Influences of the band cover a wide genre of music; however some of their main influences include Radiohead, Joy Division, Pink Floyd, Jeff Buckley, Sonic Youth, The Pixies, Mogwai, My Bloody Valentine, Galaxie 500, Movietone, Muse, The Cure and much more.
Formed in the summer of 2004, they found their current line-up early in 2005. Within recent months they have been writing and performing increasingly better and more forward thinking music, and the band has been going from strength to strength.
Throughout 2006 the band spent time gigging relentlessly at venues all over the Midlands area, and during that time provided the band with the chance to support Howling Bells twice, the 1990s and the Tiny Dancers and play at ‘Oxjam Festival’ in London.
The band have also been featured three times on BBC Hereford and Worcester’s ‘The Friday Session’, several times on online radio stations in the ‘Monochrome Museum Global Network’, and on MTV ‘Ones to Watch’ (which was shown repeatedly throughout April and May on MTV2).
In recent months the band have been recording their debut album ‘Complications’) with their humble and very portable home studio equipment; the band finally released the album on Friday 13th April.
Dead Letter Office are currently working on writing and recording their second album. This is due to be finished Autumn 2009.
Dead Letter Office Are:
Benjamin Hiorns (Benj) - Lead vocals/ guitarist
Jevon Davies - Bass/ Backing vocals
James Atkins - Guitar
Harry Bourne - Drums/Backing vocals
Ben Allen (Beef) - Keyboards
Unfortunately, after many years loyal service, Ben Foxall left the band. James Atkins stepped in to guitar duties.
In the late part of 2009 Dead Letter Office decided to disband.
Smokescreen
Dead Letter Office Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The world is getting smaller.
Letters of love thrown across the wall.
Are quietly exploding.
Give out. Give up. Give out. Give in.
Give out. Give up. Give out. Give in.
Give out. Give in. Give up.
A million children all with the same face,
Speak a dirty language.
Please forgive them.
They know not what they ask.
It's hereditary hatred.
Give out. Give up. Give out. Give in.
Give out. Give up. Give out. Give in.
Give out. Give in. Give up.
Cheer up Sarah, It might never even happen.
And we're too young to save the world.
What's the difference between a martyr and a prophet.
Between a saviour and a fool.
So click your heels and wish yourself away.
Or this place will swallow you whole.
The streets are bleeding.
The suns a distant spark.
The smell is overpowering.
Give out. Give up. Give out. Give in.
Give out. Give up. Give out. Give in.
Give out. Give in. Give up.
Cheer up Sarah, It might never even happen.
And we're too young to save the world.
What's the difference between a martyr and a prophet.
Between a saviour and a fool.
Cheer up. We're only in it till it lets up
The lyrics to Dead Letter Office's song Smokescreen describe a sense of impending doom and chaos in the world, with the sky falling and the world shrinking. The metaphor of "letters of love thrown across the wall" quietly exploding suggests that even attempts at communication and connection are failing. The repetition of the phrases "give out," "give up," and "give in" implies resignation and defeatism in the face of these problems.
The second verse adds to the bleakness of the situation, with a million children speaking a "dirty language" of "hereditary hatred." The singer pleads for forgiveness for these children, who are acting out of ignorance and indoctrination. The chorus repeats, emphasizing the sense of hopelessness.
The bridge of the song offers a glimmer of optimism, with the statement "cheer up Sarah, it might never even happen." However, the line "we're too young to save the world" suggests that the problems are too big for individuals to solve. The repeated rhetorical questions about the differences between a martyr and a prophet, and between a savior and a fool, suggest that there are no easy answers.
The final repetition of the chorus, ending with "we're only in it till it lets up," offers a somewhat resigned shrug of the shoulders, as if acknowledging that there are situations beyond our control and that all we can do is ride them out.
Line by Line Meaning
The sky's are falling, their closer by the day.
The world is experiencing more natural disasters and crisis which is damaging the environment.
The world is getting smaller.
Globalization is reducing barriers and bringing the world closer together.
Letters of love thrown across the wall.
Love letters sent to distant wall are not reaching the intended recipient and eventually get destroyed.
Are quietly exploding.
Emotions of love and care are lost when not received, causing internal damage.
Give out. Give up. Give out. Give in.
Repeatedly trying and failing to achieve something and eventually accepting defeat.
A million children all with the same face, Speak a dirty language.
Children are growing up with a negative mindset and being influenced by a culture of foul language.
Please forgive them. They know not what they ask.
Children's antics and demands are due to ignorance and not understanding the gravity of their behaviour.
It's hereditary hatred.
Children are being taught to hate and discriminate, and it is being passed from one generation to the next.
Cheer up Sarah, It might never even happen.
Do not worry about the future as the event may not even occur.
And we're too young to save the world.
People of this generation are not mature enough to create a significant global impact.
What's the difference between a martyr and a prophet.
There is a thin line between fighting for a cause and preaching religion, and people often get confused between the two.
Between a saviour and a fool.
One person's actions can be perceived as saving the world while, in another's eyes, they are foolish.
So click your heels and wish yourself away.
In difficult times, one can only wish for a miracle to happen and make everything better.
Or this place will swallow you whole.
Life can become overwhelming, and people can get consumed by it.
The streets are bleeding.
The world is filled with violence and chaos.
The suns a distant spark.
The future looks bleak and hopeless.
The smell is overpowering.
The environment is being polluted to an extent where it is unbearable.
Cheer up. We're only in it till it lets up.
Keep your spirits high because everything that has a beginning has an end.
Contributed by Isaiah W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.