Young Galaxy formed in Vancouver, Canada, as duo including Stephen Ramsay and Catherine McCandless. Through that summer of 2005 and the spring of 2006 they recorded with appearances and contributions of friends at Jace Lasek’s Breakglass Studio. Their sound has been described as similar to the bands Slowdive, Galaxie 500 and Luna as well as Pink Floyd and Spiritualized. The band has toured in Canada, The United States and Europe, opening for Arcade Fire, The Album Leaf, The Frames, Peter, Bjorn and John, Stars and Death Cab For Cutie. They later moved to Montreal, where they recorded their self-titled debut. The album was released on April 24, 2007.
They recorded their second album Invisible Republic in Montreal at Hotel2Tango studio with Radwan Moumneh engineering (A Silver Mt. Zion, Pas Chic Chic) and at Breakglass Studios with Jace Lasek of The Besnard Lakes engineering. Invisible Republic was released independently on August 25, 2009 through Fontana North. It was mixed by Tony Doogan (Mogwai, Belle & Sebastian, Snow Patrol) in Glasgow, Scotland. It was subsequently released in July 2010 in the U.S.A. by Paper Bag Records, and received a long list nomination for the 2010 Polaris Music Prize.
The band followed up in fall 2010 with YG No Art EP, an EP comprising unreleased tracks and remixes from the Invisible Republic sessions.
Their third album, Shapeshifting, was recorded in Montreal, Canada, and was produced by Dan Lissvik of the band Studio in Gothenburg, Sweden. The band communicated with Lissvik via Skype over the nine months he spent mixing the recorded vocals.
The album, released in February 2011 on Paper Bag Records, has been described as a massive change in creative direction, eschewing their former shoegaze, dream-pop style for a more electronic pop sound. Stephen Ramsay describes the change in song composition method, "instead of picking up a guitar and finding the most brilliant melody we could, we tried to erase the shape of the songs."
Discography:
Swing Your Heartache (2006, EP)
Young Galaxy (2007)
Invisible Republic (2009)
YG No Art EP (2010)
Shapeshifting (2011)
Ultramarine (2013)
Blown Minded
Young Galaxy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A random chain of events
Or chemical and elements
Conspiring, divining
From the star I've been pulled apart
By weightless love
And the heavy hearts
Oh, I was born blown minded
With an eye on oblivion
oh, I was born blown minded
With an eye on oblivion
In my heart I have lived without aught
It's been the war of attrition
Between a small-minded fool
And sublime intuition
I believe there's a meteor out there
With my name on it
Hurtling through space
And nothing can stop it
Oh, I was born blown minded
With an eye on oblivion
Oh, I was born blown minded
With an eye on oblivion
The opening lines of Young Galaxy's song 'Blown Minded' question the very nature of existence and how the singer got to their current situation. They ponder whether it was a sequence of coincidental events or if it was more predetermined by the chemical and elemental make-up of their being. The use of the word 'conspiring' implies a sense of orchestration or plotting, suggesting that fate may have played a part in their journey. The second stanza introduces themes of love and sadness, stating that the singer has been 'pulled apart' by them, implying a deep emotional struggle. These contrasting emotions seem to have shaped the singer to who they are and they acknowledge this; 'weighted love' and 'heavy hearts' have influenced them.
The chorus of 'Blown Minded' provides an insight into the singer's worldview through the repeated phrase 'Oh, I was born blown minded, with an eye on oblivion.' The notion of being 'blown minded' suggests a sense of wonder and amazement, whilst the idea of having an 'eye on oblivion' denotes a somber acceptance of the inevitability of death. The conflict between these two states of mind creates a tension that pervades throughout the song, with the singer struggling to reconcile these opposing viewpoints.
The final stanza of 'Blown Minded' seems to suggest a sense of acceptance of the singer's destiny. They discuss the internal struggle between a 'small-minded fool' and 'sublime intuition' which implies that their journey has been one of personal growth and realization. The mention of a meteor with their name on it indicates a sense of fate, and that their life is leading to an inevitable and possibly cataclysmic end. The use of the word 'hurtling' reinforces the sense of speed and inevitability, leaving the listener with a sense of urgency to enjoy and make the most of the time they have.
Line by Line Meaning
How did I get to here?
Questioning how the events of life led to being in the current moment
A random chain of events
Life has been a series of unexpected occurrences
Or chemical and elements
Wondering if the formation of life is purely based on chemistry and natural elements
Conspiring, divining
Suggesting that random events may not be as random as they seem
From the star I've been pulled apart
A metaphorical statement about feeling disconnected from oneself or one's past
By weightless love
Love has the power to break down barriers and pull things apart, even without a physical force
And the heavy hearts
The sadness and burdens carried by oneself and others can also be a force that pulls one apart
Of sadness
The emotion of sadness has played a significant role in one's life
Oh, I was born blown minded
Feeling like life has been overwhelming and disorienting right from the start
With an eye on oblivion
Possibly contemplating or being drawn towards the idea of nothingness or non-existence
In my heart I have lived without aught
Feeling as though there has been a lack of fulfillment or purpose in life, despite outward achievements or experiences
It's been the war of attrition
Describing the struggle between two opposing forces, with neither side gaining a clear victory
Between a small-minded fool
Being one's own worst enemy, with limited thinking or self-sabotage hindering progress
And sublime intuition
The innate sense of knowing or understanding that guides one towards their true purpose
I believe there's a meteor out there
Having a desire or hope for change or a significant event in one's future
With my name on it
Feeling as though this event is meant specifically for oneself
Hurtling through space
The meteor is moving fast, beyond one's control or influence
And nothing can stop it
Accepting the idea that certain events are beyond one's control and must simply be experienced
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Catherine Anne McCandless, Stephen Ramsay, Stephen Kamp, Dan Anders Lissvik
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind