) to Ian Rankin’s latest
crime fiction Rebus novel “Standing in another man’s grave”, from Rachel
Joyce’s debut hit “The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry” to Ruth Ozeki’s
“A Tale For The Time Being”, short listed for the Booker Prize 2013.

The band is made up of three British musician / songwriters, Ben Please, Poppy
Pitt and Beth Porter. They struck up a friendship whilst playing with their
respective bands at UK music festivals in 2009, and decided to collaborate after Mr
B’s asked for music at their author events in 2010.

To date, the band have released 4 albums, which cover their first twelve months
of songwriting, and are currently recording a further 6 albums, covering their
subsequent two years songwriting. These are due for release in 2014.

What We Now Know

TheBookshopBand

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