They are one of a small number of Czech groups who have managed to win recognition abroad. They are the only Czech group to have held their own in England, where, in the early 1990s, they made it into the independent charts and recorded a celebrated session with the legendary John Peel. They released three records on the Go! Discs label - the Fluidtrance Centauri EP made it to number 6 in the British independent charts shortly after its release - but the group's promising start was scuppered when its record label Go! Discs was bought in 1995.
In the Czech Republic, however, the charismatic duo at the heart of the band have gone from strength to strength. A casual glance at most guide books to the country notes them as one of the country's most important domestic acts, the group achieved considerable success with their 4B4 set, which was composed of their first four records. This retrospective collection became part of the Absolut Album series, which also included classic albums from the likes of David Bowie, the Sex Pistols, Velvet Underground and Miles Davis.
Jan P. Muchow, the main driving force behind the band, is now a much-sought-after producer and re-mixer. He has also been successful as a writer of music for film and theatre. His soundtrack for the film Samotáři (Loners) became a cult classic for a whole generation of listeners, while his musical rendering of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream also attracted much deserved attention. Kateřina Winterová, who is also a member of the National Theatre Company, makes up the other half of the band.
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Noises of Silence
The Ecstasy of Saint Theresa Lyrics
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Like a shade or an odour
Like lovers in movie
Dangerous time
(Faint?) want me
Anything to me
There's too many loves
And I've heard and I've said
Just watching you
Just feeling you
And the stars shine
Just touching you
Just smelling you
And the stars shine
The lyrics of "Noises of Silence" by The Ecstasy of Saint Theresa convey the idea of hiding from the overwhelming influx of external stimuli. The "noise" of the world is compared to an unpleasant odor or shade which lovers sometimes try to block out or overcome with their love. In the dangerous times we live in, the singer longs for a connection that is deeper, unadulterated by too many loves. There is a sense of distress caused by the unrestful environment and the endless bombardment of sensory stimulation.
The repetition of the phrases, "just watching you, just feeling you and just touching you, just smelling you" emphasizes the singer's longing for a simple, pure sensory pleasure. The reference to the stars shining suggests that despite the chaos in the world, the beauty and wonder of the universe still exist. The singer finds solace in these simple, primal pleasures that help them forget the "noises of silence" and the ensuing chaos.
Line by Line Meaning
We just hide the world
We simply conceal ourselves from the world
Like a shade or an odour
Like an intangible presence
Like lovers in movie
Like a passionate scene from a film
Dangerous time
A perilous moment in time
(Faint?) want me
A barely perceptible desire for me
Anything to me
Anything is possible for me
There's too many loves
There are too many expressions of love
And I've heard and I've said
I have heard and expressed these sentiments before
Just watching you
Merely observing you
Just feeling you
Simply experiencing your touch
And the stars shine
Bright constellations light the sky
Just touching you
Simply making physical contact with you
Just smelling you
Simply taking in your scent
And the stars shine
Bright constellations persist in illuminating the sky
Contributed by Ian F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.