Taking their name from the number of Susans in the line up, Band of Susans released one EP - Blessing and Curse - on Poss's own Trace Elements label before being signed to Mute Records's Blast First imprint for their first album Hope Against Hope. After the release, Rogers, Lyall and Tallman quit to be replaced by Karen Haglof (guitar) and Page Hamilton (guitar). After a second album - Love Agenda - and a Peel Sessions EP the two new members quit (Hamilton to form Helmet) and were replaced by Anne Husick (guitar) and Mark Lonergan (guitar), forming the line up which made three more albums and one EP. On the band's final U.S. and European tours a young Jay Braun filled in for Mark Lonergan. The band's final production was a version of Wire's Ahead for a collection of Wire cover versions called Whore, released in 1996.
Musically, BoS organised their three guitarists into providing an overwhelming wail of feedback and guitar noise layered under more conventional song structures (Poss had worked with guitar enemble composer Rhys Chatham and was a big fan of The Rolling Stones - the latter resulting in covers of Child of the Moon and Paint it Black). Although pretty much unconnected with it, Band of Susans are generally included in the New York No Wave scene that produced Sonic Youth and Glenn Branca.
After the dissolution of the band, Poss and Stenger performed with Bruce Gilbert of Wire as GilbertPossStenger. Poss then concentrated on production and solo work whilst Stenger played live with The Creatures for a period. An open-ended promise to reform under a new name has yet to happen.
Tourniquet
Band Of Susans Lyrics
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Like a jewel made out of paste
You always seem to meet me with a blindfold on
Each night we spent in chains
In a soft cage without a key
Trying to recall that first light of desire
Turn away from the light
Each alone each night
You walk that black forest of streets
Like a magnet pulling me back in time
When I wrote, I wrote to a stranger
I can't recall the place or the time
Your heart glows in the dark
Like a jewel made out of paste
You always seem to meet me with a blindfold on
Each night we spent in chains
In a soft cage without a key
Trying to recall that first light
That first light...
The lyrics of Band Of Susans's song Tourniquet depict a tumultuous relationship that is shrouded in darkness and uncertainty. The singer describes their partner's heart as glimmering in the dark, but also as a jewel made out of paste - artificial and not quite real. The couple is trapped, spending every night chained together in a soft cage without a key, unable to escape their toxic connection. The line "trying to recall that first light of desire" speaks to the fading passion that they once shared and desperately want to reignite.
The second verse sees the singer urging their partner to turn away from the light and the fading of their love. They describe walking the "black forest of streets" like a magnet, pulled back into the past, unable to let go of the memories. They recall writing to a stranger, but cannot remember the details or context of that moment. The chorus repeats, emphasizing the sense of suffocation and entrapment that has come to define their relationship.
Overall, Tourniquet is a powerful and evocative representation of a fraught and complex relationship. The lyrics are achingly poetic and full of raw emotion, capturing the hopelessness and despair that can come from being trapped in an unhappy partnership.
Line by Line Meaning
Your heart glows in the dark
Your emotions shine brightest when you are in darkness.
Like a jewel made out of paste
Although you may look beautiful, your worth is questionable.
You always seem to meet me with a blindfold on
You remain oblivious to the truth, even when we come face to face.
Each night we spent in chains
The time we shared together felt like a continuous bond that we could not break free from.
In a soft cage without a key
Our situation was comfortable but confining, and we couldn't see a way out.
Trying to recall that first light of desire
We attempt to remember the initial spark of passion that brought us together.
Turn away from the light
We need to move away from what is illuminating and escape into the unknown.
Fading across the dunes of midnight
As we leave the light behind, it slowly disappears into darkness.
Each alone each night
We are isolated from each other for the rest of our nights.
You walk that black forest of streets
You navigate through a challenging and treacherous environment.
Like a magnet pulling me back in time
I am drawn towards you due to past memories that linger in my mind.
When I wrote, I wrote to a stranger
The person I addressed in my thoughts and memories no longer resembles the one I see before me.
I can't recall the place or the time
The memories of our past together are becoming increasingly difficult to recollect.
That first light...
That initial passion that ignited our relationship, but is now just a fading memory.
Contributed by Jake B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.