After years of recording in relative seclusion in the hills of Los Angeles, Ariel Pink (the first non-Animal Collective member on the Paw Tracks roster) made his official Paw Tracks debut with The Doldrums. Recording at home with a guitar, bass, keyboard, and 8-track (the drum sounds were created with his mouth).
Ariel Pink blends Lite FM and warped lo-fi pop into something by turns beautiful and confusing. Some may find his personal yet detached approach highly addictive, while others may be instantly turned off by the obvious lo-fi production and the vocal drumtracks.
In the summer of 2003, Pink passed a CD-R on to New York based band Animal Collective after being introduced by mutual friend Jimi Hey (of All Night Radio and Beachwood Sparks) at one of their shows. Unbeknownst to Pink, Animal Collective had recently started their own record label, Paw Tracks, and several weeks later they contacted him expressing an interest in releasing his music. Pink became the first musician on the label aside from the members of Animal Collective. The next year, the label reissued The Doldrums, an album which had been originally recorded in 1999. Since then, Paw Tracks (now co-owned by Carpark Records) has released two other reissues of Pink's previous recordings, Worn Copy and House Arrest.
Pink has gradually caught the attention of media sources around the United States as well as internationally. As most of his albums are self-made, many of them have never been heard by fans. Almost all of Pink's albums which have been commercially released come from his yet-unfinished "Haunted Graffiti" series and are thus the best known.
Pink's tours have generally been met with much negativity, primarily because his music was never intended to be performed live for commercial audiences. As he explained to LA Weekly:
“People boo me everywhere...They don't even hide their contempt. I'm used to it now...Hey, I'm giving audiences the real thing...For better or worse, I'm out there, and those are the circumstances. People don't like it when it seems like you don't know what's happening, or I'm getting bummed out with certain aspects and I can't hide it. I think people feel that pain and just think it's bad.”
Initially playing shows alone with pre-recorded music, Pink has since employed the efforts of keyboardist Kenny Gilmore, bassist Tim Koh (White Magic), drummer Jimi Hey, and guitarist Cole M. Greif-Neill (Ethnik Klensr) as Haunted Graffiti. However, even with a backing band unfamiliar audiences are generally hostile towards the unrehearsed nature of the live compositions.
In July, the band embarked on Pink's "Thanks Mom, I'm Dead" tour.
One genre that may interestingly define Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti is one known as Hauntology.
Damage Done
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Somebody tell me about the rhythym of the dance floor
Somebody tell me about the
I need to know about the
Somebody tell me about some belief
The damage done and the bask in the death still
His intent is obeyed in our time
Do you remember when santa fe?
???
The song "Damage Done" by Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti begins with a sound that resembles a heartbeat and is then followed by the lyrics "somebody tell me about the rhythm of the dance floor". This can be interpreted as a plea for knowledge or understanding of the music that accompanies dancing. The lyrics suggest that the singer is searching for something, possibly deeper meaning in the music or in life in general.
The following line, "somebody tell me about some belief", further emphasizes the singer's search for meaning. The phrase "the damage done" could refer to past mistakes or pain that has been inflicted, but the line "the bask in the death still" seems to suggest that the singer takes some comfort or pleasure in the aftermath of the damage. This could be interpreted as a sense of catharsis or release from past trauma.
The final line in the first verse, "His intent is obeyed in our time", is somewhat cryptic, but it could be interpreted as a reference to a higher power or an authority figure whose will is being carried out. The singer seems to be pondering the consequences of this obedience, as the line "and the damage done is in the fight" suggests that there is a cost to following blindly.
Overall, the lyrics to "Damage Done" seem to be exploring themes of searching, meaning, and the consequences of following authority. The music has a dreamlike quality to it, which adds to the introspective nature of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Somebody tell me about the rhythym of the four floor
I am seeking to understand the beat of the dance floor.
Somebody tell me about the rhythym of the dance floor
I am curious about the patterns and tempo of the dance floor.
Somebody tell me about the
I am looking for someone to provide me with information.
I need to know about the
I have a strong desire to obtain knowledge on this subject.
Somebody tell me about some belief
I want to hear about a particular belief or set of beliefs.
The damage done and the bask in the death still
Despite the harm caused, there still seems to be a strange fascination with death.
His intent is obeyed in our time
Someone's purpose or plan is being carried out in the present moment.
And the damage done is in the fight
The harm caused has arisen from the conflict or struggle.
Do you remember when santa fe?
Do you recall a specific memory or event related to Santa Fe?
Contributed by Sarah C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
21350ctw
damn pretty psychedelic, this is the anthem of my shitty life
Lichy Popo
I think the word I've been searching for is "Exquisite". This is motherfucking exquisite.
Jason isamu
👌
Anthony Weiss
one of my all timefav tracks ofhis
subsamadhi
carrying the torch man, carrying the torch
kd fax
wow
Anthony Weiss
omg