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.
Unkle Main Title Theme
UNKLE Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Put aside the everyday world and come with us
Into the realm of imagination
The middle ground between light and shadow
U-N-K-L-E
Would've ordinarily unveiled themselves as a guarantee of anonymity
But could include among other notable figures, .
Keep on rockin, keep on rock, rock, rock, keep on rockin
Keep-keep-keep on rock, K-L-E, keep on, .K-L-E
Keep on, L-E, L-E, rockin'
You-N-K-L-E, you-N-K, you-N-K, you-N-K-K-L-L-E
It's the awesome eternal Unkle word-word-word, .word
Science fiction, science, science fiction, science fiction
Fiction, fiction, science, science fict- bio breaker
An adventure unlike anything on your planet
Keep on, keep on, keep on, keep on, keep on, keep on, keep on
Keep keep on rockin'
Keep keep in keep keep keep in keep keep on keep keep in keep on
Keep on keep keep keep on rockin'
Keep on you keep on N keep on K keep on L keep on E
Keep on rockin' E
U (U-N) N (L-L-L) K-L-E,
There were too many of us
We had access to too many, uh, too much money
Too much equipment, and little by little we went insane
Fiery the angels fell, burning in the fires of Orc
You-N-K-L-E, you-N-K, you-N-K, you-N-K-K-L-L-E
A ticket to nothingness,
Unkle
The lyrics of "Unkle Main Title Theme" by UNKLE comprise of an invitation into the realm of imagination, a middle ground between light and shadow. "There, there, there, there, Put aside the everyday world and come with us" signify an escape from the mundane world into the unknown territories. UNKLE is an abbreviation of "U.N.K.L.E," which represents a guarantee of anonymity, unmasking the identity of the figures involved, including DJ Shadow and James Lavelle, among others. The line "Keep on rockin, keep on rock, rock, rock, keep on rockin" acts as an encouragement to keep going.
The lyrics also refer to science fiction, taking the listeners on an adventure unlike anything on earth. The phrase "An adventure unlike anything on your planet" produces imagery of a journey to another planet, where an adventure in science fiction awaits. The reference to burning angels falling from the sky is quoting William Blake's poem "And Did Those Feet in Ancient Times," signifying an apocalyptic end to life as we know it. In the end, the "ticket to nothingness" encapsulates the sublimity of a journey that takes us beyond our cognitive limitations.
Line by Line Meaning
There, there, there, there,
Let go of the mundane and let us take you on a journey
Put aside the everyday world and come with us
Leave reality behind and enter the realm of imagination
Into the realm of imagination
A journey into the world of creativity and thought
The middle ground between light and shadow
The gray area between good and evil
U-N-K-L-E
The enigmatic word of UNKLE
Would've ordinarily unveiled themselves as a guarantee of anonymity
UNKLE would normally provide anonymity
But could include among other notable figures, . DJ Shadow and James Lavelle
DJ Shadow and James Lavelle could be part of UNKLE
Keep on rockin, keep on rock, rock, rock, keep on rockin
Continue to enjoy the music, keep rocking
Keep-keep-keep on rock, K-L-E, keep on, .K-L-E
Continue rocking and enjoy the beats of UNKLE
Keep on, L-E, L-E, rockin'
Keep enjoying the music of UNKLE
You-N-K-L-E, you-N-K, you-N-K, you-N-K-K-L-L-E
The word UNKLE is forever immortalized
It's the awesome eternal Unkle word-word-word, .word
The word UNKLE is a powerful and everlasting concept
Science fiction, science, science fiction, science fiction
The blending of science and fiction to create something unique
Fiction, fiction, science, science fict- bio breaker
Merging different elements to create a unique concept
An adventure unlike anything on your planet
The journey with UNKLE is a unique experience
Keep on, keep on, keep on, keep on, keep on, keep on, keep on
Continue to enjoy the music of UNKLE
Keep keep on rockin'
Keep enjoying the beats of UNKLE
Keep keep in keep keep keep in keep keep on keep keep in keep on
Continue to enjoy the rhythm and beats of UNKLE
Keep on keep keep keep on rockin'
Keep enjoying the music of UNKLE
Keep on you keep on N keep on K keep on L keep on E
Continue to be part of the UNKLE world and enjoy the music
Keep on rockin' E
Keep enjoying the music created by UNKLE
U (U-N) N (L-L-L) K-L-E,
The spelling of UNKLE
There were too many of us
We had a lot of people involved in the project
We had access to too many, uh, too much money
We had ample resources at our disposal
Too much equipment, and little by little we went insane
With too much equipment, we lost our minds over time
Fiery the angels fell, burning in the fires of Orc
A reference to a poem by William Blake, expressing the chaos within the creative process
A ticket to nothingness,
A journey beyond reality and into abstraction
Unkle
A creative force, producing music that transcends traditional boundaries
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOSH PAUL DAVIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind