1. As th… Read Full Bio ↴There is more than one artist with the name of Charlie May.
1. As the architect behind many of the stylistic blueprint shifts in dance since the early heady days of acid house, Charlie May knows a thing or two about what makes a dance floor tick.
One half of revered progressive house pioneers Spooky; the engineer and producer of many of Sasha’s biggest singles and albums; highly respected solo producer in his own right, May has remained at the vivacious beating heart of house since the early ’90s.
It was in 1992 that Charlie May and production partner Duncan Forbes made their maiden voyage as Spooky. After meeting and becoming firm friends, they cut their first record for progressive imprint Guerilla Records, ‘Don’t Panic’. It was to prove highly influential in the futuristic new movement in dance music - progressive house - that took the rhythms of acid, and married them to aquatic depths of Detroit techno with overlays of ambient music, to create a fresh new hybrid.
Heralded as figureheads of the progressive house scene, Spooky cemented this by creating their sky strafing and ambitious long-player ‘Gargantuan’. One of the first dance albums of its kind, this pinnacle album would go on to spawn a million sound-a-likes, establishing the production wizardry of Charlie May, whose tweaking and pitch-perfect ear was set to have a huge influence, both in front of and behind the scenes.
3 years later, their most critically acclaimed album – 1995’s ‘Found Sound’ led the duo to become in high demand as remixers, reworking everyone from Sven Väth to William Orbit.
Taking a brief hiatus from Spooky, Charlie May went in search of a new project. Linking up with DJ superstar Sasha, their initial production collaboration was on a soundtrack to hit Playstation game Wipeout 3, and from there, Sasha tasked May with engineering a new version of an unreleased Spooky track ‘Xpander’, which was to become one of Sasha’s signature tracks.
The acclaimed ‘Airdrawndagger’ album (2002), again featured May behind the boards (alongside Junkie XL), as well as the following Global Underground mix album ‘Involver’. But eager to step out of the shadows, May had all this time been honing his solo chops, and with the release of the fresh ‘Bug EP’ on Junior Boys Own London, he began to garner props as a producer in his own right. Charlie’s solo incarnation was to bear further fruit in 2006, with the Charlie May vs. Sasha cut ‘Seal Clubbing’, a smash record for Renaissance.
Returning to the Spooky fold for a third album, ‘Open’, (2007), Spooky found themselves in New York City (during the album promo tour), where they settled to collaborate with Sasha on a succession of new productions for the DJ’s fresh label Emfire including ‘Coma’ and ‘Who Killed Sparky’. Off the back of these well-received cuts, the duo was brought in to assist with the production of ‘Involv2er’, the second volume in Sasha’s DJ mix/remixes series.
In 2009, Spooky have been hard at work on several new projects. However, this will be the year that Charlie May’s solo career really kicks into gear. Having etched several new club tracks, exhibiting a heavier techno influence, Charlie’s more inspired than ever, and has plenty of new plans.
“I’ve just finished two tracks for La Tour, Pole Folder’s label, and I’m feeling my way around, getting back into the solo headspace really, which is cool. I’m also doing some new remixes, something for Glenn Morrison, with Robert Babicz (aka Rob Acid) and also for Bedrock. There’s so much cool techno stuff about at the moment which is really inspiring me."
He’s currently cutting several new tracks, both with Spooky and solo, which he’ll further shape with a new record label, which will also launch in 2009. And for those hanging on for an artist album, it seems you might not be waiting too much longer…
“I’m focusing on singles for a bit but I’d also like to do an album – it’s something I really want to do. That would be a big achievement. It’s all guns blazing really – watch this space.”
Stepping into the spotlight properly with these releases, it seems that Charlie May’s time is truly now.
2. Jazz musician Charlie May with his album "Relaxing with Charlie May"
I'll Remember April
Charlie May Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We'll sigh goodbye to all we ever had
Alone where we have walked together
I'll remember April and be glad
I'll be content you loved me once in April
Your lips were warm and love and spring were new
I'm not afraid of autumn and her sorrow
The fire will dwindle into glowing ashes
For flames live such a little while
I won't forget but I won't be lonely
I'll remember April and smile
The song "I'll Remember April" by Charlie Parker is a classic jazz ballad that describes the bittersweet feelings of looking back on a past love affair. The first stanza, "This lovely day will lengthen into evening, We'll sigh goodbye to all we ever had, Alone where we have walked together, I'll remember April and be glad," sets the tone for the rest of the song. The singer acknowledges that the relationship is over, but chooses to remember the happy times they shared together with fondness.
The second stanza, "I'll be content you loved me once in April, Your lips were warm and love and spring were new, I'm not afraid of autumn and her sorrow, For I'll remember April and you," speaks to the idea that even though the love affair has ended, the memories of the springtime love will stay with the singer forever. The singer is not afraid of the sorrow that autumn may bring because the memories of the love they shared in April will always bring them happiness.
Finally, the third stanza, "The fire wil dwindle into glowing ashes, For flames live such a little while, I won't forget but I won't be lonely, I'll remember April and smile," reminds the listener that love is fleeting and that the hot passion of a new love affair will fade into a comforting memory. Although the singer will never forget the love they shared, they won't be lonely because the memories of the past will always bring them happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
This lovely day will lengthen into evening
The day will turn into night.
We'll sigh goodbye to all we ever had
We will say goodbye to everything that we had together.
Alone where we have walked together
I will be alone in the same places where we used to walk together.
I'll remember April and be glad
I will remember April and be happy.
I'll be content you loved me once in April
I will be satisfied that you loved me once in April.
Your lips were warm and love and spring were new
I remember your warm lips, and the newness of our love and of spring.
I'm not afraid of autumn and her sorrow
I am not afraid of the sadness that comes with autumn.
For I'll remember April and you
Because I will remember April and you.
The fire will dwindle into glowing ashes
The passion will fade into a memory.
For flames live such a little while
Passion never lasts long.
I won't forget but I won't be lonely
I won't forget you, but I won't be lonely either.
I'll remember April and smile
I will remember April and smile.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DON RAYE, GENE DE PAUL, PATRICIA JOHNSTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind