The band played a series of gigs at Manchester's In The City festival. James Mudriczki, Neil McDonald, Anthony Szuminski and Kevin Matthews met on a bus on their way to watch the Stone Roses play at Spike Island. Matthews watched the Stone Roses' Gary Mounfield play bass and Matthews bought himself a bass guitar.[citation needed] The rest of the members followed suit and bought the necessary equipment to complete a band, although they had little to no musical experience or training.
Through much practice their music developed and they decided on the name Puressence, a name instantly identified by most Mancunians for the paper letters 'P'-'U'-'R'-'E'-'S'-'S'-'E'-'N'-'C'-'E', which were plastered around Manchester city centre, on derelict buildings, and on bridges (the most notable being the railway bridge opposite the Haçienda).Manchester independent record label 2 Damn Loud released two singles and there was a further single with Rough Trade Singles Club.
The big breakthrough came a couple of years later, when the band signed to Island Records.
In August 2003, after more than ten years with Puressence, guitarist and founder member McDonald left the band. He was replaced by Lowell Killen, who is originally from the Isle of Man. He has played in other bands and left Manchester band Dry Riser to join Puressence.
In 2004, the band played at The Witchwood in Ashton-under-Lyne.
In 2006, the band released a single titled "Palisades" on new Manchester label Reaction, followed by an album, Don't Forget To Remember, in September 2007.
On 10 and 11 September 2008 Puressence played their first shows in the US. The first was at the Mercury Lounge in New York City. The next night they played the Apple Store in SoHo. The opening song at the Mercury Lounge was "I Suppose". They passed out free CD singles of "Don't Know Any Better" to many fans around the United States.
The band split in late 2013.
The band currently consisted of:
James Mudriczki: Vocals
Lowell Killen: Guitar
Kevin Matthews: Bass guitar
Tony Szuminski: Drums / percussion
Ironstone Izadora
Puressence Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
quite knows where they are
A trio of lies, trying to knock you
Off your guard
With our heads to the side
With our heads to the side
You give me criminal ways in a
Subliminal haze
Ironstone Izadora's the name
Got the mark of Cain I hang on
A chain around my neck
I'll say it again, pleasure or pain
What's coming next?
Move your head to the side
Move your head to the side
You give me criminal ways
In a subliminal haze
Ironstone Izadora's my name
Ironstone Izadora's my name
Tell me why she tells those lies
When she lies with you?
Tell me why its no surprise
When nothing is true?
The lyrics of "Ironstone Izadora" by Puressence are cryptic and elusive in meaning, but offer a visceral experience to the listener. The song begins with "With our heads to the side nobody quite knows where they are" which suggests that the people in question are not fully present or grounded in reality. The following stanza reveals that there is a group of individuals telling lies and trying to take advantage of someone who is vulnerable.
The song's title character, Ironstone Izadora, is introduced as someone who has a dangerous influence over the singer, filling their mind with "criminal ways in a subliminal haze." The line "Got the mark of Cain I hang on a chain around my neck" further reinforces that the singer is under Izadora's spell and may be guilty of some transgression. The chorus repeats the line "Move your head to the side" which could be interpreted as an invitation to the listener to shift their perspective and see things differently.
The final stanza poses a series of questions that are perhaps unanswerable. "Tell me why she tells those lies when she lies with you?" and "Tell me why it's no surprise when nothing is true?" imply that the truth is elusive and difficult to discern. Overall, "Ironstone Izadora" captures the sense of disorientation and confusion that can arise when dealing with someone who is manipulative or deceptive.
Line by Line Meaning
With our heads to the side nobody quite knows where they are
Confusion reigns as we lean our heads to the side, leaving us disoriented and unsure of our surroundings.
A trio of lies, trying to knock you Off your guard
We tell lies in groups of three, seeking to catch you off guard and take advantage of your vulnerabilities.
You give me criminal ways in a Subliminal haze
You inspire me to engage in immoral behavior that I may not even be fully aware of, thanks to the subtle influence of your presence.
Ironstone Izadora's the name
This is the name I choose to adopt, one that represents my strength, resilience, and unwavering determination despite the obstacles that come my way.
Got the mark of Cain I hang on A chain around my neck
Like Cain, I carry a burden of guilt and shame that manifests physically, hanging from my neck like a chain that I cannot escape.
I'll say it again, pleasure or pain What's coming next?
No matter what happens next, I am braced for both the good and the bad, unsure of what fate has in store for me but resigned to accept it with equanimity.
Move your head to the side Move your head to the side
I urge you to follow my example, lean your head to the side and see the world from a different perspective, one that might reveal new truths and insights.
Tell me why she tells those lies When she lies with you?
I demand to know why she is being untruthful when she is in your presence, what motivates her to deceive and manipulate both you and me.
Tell me why its no surprise When nothing is true?
I am not surprised that everything is shrouded in falsehood and uncertainty, that truth seems to be an elusive and unattainable concept in the world we inhabit.
Ironstone Izadora's my name Ironstone Izadora's my name
I repeat my name again, emphasizing its significance and power, my identity and my essence wrapped up in two simple words.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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το κρυμμένο διαμάντι των puressence!