The band would perform with various line-ups under their new name The Dignity of Labour starting in 1985. Taylor moved to California in mid 1989 and TDOL became a project under his direction, occasionally performing live with supporting musicians but generally existing in the studio amidst a cache of electronics.
In 1992, TDOL released the album Tired Hands, a collection of vocal ballads and instrumentals written over the previous five years. The album was originally released on cassette in limited quantities, but was re-released on CD in 1994 with four additional tracks. The release garnered some regional success, including an enticing offer by talent scouts Barefield and Vierra, and inclusion of the track La Belle Le Anna on a syndicated compilation disc. Taylor knew his future lay in electronic pop music.
By 1994, Taylor had moved to Denver, Colorado, where he began work on the second TDOL album, Belief. The basic tracks were recorded in Taylor's studio then mixed and mastered at Colorado Sound Studios. Belief was released in December 1997 through international distributor Joe's Grille and was available from various record stores in Colorado. The album was also sent to several labels that cater to electronic musicians. Despite favorable reviews praising TDOL for its accurate depiction of 80's-style electronic synthpop, TDOL decided not to actively promote the release through club gigs or radio airplay. Nevertheless, the tracks Shores of Eternity and Echoes caught the attention of a major record label in Europe.
Fast-forward to August 2002. Taylor submitted a post to a musician's mailing list, asking if anyone would be interested in producing/engineering the next TDOL album. He received several offers, including one from Colin Mansfield, a veteran jack-of-all-trades from St. Paul, Minnnesota. After a few weeks of e-mails and song-swapping, they decided it would be a great idea to work together. Given that Colin had a lot of experience in ambient music, Taylor was excited to see how these songs would come together. In March 2003 he spent a week in St. Paul with Colin and engineer Bob Cain at Ambient Sound, recording the first handful of demos for the new album. Response from those close to Taylor encouraged him to submit the tracks to several independent electronic-based labels in the US and Europe. Among those who responded with contract offers was synthpop label kingpin, A Different Drum, who offered him a one-single/one album deal. In June 2004, ADD released the debut single XRV to critical acclaim.
Taylor recently completed his third album. This self-titled effort explores further the mix of incisive lyrics and techno beats. Here, TDOL ventures into foreign territory, voicing the third person in some instances, disguising the song's identity through allusions to science and technology, while pushing the emotional envelope. The album was released in September 2005.
Liquid
The Dignity of Labour Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Or pulled across the sky
Then all would be predicable
No need to prophesy
In the liquid state of life
Understand, equate
In the liquid state of life
In the liquid state of life
Compromise your aim
In the liquid state of life
Never be the same again
If visions were to crystallize
Or vanish into haze
Then tomorrow would be time ago
No more uncertain days
Where are you treading now?
The passage so unclear
Don't wallow in the tide
Or drown in your own fear
In the liquid state of life
Changes course with ease
In the liquid state of life
Shifting by degrees
In the liquid state of life
Once you join the game
In the liquid state of life
Never be the same again
The Dignity of Labour's “Liquid” is a song that delves into the concept of life in a “liquid state.” The lyrics of the song suggest that if the future could be predicted or set in stone, there would be no need for prophecies. The song describes a liquid state of life that requires individuals to be flexible and adaptable to changes in life. The lyrics highlight the importance of understanding, equating, and never compromise your aims, and changing courses with ease.
The song draws an analogy between liquid and life, suggesting that life is unpredictable, and therefore people need to be flexible to survive. The songwriter highlights that the liquid state of life makes people deviate from their norms and compromise their goals to match the situation. Additionally, the song discusses the difficulty of finding direction in a constantly changing world. It encourages people not to be afraid but also not to become overwhelmed by their surroundings.
In conclusion, “Liquid” is a song that provides a commentary on the importance of flexibility in life. It conveys the idea that life is unpredictable and requires individuals to adapt and learn to be comfortable with what is unsettled. The song encourages listeners to embrace change and navigate through the uncertain waters of life with ease.
Line by Line Meaning
The future could be cut to stone
If our future was set in stone, there would be no room for change or growth.
Or pulled across the sky
Alternatively, if our future was unknown and unpredictable like the sky, we would be free to chase our dreams and passions.
Then all would be predicable
If our future was certain, we would know exactly what to expect and wouldn't have to worry about the unknown.
No need to prophesy
In a world where everything is predetermined, there would be no need for prophecy or predicting the future.
Where are you treading now?
The song asks us to reflect on our current path and whether or not we are making the right choices.
The passage so unclear
The future is uncertain and can be difficult to navigate, which is why it's important to make intentional decisions in the present.
Don't wallow in the tide
We shouldn't let ourselves get carried away by the ebb and flow of life.
Or drown in your own fear
We shouldn't be held back by fear and should instead take risks and chase after what we want.
In the liquid state of life
The tendency of life to change and remain unpredictable, like water that can take any shape or form.
Understand, equate
We need to try and understand the fluid nature of life and equate it with our own perceptions to come to terms with the changes and uncertainties it brings.
Ever deviate
Life will always deviate from our expectations and plans, so we need to be ready to improvise and adapt to new situations.
Compromise your aim
We may need to compromise or adjust our goals as life takes its unpredictable course.
Never be the same again
Once we experience and accept the fluidity of life, we are forever changed and cannot go back to our old ways of thinking and acting.
If visions were to crystallize
If our dreams and goals were to become fixed and immovable like crystal, we would lose the ability to grow and change.
Or vanish into haze
Alternatively, if our dreams and goals were too vague and unclear, we would lack the motivation and direction to achieve them.
Then tomorrow would be time ago
If our dreams were either too specific or too vague, we would feel disconnected from the present and unable to appreciate the current moment.
No more uncertain days
In a world without uncertainty, there would be no need to worry about the future or prepare for unexpected events.
Changes course with ease
Life can change direction easily, like water that flows around obstacles and changes course when it needs to.
Shifting by degrees
Life changes slowly and gradually, like the temperature of water that changes by degrees as it heats up or cools down.
Once you join the game
Once we decide to engage with life and take risks, we are committing to a life of uncertainty and unpredictability.
Never be the same again
Once we accept the unpredictable nature of life, we are forever changed and cannot go back to our old ways of thinking and acting.
Contributed by Sadie R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.