The band was formed in 1993 by Tony Nwachukwu and Charlie Dark. Charlie Dark was a part time journalist and DJ and had been approached by James Lavelle to produce and engineer tracks for his Mo Wax record label.
Their first release, Vibes, Scribes and Dusty 45's Ep, contained the down tempo classic Contemplating Jazz. Featuring the vocals of third member Roba El-Essawy, Attica Blues' sound contained the trademark trip-hop aspects like heavy beats, vocals and deep dark atmospheres. They released a follow up album, Blueprint.
Attica Blues were also often solicited for remixing and producing.
After the Mo Wax album Blueprint, they released a second album, Test,Don't Test on Sony Records.
Tender
Attica Blues Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Breathe these whispered words
From what was once, to what now has to be
Breathe these whispered words
And when the blue ink dries, and when we both have cried
Only tender teardrops will remain...
Candles flicker, flames, I close my eyes dreaming you are here
Waiting for your shadow, to appear
And what seems strange once our words fade away, is that
Only tender teardrops will remain
Only tender teardrops will remain
I felt the wind behind me, I turned but you weren't there
I felt the wind behind me, I turned but you weren't there, now
Only tender teardrops will remain...
The lyrics of Attica Blues' "Tender" evoke a sense of deep longing and loss, as the singer muses on the power of words to capture and preserve emotions that can never truly be expressed or understood. The opening lines, "From paper to pen, from pen to paper/Breathe these whispered words," suggest a sense of intimacy and connection, as if the singer is reaching out to someone they cannot be with in person. They continue, "From what was once, to what now has to be/Breathe these whispered words," seeming to acknowledge the passage of time and the inevitability of change. The repetition of "whispered words" underscores the idea that words can be soft and gentle, but also that they can be fragile and easily lost or forgotten.
The chorus brings a note of melancholy: "And when the blue ink dries, and when we both have cried/Only tender teardrops will remain." Here, the blue ink echoes the blue of sadness, and the idea of tears as tender reinforces the sense of vulnerability and fragility present throughout the song. This is further emphasized by the second verse, with its imagery of "Candles flicker, flames" and the singer "dreaming you are here" - the sense of holding onto something that is fading away.
As the song progresses, the singer acknowledges that their efforts to hold on to the past are ultimately futile. "Waiting for your shadow, to appear/And what seems strange once our words fade away, is that/Only tender teardrops will remain" suggests a sense of resignation and acceptance that the memories they are clinging to cannot be sustained. The final lines, "I felt the wind behind me, I turned but you weren't there/Only tender teardrops will remain," drive home this sense of emptiness, as the singer realizes that what they have been holding onto has already slipped away.
Overall, "Tender" is a beautifully evocative and emotional song that captures the fleeting nature of love and memory. Its wistful, melancholy tone and exquisite use of language make it a powerful meditation on longing and loss.
Line by Line Meaning
From paper to pen, from pen to paper
The act of writing and receiving written words on paper.
Breathe these whispered words
The words being written are meant to be spoken softly and with care.
From what was once, to what now has to be
The past is gone and the present must be faced head on.
And when the blue ink dries, and when we both have cried
The letters that were written will serve as a reminder of the tears that were shed during this time.
Only tender teardrops will remain...
The intensity of the emotions will eventually fade away and only gentle tears will be left behind.
When night-time falls and the air draws cold
The setting of the scene.
Candles flicker, flames, I close my eyes dreaming you are here
The singer is trying to imagine that their loved one is present with them in this moment.
Waiting for your shadow, to appear
A sense of longing for the other person to come back and fill the void left behind.
And what seems strange once our words fade away, is that
The realization that, once the letters are forgotten, only the feelings behind them will remain.
Only tender teardrops will remain
Reiteration of the sentiment that only gentle tears will be left behind as a reminder of the intensity of past emotions.
I felt the wind behind me, I turned but you weren't there
A physical sensation of the other person's absence.
I felt the wind behind me, I turned but you weren't there, now
The acknowledgment that this person is gone and won't be coming back.
Only tender teardrops will remain...
Final statement of the song, emphasizing the longevity of the emotional impact that has been left behind.
Contributed by Jake B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@mbstewart
Been looking for this since 1997. 411VM skateboarding vids to thank for this discovery. Phat as hell!!!
@marcmeup1
Matt - I bought this upon release back in 1997, shortly after moving to Bristol. Just dug it up crate digging my collection - still sounds as fresh as ever - if not more so. ;)
@michaelpatrick6898
Last comment 4 years ago?!? This is the greatest time of my life when Attica dropped this. Blueprint is still 1 of the best pieces of music I've ever heard.
@Melotown
Legendary upload. Thank you!
@airfixx_8952
Holy shit! ....I was an OrgKon fan back in 91, but never heard this before!!!! As Cube once said "Today was a good day"... Props to the uploader!!!!
@loumiller7612
411 VM issue 22!! Tamp AM. I love my childhood........
@tonalblasphemy6879
Reminisce!
@ccsmbz
there will never be another time like it. just watched trilogy last night and oh man the memories
@brainrapist3540
I'm go skate the school
@JungleLeeLewis
THAT WAS THE ISH!! That stuck with me FROM THEN! Such a JAM! AND WHAT A VIDEO! Peace From Tampa I was IN THAT AMATURE CONTEST REPPING THE SKATEPARK and WORLD MARKET! Yes Sir. To Ride Like that again is like a Aged Warrior remembering when he was a Slayer of Men and Beast A Like!
I Killed Transition and Streets Alike In My Days!