The High Dials have had an evolving line-up since their 2003 debut centred around Trevor Anderson (singer-songwriter) and Robbie MacArthur (guitars). Hailed by the likes of NME, Spin and Brooklyn Vegan, they have a deep back catalogue and extensive tour history in both North America and the UK.
Highlights from band’s live history include US and UK tours with the Brian Jonestown Massacre, support slots with Echo and the Bunnymen, the Osheaga festival in Montreal and appearances at various international events such as the Great Escape, In the City, CMJ and SXSW. In 2014, they toured the UK and Ireland with The Besnard Lakes.
The band recently collaborated with legendary Rolling Stones producer Andrew Loog Oldham on an album of Stones covers - fellow contributors included Johnny Marr, Gryff Rhys (Super Furry Animals) and Elliott Easton (The Cars).
Two of the band’s songs currently feature in the hit Netflix series House of Cards.
In February 2015 they released “In the A.M. Wilds” worldwide through Fontana North/Universal.
Official website: www.thehighdials.net
Antenna
The High Dials Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the wind, in the streets
I came undone
Where the ground and tunnels meet
And my mind is receiving all the unuttered dreams of the people crowding my mind with their scattered hopes and desires and my mind is receiving all the unuttered dreams of the people crowding my mind pushing out all reflection and soft-spoken words of belief
Have you ever had the feeling
Not the words?
Resonating on a common band
Resonating all across the land
All together now
That sound is freedom of the mind
The opening lines of The High Dials' Antenna speak of being lost and disorientated in the midst of the chaos of the city. The singer is unraveling under the pressures of trying to navigate the harsh reality of life while grappling with the spiritual and emotional entanglements of being human. The line "my mind is receiving all the unuttered dreams of the people crowding my mind" highlights the interconnectedness of humanity and the weight of the collective unconscious that we all share. The singer feels overwhelmed by the myriad of hopes and desires that everyone carries with them and is bombarded with every day. Their mind is so full of the unspoken dreams of others that it leaves no space for reflecting on their own beliefs.
The chorus of the song asks a question that is in line with its overarching theme- the struggle to express oneself in a meaningful way. "Have you ever had the feeling, speaking is the meaning, not the words?" probes the idea that communication can go beyond the mere transmission of language, and that the true essence of what we say lies deeper within us, and is conveyed through tone, emotion, or connection.
The song's structure is built around the concept of radio waves, with the chorus proclaiming that "That sound is freedom of the mind". The song imagines that the frequencies that carry our thoughts and emotions can cut across all boundaries, reaching every corner of the world, leading to a shared experience that transcends language and cultural differences. In essence, this song is about the yearning for human connection and the struggle to find meaning in an increasingly noisy and disconnected world.
Line by Line Meaning
I am adrift
I am drifting aimlessly, without direction or purpose
In the wind, in the streets
I am wandering around, lost and confused, without any particular destination
I came undone
I became unravelled, mentally and emotionally
Where the ground and tunnels meet
At the intersection of familiar and unfamiliar places, where the landscape changes unexpectedly
And my mind is receiving all the unuttered dreams of the people crowding my mind with their scattered hopes and desires and my mind is receiving all the unuttered dreams of the people crowding my mind pushing out all reflection and soft-spoken words of belief
I am inundated with the unspoken aspirations, longings, and wishes of others, which are drowning out my own thoughts and beliefs
Have you ever had the feeling
Have you ever experienced the sensation or emotion
Speaking is the meaning
The intent behind the words is more important than the words themselves
Not the words?
A rhetorical question to emphasize the importance of intentions over words
Resonating on a common band
In sync with others on a shared wavelength
Resonating all across the land
Being felt and understood by people from different parts of the country
All together now
A call for unity and collaboration
That sound is freedom of the mind
The harmony created by working together to achieve a shared goal creates a sense of liberation in the mind
Contributed by Ellie T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.