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.
Looking For Quiet Seeds
The Olivia Tremor Control Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
try to throw away the disguise
just below things are changing
the sky is going to rain inside tonight
try to throw away the flags of consciousness
flow through the fields of time
but when you pass the black foliage
you can always change your mind
The Olivia Tremor Control's song "Looking For Quiet Seeds" is a beautifully crafted piece of art that delves into the complexities of human nature. The lyrics contain various layers of meaning and interpretation, but one central theme that stands out is the idea of personal transformation.
The first line "don't try to throw away the skies you keep in there" can be interpreted as a metaphor for our deepest and most authentic selves, and how often we try to hide or suppress them. The following line "try to throw away the disguise" speaks directly to this idea, urging us to remove our masks and reveal our true selves to the world. The next two lines contain a sense of urgency, suggesting that change is coming and we should be prepared for it. The line "the sky is going to rain inside tonight" could refer to a release of emotions or a cathartic experience.
The next two lines "try to throw away the flags of consciousness, flow through the fields of time" encourage us to let go of our preconceptions and biases and allow ourselves to be open to new experiences. Finally, the last line "but when you pass the black foliage, you can always change your mind" seems to suggest that even if we have made a choice, there is always room for reconsideration and transformation.
Overall, the lyrics of the song urge us to embrace our true selves, be open to change, and let go of our preconceptions and biases.
Line by Line Meaning
don't try to throw away the skies you keep in there
Don't suppress your inner thoughts and feelings.
try to throw away the disguise
Be honest with yourself and others, don't hide behind false persona.
just below things are changing
Despite what may seem static at the surface, subtle changes are occurring beneath the visible layer.
the sky is going to rain inside tonight
Emotions are running high and may overflow, expressing themselves like raindrops from the sky.
try to throw away the flags of consciousness
Don't be bound by preconceptions or restrictive societal norms.
flow through the fields of time
Move freely through the course of your life, without being hampered by time constraints.
but when you pass the black foliage
There may be obstacles or dark times along the way.
you can always change your mind
It is never too late to change your choices, even after passing through difficult times.
Contributed by Christopher T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.