Growing up in Atlanta, Chris discovered house and electronic music by the somewhat long-winded way of getting sent tapes from Europe. He began assembling a home studio but it wasn't until 1994 that he began his music career in earnest and formed Wamdue Kids with DJs Deep C, aka Chris Clarke, and Udoh, aka Chris Udoh. In 1995 they released the classic 'Higher' on the Acacia label, which led to the seminal debut album 'These Branching Moments'. In 1996 Chris' prolific attitude to work came into its own solo album 'Deep Fall', reflecting a diverse direction to that of his productions with Wamdue.
Chris started The Ananda project in late 90s and it was a side project in the beginning. Brann never set out to make the Ananda Project the crown jewel of his musical legacy. When the outfit began in 1998 - inspired through a chance meeting with Lancelot and Bryan of King Street Sounds and Nite Grooves labels. So, Ananda Project's amazing first single "Cascades Of Color" with singer/songwriter Gaelle Adisson came. it was massive for house music addicts, "indeed sounded like a sunrise; an illuminating and rejuvenating orchestration of deep, soulful house, punctuated by Brann's understated melodichues and Gaelle Adisson's angelic, honey-coated harmonies."
It didn't take long time for Mother(Danny Tenaglia) to find this secret weapon because "Cascades Of Color" was really distinctive from any other house production of its day. John Digweed, Deep Dish and Pete Tong followed him but it was Tenaglia's edit of "Cascades Of Color-Saffron mix" which made it a big smash. "Cascades Of Color" released 8 times (As different remixes on 12"s and a 5" CD) between 1998 and 2004. After tremendous demand from house scene, following Ananda project single "Straight Magic" came in 1999 and after that Ananda Project released 3 more Garage/House records (" Glory Glory", "Release" and "Bahia/Expand your Mind"), for me, none of them was as big as "Cascades Of Color" but in 2001 Nite Grooves released the amazing 12" of "Falling For You" featuring angelic vocals of Terrance Down which eventually became one of my all time favorites especially with the support of dreamy bassline and drums of G-Pal's "Child Of The Sun Remix" of the score.
Yet, that was not the time that my appreciation for Chris Brann (and for his all other names) hits the top but it was when I first listen to Delilah's "Be Strong 4 me" relesead by Yoshitoshi (ah! it was such a nice label back in the beginning of 2000s, what the heck happened?). Both original 12" and remixes were fantastic! When I hear the first words of Heather Johnson, I realized Chris Brann raised the standards of Vocal House music and no one's gonna buy those cheesy tracks with meaninglessly screaming female vocals as easily as before. But they did anyway :-)
Cascades of Colour
Ananda Project Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And at sunset
But when night falls
But the music
And at sunrise
And at sunset
But when night falls
Cascades of color, slip right through your hands
Your castle's in the clouds, turn back into sand
You'll find your swept away with no helping hand
The music is your beacon back to dry land
And at sunrise
And at sunset
But when night falls
But the music
Cascades of color, slip right through your hands
Your castle's in the clouds, turn back into sand
You'll find your swept away with no helping hand
The music is your beacon back to dry land
Oh, the music, now this is why I sing
Oh, the music, my sunrise
And this is why we sing
Bring it back on home
The lyrics of Ananda Project's "Cascades Of Colour" evoke a sense of longing for something that slips away easily, just like the cascading colors that slip through one's hands. The repetition of phrases like "at sunrise," "at sunset," and "when night falls" suggests a cyclical pattern, with the singer experiencing these moments repeatedly. However, it is only during the night that the music takes on a greater significance. While the cascades of color bring temporary pleasure, the music serves as a constant beacon back to dry land, in a sense providing a source of stability in an ever-shifting world.
The lyrics paint a picture of transience and impermanence as the singer's castle in the clouds turns back into sand, leaving them "swept away with no helping hand." The music provides a sense of hope and direction, a way to come back home. It's almost as if the lyrics are encouraging the listener to let go of fleeting pleasures and to embrace something more substantial, like the music.
Overall, "Cascades Of Colour" is a song about finding meaning in the midst of change and uncertainty, a reminder that even when everything else is slipping away, the music remains a constant source of joy and comfort.
Line by Line Meaning
And at sunrise
At the beginning of each day, when the sun first rises
And at sunset
At the end of each day, when the sun sets
But when night falls
However, when darkness falls
But the music
The only thing that remains is the sound of music
Cascades of color, slip right through your hands
Opportunities to experience beauty are fleeting and can easily be missed
Your castle's in the clouds, turn back into sand
Dreams may seem solid and achievable, but they can dissolve quickly and leave you feeling lost
You'll find your swept away with no helping hand
You may experience challenges without support or guidance
The music is your beacon back to dry land
Music can serve as a guiding light to help you find your footing and regain stability
Oh, the music, now this is why I sing
Music is a source of inspiration for the singer
Oh, the music, my sunrise
Music is like a new beginning for the singer
And this is why we sing
This is the purpose behind the act of singing
Bring it back on home
The singer is calling for a return to a place of familiarity and comfort
Contributed by Natalie E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.