The band released two albums, "Give Me a Wall" (2006) and "Life Processes" (2008) before going on an indefinite hiatus in August 2008. The band founded the record label Dance to the Radio initially to distribute their own recordings, but has since released albums from The Pigeon Detectives and Grammatics.
Their sound was characterized by trebly guitars and abstract, cryptic lyrics. Up until 2007's "Don't Be A Doctor", songs were named for the order they were written in (One, Two, Three, Four, etc.). Their image is characterized by wearing identical t-shirts, with their exclamation mark emblem emblazoned on them. They are currently on hiatus.
In early 2005 they released a split single ("Nine") with fellow Leeds band This Et Al. This was followed up with a double A-side ("Thirteen" / "Fourteen") in August 2005.
In January 2006 ¡Forward, Russia! released "Twelve" which reached Number 36 in the UK Charts.
"Nine" was released (again) in its own right on May 1st 2006, reaching number 40 in the UK singles chart. (b/w "One").
The band self-released their debut album ("Give Me A Wall") on May 15th 2006, on guitarist Whiskas' Dance To The Radio label.
¡Forward, Russia! are a regular feature on the live circuit, playing sell-out headline tours and major support (with Editors and We Are Scientists for example). They have also appeared at several European festivals (including Reading/Leeds in the UK) and in March 2006 they played at SXSW in Austin, Texas. They are renowned for their energetic shows, such as singer Tom hurling himself from one end of the stage to another.
Their recent appearance at MTV2's Brand Spanking New event was aired on May 8th.
The music video for "Nine" is on regular rotation in mtvU's Freshman 15 and the video for "Eighteen" is in regular rotation on Video On Demand service Havoc.
The band's second album Life Processes was released on 14 April 2008, proceeded by the single "Breaking Standing" on 9 April.
On 13 August 2008, the band announced on their website that they would go on indefinite hiatus after a concert on 17 October. Among the reasons given were Katie moving to Nottingham to take an art class, Tom's interest in record production, the bungled release of Life Processes and the band's lack of interest in touring and recording. Whiskas now plays guitar with the band Duels.
Nine
¡Forward Russia! Lyrics
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I'm assured that it's not your care
Hailed brilliant, another conversation
But they couldn't touch your Hemingway
But they can't distort our love again
But they can't distort our love again
Was the excuse that you'd waited for
And the failure of the Nile to distinguish black from white
Was enough to break your bows and arrows
Lost, lost, lost in a sea of conjuncture
Lost, lost, lost in a sea of conjuncture
Lost, lost, lost in a sea of conjuncture
Lost, lost, lost in a sea of conjuncture
Lost, lost, lost in a sea of conjuncture
Lost, lost, lost in a sea of conjuncture
Lost, lost, lost in a sea of conjuncture
Lost, lost, lost in a sea of conjuncture
Lost, lost, lost in a sea of conjuncture
Lost, lost, lost in a sea of conjuncture
Lost, lost, lost in a sea of conjuncture
Lost, lost, lost in a sea of conjuncture
Lost, lost, lost in a sea of conjuncture
Lost and you're on your way
And the failure of the Nile to provide a modern life
Was the excuse that you'd waited for
And the failure of the Nile to distinguish black from white
Was enough to break your bows and arrows
Hailed brilliant, another combination
I'm assured that it's not your care
Hailed brilliant, another conversation
But they couldn't touch your Hemingway
Juncture
Juncture
And the failure of the Nile to provide a modern life
Was the excuse that you'd waited for
And the failure of the Nile to distinguish wrong from right
Was enough to break your bows and arrows down
To the earth, to the ground
The lyrics of "Nine" by ¡Forward Russia! are filled with evocative and enigmatic imagery that can be difficult to fully understand. The song seems to be exploring the frustration and confusion of living in a world filled with misinformation and half-truths, where reality seems to be constantly distorted by outside forces. The lines "Lost, lost, lost in a sea of conjuncture" are particularly emblematic of this feeling of disorientation, as the singer seems to be adrift in a world where nothing is quite as it seems.
The song also touches on issues of colonialism and the exploitation of natural resources, as evidenced by the repeated references to the Nile and its failure to provide a "modern life." The singer seems to be critiquing the idea that Western civilization has all the answers, pointing out that even the most sophisticated societies can be brought to their knees by forces beyond their control.
At its heart, "Nine" is a song about disillusionment and the struggle to make sense of a world that often seems nonsensical. By using powerful, thought-provoking imagery and clever wordplay, ¡Forward Russia! creates an unforgettable portrait of a world in flux.
Line by Line Meaning
Hailed brilliant, another combination
Applauded as brilliant, another pairing
I'm assured that it's not your care
I'm convinced that you do not care
Hailed brilliant, another conversation
Commended as brilliant, another discussion
But they couldn't touch your Hemingway
But they could not match your writing style, like Hemingway
But they can't distort our love again
But they cannot manipulate our love once more
And the failure of the Nile to provide a modern life
And the inability of the Nile to offer a contemporary lifestyle
Was the excuse that you'd waited for
Was the justification you were waiting for
And the failure of the Nile to distinguish black from white
And the inability of the Nile to differentiate between right and wrong
Was enough to break your bows and arrows
Was sufficient to shatter your weapons
Lost, lost, lost in a sea of conjuncture
Confused, confused, confused in a sea of speculation
Lost, lost, lost in a sea of conjuncture
Confused, confused, confused in a sea of speculation
Lost, lost, lost in a sea of conjuncture
Confused, confused, confused in a sea of speculation
Lost, lost, lost in a sea of conjuncture
Confused, confused, confused in a sea of speculation
Lost and you're on your way
Lost and you are on your journey
Juncture
Speculation
Juncture
Speculation
And the failure of the Nile to distinguish wrong from right
And the inability of the Nile to differentiate between good and bad
Was enough to break your bows and arrows down
Was sufficient to break your arrows and bows down
To the earth, to the ground
To the dirt, to the soil
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: KATHRYN ROSE NICHOLLS, ROBERT FRANCIS CANNING, SAMUEL NICHOLLS, THOMAS DOMINIC WOODHEAD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind