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.
NYC-25
The Olivia Tremor Control Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We spin around on the turnstiles we create
Here we are in caravan
Blinders up high we're the dreamers
Don't forget you're the only one (you're the only one)
You hold your kite on a string
Don't sleep too long 'cause everything you need is right here
Don't sleep too long, everything you need is right here
Don't sleep too long, pleasant dreams but please don't sleep too long
Here we are in Candyland
One million dreams are realizing everyday
Here we are in Apple Corps
Four million feet walk right by me everyday
Here we are in old New York
Ten million eyes stare right through me
Don't forget you're not the only one (not the only one)
Who turned your life all around
Don't sleep too long 'cause everything you need is right here
Don't sleep too long, pleasant dreams but please
Don't sleep too long, everything you need is right here
Don't sleep too long, pleasant dreams but please don't sleep too long
Pleasant dreams but please don't sleep too long
The Olivia Tremor Control's song NYC-25 highlights the experiences of individuals as they move around the world, emphasizing the creation of their own turnstiles and their identity as dreamers. The lyrics speak of how every individual holds their kite on a string, and they should not forget that they are the only ones holding their dreams. The song further highlights that the world provides everything one needs, and individuals should not sleep too long, or they might miss out on their dreams.
The song mentions three different places; Candyland, Apple Corps, and old New York, symbolizing the various experiences individuals have as they move around the world. As millions of people walk by, their lives intertwine in the moment, but they also realize that they are not the only ones. Everyone has the power to turn their life around and live their dreams; they only need to hold on to their kite and not sleep too much.
In summary, NYC-25 is a song about the experiences of individuals as they spin around their turnstiles. A reminder that they are not alone, and they should not forget to hold their kite and follow their dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
Here we go around the world
We are traveling around the world in a cyclical manner.
We spin around on the turnstiles we create
We are in control of our own movement through life.
Here we are in caravan
We are in this journey together, moving in unison.
Blinders up high we're the dreamers
We have our sights set high and we are the ones with the imagination and vision to make great things happen.
Don't forget you're the only one (you're the only one)
You are unique and special, don't forget that.
You hold your kite on a string
You have the power to guide and control your own destiny.
Don't sleep too long 'cause everything you need is right here
There is no need to search elsewhere, everything you need is already within your reach.
Don't sleep too long, pleasant dreams but please
It's okay to dream, but don't get lost in your dreams for too long.
Here we are in Candyland
We are in a sweet and delightful place in our lives.
One million dreams are realizing everyday
Dreams are coming true for many people, including ourselves.
Here we are in Apple Corps
We are surrounded by opportunity and success.
Four million feet walk right by me everyday
There are many people around us, but we must focus on our own journey.
Here we are in old New York
We are in a big, bustling city where we can feel invisible.
Ten million eyes stare right through me
There are many people around us, but we must remember our own value.
Don't forget you're not the only one (not the only one)
You are not alone, there are others out there who have gone through similar experiences.
Who turned your life all around
Someone, or something, has had a significant impact on your life and helped you turn it around.
Pleasant dreams but please don't sleep too long
It's important to have pleasant dreams, but don't forget to wake up and make them a reality.
Contributed by Carson S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.