From the sleeve notes for the latest release End Titles...Stories For Film released in July 2008, the current line-up is stated as James Lavelle and Pablo Clements, also a member of the Psychonauts.
The original line-up was James Lavelle, Tim Goldsworthy (now a member of DFA) and Kudo (Major Force West, Skylab). This incarnation released several EPs and singles, usually involving collaborations with other Mo'Wax affiliated artists.
In 1998, after the departure of Goldsworthy and Kudo, Lavelle enlisted US producer DJ Shadow to help complete UNKLE's debut album, "Psyence Fiction". On this album they collaborated with a variety of guest artists including Thom Yorke (Radiohead), Mike D (Beastie Boys), Badly Drawn Boy and Richard Ashcroft (The Verve). The album contained songs which merged indie-rock with hip hop.
In 2003 UNKLE released "Never, Never, Land". At this time UNKLE consisted of Lavelle and new collaborator Richard File, and the album also featured Ian Brown (The Stone Roses), Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age), Robert Del Naja (Massive Attack), Mani (The Stone Roses, Primal Scream) and others.
A third album entitled "War Stories" was released in July 2007. It features collaborations with Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age), Ian Astbury (The Cult), Autolux, Robert Del Naja (Massive Attack), The Duke Spirit, and Gavin Clark, and is far more strongly rock-influenced than previous releases. The album was preceded by an EP, Nights Temper, of which a limited pressing was released in May 2007.
Lavelle has also released several mix albums and remixes under his own name and under the name UNKLEsounds (together with Richard File).
UNKLE is known for remixing music from artists such as Explosions in the Sky, Massive Attack, and Oasis.
Blade in the Back
UNKLE Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't belong at all
Got my face in the corner
Got my back to the wall
And pretty baby I'm restless, restless
Restless through and through
I'm restless, restless
I'm a hair trigger lover
And I can't face up to nothing
I'm impatient with the wind
But I'm waitin' here for somethin'
And pretty baby I'm restless, restless
Restless through and through
I'm restless, restless
You look restless too
Restless sleep, twisted dreams
Moving targets, silent screams
Restless city, restless street
Restless you , restless me
I'm a face at the window
I'm a black satin sheet
And I can't stay warm
I stay out in the street
And pretty baby I'm restless, restless
Restless through and through
I'm restless, restless
You look restless too
The lyrics to “Blade in the Black” by UNKLE featuring Gavin Clark depict a state of unease and discomfort, both physically and emotionally. The singer seems to be feeling out of place and disconnected from the world around them. The repetition of “restless” emphasizes this feeling, as if the singer is unable to settle or find peace.
The opening lines suggest a sense of isolation and possible abandonment. The singer feels like they don’t belong anywhere and are trapped in a corner with their back against the wall. This creates a feeling of vulnerability and powerlessness.
The second verse reveals more about the singer’s state of mind. They describe themselves as a “hair trigger lover,” suggesting a tendency towards impulsiveness and volatility. The line “I’m impatient with the wind, but I’m waiting here for something” suggests a sense of aimlessness and uncertainty. These feelings of restlessness and anxiety are then echoed in the chorus, which emphasizes that the singer is “restless through and through” and that their love interest also looks “restless too.”
The final verse further emphasizes the sense of unease, with mentions of “twisted dreams,” “silent screams,” and a “restless city.” The repeated use of “restless” and the accumulation of disturbing images create an overall sense of being trapped and unable to escape the feeling of disconnection and restlessness.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't belong to no one
I don't have allegiance to anyone
I don't belong at all
I don't have a place that feels like home
Got my face in the corner
I feel trapped and alone
Got my back to the wall
I feel cornered and defensive
And pretty baby I'm restless, restless
I can't sit still or find peace
Restless through and through
I'm always on edge
You look restless too
I sense that you're also searching for something
I'm a hair trigger lover
I fall in love easily, but also lose interest quickly
And I can't face up to nothing
I struggle to confront difficult realities
I'm impatient with the wind
I'm frustrated with the uncertainty of life
But I'm waitin' here for somethin'
I'm still hopeful for something better
Restless sleep, twisted dreams
My sleep is troubled by difficult dreams
Moving targets, silent screams
I feel like I'm constantly chasing after something that's always out of reach
Restless city, restless street
The world around me feels tumultuous and unsteady
Restless you, restless me
We're both searching for something that we can't quite define
I'm a face at the window
I feel like an outsider looking in
I'm a black satin sheet
I'm dark and mysterious
And I can't stay warm
I can't find comfort or contentment
I stay out in the street
I feel like I don't belong anywhere
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RONALD BROWN, ROBERT AICKIN, JOSH HOMME, JAMES GABRIEL LEO LAVELLE, RICHARD LEIGH FILE, CHRIS GOSS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind