“PROMINENCE” is the 2nd full length in as many years from Texas transplant John Pena. It was recorded/mixed in the same apartment(after a failed attempt to mix in a “real” studio) as last years TALENT over the first few months of 2013 after shelving a full length’s worth of songs for not being sonically or emotionally interesting enough.
Using Primitive Radio God’s “Standing Outside A Broken Telephone Booth With Money In My Hand” as a sonic touch point John built a new album from the ground up utilizing chopped/sampled drum breaks and, for the first time, some non laptop based keyed instruments(piano, mellotron) along with H.B. main stays classical guitar and steel drums. Live member Christian Barsi and Daniel Schlett of Strange Weather Studio both contributed keys to a few songs but the outcome is still a very solo sounding project.
Arrangements is where PROMINENCE shines. Managing to sound inventive and not quite like anything else with such a limited palette is a rare and commendable feat. From the slide guitar and pulsing nylon string samples of “Honest” to the flamingo call and deep kick combo of the 2nd half of “Complete” Heavenly Beat keeps the whole affair sounding fresh, interesting and natural.
Lyrically, PROMINENCE is not an escapist affair. It’s a very direct look into someone dealing with poor body image(Thin), infidelity(Honest) and emotional/physical/sexual recklessness(Prominence). It’s not asking or answering any questions. Just existing within itself, fully a where of it’s shortcomings
Consensual
Heavenly Beat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
to stare up at your ceiling
fawning, over your shape
without the feeling
higher, just close your eyes
i'm not worth seeing
tighter, the time spent
has been so pleasing
it seems like hands are always failing
to reach the point where
the night gets to revealing
we ought to know
where our hands could be right now
consensual
The lyrics of "Consensual" by Heavenly Beat are open to interpretation, but the underlying theme is that of a romantic encounter between two people that is based on enthusiastic consent. The singer begins by saying that they followed the other person to their bedroom to lie down and look at the ceiling, while admiring their shape without romantic feelings. Then, they ask the other person to close their eyes and continue their physical contact. However, the singer does not feel worthy of looking at them and wishes to stay in darkness. The singer also hints that they might have failed in physical contact before but implies that this time has been successful.
The last two lines, "we ought to know where our hands could be right now, consensual," are a direct allusion to the importance of consent in physical relationships. The singer suggests that the two of them need to talk about where the encounter is going and that whatever happens between them needs to be based on mutual agreement. The lyrics of the song, therefore, take on feminist overtones, casting the encounter as a conversation between two autonomous agents who respect each other's boundaries.
Line by Line Meaning
followed, you down
I followed you to your room
to stare up at your ceiling
So that I could watch you
fawning, over your shape
I admire your physical form
without the feeling
Although I do not have deep emotional attachment
higher, just close your eyes
Let's elevate our experience and imagination
i'm not worth seeing
I am not physically appealing enough for you
tighter, the time spent
The time we spent together was great
has been so pleasing
I enjoyed being with you
in my eyes
From my perspective
it seems like hands are always failing
It appears that people cannot control their desires
to reach the point where
To achieve the climax
the night gets to revealing
When we uncover our true desires and feelings
we ought to know
We should be aware
where our hands could be right now
What our physical actions could lead to
consensual
We must ensure mutual agreement and understanding before taking any further actions
Contributed by Makayla M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.