An excerpt from a Nettwerk Records press release, July 1996:
The roots of The Tear Garden extend back to 1983 when Cevin Key, on the verge of forming Skinny Puppy, struck up a trans-Atlantic correspondence with Edward Ka-Spel, the lead vocalist and driving force behind The Legendary Pink Dots. Three years later, Ka-Spel visited Vancouver for a series of three live performances with Key as sound technician, and during his visit, they recorded The Tear Garden's self-titled debut EP.
In 1987, Ka-Spel returned to open for Skinny Puppy on their North American tour, after which the duo retreated to the studio for two weeks to produce the now classic electronic-psychedelic album, Tired Eyes Slowly Burning. It was during these sessions that the project's ranks began to expand, with guest appearances by Key's fellow Puppies Dwayne Goettel and Nivek Ogre.
Four years later, the Garden bloomed again, this time growing well beyond the Key/Ka-Spel partnership to include not only Goettel, but a wide assortment of friends, including most of the Pink Dots. This fruitful month-long collaboration spawned two releases: an album called The Last Man To Fly, and a (very long) EP called Sheila Liked The Rodeo.
Another four years passed. Four years that saw literal and figurative deaths (the departure of both Skinny Puppy and LPD from their long-time labels; the subsequent break-up of SP; the tragic passing of Dwayne Goettel) and births (Edward's son, Calyxx; Download; Key's return to Nettwerk).
In late December, 1995, in the midst of this turbulence, The Tear Garden gathered once more, perhaps to attempt to trigger the dawn of a tranquil new era. The result was To Be An Angel Blind, The Crippled Soul Divide, an album of fragile and powerful beauty that digs even deeper into the psychedelic underground than its predecessors, adding a range of influences from dub bass to country slide guitar, all the while retaining the dark electronic melancholy that has become the project's signature.
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Four more years passed. Tear Garden got back together in 1999 and in 2000, Crystal Mass was released. In 2001, a "best of" collection was issued by the Russian label Brudenia, Для Тех, Ҡто Прогулялся Бьі С Богами (which translates to "For Those Who Would Walk with the Gods") as well as an "outtakes" collection released by Cevin Key's Subconscious Communications label, Eye Spy with My Little Eye.
2007 saw the release of The Secret Experiment, once again on Subconscious Communications. This is from the "Vault 2" series but features new music.
Currently, Edward and cEvin wrapped up their sessions of 13 tracks, compiled into a brand new upcoming TG release, available through Subcon.
Discography
* Tired Eyes Slowly Burning (1987)
* Last Man to Fly (1992)
* Sheila Liked The Rodeo (1993)
* Bouquet of Black Orchids (1993)
* To Be an Angel Blind, The Crippled Soul Divide (1996)
* Crystal Mass (2000)
* Eye Spy With My Little Eye (2002)
* The Secret Experiment (2007)
http://brainwashed.com/teargarden/
Ascension Day
The Tear Garden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I pushed pillows in my ears - I concealed my face.
No, don't you even try to catch my eye, it sits frozen in its place.
Here it's invitation only...I'm lonely, but I'm forced to say
that I cannot see you now.
Yet everywhere I walk I'm crushing something
because I cannot see the stairs.
I'd share my sores with you over coffee,
And someone stole my badge
and now I've lost the right to be here or breathe the air.
It's not fair, but that's just the way things are.
And I cannot see you now...
But through it all my princess holds my hand
and assures me there's an island
yet untouched by human hand.
We must simply keep believing
and simply keep our eyes fixed on the morning.
So I threw my pillows to the wind and I waited for my wings...
And you cannot see me now!
The Tear Garden's song Ascension Day is a profound expression of struggling to find solace and comfort in a world that's shallow and unwelcoming. The opening line, "I tried to find some silence in this shallow space" portrays the singer's sense of urgency to escape the noise and chaos that surrounds them. Despite their efforts to shut out the world by pushing pillows in their ears and concealing their face, they cannot evade the reality that they cannot connect with anyone. The line "No, don't you even try to catch my eye, it sits frozen in its place" conveys the singer's inability to interact with others due to their emotional state of mind.
The singer is desperate for human connection but the environment around them is hostile and unforgiving. They express their loneliness by saying, "Here it's invitation only...I'm lonely, but I'm forced to say that I cannot see you now." This line exemplifies the idea that the singer is isolated and excluded from the world they long to be a part of. The singer also feels like they are destructive, as they are "crushing something because I cannot see the stairs". They can't see clearly and are unable to navigate their environment without causing destruction, adding further to their sense of anxiety.
The song's overall theme is one of hope, as the singer's princess assures them that there is an "island yet untouched by human hand". They encourage one another not to lose hope, to keep believing and keep their eyes fixed on the morning. The final line, "And you cannot see me now!" is powerful as the singer is fully embracing new possibilities and is ready to fly away from the shallow space.
Line by Line Meaning
I tried to find some silence in this shallow space.
I attempted to find peace and quietness in this superficial environment.
I pushed pillows in my ears - I concealed my face.
I covered my ears with pillows and hid my face in order to shut out the noise and avoid confrontations.
No, don't you even try to catch my eye, it sits frozen in its place.
Please don't attempt to make eye contact with me, for my gaze is permanently transfixed.
Here it's invitation only...I'm lonely, but I'm forced to say that I cannot see you now.
I feel isolated and estranged in this exclusive area, and I'm obligated to inform you that I'm currently unavailable for communication.
Yet everywhere I walk I'm crushing something because I cannot see the stairs.
As I move around blindly, I'm constantly stepping on or tripping over objects due to my inability to perceive the stairs or the path ahead of me.
I'd share my sores with you over coffee, but the queue's 1000 years...
I'd be willing to confide my troubles and burdens to you over coffee, but the line to acquire a cup of coffee is incredibly long and time-consuming.
And someone stole my badge and now I've lost the right to be here or breathe the air.
My identification or permission to inhabit this place has vanished, and as a result, I'm now denied the right to exist here, let alone breathe the air.
It's not fair, but that's just the way things are.
Although I recognize the injustice of the situation, it's simply an inevitable reality that can't be changed.
And I cannot see you now...
Unfortunately, I'm unable to make contact with you at this moment.
But through it all my princess holds my hand and assures me there's an island yet untouched by human hand.
Despite my current hardships, my loved one is by my side and encourages me to seek refuge on an uninhabited island that remains unspoiled by humanity.
We must simply keep believing and simply keep our eyes fixed on the morning.
We need to maintain our optimism and hopefulness, focusing on the prospect of a new day and the possibilities that lie ahead.
So I threw my pillows to the wind and I waited for my wings...
I released my hold on comfort and security, and I patiently awaited my ability to fly or escape my current state.
And you cannot see me now!
I'm concealed from view and beyond visibility at this time.
Contributed by Chase A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.