Since a young age, Michigan resident Thomas Meluch has been fascinated with… Read Full Bio ↴Since a young age, Michigan resident Thomas Meluch has been fascinated with the sounds of nature and tape decay—through almost a decade of recordings, he has fostered an infatuation with a sort of sonic density that combines remnants of pop song structures with the lushness and unpredictability of field recordings. A veteran drummer of a half dozen bands, Meluch chose guitar and voice as the primary instruments for his work as Benoît Pioulard.

Tack & Tower
Benoît Pioulard Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Crosshatch condensation
Locks latched, it’s my condition
The roil of sermon heresy
Valerian, my angel of mercy

We did, we asked the council
We were blown back by the answer
Something is on in the tower

Break me from Leo down to Cancer

Grafted with scars around cardia
Planted, the rhizome is hardier
Shoulders turned in discretion
Moldered in flagging affections

The trap is active
An approach is gradual

The seconds are slurring
In motions so casual

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Benoît Pioulard's song "Tack & Tower" initially present a series of enigmatic words and phrases that seem detached from each other yet carry an aura of mystery that can stir listeners' imaginations. The first stanza hints at a state of vulnerability and enclosure, as the singer finds himself in a space where the air is thick with "crosshatch condensation," and he is trapped by his own "condition," which is left unspecified. The mention of "valerian" as his "angel of mercy" suggests that he might be seeking relief from anxiety or pain.

The second stanza introduces the theme of seeking answers and being met with resistance, as the singer "asked the council" and was "blown back by the answer." The tower referred to in the lines "something is on in the tower / break me from Leo down to Cancer" could symbolize a metaphorical height to reach or a source of power or wisdom to tap into. However, the singer feels trapped and helpless in the face of whatever is happening there.

The third stanza appears to allude to physical and emotional scars that make the singer less resilient and more prone to decay. The image of the "rhizome" suggests an attempt to regrow and reconnect, yet the "flagging affections" point to a lack of vitality and enthusiasm. The last stanza builds on the sense of danger and urgency hinted at earlier, as the trap becomes active, and the singer is running out of time to escape. The lines "the seconds are slurring / in motions so casual" depict a surreal and disorienting experience where time loses its grip on reality, and things move without a clear purpose or direction.

Line by Line Meaning

Crosshatch condensation
The air is humid and misty

Locks latched, it’s my condition
The singer has a habit of locking things

The roil of sermon heresy
The confusion caused by conflicting religious beliefs

Valerian, my angel of mercy
Valerian root is a natural pain reliever, and the artist relies on it for comfort

We did, we asked the council
The artist and someone else sought advice from people in authority

We were blown back by the answer
The council gave an unexpected or unwanted answer

Something is on in the tower
The singer senses something happening in the tower

Break me from Leo down to Cancer
The artist wants to break free from the constraints of astrology

Grafted with scars around cardia
The artist has scars around their heart, either physically or metaphorically

Planted, the rhizome is hardier
The artist's roots are strong and enduring, despite past trauma

Shoulders turned in discretion
The singer is trying to hide their emotions, or keep them in check