Other important members included Valerie Etienne, who participated in the recording of all their albums, along with other musicians such as Mick Talbot on keyboards, Crispin Taylor on drums, Ernie McKone on bass guitar, Mark Vandergucht on guitar, and Steve Ameedee, otherwise known as Uncle Big Man (dancer). Ski Oakenfull replaced Mick Talbot on keyboards in 1994. The band split in November 1997 after musical differences over the direction of travel, with Crispin Taylor starting a Cliff Richard cover band. The band announced a return in 2023, including a new album and several live gigs.
Career
The group's first single, a reworking of Curtis Mayfield's Freddie's Dead called Frederick Lies Still, was released in June 1988. It was also the first release on the Acid Jazz label. Their second release was on Let the Good Times Roll by The Quiet Boys in 1989. The Quiet Boys was an alias used by acid jazz pioneer Chris Bangs who then went on to produce Galliano.
Galliano's first album release was In Pursuit of the 13th Note in 1991, which was produced by Bangs. Their second album A Joyful Noise Unto the Creator was released in 1992. Galliano achieved the peak of its success in 1994 with The Plot Thickens, which peaked at number eight in the UK Albums Chart. Two UK top 40 singles were released from the album: Long Time Gone (a cover of a David Crosby song from the self-titled first album by Crosby, Stills & Nash) and Twyford Down. The latter was a comment on the road building protests taking place at the time and the protest at Twyford Down in particular, and they were joined onstage by anti-roads protestors to make appeals to the audience. The album was well-received, making the NME's list of top 50 albums of the year. Following its release, Galliano performed on the Pyramid Stage at the Glastonbury Festival in 1994 and returned to play the NME Stage in 1995. Galliano's fourth and final studio album :4 was released in 1996. This included the track, Slack Hands, which was used in the title sequence of Kevin Reynolds' 1997 film, One Eight Seven, starring Samuel L. Jackson. Galliano broke up in 1997. Gallagher together with Etienne formed Two Banks of Four. Gallagher also performs solo using the names Earl Zinger, William Anderson and together with Alex Patchwork as The Diabolical Liberties.
In the spring of 2023, Galliano announced a return, including a new album and a few live gigs in the summer that year. The band played twice at Gilles Peterson's "We Out Here" festival in August 2023, playing covers of Harvest for the World and Uptown Top Ranking alongside their original material.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galliano_(band)
Discography
In Pursuit of the 13th Note (1991)
A Joyful Noise Unto the Creator (1992)
The Plot Thickens (1994)
:4 (1996)
Phantom
Galliano Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
one lay fallen in the eye of the fight
see how she balances somewhere between the night and the day
three men in jail but who really should pay
city is a mother and we are its toys
giving your life then it destroys
under the sun shoot the children of the street
economic answer means reasons will cheat
In the city
city takes hostages and holds them in towers
remove people from earth and forget lost powers
in the speed of the street names get forgotten
plastic in the stomach but shirts still cotton
boy don0t feel grass as he watches the train
gaze to the sky but just sees the plane
in the heart of the city old walk slow
not wanting to stay but unable to go
In the city
on the wind blow ancient cry from lost day
sea waves from clouds they gone grey
endlessly talking 'bout finding harmony
endless living facades all o we
search for secrets contentment and wealth
easier to search than question yourself
from my room gaze at the clock tower
tim keeps on its two minutes to the hour
In the city
The song "Phantom" by Galliano showcases the darker side of city life with its unusual and thought-provoking lyrics. The opening lines "Flames fly higher in the city tonight, one lay fallen in the eye of the fight" paint an image of a city in crisis, with a sense of chaos and danger looming in the air. The second stanza highlights the corrupt nature of the city, where innocent people get caught in its grasp through hostage situations and lost powers. The lyrics depict the city as a force to be reckoned with, a mother-figure that has a tight grip on its citizens.
As the song progresses, the lyrics become more metaphysical, touching on themes of isolation, boredom, and longing. The line "boy don0t feel grass as he watches the train, gaze to the sky but just sees the plane" hints at a sense of detachment from the physical world, with the boy unable to find solace in nature or the sky. The song's repeated phrase "In the city" draws attention to the many facets of city life, from corruption to loneliness and despair.
Overall, "Phantom" is a haunting and powerful reminder of the darker side of urban life, with its lyrics providing ample material for speculation and interpretation.
Line by Line Meaning
Flames fly higher in the city tonight
The chaos and destruction in the city are intensifying, causing flames to rise higher in the sky.
one lay fallen in the eye of the fight
One person has been injured or killed in the midst of the conflict.
see how she balances somewhere between the night and the day
There is a sense of duality present in the city, with the line between light and dark being blurred.
three men in jail but who really should pay
Although three men are in prison, it is unclear who should truly be held accountable for the crimes they committed.
city is a mother and we are its toys
The city controls and manipulates its inhabitants like a mother controls her children and their toys.
giving your life then it destroys
The city demands loyalty and sacrifices from its inhabitants, but ultimately destroys them.
under the sun shoot the children of the street
In the oppressive heat of the city, innocent children are often targeted and victimized.
economic answer means reasons will cheat
The economic policies and decisions made in the city often prioritize profit over morality, leading to corruption.
city takes hostages and holds them in towers
The city can trap and control its inhabitants like hostages, keeping them in tall buildings.
remove people from earth and forget lost powers
The city can strip people of their humanity and worth, causing them to lose their sense of identity and power.
in the speed of the street names get forgotten
The fast-paced nature of the city can cause people and places to be forgotten or overlooked.
plastic in the stomach but shirts still cotton
Despite technological advancements and synthetic materials, there are still traditional aspects of life present in the city.
boy don0t feel grass as he watches the train
The industrialization and urbanization of the city can desensitize people to nature and the environment.
gaze to the sky but just sees the plane
Even when looking up to the heavens, the city's inhabitants are reminded of its technological advancements and the man-made objects that dominate the skyline.
in the heart of the city old walk slow
Despite the hustle and bustle of the city, the elderly move at a slower pace, preferring to savor their surroundings.
not wanting to stay but unable to go
The elderly may feel trapped or isolated in the city, desiring to leave but unable to do so due to physical or economic constraints.
on the wind blow ancient cry from lost day
The city's history and traditions are constantly being eroded or lost, but there are still remnants and echoes of the past present.
sea waves from clouds they gone grey
Even the typically calming and natural parts of the environment are affected by the pollution and industrialization of the city.
endlessly talking 'bout finding harmony
There is a constant discussion and search for balance and peace within the city.
endless living facades all o we
The people and buildings of the city often present false or fake exteriors, hiding their true nature or intentions.
search for secrets contentment and wealth
Despite the negatives of the city, its inhabitants are still driven by a desire for success, happiness, and fulfillment.
easier to search than question yourself
They may be more willing to attribute their problems to external factors of the city, rather than examining their own actions or decisions.
from my room gaze at the clock tower
The clock tower is a symbol of the city's history and tradition, which can be observed from the relative safety and comfort of one's own room.
tim keeps on its two minutes to the hour
The clock keeps time consistently and objectively, regardless of the chaos or changes occurring around it.
Contributed by Hudson M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.