Native to the eclectically romantic city of Montreal, and now temporary resident in London, Ontario, Atlass brings the Old World charm of his home and infuses it with stark synth landscapes and enormously empty drums not only creating a name for himself, but also eradicating any notions of a specific genre. Coupled with his dreamy, intensely reverbed vocals and inventive melodies, this young maverick has fashioned quite a unique project few will be prepared for. It's something you have to hear to understand.
"The Black Atlass EP", his first EP released on Green United Music, is a six song teaser of things to come. Even in the relatively brief foray, lasting only 18 minutes, Altlass manages to create a plethora of different productions styles varying from the sample heavy banger "Ways", to the ethereal keys found cascading amidst the synthesizer wails of the Paris Interlude.
One of the most captivating aspects of this young artist can only be appreciated once you have witnessed him performing his special brand of crooning in person. Armed only with awkward personability and his MPD/computer combo, this troubadour sings while re-producing his beats live, to slay any notions of disbelief in regards to his talent. He even takes the process one step further when he records his music and plays each song's instrumental in real time drectly from his MPD. This means when you listen to his music, the instrumental backing you hear accompanying his vocals are not the result of quantized drum patterns and sequencing, but fined tuned precision and enviable musical ability.
Fusing his polarizingly different sound-scape with an undeniable musicality, Black Atlass is definitely an act to look out for in 2012. You should expect to see a couple interesting collaborations with some well-known Toronto area performers before the end of this year.
Something great this way comes.
http://www.blackatlass.com
Paris
Black Atlass Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For the diamonds at night
Falling, falling
For the diamonds at night
No, no, no
If it gets old
For the candles in the glass, stories told
You turn, slow
Grippin' your hand
It's cold
Falling, falling
For the diamonds at night
Falling, falling
For the diamonds at night
Have you lived yet, been older?
Not right now, but I'll be over
Tough right now, but I'll stay closer
Please stay closer
Back away
Snow outside
Skies is talkin'
Paris walkin'
Falling, falling
For the diamonds at night
Falling, falling
For the diamonds at night
The lyrics to Black Atlass's song "Paris" are quite open to interpretation, but they seem to describe falling for the allure of the nighttime in a city like Paris. The repeated phrase "Falling, falling for the diamonds at night" suggests being drawn to the sparkle and glamour of the city's nightlife. The next few lines seem to describe leaving a bar or nightclub with someone, perhaps a lover, and feeling a sense of attachment despite the cold night air. The lines "Have you lived yet, been older? / Not right now, but I'll be over" could mean that the singer is trying to convince his or her companion that there is more to life than just fleeting moments of excitement or luxury.
The repeated phrase "Falling, falling / For the diamonds at night" seems to represent both the literal glitter of the city at night and the metaphorical attraction to something that might be ultimately unfulfilling. The singer seems to be questioning whether there is more to life and relationships than just chasing after superficial experiences. The lines "Back away / Snow outside / Skies is talkin'" suggest a change in perspective or a sense of introspection. The mention of Paris walking could be a reference to the idea of the city being alive and full of opportunities or risks. Overall, the lyrics to "Paris" encourage the listener to question whether the thrill of the moment is worth it in the grand scheme of things.
Line by Line Meaning
Falling, falling
The artist is falling, or becoming deeply infatuated.
For the diamonds at night
The artist has become enamoured with things that glitter and shine at night, possibly as a representation of luxury and opulence.
No, no, no
The artist is rejecting something or someone, likely due to it becoming stale or boring.
If it gets old
The artist is contemplating what they will do if something they once enjoyed becomes uninteresting or boring.
For the candles in the glass, stories told
The artist values the experience of sitting in a bar with a candle-lit atmosphere, telling stories and engaging with others.
Walk outta the bar
The artist is leaving a place or situation, likely due to it becoming dull.
You turn, slow
The artist is turning around slowly, potentially to take a last look at the place or to check if someone is following them.
Grippin' your hand
The artist is holding someone's hand tightly, which could possibly signify fear or a desire for comfort.
It's cold
The ambient temperature is cold enough to be noticeable and felt.
Have you lived yet, been older?
The artist is asking if the person they are talking to has had enough life experience to understand certain things.
Not right now, but I'll be over
The artist is telling someone they will visit them later or come to see them once their mood has improved.
Tough right now, but I'll stay closer
Even though the artist is going through a challenging time, they intend to support and stay close to the person they are speaking with.
Please stay closer
The artist is asking the person they are speaking with to remain close to them, likely to provide emotional support.
Back away
The artist is asking someone to move further away from them, likely due to a lack of personal space or safety concerns.
Snow outside
The weather outside is snowy.
Skies is talkin'
The artist is saying that the sky, or weather, is doing something noteworthy or spectacular.
Paris walkin'
The artist is in Paris, or dreaming of it, and observing people walking around.
Falling, falling
The artist is falling, or becoming deeply infatuated.
For the diamonds at night
The artist has become enamoured with things that glitter and shine at night, possibly as a representation of luxury and opulence.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Alexander Sandford Fleming
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Alina AnDru
[Intro]
Falling, falling
For the diamonds at night, yeah, yeah
Falling, falling, yeah
For the diamonds at night
[Verse 1]
No, no, no
If it gets old
For the candles in the black, stories told
Walk outta the bar
You turn, slow
Grippin' your hand
It's cold
[Chorus]
Falling, falling, yeah
For the diamonds at night
Falling, falling, yeah
For the diamonds at night
[Verse 2]
Have you lived yet, been older?
Not right now, but I'll be over
Tough right now, but I'll stay closer
Please, stay closer
Back away
Snow outside
Skies is fallin'
Paris walkin'
Alina AnDru
[Intro]
Falling, falling
For the diamonds at night, yeah, yeah
Falling, falling, yeah
For the diamonds at night
[Verse 1]
No, no, no
If it gets old
For the candles in the black, stories told
Walk outta the bar
You turn, slow
Grippin' your hand
It's cold
[Chorus]
Falling, falling, yeah
For the diamonds at night
Falling, falling, yeah
For the diamonds at night
[Verse 2]
Have you lived yet, been older?
Not right now, but I'll be over
Tough right now, but I'll stay closer
Please, stay closer
Back away
Snow outside
Skies is fallin'
Paris walkin'
John Meyer
I think I like the acoustical version better even though the original is great!
Twinski
Wow! Missed the 2016 countdown listening to this!
G7 Fragen
La version acoustique est encore plus belle c dingue ! Quel talent !
John Meyer
Beautiful!
Bigbody durags
Dope man...lovely voice
ayla7
This & Cat Power's "The Greatest"
BRVMES Music
same chord progression.
Robert Smith
Somewhere between takeoff and cruise altitude on a Virgin America A319, somewhere between Dallas and D.C., I was blown away by this song. Sometime I need to finish the short story hearing it inspired...
nickel600
Really wonderful.