Formed in Berkshire in 1998 by guitarist Phil Mercy and bassist Paul Beecham, the band quickly acquired singer Simon Boys and drummer Mark Robotham, but the search for a suitably talented keyboard player was to take nearly two years, with the intervening time spent writing and rehearsing with sequencing software. Recording for their independently released debut album Head (2000) began just six weeks after the arrival of Wolfgang Kindl on keyboards.
Writing began almost immediately for the next CD, but a few months later Paul Beecham announced his departure due to family commitments and the band recruited bassist Andy Bonham. Andy introduced some fretless bass playing for variation and the less pressured Beecham was able to contribute some oboe playing to the second album, Argot (2001).
The next lineup change came with Simon Boys leaving for nearly identical reasons as Paul Beecham. Never ones to miss an opportunity, the remaining members decided to shake things up a bit and persuaded Amy Darby to join on lead vocals and woodwind. Shibboleth, the third album, was released in 2003.
After some touring and appearances at various prog friendly festivals in the USA and Europe, Wolfgang Kindl decided to return to his native Germany and start a family. This kicked the band into a period of hibernation. Without knowing the palette of sounds and influences that a new keyboard player would bring, Phil Mercy found himself uninspired to write new material and he instead concentrated on updating his recording studio and ironing out the many problems that the process uncovered.
Eventually, when it looked like the studio update would become a never ending saga, It was discovered that Anglagard alumnus Thomas Johnson was living and working in Oxford. A few emails and a pub meeting later and Thieves' Kitchen had a new keyboard player.
Phil, Amy and Thomas quickly forged a blissful writing team and soon had much of the material written that was to become The Water Road. Thomas had brought with him a darker and more symphonic approach which blended well with Phil's Canterburyesque fusion stylings. Amy's folk influences were also highlighted with the introduction of her harp playing. With the richness that was starting to become apparent in the sound of the new material it was decided to go all the way to achieve a more orchestral and organic sound. Ironically, considering the extensive update of Phil's studio, this involved the band recording the backing tracks live without a clicktrack as an ensemble in Aubitt Studios. This allowed the tempo to ebb and flow naturally as the mood required. Mark Robotham also set aside his hitherto ubiquitous electronic kit and used acoustic drums for greater sensitivity. Additional instruments were added, with Anna Holmgren of Anglagard on flute, Stina Peterssen on cello and Paul Beecham making a reappearance on oboe and soprano sax.
The Water Road was released in 2008 to critical acclaim.
While work continued on new material, during delays caused by various factors, including Thomas Johnson's relocation back to Sweden and his work on the new Anglagard release (all with everyone's full blessing and encouragement), it became apparent that Thieves' Kitchen was not destined to be the busy live act that both Andy Bonham and Mark Robotham would wish for, so they and Thieves' Kitchen amicably parted company.
Their places have been taken for the recording sessions by the rhythm section from Sanquine Hum, Paul Mallyon on drums and Brad Waissman on bass.
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www.thieveskitchen.co.uk
Time
Thieves' Kitchen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wish I had the time to hide away, so I can get through another dull day
I have to go to where I want to be, inside of my own misery
Then I look at you and wonder why I have to hide, not let my feelings out
In the morning, paint the world in colours for your disguise
Can’t you see things with my eyes?
Don’t let me hide
Picture horses running through the sea, I wish I could be running with them
I can feel the sand beneath my feet, my dreams of freedom feel like this
I long for chances to prove myself but you will only push them away
And when I ask you for a reason why it makes me wonder why I even try
Some nights I lie awake
Watching my life pass me by
When will someone tell me what I need to know?
The lyrics to Thieves' Kitchen's song "Time" are a poignant reflection on the feeling of being trapped in a mundane life and longing for escape. The opening lines describe looking at pictures in a magazine and imagining being somewhere else, wishing there was time to escape from the drudgery of daily life. The singer feels the need to hide their true feelings and retreat into their own misery, but also wonders why they can't be more open and honest about their struggles.
As the song progresses, the singer speaks of wanting to see the world in brighter colors and wishing that others could see it through their eyes. They long for the chance to prove themselves and chase their dreams, but face obstacles that seem insurmountable. The final lines express a sense of hopelessness and a desire for answers and guidance.
Overall, "Time" is a deeply introspective song that touches on themes of isolation, longing, and the struggle to break free from a stagnant existence. It speaks to the universal human experience of feeling trapped and searching for purpose and meaning in life.
Line by Line Meaning
I see pictures in a magazine, I look at them and think of there
I'm bored with my life and I'm daydreaming of something more exciting
I wish I had the time to hide away, so I can get through another dull day
I wish I had more time to myself or a way to escape my boring routine
I have to go to where I want to be, inside of my own misery
I need to confront my own problems and emotions, even if it's uncomfortable
Then I look at you and wonder why I have to hide, not let my feelings out
I feel like I can't be myself around you, and it's frustrating
In the morning, paint the world in colours for your disguise
Put on a happy face to hide your true feelings
Can’t you see things with my eyes?
Can't you understand what I'm going through?
Don’t let me hide
Encourage me to be honest about my feelings
Picture horses running through the sea, I wish I could be running with them
I daydream about freedom and adventure
I can feel the sand beneath my feet, my dreams of freedom feel like this
The sensation of sand beneath my feet reminds me of what true freedom would feel like
I long for chances to prove myself but you will only push them away
I want opportunities to prove myself but you seem to be holding me back
And when I ask you for a reason why it makes me wonder why I even try
When I ask for an explanation, it feels like you don't trust me or don't think I can handle the truth
Some nights I lie awake
Sometimes I have trouble sleeping
Watching my life pass me by
Feeling like I'm not making progress or doing anything meaningful
When will someone tell me what I need to know?
When will I find the answers I'm looking for?
Contributed by Logan J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.