They formed in 2002, taking their name from a Boards Of Canada song and had early UK-only single releases Decisions Decisions and Cut It both just sneaked into the UK top 100.
Their 2004 debut album, Pearl Necklace, was highly praised both in UK music press and online, and helped to expand the group's international fanbase. Despite supporting acts such as Idlewild, Biffy Clyro, Silverchair and Placebo and playing festivals in Japan and Europe in 2003-2004, the quartet's album did not perform as well as they had hoped for.
Single releases following the album's launch included download-only Italics, The Exile EP and A Pearl Necklace For Her Majesty.
Bass player Thom Craigen left the band to pursue other interests in early 2005, and was replaced by the band's guitar technician, Mike Newsham. However, following a short European tour, Colour of Fire split after playing Download Festival in 2005.
The band reformed in 2022 with their original line-up, and have been working on new material. They are set to play their first gig in 18 years in December 2023.
Band members:
Owen Richards (guitar, vocals)
Stuart Jones (guitar, vocals)
Matt Lunn (drums)
Thom Craigen (bass 2002-2005, 2022-)
Mike Newsham (bass - 2005)
Where are they now:
Owen went on to form several Leeds-based bands: Grammatics (2006-2010), Department M (2011-2016), and his current band (aside from CoF), Too Much Future.
Stu has several ongoing projects, including die Zerstörten and House Of Spiders.
Matt Lunn worked with Placebo and Shed Seven's Rick Witter, as well as joining Yorkie electro outfit The Officers.
Thom continues to write and play with new band, Modern Day Chicane.
Cut It
Colour of Fire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
so I blow smoke in her eyes,
our legs hanging over the edge
and baby I got cramp.
soon I'll cut it,
so hard and so clear,
you reach far and get so near
to my body, it shakes,
Vision in my head of you and her,
a vision in my head of you and her,
so vivid I can't ignore, so perfect, so fuckin' pure.
I get a vision in my head of you and her,
a vision in my head of you and her,
so vivid I can't ignore
so perfect but there's,
nothing in my heart.
there's nothing in my heart.
There's a risk, there's a risk
when you know you've got a product,
and your eager to sell
There's a risk, there's a risk
I know you've got a product,
but it shouldn't be love
I get a vision in my head of you and her,
a vision in my head of you and her,
I'm shifting away from the taller words,
pulling my face through the noiseless thoughts
I get a vision in my head of you and her,
a vision in my head of you and her,
I can't decide which life to take,
All I'm feeling now, is
nothing in my heart,
there's nothing in my heart
(Its red and its raw)
The lyrics to Colour of Fire's song "Cut It" are dark, intense, and full of conflicting emotions. In the first verse, the singer can't seem to "cut it" - whatever "it" may be - and instead resorts to blowing smoke in his lover's eyes as they lie together with their legs hanging over the edge. He experiences physical discomfort ("baby I got cramp") and a full-blown itch, but also a "vision in [his] head of you and her" that is both vivid and perfect. Despite this vision, he says "there's nothing in my heart."
The second verse shifts into a reflection on risk and the dangers of selling a product - although it's not clear what this product is, it seems to be linked to a sense of love. The singer once again experiences the vivid vision of his lover with someone else, and struggles with conflicting emotions as he tries to make a decision. The song ends with a repetition of the line "there's nothing in my heart," followed by the parenthetical note "it's red and it's raw."
The lyrics to "Cut It" are open to interpretation, but it's clear that they deal with themes of love, jealousy, and the difficulty of making choices. The singer's physical discomfort during the first verse hints at a sense of unease or disconnection, while the vivid vision could represent a desire for something more or a fear of losing what he has. The repeated line "there's nothing in my heart" suggests a feeling of emptiness or numbness, despite the intense emotions described in the rest of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't cut it,
I am unable to handle the situation or task at hand.
so I blow smoke in her eyes,
I try to distract or deceive my partner to avoid facing the issue.
our legs hanging over the edge
We are in a precarious or vulnerable position.
and baby I got cramp.
I am physically uncomfortable and in pain.
soon I'll cut it,
I will finally end the situation or task at hand.
so hard and so clear,
The decision or action I will take will be decisive and unambiguous.
you reach far and get so near
The situation creates a sense of emotional closeness, despite physical distance.
to my body, it shakes,
The intensity of the situation is causing physical reactions and sensations.
I get a full blown itch and a...
My mind and body are consumed with desire.
Vision in my head of you and her,
I am imagining a scenario involving my partner and someone else.
a vision in my head of you and her,
The imagined scenario is persistent and recurring in my thoughts.
so vivid I can't ignore, so perfect, so fuckin' pure.
The imagined scenario is so desirable and idealized that it is difficult to dismiss or reject.
There's a risk, there's a risk
There is a danger or uncertainty involved in the situation.
when you know you've got a product,
When you are confident in your abilities or assets.
and your eager to sell
When you are motivated and incentivized to take action.
but it shouldn't be love
However, the sense of motivation or eagerness should not be confused with genuine love or affection.
I'm shifting away from the taller words,
I am beginning to distance myself from grandiose or flowery language.
pulling my face through the noiseless thoughts
I am trying to make sense of my conflicting or confused emotions and thoughts.
I can't decide which life to take,
I am torn between different paths or choices.
All I'm feeling now, is nothing in my heart,
Despite the strong emotions and sensations, I am ultimately unfulfilled and lacking genuine emotion or connection.
there's nothing in my heart
I am experiencing emotional emptiness or detachment.
(Its red and its raw)
The emotion I do feel is intense and difficult to ignore.
Contributed by Alyssa N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jonathandance
I saw them in Japan in 2004 in Summer Sonic. Nobody knew them but they sounded so beautiful and people were talking about them after the show. I loved the performance.
fred trax
Pearl Necklace is a pure gem!
Thomas Craigen
Cheers Fred - there are some mint tunes on there, for sure!
nuay
No puedo dejar de ver a esta hermosura
nuay
De chico y cancion
Felipe Gutiérrez Salazar
Gran tema
Simon Lee Keddie
This. Is/was. So. Ace. <3
Gianmaria Cervone
My uncle has CD burning, and thanks to him if I know them
Vigabriel Cordova Darwin Israel
buena cancion sinceramente y vengo por shauntrack ya que recomendo esta banda
cesar augusto sanchez carrasco
Igual xd