L’ALTRA is the stormy collaboration of singer-guitarist JOSEPH DESLER COSTA… Read Full Bio ↴L’ALTRA is the stormy collaboration of singer-guitarist JOSEPH DESLER COSTA and singer-keyboardist LINDSAY ANDERSON.

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

Sleepless Night
L'Altra Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

In a sleepless night there is still a hopeful shift
From side to side
Or on back
Keep spine aligned
Keep open eyes and mind
And breathe
In the sleepless night
There is still a hopeful shift

A storm in air
A chill
Don't watch the time
Instead wait and call the lines
Past to past to now to past
The only one
The only one left to know
Will take
Take
Will take much longer than tonight
Keep spine aligned

Keep open eyes and mind
And breathe

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of L'Altra's Sleepless Night present a hopeful and introspective narrative of going through a restless night. The song starts with the idea that in a sleepless night, there is still a chance for a positive change. The singer keeps shifting from side to side or on their back, trying to maintain a perfect alignment of their spine. This is a metaphor for the idea of keeping one's mind and body in tune, and being open to new possibilities and ideas.

The lyrics then delve into the feeling of a storm in the air, which creates a chill that runs down the singer's spine. Instead of watching the clock and trying to fall asleep, the singer waits and contemplates the situation. They go through their past experiences and try to connect them to the present moment. The singer speaks directly to the listener, indicating that they are the only one left to know something important. Whatever is about to happen will take much longer than just one night.

The song's overall message is one of hope and resilience. It encourages the listener to stay aligned, both physically and mentally, and to keep an open mind. The singer recognizes that there might be tough times ahead, but believes that there is always the possibility of a positive change. Sleepless Night is a poignant track that evokes a sense of introspection and contemplation.

Line by Line Meaning

In a sleepless night there is still a hopeful shift
Even in a night of insomnia, there is a chance that something good can happen

From side to side
Moving around in the bed trying to find a comfortable position to sleep

Or on back
Trying to sleep on the back instead of on the side

Keep spine aligned
Keep the body in a position that supports the natural curvature of the spine

Keep open eyes and mind
Stay awake and receptive to new thoughts and ideas

And breathe
Take deep breaths to calm the mind and relax the body

In the sleepless night There is still a hopeful shift
Even in a night of insomnia, there is a chance that something good can happen

A storm in air A chill
Feeling anxious or worried about something

Don't watch the time Instead wait and call the lines Past to past to now to past
Don't keep checking the clock, but instead think about the past and how it led to the present moment

The only one The only one left to know Will take Take Will take much longer than tonight
The answer to a question or problem may take much longer to find than just one night of restless sleep

Keep spine aligned Keep open eyes and mind And breathe
Repeat the previous advice to stay calm and aware throughout the sleepless night

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC

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