As part of the long build up to the release of Transit Transit, they made available, "Audience No.2", as a 'pay what you will’ track on their website. Soon after, they joined PJ Harvey for a tour of Russia. During this time they also continued to play their own shows, trying out new songs live, and in some cases revisiting the recorded versions to make necessary alterations or, in some cases, total deletions. In the summer of 2009, they collaborated with the painter, Kill Pixie (Mark Whalen) for 'Future Spa', an art exhibition/sound installation in Los Angeles. In more recent months, the band has toured extensively, including an appearance at All Tomorrow's Parties in upstate New York and an opening spot with Thom Yorke's Atoms For Peace.
Now, the much-awaited follow-up, Transit Transit is finally here. It begins no less uniquely than its predecessor, although this time the subtler concussion of rhythm that starts the title track is an announcement of change, and the following mood and vocal-- a metaphysical sorbet. If you have been waiting, somewhat impatiently, for this record, Transit Transit has yielded an unexpected mix of material, but has everything you had hoped for. And if Autolux is a band you are just discovering, here is a deep and profound world of noise and emotion to immerse yourself in.
The band produced Transit Transit themselves with guitarist/vocalist Greg Edwards serving as engineer. The record was recorded - at Space 23, the bands makeshift studio in their rehearsal room near downtown Los Angeles. The title track "Transit Transit" (the last song to be recorded) was started in Denmark by Edwards, using a virtually unplayable upright piano and a sample of a coffin-style freezer found in a nearby basement, and then finished back in Los Angeles. There is a notable sonic progression to Transit Transit: samples, vintage synthesizers, and manipulated ambience glue central song components together. There are a lot more vocal harmonies and piano driven songs, even a bit of trumpet. Vocal duties are shared by all three members throughout the album - their voices strangely similar - but each having a definite emotional character. Bassist/ singer, Eugene Goreshter continues to innovate his bass style, effortlessly modernizing the instrument's melodic role on songs like "Census" and "Supertoys", while still providing an on-edge rawness and groove-filled momentum. Edwards' guitars serve to modulate the moods throughout the record, constantly evoking feelings found in the space between emotions. And Carla Azar's sturdy, creative drumming (a phenomenon to behold on stage) continues on record with plenty of hook beats - ferocious and orchestral, at once.
The majority of the album was mixed by Kennie Takahashi, three of the tracks being mixed by Dave Sardy, and then mastered by Bob Ludwig. Artist Kill Pixie and Carla created the artwork for Transit Transit.
Reappearing
Autolux Lyrics
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In the exact wrong moment
In the exact right shape
Hey, we're reappearing
In the exact wrong moment
In the exact right shape
In the exact right shape
Hey, we're reappearing
The lyrics to Autolux's song "Reappearing" convey a sense of contradicting timing and a feeling of being in the wrong place at the right time. The repetition of the phrase "Hey, we're reappearing" implies a sense of sudden visibility or emergence. The mention of appearing in the "exact wrong moment" suggests a disconnect between their presence and the appropriate timing for their reappearance. However, the phrase "in the exact right shape" signifies that despite this discordance, they have returned in a form that is perfectly suited for the situation. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for feeling out of sync with the world, yet still managing to find a way to fit in or make a mark.
The cyclic structure of the lyrics, with the repetition of the opening lines throughout the song, creates a hypnotic effect, emphasizing the theme of repetition and the cyclical nature of life. The choice of words, such as "reappearing" and "moment," hints at the transient and fleeting nature of existence, as if the singers of the song are constantly appearing and disappearing in different moments or situations.
Overall, "Reappearing" delves into themes of timing, perception, and adaptation, suggesting that even in moments of contradiction or perceived incongruity, there's still a way to find one's place and make an impact.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, we're reappearing
We are making a comeback or appearing again
In the exact wrong moment
Our return is happening at the worst possible time
In the exact right shape
We are coming back in the perfect condition or state
Hey, we're reappearing
We are making a comeback or appearing again
In the exact wrong moment
Our return is happening at the worst possible time
In the exact right shape
We are coming back in the perfect condition or state
Hey, we're reappearing
We are making a comeback or appearing again
In the exact right shape
We are coming back in the perfect condition or state
Writer(s): Eugene Goreshter, Carla Azar, Greg Edwards
Contributed by Liam R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.