Mothlite's second album ‘Dark Age’ is the 2012 follow-up to 2008’s ‘The Flax Of Reverie’ (Southern Records). Having spent a lot of time recently working as a collaborator in his many other projects, O’Sullivan felt it was time to return to Mothlite to work on something unequivocally personal:
“All the other things are collaborations and there’s a communal interest, but with Mothlite the content is quite personal and to do with me. It’s quite easy to neglect, particularly when you’re in a bit of a shit storm as I was the past couple of years.”
"This is prevalent in the lyrical content, which denotes a catharsis throughout a period of hysteria and emotional turmoil". He describes ‘Dark Age’ as “Dark megalomania, contradictions and paradoxes, and general bleakness”, yet rarely does such subject matter get delivered with the soaring pop aplomb as on the album’s twelve tracks, flitting from sparkle and rumble of ‘The Blood’ to the epic washes of ‘The Underneath’ and beyond.
Dark Age has allowed O’Sullivan to break free from the confines of genre, taking influence from the likes of Tears For Fears and Kate Bush from his parents’ record collection through the industrial and gothic textures of D.A.F., The Cure, Coil and Dead Can Dance to the hardcore punk of his own personal roots. Indeed, O’Sullivan’s use of contradiction within the style of the record is a very deliberate choice: “If it was too bleak, with melancholy overriding the whole thing, then I’d counteract it with a huge chorus or huge hook” O'Sullivan's chief collaborator in Mothlite is Norwegian producer Knut Jonas Sellevold (Elektrofant, King Knut). Arranger, composer and beat-maker of the highest order.
Now Dark Age is done, O’Sullivan is ready to move onto new things. “To be honest, I’m really glad that it’s over,” he says. “I felt like I couldn’t move until I got that out there.” As well as plans for a new Mothlite record, this forward surge includes exploring “ideas and schemes” as to how ‘Dark Age’ will transfer to the road. “Now that the drama has played out and everyone can see what it is, I can almost do a theatrical version of the scenes within. I don’t want to look as though I’m crying down the microphone night after night if we go on tour. I’d rather have a show.”
The Blood
Mothlite Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The truth was made to be broken
Kiss the blood
It doesn't want to run
It will ease the pain
Throw your secrets out to the ocean
The first two lines of Mothlite's song "The Blood" are intriguing and poignant, as they highlight the concept of truth and its fluidity. The lyrics suggest that it is possible to manipulate the reality of what occurred, that the truth is malleable and can be changed according to the teller's whim. The second line, "The truth was made to be broken," further reinforces this idea and implies that what is accepted as the truth can be shattered, disregarded, or even twisted to serve specific purposes. These lyrics might invite the listener to consider the concept of objective truth as well as the power dynamics inherent in controlling what is deemed to be true.
Moving on to the chorus, the lyrics "Kiss the blood / It doesn't want to run / It will ease the pain" are undoubtedly thought-provoking. The words are reminiscent of some sort of ritualistic act, perhaps in the context of a religious or obscure ceremony. Kissing the blood might connote an act of worship, or perhaps a symbol of sacrifice or pain, while the next line hints at the idea that the blood is caught, trapped, or wishes to stay still, possibly alluding to a destructive pattern or unhealthy behavior that one might want to stop. Finally, the line "It will ease the pain" might evoke the idea that pain and suffering are essential to growth or progression, a notion often explored in religious traditions.
Overall, "The Blood" by Mothlite is a layered, complex song that invites the listener to ponder the nature of truth, control, sacrifice, and pain.
Line by Line Meaning
You can change the way it happened
You have the power to alter the course of events that have already taken place
The truth was made to be broken
The supposed veracity of a statement can be disregarded and disbelieved at any time
Kiss the blood
Embrace the discomfort of facing and accepting the consequences for your actions
It doesn't want to run
The guilt and shame that come with wrongdoing cannot be escaped or ignored
It will ease the pain
Confronting and owning up to your mistakes may lead to a sense of catharsis, even if it is painful
But you can live alone in the silence
One can choose to isolate themselves and avoid facing the repercussions of their actions
Throw your secrets out to the ocean
Discarding and ignoring the secrets that burden you does not necessarily make them disappear or absolve you of responsibility
Contributed by Bailey V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Charmicarmi Cat
Oh my god this is so fucking amazin. I really wish there was more Mothlite live videos. The few that do exist I've watched countless times and this is definitely one of my favorites. The Blood is one of my favorite tracks off of Dark Age and the way they adapted the song for a live setting is just so fucking perfect. Definitely my favorite Daniel O'Sullivan side project
TheAphexTim
Seeing people drum this tight almost makes me want to drop it altogether!