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/
Isis Veiled
The Tear Garden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Painted all the walls
I hung the medals, hid the magazines
As caped crusaders crawled down freedom street
Guns of liberation ushered in the dawn
One guy wears an eyepatch while the other wears a tie
One will play the liberator the other run and hide
I hear the cannons crack a mile down freedom street
The ninth wave claimed a thousand while another thousand fled
I'm getting low on beans and marmalade
I share my bed with locust girl she flies
Through the cracks across my head
She is always on my side
She's always on my side
I am always on your side
I'm always on your side
We're all on your side
There, there now...
At its core, "Isis Veiled" by The Tear Garden is a song that looks at the concept of revolution and its impact on people's lives. The lyrics illustrate the chaos and confusion that often come with political upheaval, with the singer of the song taking action to protect themselves against the turmoil. The opening lines of the song, "They're closing in, I switched the pictures / Painted all the walls / I hung the medals, hid the magazines," describe the actions the singer takes to conceal their identity and avoid being caught up in the revolution around them. As the song progresses, the lyrics describe the violence and destruction wrought by the revolution. The lines "I hear the cannons crack a mile down freedom street / Out of sight, out of mind" emphasize the distance the singer feels from the conflict, even as they are impacted by it.
The latter half of the song introduces a new character, "locust girl," who serves as a symbol of hope amidst the chaos. Despite the destruction and violence around them, the singer finds solace in the company of locust girl. The repeated refrain, "She is always on my side / I am always on your side / I'm always on your side / We're all on your side," underscores the sense of community and shared experience that can emerge in times of strife.
Overall, "Isis Veiled" is a song that grapples with the realities of political upheaval and its impact on individuals. The lyrics often resist easy interpretation, forcing the listener to grapple with ambiguity and uncertainty, much like the people caught up in the revolution described in the song.
Line by Line Meaning
They're closing in, I switched the pictures
In anticipation of imminent danger, I changed the décor.
Painted all the walls
I covered every surface with fresh paint.
I hung the medals, hid the magazines
I displayed my accomplishments while concealing my vices.
As caped crusaders crawled down freedom street
Superheroes patrolled the area, enforcing justice.
Guns of liberation ushered in the dawn
The fight for freedom was won through armed struggle.
One guy wears an eyepatch while the other wears a tie
Two distinct characters with different motives coexist.
One will play the liberator the other run and hide
One will fight for freedom while the other will avoid danger.
I hear the cannons crack a mile down freedom street
The sounds of war are audible in the distance.
Out of sight, out of mind
What is not visible goes unnoticed.
The ninth wave claimed a thousand while another thousand fled
Many lives were lost while others escaped.
I'm getting low on beans and marmalade
My food supplies are running out.
I share my bed with locust girl she flies
I have a strange companion who has qualities of both insects and humans.
Through the cracks across my head
My mind is not entirely sound.
She is always on my side
Despite her unusual nature, my companion remains loyal.
She's always on my side
The bond between me and my companion is strong.
I am always on your side
I will be there to support you, no matter what.
I'm always on your side
You can count on me to always have your back.
We're all on your side
Everyone is supporting you.
There, there now...
It's okay, everything will be alright.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: DWAYNE GOETTEL, EDWARD SHARP, KEVIN CROMPTON, MARTIJN DE KLEER, PHILIP KNIGHT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
ken loudermill
Such a great song! Love it
ken loudermill
Such a great song! Love it
Mod Goth
Great song! Get's better and better every time I play it!
lustmord01
Edward Ka-Spel and cEvin Key are capable of some truly remarkable music. I've seen LPD play some Tear garden before. Love Notes & Carnations was spectacular live.
HaleG
this is just so great ... the best music that came out of the whole Legendary Pink stuff (and that means a lot)!
absinthesis
This is a good one ... but "You, me and rainbows" is easily my favorite...
Rey Trasgo
that's a really good analogy. I have thought that myself ... about myself. I always say if someone wants to hear my life story like to the last man to fly and shelia liked the rodeo. just "feel" the music. nailed it on the head
kejos
well done doties. touching tune
chris piss
@electromusicblog always been one of my favorite tear garden songs as well. i even refer to my love as locust.
BInRt
Holy shit! Google the line "the ninth wave" from this song and see what comes up.