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.
No Growing
The Olivia Tremor Control Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
trying to illuminate the lines
of my time
please tell the here and now
present the case somehow
and open up their lines
there is no growing
without the light inside
what do you do when the magic's gone?
what do you do when the magic's gone away?
there is an ideal and i'm going to reach for it
there is an ideal and i'm going to try
open up your heart, open up your heart
there is no growing in knowing where you're going
without the light inside, without the light inside
without the light
inside
The Olivia Tremor Control's song No Growing seems to be a reflection on the uncertainty and anxiety that can come with trying to find one's place in the world. The first two lines suggest a fear of death and the desire to leave some sort of legacy behind, but also a feeling of being lost and needing guidance to make sense of one's life. The question of what to do when the "magic" is gone could be interpreted as a metaphor for when life loses its sense of wonder and purpose. The chorus about "no growing in knowing where you're going without the light inside" suggests that without inner guidance and a sense of meaning, personal growth and progress may be stunted or even impossible.
The line "there is an ideal and I'm going to reach for it" suggests a desire to strive for something higher or more meaningful, while "open up your heart" could be seen as an invitation to be vulnerable and receptive to love and guidance. The repetition of the chorus at the end of the song reinforces the idea that finding inner light and purpose is crucial for personal growth and fulfillment.
Overall, the lyrics to No Growing convey a sense of yearning, uncertainty, and the belief that with inner guidance and a willingness to remain open and vulnerable, we can still find meaning and purpose even in the face of the unknown.
Line by Line Meaning
if i should discorporate
If I were to die
trying to illuminate the lines
Attempting to shed light on the meaning of life
of my time
During my existence
please tell the here and now
Let my message be heard in the present
present the case somehow
Make my argument clear
and open up their lines
Allow others to share their experiences
there is no growing
One cannot progress
in knowing where you're going
If you're aware of your destination
without the light inside
Without inner motivation or inspiration
what do you do when the magic's gone?
When life loses its meaning or excitement
what do you do when the magic's gone away?
When the passion or drive has faded
there is an ideal and i'm going to reach for it
There is a goal that I want to achieve
there is an ideal and i'm going to try
I will attempt to pursue this goal
open up your heart, open up your heart
Be receptive to new experiences and emotions
without the light
Lacking inner motivation or inspiration
Contributed by Gabriella P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.