Former members include co-founder Sam Genders (vocals, guitar), who left the band before the release of "...And Then We Saw Land" (Mar 2010, Full Time Hobby).
Tunng started after Genders and Lindsay met, in the latter's Soho basement studio (below a clothes shop). Genders was a singer-songwriter and Lindsay had the studio (making electronica and living through advertising music production). They found that Lindsay's distinctive way with twinkling sounds, and tight production, significantly enhanced the folky songs they were writing - A signature sound developed.
Tunng's first album was "Mother's Daughter And Other Songs" (Jan 2005, Static Caravan) - However, since Genders made at first the choice not to play live, Lindsay found Jacobs and Bates. to help with live shows. Over time, Winter and Smith became part of the band and have all contributed more to recordings, first on "Comments Of The Inner Chorus" (May 2006, Full Time Hobby), then more so on "Good Arrows" (Aug 2007, Full Time Hobby).
The 2010 album, "...And Then We Saw Land", has been the most successful to date and was recorded in the semi-legendary Play Industries Studio, Shoreditch, with access to its vast collection of vintage synthesizers helping develop a more delicate and inter-woven production style. Glenister added live drums to the gigs, from 2009, for a heavier sound, a long way from the seated studio project Tunng once was.
On "Turbines": "...often beloved for its bucolic oddness and modernist gleam, Tunng's polyphonic future folk blossoms with enchanting melodies, simmering grooves, and found sound that has propelled the band into a paradise of exceeded expectations" (Absolute Punk).
Beautiful and Light
Tunng Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Walks out to fetch the shotgun from the shed
Feels just a little rush and climbs into the car
Slow down a moment
Drives out along the lane and calmly into town
Stops to let the music come around
Walks down to the bank and draws a quiet breath
Slow down a moment
Switch on, all's fine, burn out, on fire
Stitched tight, beautiful and light
Lights a cigarette, climbs the marble stairs
And waves the gun around
To paint a meaning
Money comes like rain
Feel this; easy feeling
She drives the car away
And laughs and smiles
Stops to count the notes out for a while
And when she's done, drives on
For a sunrise
The lyrics to Tunng's song "Beautiful and Light" tell a dark story of a woman named Katie who walks out of her house, feeling a snap, and switches off the tap. She heads towards the shed and fetches a shotgun, feeling a little rush, and climbs into the car. The song paints a picture of a calm and decisive woman, who drives out along the lane into town, stops to let the music come around, and walks down to the bank. Katie draws a quiet breath, lights a cigarette and climbs the marble stairs with the gun in her hand. She waves the gun around to paint a meaning, while money comes like rain, and she feels an easy feeling.
The song describes the scene of a woman who has snapped and is on the verge of committing a crime, but it is not clear what her motive is, or who her targets are. Maybe she's a robber, or she's seeking revenge, or she's simply tired of her mundane and monotonous life. The lyrics create a sense of tension and apprehension, with the haunting melody and the visceral imagery.
Line by Line Meaning
Katie feels a snap and switches off the tap
Katie suddenly comes out of her thoughts and turns off the running water.
Walks out to fetch the shotgun from the shed
She is on a mission and heads out to get the shotgun from the shed.
Feels just a little rush and climbs into the car
She is excited and heads towards the car.
Slow down a moment
She encourages herself to take it slow.
Drives out along the lane and calmly into town
She drives towards the town with a serene composure.
Stops to let the music come around
She stops the car to take in the music playing in the background.
Walks down to the bank and draws a quiet breath
She walks down to the bank and takes a deep breath to calm herself.
Slow down a moment
She again reminds herself to slow down and take it easy.
Switch on, all's fine, burn out, on fire
Things start well but end badly and with intense emotions.
Stitched tight, beautiful and light
Despite the chaos that may ensue, it is beautiful and light.
Lights a cigarette, climbs the marble stairs
She lights a cigarette and begins to climb the stairs, still in a nonchalant mood.
And waves the gun around
She waves the gun around, indicating her lack of fear.
To paint a meaning
She uses the gun as a metaphorical tool to make a statement.
Money comes like rain
Money flows easily into her life like raindrops falling from the sky.
Feel this; easy feeling
She reminds herself of the untroubled sensation she is experiencing.
She drives the car away
She gets back into the car and starts driving away.
And laughs and smiles
She finds joy and amusement in the situation.
Stops to count the notes out for a while
She halts to count the money she has obtained.
And when she's done, drives on
She continues her journey after counting money.
For a sunrise
She looks forward to the dawn and a fresh start waiting for her.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind