Four original members of the band have left the group since 2009. Aleksandra Campesinos! (vocals, keyboards, glockenspiel) left the band in 2009 to focus on her studies. She was replaced by Gareth's sister Kim in September 2009. Ollie Campesinos! (drums) left the band June 2010 and was replaced a three weeks later by Jason Campesinos!, the band's longtime road manager and merch table salesmen. Harriet Campesinos! (violin, keyboards, vocals) left the band on in September 2011 to continue her studies. Ellen Campesinos! (bass, vocals) left the band in December 2012 to focus on other projects, including her career as a writer and comedian. Rob Campesinos!, who performs solo as Sparky Deathcap, is the official eighth (or, since Aleksandra's departure, ninth) Campesinos! - the band compares his role in the band to the one Bob Nastanovich had in Pavement. After a year of being a semi-official member, Rob was made a full member of the band upon Ollie's departure. The band's name translates to "The Peasants" (or "The Farmers") in Spanish.
The band performed their first gig in May 2006 at a student union club night, and went on to play a number of increasingly well-received gigs around Cardiff. An early demo was recorded featuring the songs Death To Los Campesinos!, It Started With A Mixx, Sweet Dreams, Sweet Cheeks, and live favourite You! Me! Dancing!. The songs were posted on the internet, bolstering the popularity established by their energetic live shows and earning them airplay on Beth & Huw's evening show on BBC Radio 1 Wales. The band's reputation continued to grow, and in August 2006 landed them a slot supporting Canadian supergroup Broken Social Scene.
In November 2006, the band were signed by Wichita Recordings, who put out their first single on 26 February 2007, a double A-side featuring new songs We Throw Parties, You Throw Knives and Don't Tell Me To Do The Math(s). In April the band signed to Canadian label Arts & Crafts for Canadian and North American releases. In June 2007 the band released You! Me! Dancing! on limited edition 7" coloured vinyl, accompanied by a handful of dates playing Bath, Newport, Cardiff and London. The EP Sticking Fingers Into Sockets was released on 3 July on Arts & Crafts, produced by Broken Social Scene collaborator Dave Newfeld. The band embarked on their first full UK tour in October, preceded by the The International Tweexcore Underground single (released October 15th 2007).
Their debut album, titled Hold On Now, Youngster... was released in the UK and as a digital download on February 25, 2008; the physical record was released North America on April 1.
On August 1, 2008, the band released their second record We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed in the UK on October 14, 2008.
On June 2 2009, Original member Aleks Campesinos announced she would be leaving the group after the release of their third album, to return to university to continue her studies
The band released their third album, Romance is Boring on 26 January 2010 in the United States and 1 February 2010 in the UK. The band released an accompanying acoustic EP, All's Well That Ends on 19 July 2010. The EP was their first release to feature new members Rob and Kim, and the final to feature Ollie, who left the band the previous month.
In August 2011, the band announced that Harriet would be leaving the band in September 2011 to return to school. A few days later on 31 August 2011, the band announced their fourth album, "Hello Sadness", would be released on 14 November 2011. On 8 September 2011, the band released the first single from the album, "By Your Hand", as a free download from their website, accompanied by a music video.
In Medias Res
Los Campesinos! Lyrics
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With the vomit at yr gullet
From a half bottle of vodka that we'd stolen from the optic
On the back seat in yr car, because it wasn't safe to start it
You were "far too fucked to drive", were the words that you imparted
And the woolen dress that clung so tight to the contours of your body
And the dead grass stuck to fibers from us rolling in the lay-by
Were passed to dog-haired blankets
And a crucifix was hung from rear view mirror by yr mother
I'm leaving my body to science, not medical but physics
Drag my corpse through the airport and lay me limp on the left wing
Drop me at the highest point and trace a line around the dent I leave in the ground
That'll be the initial of the one you'll marry now I'm not around
I flew for seven hours, the sky didn't once go black
I wake from sleep, my head and shoulder, wet against the window
A frost had formed and melted, soaked me right through to my collarbone
If you were given the option of dying painlessly in peace at 45
But with a lover at yr side, after a full and happy life
Is this something that would interest you?
Would this interest you at all?
The lyrics of Los Campesinos!'s song In Medias Res are full of vivid imagery and allusions that paint a picture of a night of drunken recklessness and a contemplation of death. The first verse describes the aftermath of a night of hard drinking and partying, with the singer and their companion stranded in a car with a stolen half bottle of vodka. The singer describes their companion in detail, with particular attention paid to their woolen dress that clings tightly to their body and the dead grass stuck to it from rolling in a nearby lay-by. The scene is set with the dog-haired blankets that protect the bench seat covers and a crucifix hung on the rearview mirror by the companion's mother.
The second verse takes a more morbid turn, with the singer contemplating their own death and what comes after. They express the desire to leave their body to science, specifically physics, and to be dragged through an airport before being dropped from the highest point possible. They suggest that the dent they leave in the ground should be the initial of the person their lover will marry after they are gone. The final line of the verse adds to the contemplation of death with a description of a seven-hour flight where the sky never went black.
The final lines of the song pose a question to the listener about whether they would be interested in dying painlessly at age 45 with a lover by their side after a full and happy life. The song is a snapshot of a moment in time, full of vivid imagery and existential contemplation.
Line by Line Meaning
But let's talk about you for a minute
Let's shift the focus to you and discuss your current state
With the vomit at yr gullet
Your vomit is still present in your throat
From a half bottle of vodka that we'd stolen from the optic
We took half a bottle of vodka that was meant for display
On the back seat in yr car, because it wasn't safe to start it
We left the vodka on the back seat of your car because it wasn't safe for you to drive
You were 'far too fucked to drive', were the words that you imparted
You explained that you were too impaired to operate a vehicle
And the woolen dress that clung so tight to the contours of your body
Your tight-fitted woolen dress accentuated your curves
And the dead grass stuck to fibers from us rolling in the lay-by
We have grass stuck to our clothing from rolling in the roadside grass
Were passed to dog-haired blankets
We used blankets that had dog hair on them
That protected the bench seat covers
The blankets covered the seats in order to protect them
And a crucifix was hung from rear view mirror by yr mother
Your mother hung a crucifix from the rearview mirror of the car
I'm leaving my body to science, not medical but physics
I plan to donate my body to physics research, not medical purposes
Drag my corpse through the airport and lay me limp on the left wing
Transport my body through the airport and place me in a relaxed position on the left wing
Drop me at the highest point and trace a line around the dent I leave in the ground
Leave my body at the top point and mark the outline of the impression my body makes
That'll be the initial of the one you'll marry now I'm not around
The marking will be the first letter of the name of the person you will marry after my death
I flew for seven hours, the sky didn't once go black
I was on a flight for seven hours and there was no point where the sky went dark
I wake from sleep, my head and shoulder, wet against the window
Upon waking, I realize my head and shoulder are wet from touching the window
A frost had formed and melted, soaked me right through to my collarbone
There was frost on the window which melted and drenched me all the way to my collarbone
If you were given the option of dying painlessly in peace at 45
Suppose you had the choice to pass away at age 45 without pain and in a state of calm
But with a lover at yr side, after a full and happy life
With the presence of a partner and having lived a fulfilling and happy life
Is this something that would interest you?
Would you choose this option for yourself?
Would this interest you at all?
Does this proposition appeal to you in any way?
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: GARETH DAVID PAISEY, THOMAS EDWARD BROMLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind