Coming out of their respective corners, the duo have composed and recorded their fourth studio album, TELEPATHIC. The songs, initially crafted apart by the two artists in separate locations, come together as a swirling and beautifully unified whole. The new album boasts the traditional L'Altra arrangements of piano, Wurlitzer and guitar coupled with subtle electronics, steady rhythms and the intimate call-and-response musings of Lindsay and Joe. While the sounds and pieces are familiar, it's in the details that the L'Altra story continues to unfold.
TELEPATHIC finds the band working with a familiar cast of collaborators and friends including Josh Eustis (Telefon Tel Aviv), Charles Rumback (Colorlist, Via Tania), Josh Abrams (Iron & Wine), Elisa Graci (Costa Music), Marc Hellner (Pulseprogramming), and Darren Garvey (Cameron McGill, Andreas Kapsalis).
L'Altra was formed in 1999 in Chicago with original members Lindsay Anderson, Joseph Desler Costa, Ken Dyber, and Eben English. Marc Hellner was also a regular contributor. The band released one EP and two records with Aesthetics Records before English and Dyber left the band. The band continued to tour with members Kevin Duneman and W. W. Lowman taking the place of the departed rhythm section. In 2005 L'Altra moved to Hefty Records and teamed up with Telefon Tel Aviv's Joshua Eustis who produced and recorded the band's album Different Days. In 2007 Lindsay Anderson released a solo album called If (Minty Fresh) while Joseph Costa aka Costa Music released his first solo effort Lighter Subjects in 2008. The release of their new album, Telepathic, is expected in 2010.
Official website: http://www.laltramusic.com
Myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/laltra
Black Arrow
L'Altra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You break open
Stealing means desire desire
Clocked in winter shiver
Old drawers
Wood splits in two like you
Laughing means ambition ambition
Conditioned
Blackened arrows fly
The wait is over
You've smoothed over
The words are simple enough
But the coldest yet
The way bleak north
A sharpened sense
Pierced the heart
Blackened arrows fall
Not on a string
Though I will sing
What's about me
Hidden cleverly
I'll shoot shoot shoot you down
The lyrics of L'Altra's song Black Arrow are cryptic and open to interpretation, but a possible explanation could be that it is about facing one's desires and ambitions while being confined in a limiting environment. The wait being over could signify the moment when the singer decides to break free from their situation, perhaps with the desire to steal or achieve something they yearn for. They are clocked in winter shiver, indicating a sense of coldness and possibly fear or uncertainty, but they are willing to split old drawers and laugh, suggesting their determination to break apart what holds them back and pursue what they want. The blackened arrows that fly and fall could represent the risks and consequences of their actions.
In the second verse, the singer seems to have succeeded in something as they smooth over their words, which are described as simple but cold. The way bleak north and sharpened sense could symbolize the harsh reality they faced and their sharpened intuition that helped them overcome it. Nevertheless, blackened arrows still fall, showing that their actions have caused some damage or consequences.
The last part about shooting someone down could be interpreted in different ways, either as a threat or as the singer asserting their power and ability to conquer obstacles. Overall, the song conveys a sense of perseverance and boldness against adversity, despite the risks and unknown outcomes.
Line by Line Meaning
The wait is over
The anticipation has ended.
You break open
A transformative process begins.
Stealing means desire desire
Theft is driven by strong cravings.
Clocked in winter shiver
The coldness of winter is palpable.
Old drawers
Memories of the past emerge.
Wood splits in two like you
Like a piece of wood splitting, a person is breaking apart.
Laughing means ambition ambition
Ambition is what drives laughter.
Conditioned
Behavior is learned and habitual.
Narrow
Perspectives are limited and focused.
Blackened arrows fly
Opposition and conflict emerge.
You've smoothed over
A resolution has been reached.
The words are simple enough
The message is straightforward.
But the coldest yet
The most unpleasant and difficult to endure.
The way bleak north
The direction is towards a harsh and unforgiving environment.
A sharpened sense
One's intuition is heightened.
Pierced the heart
An emotional wound is inflicted.
Blackened arrows fall
The consequences of conflict and opposition are felt.
Not on a string
Actions have no predetermined course.
Though I will sing
The message will be communicated nonetheless.
What's about me
One's personal experiences shape their perspective.
Hidden cleverly
The truth is obscured and difficult to uncover.
I'll shoot shoot shoot you down
One will take action to eliminate opposition.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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