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.

I Promise Not to Notice If You Promise to Pretend
Ides Of Space Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

To the beast of falling rain
Playing on the roof again
Ideas float through, it's just a game
Over being slow and down
We could cruise around the town
Smile, it's raining here right now

And anyway what good is hanging to your hems?

And anyway is yours as long as you'll pretend
Not to be withheld or turn away
Over pages under thoughts and here today

We could move the window pane
Sick of being all the same
It's so dreary anyway
And if the dark comes back at night
Another time, another fight
Just know tomorrow we'll be alright

And anyway what good is hanging to your hems?
And anyway is yours as long as you'll pretend

Not to be withheld or turn away
Over pages under thoughts and here today

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Ides Of Space's song "I Promise Not to Notice If You Promise to Pretend" paint a picture of someone looking out the window in the rain and feeling bored with their life. The singer suggests that they should go for a drive and enjoy the moment, even though it's dreary outside. They encourage the listener to let go of their worries and just pretend everything is okay for a while.

The chorus repeats the line "And anyway what good is hanging to your hems?," which suggests that trying to hold on to the past or worrying about the future is pointless. The singer urges the listener to stay present in the moment and not be afraid to move forward. The final lines, "Over pages under thoughts and here today," suggest that the singer is trying to let go of their own past, perhaps through writing or self-reflection.

Overall, the song is a reflection on the importance of staying present in the moment and not clinging to the past or worrying about the future. It encourages listeners to let go of their worries and enjoy the simple things in life, even when it's raining outside.

Line by Line Meaning

To the beast of falling rain
Acknowledging the sound of rain as a fierce presence

Playing on the roof again
Emphasizing the playful nature of the rain hitting the rooftop

Ideas float through, it's just a game
Thoughts passing by, seen as a form of entertainment

Over being slow and down
Feeling disheartened and demotivated

We could cruise around the town
Suggesting taking action as a way to lift spirits

Smile, it's raining here right now
Encouraging finding joy in the present moment

And anyway what good is hanging to your hems?
Questioning the usefulness of clinging to something

And anyway is yours as long as you'll pretend
Asserting that a situation can be whatever you make of it

Not to be withheld or turn away
Encouraging openness and engagement

Over pages under thoughts and here today
Reflecting on the fleeting nature of life and the importance of living in the moment

We could move the window pane
Proposing a change in perspective