Winds came into existence in 1998 when four Norwegian musicians from different backgrounds happened to cross musical paths. This was a result of previous work some of them had done with each other and through mutual acquaintances who lead them together. These individuals were already renowned within their specialties: Lars Eric Si as a vocalist with a truly unique voice, Carl August Tidemann as a neo-classical guitar virtuoso, Jan Axel von Blomberg as the most highly regarded metal drummer of our time, and Andy Winter as a classically inspired pianist.
Looking back at the history of the band, as the first recording “Of Entity And Mind” was completed in 2000, Avantgarde Music made an offer to sign Winds for two records. This deal was inked without even presenting the music to any other labels. “Of Entity And Mind” was received with awe by the fans as they didn’t anticipate Winds’ uncompromising combination of classical, progressive and metal music with sounds and harmonies. It was unlike anything else done before.
As “Of Entity And Mind” continued receiving positive feedback, the band had not been idle and was already far into the process of composing the follow-up, to be entitled “Reflections Of The I”. After this record was completed, The End Records, who inquired about licensing the album for America, contacted the band. Avantgarde Music was consulted and accepted the offer. “Reflections Of The I” was released in 2002 and hosted great reviews and critical acclaim, receiving top scores in virtually every significant publication related to their style of music.
As before, the band was still on a creative rollercoaster and had almost completed ideas for all the tracks to a third album even before the previous was released. Having fulfilled their contract with Avantgarde Music, Winds was now free to accept offers from other labels. Once again, The End Records was quick to put an offer on the table, this time to take on the band worldwide. The band accepted the offer without hesitation, and although other labels had showed interest, the band signed to The End Records for three more albums.
So the time came to start recording the third album. The drums were recorded first, along with some basic guitar and piano ideas that were to be re-recorded later. As life went on for the Winds members, while also occupying themselves with other bands and projects, tours and recordings, suddenly a whole year had gone by before any serious activity had happened with the band since the drum recordings. The band members now found themselves in a situation where activity in other bands had started to slow down, and their involvements in many of their other bands and projects had either been put on hold or even abandoned altogether. This was quite a significant time for Winds as it allowed the band to refocus their activity on completing the record and it also made them realize that this band was indeed a top priority for all the members.
After six months of being in and out of the studios (Toproom and Fagerborg in Norway, and The Factory in Vancouver for mixing) the album was finally completed. The third Winds effort is entitled “The Imaginary Direction Of Time”. Following in the vein of the previous albums with philosophically charged lyrics, the new album takes Winds to new heights both in the lyrical and musical field. This is without a doubt the band’s most elegant album to date, and it also has a new and added dimension of intricacy because of the increased collective effort in the compositional process. The members’ personal growth and accomplishments on their instruments also shine through on this record, and the band feels this is the most accomplished record they have ever worked on, featuring the best individual performances they have ever done but also their best collective effort through carefully designed arrangements and a world class production that can compete with any other top release in the world today
(official site: www.winds.ws)
A Moment For Reflection
Winds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I see a distant star in the cold sky
For a single moment, time stands still and becomes an eternity of lost dreams
I'm looking at that dark place, somewhere out there in the universe
I awake from my trance: reality is still intact, still unharmed and unbroken
Not even my last resolve can change its will
Each moment ahead is completely in the dark
I take a step further into the night, having remembered, but still I remain
The source of this design is unknown,
Yet walking in circles seems to have meaning somehow
The lyrics to Winds' song "A Moment For Reflection" speak to the human condition of feeling lost and unsure of one's place in the universe. The imagery of a shadow covering the singer encapsulates this feeling of being overwhelmed by darkness and uncertainty. However, the singer also sees a distant star in the cold sky, which momentarily provides a glimmer of hope or clarity. The line "time stands still and becomes an eternity of lost dreams" suggests the singer is reflecting on past experiences and perhaps feeling regret or sadness about what could have been.
Despite this moment of reflection, the singer realizes that reality is still intact and cannot be changed by their own will alone. The second half of the song shifts to a more introspective perspective, with the singer acknowledging that each moment is shrouded in darkness and that the only gift we have is fragments of memory. The line "Yet walking in circles seems to have meaning somehow" speaks to the human desire to find purpose and meaning in life, even when it may feel like we are going around in circles. Overall, the song expresses a sense of existential angst and a desire to find meaning and clarity in an uncertain world.
Line by Line Meaning
A shadow covers me
I feel engulfed in darkness and uncertainty
I see a distant star in the cold sky
I catch a glimpse of hope in the midst of despair
For a single moment, time stands still and becomes an eternity of lost dreams
I realize the fleeting nature of life and mourn missed opportunities
I'm looking at that dark place, somewhere out there in the universe
I contemplate the mysteries of the cosmos and my place within it
I awake from my trance: reality is still intact, still unharmed and unbroken
I snap back to reality and accept the present state of things
Not even my last resolve can change its will
I acknowledge the powerlessness of even my strongest efforts
Each moment ahead is completely in the dark
I am uncertain of what the future holds
We know nothing of what's to come and fragments of memory is our only gift
Our only true possession is our past experiences and knowledge
I take a step further into the night, having remembered, but still I remain
I move forward with caution, carrying the weight of my past with me
The source of this design is unknown
The origin of our existence and fate is a mystery
Yet walking in circles seems to have meaning somehow
Despite the confusion, there is a sense that our path has purpose
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
livingxdisaster
I will always love this album.
Lynsey Miller ladydeath
this album is beyond great
TheNethunshiel
Great Winds.
skollheim
put this in the search box: winds reflections of the i