Zammuto and de Jong met through a friend in New York City. Sharing similar interests but different backgrounds in acoustic music and found sound, Zammuto and de Jong took their sonic experiments to the studio. Eventually, with some urging by Tom Steinle of Tomlab Records, they created what would become their debut record, 'Thought for Food', in 2002. Within a year, the Books relocated to Hot Springs, NC, and recorded and released 'The Lemon of Pink'. With a lot of favorable word of mouth and critical buzz from the first two records, the Books relocated again in winter of 2004 and recorded in an old Victorian home in North Adams, MA. With the release of 'Lost and Safe' in April of 2005, the Books prepared to tour with their unique blend of samples and acoustic music. All three Books albums were released on Tomlab Records.
One of the most unique aspects of the band was the video compositions which play during their live performances. Video was synched with the music and provide visuals to coincide with the many found-sounds the band employs. According to the band, much of the video was pulled from home movies and ephemeral films bought from thrift stores. For example, on the track entitled 'A Cold Freezin' Night', the many audio samples were pulled from Tiger Electronics Talkboy tapes also acquired from thrift stores.
In the late 2000s, The Books announced the addition of a third member of the band, who plays violin, guitar, and electronics. In August 2010, their final album entitled 'The Way Out' was released on Temporary Residence. 2012 saw a compilation release 'A Dot in Time.'
In early 2012, Nick Zammuto announced the end of the duo and the beginning of his solo project Zammuto. Subsequently, Paul de Jong released two solo albums.
There Is No There
The Books Lyrics
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D'en trouver une autre comme toi,
Mais t'es la seule mon cœur désire
The Books's song "There Is No There" has a mix of spoken word and musical elements. The lyrics in the spoken parts are drawn from various sources, including a sample of a speech by Martin Luther King Jr. The above lyrics are spoken by a French woman and are meant to convey her admiration for the peaceful ideals and nonviolent philosophy of Gandhi. The lines express her belief that Gandhi's views were the most enlightened of all the political minds of their time and that people should strive to do things in his spirit, not by using violence but by non-participation in anything one believes is wrong.
The musical part of the song is a mix of haunting melodies, electronic beats, and ambient sounds. The combination creates a dreamlike atmosphere that enhances the emotional impact of the spoken words. The song's title "There Is No There" is a poetic way of expressing the idea that there may not be a perfect place or state of being to strive for, but we should try to do what we can in our own humble way.
Line by Line Meaning
D'en trouver une autre comme toi,
I search for another like you,
Mais t'es la seule mon cœur désire
But you are the only one that my heart desires
Contributed by Blake V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.