The band played played local clubs and USOs, and built up a great reputation for their hot live performances -- they good deliver on-stage what most groups scarcely achieved on record, an intensely virtuoso musicality coupled with punk defiance and a charismatic projection of all of these elements. In a different reality, they might've been a more mature and serious competitor to the Seeds, perhaps even succeeding at doing what the Doors did, only without the literary pretensions or personal excesses -- equally impressive was the fact that most of the songs that the Human Expression played were originals by Quarles and Foster, who were entirely self-taught songwriters; Quarles later admitted that he wrote from his heart and instinct, without over-intellectualizing any of it, and the results seemed to pay off when coupled with the band's musicianship -- their demos were as good as many contemporary groups' released singles. A second single, "Optical Sound" b/w "Calm Me Down," released in 1967, showed the group becoming more experimental, utilizing studio electronic effects. "Optical Sound" itself, as a title, was extremely clever, carrying with it connotations out of both psychedelia and film. It was impressive, but that single wasn't the breakthrough that the band had hoped for.
The Human Expression's downfall came with the decision over what was to be their third single. Offered a pair of songs to choose from, they selected a number called "Sweet Child of Nothingness." The one they rejected was a song authored by Mars Bonfire called "Born to Be Wild," because Quarles had some doubts about the lyrics. This decision, which proved disastrous when Steppenwolf took their version of the song to the top of the charts, coincided with a major personnel shake-up -- lead guitarist Martin Eshleman was injured and had to be replaced, and Quarles didn't like the new lin-up and exited. The Human Expression's history ended, though Quarles continued writing songs and pursued some solo recording, and later establish his own studio. In 1994, Collectables Records released a 14-song CD (Love at Psychedelic Velocity) of the complete Human Expression demos and released singles, rounded out with a quartet of Quarles solo sides. - AMG
Optical Sound
The Human Expression Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I hate to think what went on in here
Reasemble my shattered mind
Before the eyes of another kind
Alternatives I found
But they just can't be found
Differations(?) from the cast create an optical sound
Impulses through my brain
But still the thought remains
Look in the mirror see
The image stares at me
Alternatives I found
But they just can't be found
Differations(?) from the cast create an optical sound
The Human Expression's "Optical Sound" is a song that seems to describe a sense of disorientation, confusion, and existential crisis. The song opens with the image of the sunrise approaching, which creates a sense of impending clarity and illumination. However, the singer expresses a sense of dread at the thought of what might be revealed in this light. The image of the sunrise could represent a mental awakening, an insight that is about to be gained, but the singer is afraid of what that might entail.
The next line, "I hate to think what went on in here," suggests that the singer is struggling with their own mental state. They feel as though their mind has been broken or shattered, and they need to put the pieces back together before they can face the world. They are aware of the fact that there are other perspectives, "another kind," but they cannot see them clearly because of the damage to their own mind.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "Alternatives I found, but they just can't be found" which could suggest that the singer has explored potential solutions to their problems but none of them have worked. The final line of the chorus, "Differations(?) from the cast create an optical sound," is somewhat cryptic, but could be alluding to the idea that there are subtle differences or nuances in reality that the singer has not yet been able to perceive. The "optical sound" could represent the jarring or confusing effect of these differences.
Line by Line Meaning
As the light of the sunrise nears
The singer expresses their unease as the sun rises, signaling the end of a night where they don't quite remember everything that took place.
I hate to think what went on in here
The singer is fearful of the events they can only vaguely recall from the previous night.
Reassemble my shattered mind
The singer wants to piece together their thoughts and memories to better understand what happened and how they feel about it.
Before the eyes of another kind
The artist feels as if they are being evaluated or judged by an unknown force, adding to their anxiety and sense of confusion.
Alternatives I found
The artist has sought out different ways of coping with their thoughts and feelings in the aftermath of the previous night.
But they just can't be found
None of the methods the singer has tried have been successful in resolving their internal turmoil.
Differations(?) from the cast create an optical sound
The singer suggests that their experience is unique and doesn't fit within the expectations or norms of society, resulting in a distorted perception of reality.
Impulses through my brain
The artist feels overwhelmed by their own thoughts and emotions, which they can't seem to control.
But still the thought remains
Despite efforts to move on and forget, the artist can't shake the memories and feelings associated with the events of the previous night.
Look in the mirror see
The artist confronts themselves and their own reflection, hoping to gain some clarity or understanding.
The image stares at me
The singer feels as if their own reflection is judging them, reflecting their own insecurities and self-doubt.
Contributed by Parker P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Bolt24HotSounds
As the light of the sunrise nears
I hate to think what went on in here
Reassemble my shattered mind
Before the eyes of another kind
Alternatives I found
But they just can't be found
Differations from the past
create an optical sound
Impulses through my brain
But still the thought remains
Look in the mirror see
The image stares at me
Alternatives I found
But they just can't be found
Differations from the past
create an optical sound
Hantera
@eliastellez
As the light of the sunrise nears
I hate to think what went on in here
Reasemble my shattered mind
Before the eyes of another kind
Alternatives I found
But they just can't be found
Differations(?) from the cast create and optical sound
Impulses through my brain
But still the thought remains
Look in the mirror see
The image stares at me
Alternatives I found
But they just can't be found
Differations(?) from the cast create and optical sound
@jacoblara4820
The human expression are definitely on my top 5 favorite garage bands
@TheThunderbird63
love that "wet" guitar sound. it was 3-5 years after the genres heyday, but you can definitely hear the surf influence
@filler7359
like refreshing rain creating an optical sound
@westvirginiamusichalloffam3394
that's why US garage is superior to the Brit Invasion Beat. The reverberated surf guitar bred with the new English Sounds. It's magical still.
@permanentvacation2406
still one of the best psychedlic /garage 45's ever made
@downatthetubestation
I agree!!!
@thomassmith5860
you got that right man you got that right
@hugbug4408
One of the best psychedelic tunes ever played ! What year? 65, 66?
@user-dp6in1cc3z
@@hugbug440867
@MutethatBozo
Simply awesome. There are times when I "see" colors when I play or listen to music. This song captures that better than any other I can think of. Peace :)