Originally formed under the name of Xanthippe, the project's current name is inspired
by the works of French philosopher Michel Foucault.
The band is, in reality, a one man project, with Tom composing, singing and producing
the songs while the Lyrics are written by Iris Idelson.
In "Utopia", O&C have attempted to merge together danceable melodies with thought-provoking concepts.
The album may be viewed as homage to the rise and fall of utopian
projects and their impact on the individuals who partook in them.
In his music, Tom is inspired by various genres and artists, from Skinny Puppy and Assemblage 23,
to Frank Zappa, the Residents and the Beatles.
These eclectic inspirations, along with Tom's own musical vision, come together to form the unique sound, that is Observe and Control.
Observe and Control have become known for their live performances, and have supported and performed
with such giants such as Apoptygma Berserk and Das Ich.
During live performances, Tom is accompanied by two additional musicians and his own guitar playing,
so as to achieve the sound that has become characteristic of O&C.
During its brief history, O&C has remixed tracks for some of the leading EBM and alternative acts today,
such as Matrix, Regenerator, Sero.Overdose, Namnambulu and F.O.D.
Utopia
Observe & Control Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let us cast away our doom
And through careful contemplation
Merry thoughts resume their bloom
Come enjoy this blissful silence
Let us never speak a word
Lewdly cast your sorrows onwards
Lest we′re drawn back to the world
A trusted friend
I beg to serve
I will not rest until I reach an end
That I deserve
Though many rise to meet their final fall
I will remain
Defying destiny's infernal call
I live again
Every moment left in waiting
Is an insult to my pride
Every daylight dimly fading
Marks my endless will denied
Fertile lands come - I am begging
For a sip of your galore
Let me through your gates of mercy
Ease my thirst - I ask no more
Here Lies Deliverance...
The lyrics to "Utopia" by Observe & Control are full of imagery and metaphors that paint a picture of an ideal world. The first few lines describe a fertile land that is tempting and invites the listener to cast away their doom. This could be interpreted as a call to let go of negativity and embrace positivity. The second line suggests that this can be achieved through careful contemplation, which could be understood as a call for introspection and self-reflection. The phrase "merry thoughts resume their bloom" implies that positive thinking can lead to happiness and a better quality of life.
The next few lines describe the singer's desire for silence and how they wish to avoid negative thoughts. The word "lewdly" in this context could mean that negative thoughts are obscene and unwanted. The phrase "Lest we're drawn back to the world" suggests that these negative thoughts could pull the singer back into a negative thinking cycle. The lines "Here lies deliverance, a trusted friend" could be interpreted as the singer's belief that the ideal world they seek is within reach, and "I beg to serve, I will not rest until I reach an end that I deserve" implies that they are willing to work hard to achieve it. The last two stanzas suggest that the singer is frustrated with the wait for their ideal world and that they feel denied. The repetition of the phrase "Here lies deliverance" reinforces the idea that this ideal world is believed to exist and can be found.
Line by Line Meaning
Fertile lands of great temptation
The land is fruitful and alluring, tempting us to abandon our struggles.
Let us cast away our doom
We must abandon our negative fate and create a new future for ourselves.
And through careful contemplation
By carefully thinking about our actions, we can rebuild our lives.
Merry thoughts resume their bloom
Positive and happy thoughts will return and grow once again.
Come enjoy this blissful silence
The peace and serenity of our new life is for us to enjoy and revel in.
Let us never speak a word
We must keep the peace and not speak of the past or our hardships.
Lewdly cast your sorrows onwards
Our troubles and sorrows should be thrown away and forgotten.
Lest we're drawn back to the world
If we dwell on our past, we may be tempted to return to our old ways.
Here lies deliverance
We have found freedom and salvation.
A trusted friend
Our new way of life is a reliable and constant companion.
I beg to serve
I am dedicated to our cause and strive to help in any way possible.
I will not rest until I reach an end
I am willing to work tirelessly until we achieve our goal.
That I deserve
I believe we all deserve a better life and will do everything in my power to make that happen.
Though many rise to meet their final fall
Though some may fail in their attempts, I will persevere despite any obstacles.
I will remain
I will continue to fight for our cause and remain steadfast in my beliefs.
Defying destiny's infernal call
I will not let fate dictate our future.
I live again
Through our new life and way of thinking, I have been reborn and given new purpose.
Every moment left in waiting
Every wasted moment is a blow to our pride and progress.
Is an insult to my pride
I refuse to let time slip away and hinder our journey.
Every daylight dimly fading
Every day that ends without progress is a disappointment.
Marks my endless will denied
We must work hard and tirelessly to achieve our goals and not let our determination falter.
Fertile lands come - I am begging
I am desperate for the promise of prosperity and abundance.
For a sip of your galore
I seek even a small taste of the riches and abundance the land has to offer.
Let me through your gates of mercy
Allow me to enter your realm and be blessed with the land's merciful gifts.
Ease my thirst - I ask no more
All I desire is to quench my thirst for a better life through the riches of the land.
Contributed by Nora H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.