Zomby's first major release was the Zomby EP in 2008 on Hyperdub.
He released his first full length album, Where Were U in '92?, also in 2008. The album's title refers to the opening line from the M.I.A song "XR2" and is a homage to the scene of the early 1990s, reflected by Zomby's mixture of chiptune-inflected UK Garage style with the more upbeat, ravey stylings of breakbeat house. Zomby used equipment from the period, such as the Akai S2000 sampler and Atari ST computer.
In 2009, he released a subsequent collection of tracks, One Foot Ahead of the Other.
In 2011, Zomby signed to 4AD Records, on which he released Dedication, also in 2011. In a four-star review in The Guardian, it was described as "an album of pensive, thought-provoking music," drawing comparisons to pianist Keith Jarrett and 1990s techno act Spooky. Later that year, he released the Nothing EP.
In 2013, Zomby released a double album, entitled With Love.
In 2015, he released a double EP on XL Recordings, entitled Let's Jam!!
Tears in the Rain
Zomby Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Attack ships on fire from the shoulder of Orion
I have seen c beams in the dark near the tannhauser gate
All those moments will be lost in time
Like tears in the rain.
The lyrics of "Tears in the Rain" by Zomby are highly reflective and deeply philosophical. The song opens with the vocalist saying, "I have seen things you people wouldn't believe." These lines reflect the idea that the singer has had experiences that are beyond the ordinary scope of human understanding. This statement, therefore, serves to create a sense of intrigue and mystique, which immediately engages the listener.
The following lines, "Attack ships on fire from the shoulder of Orion", paint a vivid picture of violent and destructive events taking place. The words "shoulder of Orion" refer to the constellation of Orion, so the suggestion here is that these events are taking place in outer space. The next line, "I have seen c beams in the dark near the tannhauser gate" is again highly metaphorical, as it can be interpreted in many ways. The Tannhäuser Gate is a reference to a fictional location in the Blade Runner movie, and the "c beams" are possibly a type of laser beam.
In conclusion, the song's lyrics capture a sense of sadness and loss, as the singer reflects on past experiences and the inevitable passing of time. The imagery used in the lyrics is highly evocative, and the song offers room for interpretation and reflection, making it a powerful and thought-provoking piece of music.
Line by Line Meaning
I have seen things you people wouldn't believe
I've witnessed experiences that most people couldn't even fathom
Attack ships on fire from the shoulder of Orion
I've seen spacecrafts engulfed in flames around the Orion constellation
I have seen c beams in the dark near the tannhauser gate
I've observed beams of light in the darkness around the Tannhauser gate
All those moments will be lost in time
Unfortunately, all these extraordinary moments will eventually fade into obscurity with the passage of time
Like tears in the rain.
Just like tears that get washed away in the rain, these moments will be forgotten and cease to exist as if they never happened.
Writer(s): Moulds Justin
Contributed by Alexandra G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@vastowildbrothers
in 92, i was 7 years old, watching cartoons and dreaming about becoming a football player!! now in 2021, im 36 years old, and the only thing im sharing with football players, is cocaine abuse!! but at least i m proud to have been a raver for almost half of my life!! and im even more proud for all the epic music i've found and enjoyed through this amazing, wild and strange experience, that we call...life...
@sadmermaid
U ok?
@vastowildbrothers
@gh0stgirlgg yes , thank you for the question :) im doing fine right now. that doesnt mean cocaine abuse is a good thing, or a soft addiction...that white shit was, is, and will always be an hell of a drug!!
@PumpAlligator
The whole record is a masterpiece and underrated tbh
@jacopovilla1590
Yeah. This is probably what truly changed and defined my music tastes back when i was 17 or something. Remember those confused pitchfork readers trying to classify this stuff as dubstep? Lol, bunch of clowns, I’m glad they disappeared as everyone else expected.
@jordannietos
@Jacopo Villa Well it was kinda dubstep. More in the vein of Rusko and Skream, but with jungle and house elements.
@jacopovilla1590
@&thenIwokeup nah, it’s basically bmore club with uk hardcore samples. The whole thing was a homage to m.I.a. - xr2 anyway, same drum patterns too
@jordannietos
@Jacopo Villa Yeah i agree it's mostly hardcore but it's got some dubstep elements
@evelyn4885
Jacopo Villa bro, this is not baltimore club at all. i think youre saying that because of the breakbeats. have you ever been to baltimore dude?
@ArthurDecker1970
Where was I in '92 ?
I was in college and listening to "Loveless" by MBV