The band is a duo comprised of Elenor Rayner (vocals and lyrics) and Pete Crane (music) who met in 2002.
Their debut album Glass was released by European label Black Flames Records in 2005 resulting in great reviews worldwide, and in 2006 The Crystalline Effect released the Blurred Edges EP independently. The Crystalline Effect is also a live entity and have played dozens of gigs all over Australia.
In 2006, Black Flames Records closed down. Now The Crystalline Effect have found a new home on Advoxya Records.
When You're Asleep
The Crystalline Effect Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When you’re asleep, I can see the thoughts in your eyes
When you’re asleep, that’s when I feel close to you
When you’re asleep, that’s the only time I can talk to you
Every single day we start again
Every single way we try again
Every single time we fall apart again
We always seem out of step, it’s so hard for us to connect
Like cogs inside a wheel we slip and slide
And neither one will be the first to say what’s on their mind
It’s self-destruction of the worst kind
There’s no way out now, there’s no way out
There’s no way out now, it’s a vicious circle
Until we sleep
The lyrics to The Crystalline Effect's song When You're Asleep express a sense of longing and frustration in a relationship that has difficulties in communication. The singer expresses that they can only truly connect with their partner when they are asleep because that is when their true feelings and thoughts are revealed. The lines "Every single day we start again, Every single way we try again, Every single time we fall apart again" highlight the struggle that the singer and their partner have in maintaining their connection. The repeated "Every single" emphasizes the cyclical nature of their relationship and the frustration they feel in not being able to break free from it.
The lines "We always seem out of step, it’s so hard for us to connect, Like cogs inside a wheel we slip and slide" create a vivid metaphor for the disconnect between the two individuals. The comparison to cogs in a wheel suggests that they are both integral parts of a whole, but their inability to synchronize impedes their progress. The self-destructive nature of their communication patterns is highlighted in the line "It’s self-destruction of the worst kind" which suggests that their inability to connect is harming the relationship and putting it at risk.
In the end, the singer acknowledges that there is no way out of the cyclical nature of their relationship until they are able to sleep. This suggests that in their unconscious state, their true feelings and thoughts are expressed, and they are able to connect on a deeper level. The emphasis on the need for sleep to bridge the divide between the two individuals highlights the importance of introspection and self-reflection in relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
When you’re asleep, I can tell how you really feel
Only when you're in a deep slumber do your true emotions reveal.
When you’re asleep, I can see the thoughts in your eyes
After you drift off, your unfiltered mind exposes the unspoken dialogues and hidden cries.
When you’re asleep, that’s when I feel close to you
Only when you're soundly asleep, do I feel your close proximity.
When you’re asleep, that’s the only time I can talk to you
When you're in the realms of subconsciousness, we finally have a conversation that's overdue.
Every single day we start again
Each day we're forced to face the constant reset button, with no clear terrain.
Every single way we try again
Each time we strain every possible angle, but end up with the same refrain.
Every single time we fall apart again
Despite every effort, we always come crashing down, feeling the same strain.
We always seem out of step, it’s so hard for us to connect
Like two gears that never turn in sync, we struggle to achieve a logical link.
Like cogs inside a wheel we slip and slide
We rotate mindlessly, yet never seem to coincide.
And neither one will be the first to say what’s on their mind
Neither of us will take the lead to express what we feel, leaving the situation in a continual bind.
It’s self-destruction of the worst kind
Our inability to communicate is our own demise, making the situation impossible to unwind.
There’s no way out now, there’s no way out
The situation has reached the point of no return, like a wall of doubts that we can't surmount.
There’s no way out now, it’s a vicious circle
We're trapped in a cycle of pain and frustration, with no clear escape from our murky whirlpool.
Until we sleep
Our only relief from this inescapable plight is to submit to slumber's inviting, peaceful sleep.
Contributed by Isaiah O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.