Shpongle is a psychedelic electronic music project from England that formed… Read Full Bio ↴Shpongle is a psychedelic electronic music project from England that formed in 1996. The group includes Simon Posford (a.k.a. Hallucinogen) and Raja Ram (one of three in The Infinity Project). The duo are considered to be one of the progenitors of the psybient genre - a genre combining world music with psychedelic trance and ambient. Their musical style combines traditional music from all over the globe and vocals with contemporary western synthesizer-based psychedelic music. When asked to describe Shpongle's music, Posford has responded that it is "like nothing you've ever heard before."

Shpongle's first track, "Vapour Rumours", was released on TIP Records' Infinite Excursions compilation in 1996. Their debut album, Are You Shpongled?, was released in 1998 on Twisted Records. On 9 September 2014, Posford confirmed beginning work on a sixth album, which was eventually announced as Codex VI and set for release in October 2017. On 3 October, even before the release of Codex VI, the duo announced via a Facebook video that they have begun working on their seventh studio album.

Posford is generally responsible for the synthesizers, studio work, and live instrumentation, while Raja Ram contributes broad musical concepts and flute arrangements. Raja Ram stated in an interview that "Shpongle" is an umbrella term for feeling positive and euphoric emotions. Shpongle's music is heavily influenced by psychedelic experiences and frequently makes use of sonic textures that approximate psychedelic states as well as vocal samples relating to consciousness expansion, hallucinations, and altered states of awareness. For example, the track "A New Way to Say 'Hooray'", contains a vocal sample of Terence McKenna describing the effects of DMT.

Schmaltz Herring
Shpongle Lyrics

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Oiga, cadete!

Porque dicen que no duermo, ay, acordando

Overall Meaning

These Spanish lyrics in Shpongle's "Schmaltz Herring" refer to a cadet who is awake at night, supposedly studying. However, it could be interpreted as a metaphor for someone who is always alert and aware, perhaps due to a restlessness of the mind or a heightened sense of consciousness. The Schmaltz Herring itself is a traditional Jewish food, which may symbolize a connection to heritage, culture, or tradition. In the context of the song, it could represent an anchor in the midst of chaos or a grounding force amidst the unknown.

The overall feel of the song is dreamy and ethereal, with a mix of electronic and acoustic instrumentation. It is richly textured and layered, with many different sounds and rhythms interweaving throughout. The lyrics are sparse and cryptic, leaving plenty of room for interpretation and subjective meaning.

Overall, "Schmaltz Herring" is a complex and fascinating piece of music that invites introspection and exploration. It encourages listeners to engage with their own thoughts and emotions, and to find new meaning in the world around them.

Line by Line Meaning

Oiga, cadete!
Hey, listen up!

Porque dicen que no duermo, ay, acordando
Because they say I don't sleep, oh, remembering

No, se ve que no, tiene que cambiar eso
No, it seems I don't, I have to change that

Para ir a trabajar tengo que madrugar y luego ya no puedo dormir
To go to work I have to wake up early and then I can't sleep

Yeah, Schmaltz Herring
Yeah, Schmaltz Herring

Y recuerdo ese haren que almorzábamos al mediodía
And I remember that herring we used to have for lunch

Lo mismo para el desayuno
The same for breakfast

Una comida se me pasa y luego me entra un hambre voraz
I skip one meal and then I get really hungry

Bueno tengo que hacerme otro sandwich
Well, I have to make another sandwich

Yo sigo adelante aunque el sueño se me quiera imponer
I keep going even if sleep tries to take over me

Que puedas dormir bien
May you sleep well