Blab number nine – Return to the City of Folded Arms I like a lot of things about this single. The pictures, the font, the paper, and the songs. Omen Wind the final b-side is possibly my favourite Bluebottle b –side, I know it was Groundsey’s. I’ve always felt that a turn in weather can really affect your whole sense of being. When I was 16 I left school early and studied fine arts at East Sydney. It was strange coming from the beachside eastern suburbs and then spending every day in Darlinghurst. Back then it was the heart of the music scene. Bands like Died Pretty and The Screaming Tribesman rocked the Darlinghurst look and the art school was very much like that. Lots of tight black jeans and winklepickers. I believe the art school used to be a prison. Anyway when I’d finish class and be walking out of there, if there was a change of weather, dark clouds or a stiff wind I’d always get a strong sense of foreboding. I think it was the old buildings. Omen Wind was my attempt at talking about the weather. As I’ve mentioned previously, it was originally recorded for Troy Horse for a proposed split 7” that never happened. Thankfully we were able to wrestle it back from them for the purpose of this single. Originally I’d come up with Songs About Being Invisible as an album title instead of Patient. I’m glad I was talked out of it, but it is the name of one of the songs on this which is a home recorded acoustic song. Contrary to popular Bluebottle mythology Return to the City of Folded Arms is not about Melbourne. Who would ever want to write a song about an audience being disinterested? Boring. We’d played a run of shows in Melbourne (where yes, we weren’t very popular, or anywhere else for that matter) and I wrote the song as a reaction to trying to get back into the slump of every day life post touring. At the time I did not have a very successful every day life. It was hard to hold down a regular job being so busy playing, I’d get back to my flat and listen to my fridge turn itself on and off and wish that I was back playing shows to nobody. Any musician who tours a lot will probably be able to describe this sensation. It was kind of depressing. I think I had some kind of negative conversation with some girl’s dad on the phone too, hence that line. Anyway, just thought I’d clear that up. This is one of two singles (the other is Hasten the Blows) that are sung duet style with Fletch. I had the idea of the lines being overlapping so it made sense to have Ben, who is such a good singer join me. Some people think it’s me singing twice, but no…it’s the Fletch. He sings the high parts of course as well. By the time we recorded Patient Fletcher and me singing together was probably a major part of the band. His angelic tones and my less than perfect ones made a good match. I’d always liked the vocal chemistry between the guys in The Straight Jacket Fits and Fletcher and me co-singing at this time reminds me of theirs a little. We did this video at Balmain Town Hall I think, and then the director came down on a road trip to Melbourne with us. I was getting over a fractured fibula from a soccer mishap (I have not played since). We were walking around Luna Park when we chanced upon a busload of schoolgirls on an excursion. For the purpose of the film clip we asked if they would like to chase me down the street to which they kindly obliged. I realised I couldn’t run very fast because of my leg. When I looked behind me one of the girls tripped and it produced a domino effect. A massive schoolgirl stack, there were tears a plenty. If you watch the video closely you’ll see it happen. Here’s the clip - https://youtube/watch?v=rm20RbuRsDQ This one is out of print but you can buy a download of it at the Bluebottle Kiss Bandcamp here - https://bluebottlekiss.bandcamp/album/return-to-the-city-of-folded-arms-4-track-single
Posted on: Mon, 01 Dec 2014 09:46:51 +0000
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