The title to our new EP is a homage to the shadow of creativity that was cast across the band by the Swedish multi talent that is Carl Engelmarc. On this quartet of songs we see him co write and play multiple instruments while also producing the tracks. As well as designing the cover art using an understated photo that is both dark and beautiful……hopefully reflecting the enclosed ensemble.

To follow are a few words about each track, as I see them.

1. LET’S GO : When we started the band this song was something Carl had in his back pocket that he and Paul Anthony our bassist at the time had been working on. It was an extremely robust tune with a lyrical call to action for the oppressed of the world. It required a couple of small changes to the words and we immediately released it as a stand alone single. 365Radio also spotted the anthemic catchiness of the song and started giving it radio time…..in a few weeks it was to top their Legacy Chart

2. MUDDY WATERS : Mr Engelmarc emailed me over the tune with an accompanying note, “can you do something with this?”. The strange thing about writing words to music is it either happens or you stare at a note pad for a few hours. More often than not when employed as a lyricist I find my self drawing on technics of Brian Eno and Steve Harley who mentored me to use the words to construct a kaleidoscopic adventure rather than just telling a story. The theme here is being alienated and finding myself on a journey that I didn’t want to be on…….I am often asked about the line “is there a psycho killer with a fish in my back” which has no inner meaning but simply draws on the Dali surrealist reference earlier in the verse. I really enjoy the blues feel of this, from Carl’s use of the Hammond organ in the opening section which sets the song up through to Nigel Bennett’s (The Members & Vibrators) delta bluesy guitar in the middle.

3. WORLD ON FIRE : Is this a song about destroying the planet or the frustration of people delaying projects whose ultimate time lines are fate! Maybe a bit of both. I love the blend of synth and Hammond organ in this fast moving number. The words relate to the all too common scenario in life where people create something good and then hit the self destruct button for reasons not clear to anyone else.

4. THE WATCHER : A dark brooding track sent over by CE just after I had been on Wikipedia looking up the tale of the Nephilim. An Old Testament reference to ancient times when Angels were sent to watch the human species, but they did more than observe resulting in a new breed, The Nephilim. You can read more about them in the Book of Daniel and the Book of Enoch in the Bible who both get a name check in the lyrics. I love the melancholy in the music, if reflects Bowie’s Low……..and the long tail of the piece makes it an ideal end to our Extended Play offering.