Ides of Space came into existence somewhere around the turn of the millenni… Read Full Bio ↴Ides of Space came into existence somewhere around the turn of the millennium in Sydney, Australia. After a spluttering false start or two, the band released an EP, First Translated in 1965, on the now defunct Sydney label Quietly Suburban. The recording received rave reviews, solid airplay in Australia, and filtered overseas to several sympathetic ears. By 2001, Ides were recording their second domestic EP, We Have Nowhere to Be, the majority of which was coupled with the debut to form an album that was released in the U.S on Better Looking Records, Japan on Painted Sky Discs, and Sweden on Kasual Recordings.

This compilation of sorts, There Are No New Clouds, was again well received. Epitonic described the band's sound by asking its readers to imagine perhaps, if The Go Betweens had formed not in the wake of the punk and New Wave explosion, but instead in the wake of early '90s U.K. shoegazer and U.S. lo-fi college rock, and you get darn close to the joy of Ides of Space. Alternative Press heard "10 stunning tracks", the All Music Guide noted that the presence of "[soaring] Guitars, boyish multi-part harmonies [and] good old-fashioned hooks" and Pitchfork stated that the way they play and write, it's hard to believe they've only been together for two years. The melodies are well developed and the playing is technically flawless, yet rough enough to sound real.

On the back of touring the U.S. tours with the likes of The Gloria Record, Her Space Holiday, Despericidoes, and The Special Goodness, and Australia with Trans Am, Preston School of Industry, Art of Fighting and Knievel, these recordings reached no. 3 on the Australian AIR charts and 28 on the CMJs.

The band then retreated with producer Wayne Connolly (Underground Lovers, Youth Group, The Vines) to record its follow-up LP, which saw the light of day through low-key releases in Australia, Japan and Sweden in 2004 but not the U.S. Here the story gets a little hazy...various U.S. deals did not eventuate, lives got in the way of the band, and its activities began to contract. In 2005, Ides recorded 2 songs with Tim Whitten (Go-Betweens, Hoodoo Gurus) intended as a 7-inch single release. The masters of these recordings sat in songwriter Patrick Haid's desk draw until about 2 weeks ago.

But now Ides of Space's ‘lost recordings' Sleeping Fractures (and then some!) gets its long overdue release on Better Looking Records. The entire record, plus the insomniac's opus ‘fighting age/guaranteed escape' (previously only available on the Australian limited release EP We Have Nowhere...) plus the ominously titled pop-bliss nuggets ‘The Final Straight' and ‘No more Sound' (aka the desk-top draw recordings) will be available to those unwilling or unable to make Indiana Jones type expeditions for indie-rock.

Recently, members of Ides of Space have been active again in Line Drawings, who have a debut EP available through Bell Sounds. Check them out here (www.myspace.com/linedrawings).

Band members:
Patrick Haid - guitar and vocals
Mark Ayoub - guitar
Dave The - bass guitar
Martin Barker - keyboard
Anthony The - drums.

Arthur's Car
Ides Of Space Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

These things stay, that's why we're here
Give me time to blur you clear enough
So I won't ever leave

And you can tear at the consciousness
As nothing unravels more and more
And it's yours as we wait by the floor

Skip along, already late
Humming like a rusty get
It's not your time so won't you wait

And you can tear at the consciousness
As nothing unravels more and more
And it's yours as we wait by the floor

And you can tear at the consciousness
As nothing unravels more and more
And it's yours as we wait by the floor

And you can tear at the consciousness
As nothing unravels more and more
And it's yours as we wait by the floor

And you can tear at the consciousness

As nothing unravels more and more
And it's yours as we wait by the floor

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Ides Of Space's "Arthur's Car" are somewhat abstract and open to interpretation, but one possible meaning is the idea of staying grounded or anchored in the things that matter, while allowing the distractions and chaos of life to blur away. The opening lines suggest a desire to stay present and not leave the moment, possibly in the context of a relationship or a difficult situation. The repetition of the phrase "tear at the consciousness" could represent the struggle to maintain focus and clarity amidst the noise and confusion of daily life.

The second verse introduces the metaphor of skipping along, but being late and waiting. This could suggest a feeling of being behind or rushing to catch up, but also a sense of patience and trust in the process. The lines "humming like a rusty get, it's not your time so won't you wait" could be a reminder to slow down and enjoy the journey, rather than constantly striving for the next thing.

Line by Line Meaning

These things stay, that's why we're here
We exist because certain things are constant and reliable in our lives.

Give me time to blur you clear enough
Allow me to see you with clarity despite any obstacles or distractions.

So I won't ever leave
I want to stay with you permanently and deeply connected.

And you can tear at the consciousness
You have the power to impact and influence our mental states.

As nothing unravels more and more
As we experience more and learn new information, our understanding becomes more complex.

And it's yours as we wait by the floor
As we patiently observe and listen, you have the opportunity to take control and lead us.

Skip along, already late
We are behind schedule but continue to move forward with enthusiasm.

Humming like a rusty get
We are making noise and moving, but there is resistance and friction.

It's not your time so won't you wait
We must be patient and wait for the appropriate timing instead of rushing ahead.