Spahn Ranch is the name of two bands:
1. An industrial group from LA Read Full Bio ↴Spahn Ranch is the name of two bands:
1. An industrial group from LA
2. A post-punk act from Detroit

The first and most well known is the Los Angeles electronic-industrial music group, formed in 1992 by Matt Green and his New York-based collaborator, Rob Morton. The group signed to Cleopatra Records. That same year, a self-titled, four-song EP with vocals supplied by Scott Franklin (later to become bassist for The Cramps), was released. In 1993, they added vocalist Athan Maroulis and recorded their debut album Collateral Damage. Their sophomore effort, The Coiled One, appeared two years later in the midst of Morton leaving the band due to creative and logistical differences. After his departure, the line-up was expanded to include Christian Death drummer David Glass, Screams for Tina guitarist Kent Bancroft, and Tubalcain drummer Harry Lewis. This offered a beginning of the fuller, more diverse, dark electro-industrial sound that Spahn Ranch would continue to pursue. By 1997 Spahn Ranch pared themselves down to a tight, three-piece unit of Green, Maroulis and Lewis.
Architecture, released in 1997, featured contributions from Killing Joke/Prong bassist Paul Raven and Rockats/Nancy Sinatra guitarist Danny B. Harvey. This album took an even more experimental appraoch to the Spahn Ranch sound, incorporating elements of drum and bass, dub and for the first time, live guitar parts. Beat Noir, in 1998, followed a similar path even further and included work with Bauhaus/Love & Rockets bassist David J.The band regularly toured throughout North America during their existence with the likes of Front Line Assembly, Front 242, Switchblade Symphony and The Electric Hellfire Club. Spahn Ranch also made a couple of European treks prior to their demise as a group in 2000. Closure was a posthumous release in 2001 of their final album recorded in 2000.

The second band was formed in Detroit, MI in 1986 and released one album in 1987 called Thickly Settled. In it's infancy, the band played in many local venues on the bill with various local bands. Quickly a strong following developed, which immediately precipitated a self titled cassette release of six tracks on the Ikthus Network label. After having missed their own billing at a show, the band was introduced to Eric Cope of Insight Records from San Francisco, CA. He offered them a contract with Insight after reviewing their cassette and video work. The band accepted and began recording their first LP, 'Thickly Settled' in California where they were welcomed by receptive audiences. 'Thickly Settled' was hailed as one of the best albums of the year by England's Underground Magazine, and also met favorable reception in the U.S.A. None of the members of Spahn Ranch had any formal music training and had not played an instrument prior to forming the group. "The sound they create is tense and raw, not polished to distract from the music itself. Drummer Odell Nails lays down a thick, almost tribal drum beat, accompanied by Hobey Echlin's bass foundation for the music. Guitarist Bradley Horowitz adds the energetic, consuming guitar melodies, changing the tunings for each song in order to make no two sets alike. Bob Sterner's vocals with a touch of folk influence, mesh with the instrumental sounds that give the finished product, intense music which envelopes and audience." Hobey Echlin later joined the band as bassist.

The Conversation
Spahn Ranch Lyrics

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In a room darkened
Like a calming plain
Draped longingly
Cleansing the body
The thoughts were focused
Necessitating sessions
Prepares herself
In a sea of wraps

An evenings conversation
Ends in a sea of slides
The reason for the taking
Slips into the turning tide
It all played quiet
With a portion saved
Building in vain
Open and staid
Ideas of purpose
Gesture with a finger
Angles drawn are limitless
An evening's conversation
Ends in a sea of slides
The reason for the taking
Slips into the turning tide
In a room darkened
Like a calming plain
Draped longingly
Cleansing the body
The thoughts were focused
Necessitating sessions
Prepares herself
In a sea of wraps
An evening's conversation
Ends in a sea of slides

The reason for the taking
Slips into the turning tide

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Spahn Ranch's "The Conversation" paints a vivid picture of a woman preparing herself in a dark room for an evening's conversation. The room is described as "calming" and "longingly draped", implying a sense of ritual and importance to the upcoming exchange. She focuses her thoughts and prepares herself in a "sea of wraps", possibly alluding to the idea of being dressed up for the meeting.

As the conversation progresses, the lyrics indicate a sense of building tension and purpose. The woman's ideas are described as being "open and staid", suggesting a confidence and conviction in her beliefs. She gestures with her finger, drawing "limitless" angles as the conversation becomes more intense. Eventually, the reason for the meeting slips away into the "turning tide", perhaps indicative of a shift in the direction of the conversation or a change in the woman's circumstances.

Overall, the lyrics of "The Conversation" paint a nuanced portrait of a woman preparing for and engaging in an important exchange. The atmosphere is one of calm and ritual, but with an underlying sense of tension and purpose. The woman's ideas are portrayed as being strong and confident, but ultimately shifting and evolving over the course of the conversation.

Line by Line Meaning

In a room darkened
The setting is intentionally dimly lit

Like a calming plain
The atmosphere of the room is serene

Draped longingly
The decor in the room is designed to inspire a sense of longing or desire

Cleansing the body
The atmosphere and conversation have a purifying effect on the body

The thoughts were focused
The conversation is intellectually stimulating

Necessitating sessions
The conversation requires multiple sessions to fully explore the topic

Prepares herself
The person is mentally and emotionally preparing for the conversation

In a sea of wraps
The person is surrounded by a collection of objects, perhaps to set the mood

An evening's conversation
The focus is on discussing an idea or topic in-depth

Ends in a sea of slides
The conversation concludes with a presentation or demonstration of some kind

The reason for the taking
There is a specific purpose or goal for the conversation

Slips into the turning tide
The purpose or goal of the conversation becomes less clear or less important

It all played quiet
The conversation was conducted in a calm, understated manner

With a portion saved
Only a partial amount of information or ideas were shared

Building in vain
The conversation did not lead to a productive outcome

Open and staid
The conversation was honest and straightforward

Ideas of purpose
The conversation revolves around the purpose or intention of something

Gesture with a finger
Visual aids or non-verbal communication was used during the conversation

Angles drawn are limitless
The ideas or perspectives presented in the conversation are infinite

An evening's conversation
The conversation is long and detailed