FourPlay Electric String Quartet is a four-piece rock band from Sydney, Aus… Read Full Bio ↴FourPlay Electric String Quartet is a four-piece rock band from Sydney, Australia, formed in 1995. It should not be confused with a smooth jazz group in the United States also known as Fourplay.

FourPlay's members include brothers Tim Hollo (violin and viola) and Peter Hollo (cello), Lara Goodridge (violin and vocals) and Shenzo Gregorio (viola); former members include: Veren Grigorov (viola) & Chris Emerson (viola). Although all members of FourPlay had formal classical training, the band play an eccentric form of rock music, with subtle influences from their Jewish heritage (although FourPlay regard themselves as an Australian band above all else) as well as gypsy, pop, folk, hip-hop, electronica, post-rock, folktronica and many other forms.

Contents

* History
* Discography
* External links

History

FourPlay's first album, Catgut Ya' Tongue? was released in 1998, and featured mostly covers (of bands including Metallica and Depeche Mode, and the theme from Doctor Who), along with a few original compositions. In late 1999, Emerson left and was replaced by Veren Grigorov. FourPlay released their second album, The Joy Of... in 2000, which included, among other things, a two-part dub/klezmer composition, a distortion-heavy cover of Pop Will Eat Itself's Ich Bin Ein Auslander, and a gypsy-style instrumental ending with a mass scream. This was followed, a year later (2001), by a 2-disc remix compilation, Digital Manipulation, featuring work by many Australian musicians, including Machine Translations, B(if)tek and Darrin Verhagen. FourPlay have also toured abroad extensively, and supported artists including george and The Whitlams.

In 2004, Grigorov was replaced by Shenton Gregory aka Shenzo Gregorio, renowned stunt violinist from Brisbane. Shenzo's personality and style meshed perfectly into FourPlay, and he took to the viola instantly. A highly fertile period of new composition resulted in many new originals, as well as covers of Radiohead, The Strokes, and various jazz/blues numbers. These were recorded in the latter half of 2005 and appear on Now To The Future, released in June 2006.

Discography

Studio Albums

* Catgut Ya' Tongue? (1998)
* The Joy Of... (2000)
* Now To The Future (2006)

Compilations

* Digital Manipulation - The Fourplay Remix Project (2001)

External links

* Official website

The Hunter
FourPlay String Quartet Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I've seen a picture of me and you
And all that I don't know, feels like I do
Now I am the seeker
I frighten my game
But pity not the hunted
For poor is my aim
And gone is my camouflage
My band to hide behind

And I played where I shouldn't have played
And I played out of time
Now you are the keeper
And how shall I fare?
As I lay beneath her
Now run if I dare
And gone is my camouflage
My band to hide behind
And I played where I shouldn't have played
And I played out of time
And now you the players
Handsome and rare
Come find the secrets that I long to share
And I know this jungle
Where the sun can't get in

And I may know where it ends
But where do I begin?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of FourPlay String Quartet's song "The Hunter" describe a transformation in the dynamic between two individuals - one who was initially the seeker, now becomes the hunted, and the other one who was initially the hunted, now becomes the keeper. The singer talks about a picture of "me and you" which feels like they know each other more than they actually do. The seeker, who is now the singer, seems to have lost their way and is feeling vulnerable as they no longer have their camouflage to hide behind. In this vulnerable state, the singer wonders how they will fare now that the hunter has become the keeper. It is as if the roles have reversed, and the singer now feels helpless.

The chorus of the song repeats that the camouflage and band that the singer once used for protection are gone, and they played where they shouldn't have played and out of time. Then, the singer speaks directly to the players, asking them to come find the secrets they long to share. They know this jungle where the sun can't get in and may know where it ends, but they are unsure where they should begin.

Line by Line Meaning

I've seen a picture of me and you
A metaphorical image of our relationship exists in my mind

And all that I don't know, feels like I do
Despite my lack of understanding, I feel connected to you emotionally

Now I am the seeker
I have taken on the role of the hunter

I frighten my game
My presence intimidates those whom I pursue

But pity not the hunted
Do not feel sympathy for those I hunt

For poor is my aim
My hunting skills are lacking

And gone is my camouflage
I no longer have anything to hide behind

My band to hide behind
I used to have a support system in my pursuit that is no longer there

And I played where I shouldn't have played
I ventured into places I shouldn't have in my pursuit

And I played out of time
I was not strategic in my approach to hunting

Now you are the keeper
You have assumed the role of the one who holds power in our relationship