The band's distinct sound is a mixture of Doss and Hart's experimental tendencies. This chemistry is evident in their albums given that some tracks are 2-3 minute pop songs, while others are electro-acoustic collages ranging in length from 2 seconds to 10 minutes, and differing in content from vibrant horns to near silence. Furthermore, the band released a record of experimental electro-acoustic music, The Late Music, Volume One, under the name The Black Swan Network, in 1997. Another Black Swan Network release, a 7" EP on the Happy Happy Birthday to Me label, appeared in 2000, though it did not feature Bill Doss. In October 1997, a "collaborative" LP between The Olivia Tremor Control and The Black Swan Network was released, originally as a tour-only item, and later put out as a CD by Flydaddy, which gave the record the title, The Olivia Tremor Control Vs. The Black Swan Network,' though the band had never wanted the record to be named as such. The band was influenced by the odd quality inherent in dreams and asked their listeners to send in tapes describing their own, examples of which can be heard in the final track of Black Foliage and the OTC-BSN collaborative LP.
The members of The Olivia Tremor Control embarked on a variety of different projects before and after the band broke up. Eric Harris released a record under the name Frosted Ambassador and later two CD-R releases under his own name on Cloud Recordings, the label founded by Fernandes and Hart in the wake of OTC's demise. Pete Erchick released two records, Individualized Shirts and Special Fanfare For Anything, under the name Pipes You See, Pipes You Don't. Bill Doss followed OTC by putting out records as The Sunshine Fix, a name he had used years before. The Sunshine Fix has evolved from a recording project to a formal working band. Hart's post-OTC project, Circulatory System, has taken a similar route. The self-titled 2001 LP continued the melding together of pop and experimental traditions the OTC had worked on and won high accolades from the press. While the follow-up is still in the works, the band continues to play live shows in Athens and occasionally elsewhere.
In 2005, the Olivia Tremor Control temporarily reunited, solely for live shows, at the behest of the All Tomorrow's Parties festival. They appeared at a UK version of the festival, preceded by warm-up shows in Athens and London; that summer, they again played Athens, at the Orange Twin Conservation Community, as well as gigs in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and L.A.
In May 2009, Will Hart said in an interview that the band had recently re-entered the recording studio: "We've got two songs for the next Olivia record, in my opinion. They're on Bill's hard drive."
In March 2011, Elf Power drummer Derek Almstead confirmed that he was engineering and playing percussion on the new record and that new material would be debuted at All Tomorrows' Parties later in the year. In addition to this, they have released a song titled "North Term Reality" under Olivia Tremor Control for AUX Vol. 2.
On August 30, 2011, the band premiered a new song, "The Game You Play is In Your Head Parts 1, 2 &3" and announced they planned to have a new album out later in 2011. Tour dates for Winter 2011 were also announced.
The death of Bill Doss was announced on July 31, 2012.
A New Day
The Olivia Tremor Control Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
i hear a new age dawning
there's a new direction in the way we see our lives to be
mysteriously, everything's changing making way for spring
i see a new day dawning
i feel a new wave forming
there's a new place we can take
among the leaves, among the trees
but until we leave, all in all, all is all that we perceive
The Olivia Tremor Control's "A New Day" lyrics speak of ushering in a new era of life with a sense of hope and wonder. The lyrics play with the idea of new beginnings in nature and the transformation that takes place during the arrival of spring. The first two lines, "i see a blue lake folding/ i hear a new age dawning," paint the picture of a beautiful scenic view, perhaps signifying the start of a new chapter.
The lyrics then go on to describe a new direction in the way people perceive their lives. There is a sense of mystery surrounding the changes that are taking place. Yet, everything is changing in a way that makes room for growth and renewal. The lyrics advocate for a fresh start and the ability to move forward. Just like how spring allows for new growth in nature, the song suggests that a new place can be taken and growth can occur in life as well.
The final line, "but until we leave, all in all, all is all that we perceive," portrays the idea that until we move from where we are now, we can only observe things from our current perspective. This suggests that change is needed to truly experience the new day that is dawning.
Line by Line Meaning
i see a blue lake folding
I witness a serene and peaceful lake appearing to fold into itself, potentially signaling change or transformation.
i hear a new age dawning
I become aware of a new era, characterized by different attitudes and ideals, slowly emerging.
there's a new direction in the way we see our lives to be
We are starting to perceive our lives differently and are taking a new approach in the way we live.
mysteriously, everything's changing making way for spring
Although we may not fully comprehend the reasons behind it, there is a pervasive shift taking place that is paving the way for a new season.
i see a new day dawning
I recognize that a fresh start is on the horizon, bringing with it new opportunities and possibilities.
i feel a new wave forming
I sense that a new movement or trend is beginning to take shape.
there's a new place we can take
We have the chance to venture in a new direction, explore uncharted territories, and try new things.
among the leaves, among the trees
We can immerse ourselves in nature and find solace and inspiration among the flora and fauna.
but until we leave, all in all, all is all that we perceive
However, until we depart from our current mindset and paradigm, we will continue to perceive the world as we always have and will not be able to fully embrace the new possibilities available to us.
Contributed by Hannah E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.