The group recorded its first release for the label, Livonia, in Defever's home studio. The album features Oliver's shivery vocals along with tape loops, samples, and guitar blasts, for a noise-damaged, ethereal collection of songs about ghosts, reincarnation, and dreams. By 1992's Home Is in Your Head, the band's lineup and scope expanded. New singers Denise James, Karen Neal, Melissa Elliott, and guitarist Jymn Auge added depth and breadth to the band's original lineup. An epic 23 songs long, Home Is in Your Head ranges from folky ballads to electrifying guitar maelstroms and tape collages. That year also saw the release of The Dirt Eaters EP, named for Defever's other, more rock-oriented group, of which Elliot was also a member. In 1993, His Name Is Alive released two albums: King of Sweet, a limited-edition release that mixed tape effects, samples, demos, and unreleased songs, and Mouth by Mouth, which added more pop structure into the group's inherently experimental and dreamy sound, resulting in its most accessible and diverse album to that date. A new drummer, Trey Many, took over Lang's duties.
As Defever's reputation as an innovative producer spread, he lent his skills to bands like Grenadine, a side project of Tsunami's Jenny Toomey and Unrest's Mark Robinson, other 4AD acts like Liquorice (which featured Toomey, Dan Littleton from Ida, and His Name Is Alive's Many) and Tarnation, and other Detroit-area bands like Godzuki and Outrageous Cherry. Defever also worked on other projects, including the folky ESP Summer (with former Pale Saint Ian Masters) and the electronic Robot World and Control Panel, and founded the Time Stereo art collective with a childhood friend, artist/musician Davin Brainard. Some of Time Stereo's projects included films, coloring books, and cassette-only releases from bands like Princess Dragon Mom, the Crash, Godzuki, New Grape, and Noise Camp.
Defever's diverse interests influenced His Name Is Alive's next release, 1996's Stars on ESP. Very little of the group's original ethereal sound remained, augmented instead with touches of dub, folk, gospel, and early- to mid-'60s pop like the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds. At the time of the album's release, Defever claimed that he was so fascinated by the group's "Good Vibrations" that he listened to it for months at a time. The following year's Nice Day EP reached to garage rock and '60s R&B for its inspiration, and featured some of the gospel singers from Stars on ESP, including Lovetta Pippen, whose singing also gave His Name Is Alive's 1998 LP, Fort Lake, an earthy sensuality. Fort Lake also marked the first time the band worked with another producer, recording engineer Steve King. King, another Livonia native, had also worked with Funkadelic and Aretha Franklin, and his touch meshes nicely with the funk, soul, and classic rock allusions His Name Is Alive makes on the album. In preparation for recording Fort Lake -- named after a waterlogged Civil War fort in Michigan -- the group played monthly shows at the Gold Dollar, a tiny Detroit club. At this time, Pippen, bassist Chad Gilchrist, and additional drummer Scott Goldstein debuted as part of the new lineup.
In 1999, His Name Is Alive released a U.S. compilation of tracks from their first five albums called Always Stay Sweet; at the time, those albums were only available as British imports. Like the rest of the band's work, the compilation highlights their mercurial, unique nature. Someday My Blues Will Cover the Earth appeared two years later. Released in 2002, the darkly soulful Last Night ended up being the group's final album for 4AD, but His Name Is Alive found other outlets for their music, and were actually busier than ever. Time Stereo released several CDs, such as 2004's ten-disc Cloud Box set, Leaf Club, Brown Rice, and The Detroit River, as well as many MP3-only works, including the Summer Bird and Something_Nothing EPs and a remastered version of King of Sweet. UFO Catcher was released in 2005 on CD by the German label En/Of and on vinyl by Time Stereo, while Ypsilanti Records issued the full-length Summer Bird that spring. Late in 2005, His Name Is Alive released the Raindrops Rainbow EP via iTunes as a teaser for Detrola, their debut for Reincarnate, also the home of fellow former 4AD artist Lisa Germano and Sing-Sing, the project of former Lush member Emma Anderson.
Blue Moon
His Name Is Alive Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And if you'd like a true heart
Take the time to show you're mine
And I'll be a blue moon in the dark.
While you sleep you'll see me there
Clouds race across the sky
Close your eyes and don't ask why
Morning comes and sleeping's done
Birds sing outside
If demons come while you're under
I'll be a blue moon in the sky
Let me be your one light
And if you'd like a true heart
Take the time to show you're mine
And I'll be a blue moon in the dark
The lyrics of His Name is Alive's song "Blue Moon" seem to be about a profound and deep connection between two individuals. The singer is offering their love and devotion to another, promising to be the one light in their life and a blue moon in the dark. This suggests that they will be a rare and extraordinary presence, someone who will shine brightly and guide the way even in the midst of darkness. It's almost as if the singer is saying that even in dark times, they will be there to light the way.
The entire song is infused with imagery of the night sky, suggesting a sense of mystery and magic. The line "While you sleep you'll see me there / Clouds race across the sky / Close your eyes and don't ask why / And I'll be a blue moon in your eyes" evokes the idea of a dreamlike state, and that the singer will be present in the dream world as a guiding light. The image of birds singing outside when morning comes suggests the idea of new beginnings and a fresh start, almost as if the singer is saying that even when the darkness fades, they will still be there to guide and support their loved one.
Overall, the song is a testament to the depth of love and devotion that the singer feels for the other person. It's about being there through thick and thin, during dark and light times, and offering unwavering support and love.
Line by Line Meaning
Let me be your one light
Allow me to guide you and be your source of illumination in the darkness of your life.
And if you'd like a true heart
If you desire a pure and genuine love from me,
Take the time to show you're mine
Invest effort into proving your affection so that I know that you truly belong to me.
And I'll be a blue moon in the dark.
Then I will become a rare occurrence of hope and light, shining in the midst of your tough times.
While you sleep you'll see me there
Even in your dreams, I will be present with you and watching over you.
Clouds race across the sky
The turbulent events of life may still happen quickly and unpredictably.
Close your eyes and don't ask why
Don't fret or worry about the uncertainty of events, but instead rest assured that I am here with you.
And I'll be a blue moon in your eyes.
Like a precious and awe-inspiring sight in the sky, I will be your source of wonder and enchantment.
Morning comes and sleeping's done
As the new day dawns and you awake from your slumber,
Birds sing outside
The beauty of life and nature continues to surround you,
If demons come while you're under
Even when facing your worst fears or darkest moments,
I'll be a blue moon in the sky
I will still be present as a guiding and reassuring force in your life.
Let me be your one light
Once again, I ask to be your beacon and guiding force in life.
And if you'd like a true heart
If you seek an honest and real connection with me,
Take the time to show you're mine
Take the effort to show your love and commitment, and I will reciprocate it fully.
And I'll be a blue moon in the dark.
As ever, I will be the rare sight of light and hope that stands out and guides you through your toughest times.
Contributed by Riley I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.