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)
Invisible Republic
Young Galaxy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
a fall, a daze, or a song un-played?
What of this sorrow?
Who I am is where I stand
The revelation of a traveling band -
can't tell me where I'll be tomorrow
A hung up world believing its own lies
And everyone I talked to was so quiet
they all seem much to high to get by
So many lowlife drifters
So many shapeshifters
So many shadows
Who claim to light the way
There's no heaven or hell
No sense in else
If we stop searching
we'll fall right through our daze
Throw all into the fray
Burn down the night erase another day
Throw it all into the fray
Burn down the night erase another day
An Invisible Republic lies in wait
The lyrics to "Invisible Republic" by Young Galaxy touches upon the feelings of desolation, confusion, and desperation. The opening line "Does life feel like a bed unmade, a fall, a daze, or a song un-played?" use metaphors to illustrate how the singer feels about life - that it is messy, unplanned, and unfulfilled. The following line, "What of this sorrow?" questions the reason behind these emotions and the overall purpose of life.
The chorus "An Invisible Republic lies in wait" refers to a state of being that is not easily comprehended, something that is not visible to the naked eye but exists nevertheless. The line could also be interpreted as a call to action, urging the listener to explore more and discover the secrets of life. The second verse "An everyplace I went to was so tired, A hung up world believing its own lies," presents a sense of disillusionment and disappointment with the world. The singer feels like they have been everywhere and seen it all, and everything seems lacking in authenticity.
Overall, the lyrics of "Invisible Republic" reflects an individual seeking meaning and purpose in life, asking questions about the world and their place in it. The song encourages exploration and introspection, and the chorus suggests that there might be something greater and more meaningful beyond what is visible.
Line by Line Meaning
Does life feel like a bed unmade,
Do you feel like your life is in disarray and things are out of your control?
a fall, a daze, or a song un-played?
Like you're either falling, feeling confused or lost, or haven't found your place in the world?
What of this sorrow?
What do you make of the pain and sadness you experience?
Who I am is where I stand
Your identity is defined by your choices and where you choose to stand in life.
The revelation of a traveling band -
You will discover who you are through your travels and experiences.
can't tell me where I'll be tomorrow
It's impossible to predict the future.
An everyplace I went to was so tired
Everywhere you go feels exhausted and lacking vitality.
A hung up world believing its own lies
The world is filled with stagnation and self-deception.
And everyone I talked to was so quiet
People around you seem to be reserved, unresponsive, or disengaged.
they all seem much too high to get by
They may be struggling to get by, but they are disconnected from their emotions.
So many lowlife drifters
There are many people who are aimless, directionless, or without purpose.
So many shapeshifters
There are many people who change who they are to adapt to different situations or expectations.
So many shadows
There are many people who are obscured or hidden from view.
Who claim to light the way
Some may claim to lead, but their guidance may be futile or misguided.
There's no heaven or hell
There may not be an afterlife or divine judgment waiting for us.
No sense in else
There may not be a clear or meaningful purpose or explanation for our existence.
If we stop searching
If we give up on trying to find meaning or purpose,
we'll fall right through our daze
We risk becoming disconnected from reality and our own emotions.
Throw all into the fray
Take risks, be bold and unafraid.
Burn down the night erase another day
Destroy that which holds us back and live life to the fullest.
An Invisible Republic lies in wait
There may be a hidden or unacknowledged group or force that affects our lives and destinies.
Contributed by Kylie L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Tricouleur
What the hell is the red thing the polar bear is stepping on?
bwugq wug
I guess it's a dead seal or something
Germaine Vorkuta
Blood :)