David Thomas Broughton’s talent has garnered praise with the passing years. The way Broughton merges endless processed guitar loops with his own and very personal voice –something between Odetta and Tim Buckley- throws light upon a unique sound. After astonishing audiences at the most recent edition of fave Spanish festivals Primavera Sound or Tanned Tin, Acuarela introduces an exclusive mini-album that the English musician has recorded with Leeds experimental group 7 Hertz. Layer after layer of sound, David Thomas Broughton has defined himself as a name to keep in mind, song after song, test after test. Challenging the limits of his own music, this Leeds singer songwriter has toyed at stretching a singular discourse bound to the well-worn parameters of folk and electronics, combining influences and just by following intuition and taste, enveloping it all with a warm and velvet voice. Without a doubt challenge has been a constant in his career. The Complete Guide To Insufficiency (Birdwar/Plug research, 2005) was a debut aimed at demonstrating Broughton’s live performance, recorded in one sole take in a church and barely intervening through mixing, one could even hear the sound of pedals being changed and other details that could only be appreciated in a live show. This atmosphere that suits the record so well, somewhere between narcotic and chaotic, has accompanied his next effort It’s In There Somewhere (Birdwar, 2007), though channeled through song format as we know it. 7 Hertz are a Leeds band dedicated to improvisation within a strange mixture of folk, classical, jazz and any other label that you can slap the term free on. David and the band hardly had time to greet each other before embarking on a recording session in a cold church in Leeds on a winter afternoon (a scene much like the one Broughton’s first record was drawn in). Every song would enjoy only one take, so there would never be any previous rehearsals between the parties involved. Throughout the first part of the album David performed a song he had in mind, around this the band built walls of sound. But for the second part of the record was created as it was performed for the first time, improvising lyrics and casting vocals towards the temple’s vaults, creating and unimaginable acoustic. The result is a record full of strength and experimentation where sound contracts and expands, always floating, carried over currents towards the impossible whirlpool that is “River Outlet”, the twenty-two minutes with which the session ends, where Broughton and 7 Hertz shyly fade, stretching their music until the very instant in which it separates..
Ambiguity
David Thomas Broughton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How many contradictions can a girl possess up there?
These questions are too ambiguous,
Try to narrow down your search.
Somethings I know, it's hard.
It's easy to forget where you came from
If there's no question of your return,
Such selfishnesses trivialize any tenderness
Pronouncing every word with a rigid insensitivity,
Plus I struggle with the nightshade in my blood.
I really shouldn't say it,
But I just love what the water does.
The lyrics to David Thomas Broughton's song Ambiguity discuss the complexity of human emotions and the difficulty in understanding and expressing them. Broughton poses two questions: "How much love can a boy contain in here?" and "How many contradictions can a girl possess up there?" These questions are too ambiguous and cannot be answered definitively. Broughton suggests that we need to try to narrow down our search and focus on finding answers to manageable questions.
Broughton goes on to discuss the challenges of remembering where we come from and staying true to ourselves. He suggests that selfishness can lead us to forget our roots and trivialize tenderness. He also talks about the physical struggles he faces, struggling with the nightshade in his blood and being tortured by coffee.
Towards the end of the song, Broughton admits that he "really shouldn't say it," but he loves what the water does. This line is somewhat enigmatic and can be interpreted in many ways. It could refer to the beauty of water or its ability to cleanse and purify. Alternatively, it could be a metaphor for the cleansing and transformative power of love.
Overall, Ambiguity is a complicated, multi-layered song that explores themes of love, self-discovery, and personal growth.
Line by Line Meaning
How much love can a boy contain in here?
I am uncertain of how much love can a boy hold in his heart.
How many contradictions can a girl possess up there?
I wonder about the amount of contradictions that a girl can have in her mind.
These questions are too ambiguous,
Asking these questions are too vague and unclear.
Try to narrow down your search.
Attempt to be more specific when searching for answers.
Somethings I know, it's hard.
There are some things I know, but it can be difficult to comprehend.
It's easy to forget where you came from
Forgetting one's origin is a simple thing to do.
If there's no question of your return,
When there's no concern about your coming back.
Such selfishnesses trivialize any tenderness
Selfish acts make any show of affection seem unimportant.
As the coffee commands the torture of my bowels,
The coffee is ordering my digestive system to cause me pain.
Pronouncing every word with a rigid insensitivity,
Speaking every word with a harsh and uncaring tone.
Plus I struggle with the nightshade in my blood.
Additionally, I am having difficulty with the poison in my bloodstream.
I really shouldn't say it,
I know I shouldn't mention it,
But I just love what the water does.
I can't help but appreciate how water moves and behaves.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Alan dos Santos Orlandi
My friend just introduced me to David Thomaz Broughton and I think we all agree: he is music´s best kept secret. His voice reminds me of Blind Willie Johnson and that´s one heck of a compliment!
Bridgett Gloudeman
I love his voice.
droptunemedia
There's more tracks from this session coming online soon. Hope you enjoy them.
Mazze LeCzzare
I have to say, the lighting was set very well
Uza Phaggit
You're music's best kept secret dude
you can't be this empty
A Remarkable Artist!!
heddalee
he is killing me softly wit' this song.
David Shaw
Great, his voice reminds me of 70s troubadour Jake Thackery
Jeremiah
Can't stop watching this.
kimberly owen
His playing reminds me of John Martyn. Nice....