THE LEGENDARY PINK DOTS

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Release date and tracklist

1993
BE/US LP/CS Play It Again Sam BIAS236

side a

1. Joey The Canary – [MP3]
2. Kingdom Of The Flies – [MP3]
3. Encore Une Fois – [MP3]
4. Wildlife Estate – [MP3]

side b

1. Pavane – [MP3]
2. On The Boards – [MP3]
3. We Bring The Day – [MP3a] – [MP3b]

***

1993
BE/US CD Play It Again Sam BIAS236

2002
US CD Cacciocavallo CAD23
PL CD Big Blue L-0122 (different cover)

1. Joey The Canary – [MP3]
2. Kingdom Of The Flies – [MP3]
3. Encore Une Fois – [MP3]
4. Wildlife Estate – [MP3]
5. Pavane – [MP3]
6. Window On The World – [MP3]
7. On The Boards – [MP3]
8. We Bring The Day – [MP3a] – [MP3b]
9. Paris 4AM – [MP3]

03 June 2012
NL Remastered MP3 self-released on Bandcamp

1. Joey The Canary – [MP3]
2. Kingdom Of The Flies – [MP3]
3. Encore Une Fois – [MP3] / Wildlife Estate – [MP3]*
4. Pavane – [MP3]
5. Window On The World – [MP3]
6. On The Boards – [MP3]
7. We Bring The Day – [MP3a] – [MP3b]
8. Paris 4AM – [MP3]

*A single file because these two tracks cross-fade.

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 Credits

• The Prophet Qa’Sepel – vox inhumana, keyboards
• Ryan Moore – bass guitar, acoustic guitar
• Martijn de Kleer- guitar, acoustic guitar, bass, drums
• Niels van Hoornblower – saxophones, clarinet, bass clarinet, flute
• The Silverman – keyboards, exotic devices
• Patrick Q-Wright – violin, viola
• Steven Stapleton – more exotic devices

produced by Steven Stapleton and The Pink Dots
engineered by Vincent Hoedt, X-ray Alley and The Pink Dots
cover by Babs Santini

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Notes

Catalog number is given as “BIAS 236 CD” on the spine, “BIAS 236-2” on the back, and “BLAS 236 CD” on the disc. Marketed and distributed by Caroline Records, Inc.

The Big Blue release booklet contains lyrics in English and Polish. Cover artwork by Zdzisław Beksiński.

From Bandcamp:
“Malachai” is the second half of the “Shadow Weaver” project, recorded simultaneously over the course of a year with the aforementioned album. Special guest for this one was Steve Stapleton who also designed the wonderful cover. A perennial Dots’ favourite though not for the faint-hearted.

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Review

Throughout its prolific and mythic career, the Legendary Pink Dots have created some of the most imaginative and twisted sounds ever recorded. While other sonic sculptors such as Spacemen 3 and Loop (both defunct) have produced some compelling work, this band’s basic sound is derived from a simpler three chord progression. LPD works within a self-styled structure-a structure whose bounds are dictated only by the group. Malachai (Shadow Weaver Part 2) finds the band further pushing the outer limits of the galaxy, one filled with delicate soundscapes, which are shockingly interrupted by jagged sax wails and keyboard analog waves, as on “Window On The World.” The poetic trip is still this band’s specialty, though, and the band has truly outdone itself on the beautifully lush epic “We Bring The Day.” Employing everything from full string arrangements to carnival wurlitzers, the song’s kaleidoscopic effect makes acid redundant. Head shaman, the Prophet Qa’Sepel (a k a Edward Ka-Spel), provides the narrative throughout the journey, offering enlightenment and guidance to a world on the edge. Sink to Beta with: “Kingdom Of The Flies” and “Encore Une Fois.” – Jeff Dandurand, CMJ

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Lyrics

Joey the Canary

Tossed and scrambled in a cage some sixteen miles below. I attempted sending codes, but only ghosts reply, and it’s cramped in here. Though the freezer’s packed with a hundred crates of beer, it won’t wash away my tears, my fear. Considered writing novels. I thought hard about this career, solved a dozen famous mysteries, but still I can’t be clear if there is anybody up there, perhaps it’s been a year. Is there still anybody up there? No fear. Is there anybody up there, was you ever there at all?(x4)

Kingdom of the Flies

Who will pull the trigger, send the whole thing up in flames? Who is juggling figures, plans the last move of the game? Now we’re coughing blood, the desert winds erupt, the power’s cut, our dream has been corrupted. Maybe we never dreamed enough. Count to five and shut your eyes, you’ll find that everything’s still there, a little slower, less alive, and I’ve got lizards in my hair. Still I chew my daily bread, I cannot let go of my thread, you still scream inside my head. All the things I should have said, never said, never say. And the cat ripped out my tongue, the vulture swooped and stole my eyes. I’m scavengin crumbs in the Kingdom of the Flies. Fly me.(x5)

Encore Une Fois

The sun beats down, the world spins ’round, and repeat myself again. There’s a loop inside my brain. I never learn, I never gain, I only turn, I stay the same, repeat myself again, repeat myself again. It’s so absurd, it’s quite insane, nothing grows, nothing’s changed, nothing grows, nothing’s changed, nothing grows, nothing’s changed, repeat myself again, repeat myself again. There’s a loop inside my brain. I never learn, I never gain, I only turn, I stay the same, repeat myself again, repeat myself again, repeat myself again, repeat myself again, repeat myself again, repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat, again again again again again again again again again again again again again again again again, repeat myself again, repeat myself again. ………….. There’s a loop inside my brain. I never learn, I never gain, I only turn, I stay the same. It’s so absurd, it’s quite insane, repeat myself again. Nothing grows, nothing’s changed, nothing grows, nothing’s changed, I only turn, I stay the same, I never learn, I never gain. Repeat myself again, repeat myself again, repeat myself again. The sun beats down, I only turn, I stay the same, it’s quite insane, it’s so absurd, the loop inside my … brain, my brain, my brain, myself again, myself my brain, myself again, myself again, my brain myself, myself again, repeat, repeat, repeat myself again……..{etc.}

Wildlife Estate

Holed up in the underground with nothing but the soundtrack of our shouting neighbors tossing favors, screaming in the name of love that’s bleeding, that’s gone baaad. Paint is peeling, baby’s squealing, Rover’s leaving sweet surprises in the places that we never clean, it’s sad. And the phone, it’s always ringing, when we’re eating, when we’re sleeping. Oh, but what the hell? The central heating leaks. Man the lifeboats, ring the bell. It’s spring time time. They cleared the shelf. Shit’s falling down the chute. We’re sitting here, we’re sniping scavengers that swarm around the loot. The seven forty kamikaze kitties swooping past our window. Look at that caveman go go go.(x6)

Pavane (Instrumental)

Window on the World

(Behold a human brain. What wonders lie within?) Cable kings got satin swings, got radiation, save-us thing, got fingers, news at ten, those faces fear temptation, over rainbows, mambo, Tower of Babel, running lead, exploding heads, oh, the naked and the dead, and sometimes both, soft focus, Asterisking, you see cables pumping sperm for all the family, one horizontal sucking on their full frontal lobes. The psycho shot o’er the cuckoo’s nest, electric eyes in blue-light haloes, burst effects, your window on the world, shot down chain rocks, smoke alarm, yeah dial a six pack, sink back, fold your arms, meet Jesus, suffer little children, peace on earth, we’re watching Scuds and blood rain down, wiseguy rabbits breeding, bleeding, dies for us a hundred times a day. Exclusive here on CNN, the resurrection in slow motion, I can feel those holes, they got the anti-Christ got the horsemen, saturating (stiff?) monopolize, the whole world dies before your eyes, take that. Zap!

On the Boards

Thursday was a good day. He’d be turning up at nine, he’d be turning down the lights, he’d be breaking out the wine. Made it whoopee on the settee, shared a candle, split a line. Made it happy in the chandeliers. Mind-mind-mind-link. I think we really could get on together. Mind-mind-mind-link. My planetary choo-choo girl, you got me in a superwhirl. I’d climb out to the Milky Way. Mind-mind-mind-link Take it away brothers.

We Bring the Day

We bring the day, so cease your lonely mourning. The shadows shrink away and leave without a warning, gone in the blink of an eye, gone with the wind that subsides. We bring life. We fill the deathly silence. One thousand butterflies are dancing on the pylons. Seek and you’ll find. We guard you from the borders. When all your hope runs dry, we’ll sprinkle holy water. Pulling the strings from above and all because we love you. We love you. We love you. We love you (despite you).

Paris 4AM (Instrumental)

Voices
Snoring

 

THE LEGENDARY PINK DOTS

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Release date and tracklist

1994
AT VHS LPD-834

1. Siren

 

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Credits

• The Silver Man – keyboards & devices
• Ryan Moore – electric bass, fretless bass, acoustic bass, drums
• Martijn de Kleer – electric guitar, acoustic guitar, drums, tympani
• Prophet Qa’Sepel – vox, keyboards, destroyed lyre
• Niels van Hoornblower – saxophones, clarinet, flute
• Raymond Steeg – production

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Notes

This very limited release (99 VHS copies) documents the Pink Dots’ only serious attempt at a video clip with the song “Siren”. On a budget of nothing, LPDs’ long term friend Klaus pulled together a professional team to shoot the clip in the space of a few hours, and the result is a little bizarre but not without charm. However, with a dose of full frontal nudity and the band dressed as monks, MTV passed on it.
Some copies came with a handmade insert.
Probably this clip will appear as part of a DVD release in the future.

THE LEGENDARY PINK DOTS / BIG CITY ORCHESTRA

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Release date and tracklist

1994
US cassette Ubuibi

Side A- Bedgeceityookastraw

1. Introduction
2. Kaosyxs
3. Seven
4. Distraction
5. Focus
6. Withdrawal
7. Release

Side B- Legendary Pink Dots

1. The Politics of Excess

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Credits

Side A-

• Voice – Alan Herrick, Ch.Mowimy, Eric Hausmann, Frans de Waard, Miss Bobby, Peter Duimelinks, Robin James
• Performer – Das, Robo, Your Host Bobby
• Featuring [Background Music] – Cliff Neighbors, Rob Wortman

Side B-

• Performers – Edward Ka-Spel, Phil Knight

Layout, Design – Das
Text By [Booklet] – A Beltane, Anon., Barbara, Das, Drew Dobbs, Jeanette, Laurence Kopel, Mike Dringenberg, Molly, Ogdakini, Ogdemon, Ophir (3), Rob Wortman, T-Bone Juju, Tryst Stuffing Team

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Notes

60 minute split cassette with Big City Orchestra, limited to 200 copies.
This track (which was not titled by the Dots) is actually a mix of old LPD material into something very different.
Both LPD and BCO produced two different mixes of their material for this release, and versions were then mixed, meaning there are 4 different editions of this release
Packaged with a magazine, toys, stickers, etc. (booklet pdf)

From the booklet :
“The Legendary Pink Dots side of the cassette is entitled “The Politics Of Excess”. It contains Edward’s 8-track cut-up of many, many old Dot songs, along with Phil’s manipulated samples from the eight track. This was mixed live 11/92 in their attic in Gendt. Having had so much fun on the first mix, a second attempt was made. These were both so lovely and quite different (though it uses the same material), that I could not choose which to use for Tryst, so we do the most confusing option and use both. Half of the Tryst will have Mix One and half will be Mix Two / (…) Since the Pink Dots got to do two mixes, so have BCO”.

 

 

THE LEGENDARY PINK DOTS

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Release date and tracklist

1994
BE CD Play It Again Sam BIAS280
US CD Soleilmoon SOL30 (different cover)

23 June 2012
NL Remastered MP3 self-released on Bandcamp

1. Madame Guillotine – [MP3]
2. On Another Shore – [MP3]
3. Softly Softly – [MP3]
4. Crumbs On The Carpet – [MP3]
5. Hotel Z – [MP3]
6. Oasis Malade – [MP3]
7. A Crack In Melancholy Time – [MP3]
8. Siren – [MP3]
9. The Angel Trail – [MP3]
10. Nine Shades To The Circle – [MP3]
11. A Terra Firma Welcome – [MP3]
    Find a Bin to Put it In

 

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2003
CA LPx2 Flesh Eating Ants FEA05

side a

1. Madame Guillotine – [MP3]
2. On Another Shore – [MP3]
3. Softly Softly – [MP3]
4. Crumbs On The Carpet – [MP3]

side b

1. Hotel Z – [MP3]
2. Oasis Malade – [MP3]
3. A Crack In Melancholy Time – [MP3]
4. Siren – [MP3]
5. The Angel Trail – [MP3]

side c

1. Nine Shades To The Circle – [MP3]
2. A Terra Firma Welcome – [MP3]
3. Find a Bin to Put it In (extended)

side d

1. The Uncanny 18th Shade

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Credits

• The Silver Man – keyboards & devices
• Ryan Moore – electric bass, fretless bass, acoustic bass, drums
• Martijn de Kleer – electric guitar, acoustic guitar, drums, tympani
• Prophet Qa’Sepel – vox, keyboards, destroyed lyre
• Niels van Hoornblower – saxophones, clarinet, flute
• Cevin Key – drums
• Raymond Steeg – production

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Notes

CD:
At the end of “A Terra Firma Welcome” is a brief period of silence (0:42), followed by an unlisted track called “Find A Bin To Put It In”. This unlisted track appears in extended form (still unlisted) on 9 Lives To Wonder (Flesh Eating Ants, 2003). Tracks 11.1 and 11.2 below appear as a single track on the CD, with a combined length of 5:17.

NITITUPOTNIBADNIF

LP:
15 deluxe test pressings of the LP version exist. Given away as gifts to close friends of Flesh Eating Ants Records, they each feature two unique alternate covers based on the original image.
The test pressings are pressed on 220 gram black vinyl.

Bandcamp:
With spiritual brother Cevin Key onboard, this album features the same line-up as Tear Garden’s “To be an Angel Blind”. A landmark, as dreamy as it gets.  1994 and The Dots’ last album for PIAS.
Of all the Dots’ remasters, this may be the best, due in no small part to Raymond’s masterful mixing.
Cevin captured the session on film and a DVD will be made available in the Autumn (2012).
Elke P. designed the cover…

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Reviews

Good mid-’90’s Legendary Pink Dots release. More mellow and laid back than their more recent titles, but still very decent. Best described as neo-psychedelic. Seen them play small clubs twice now. You can never tell what ‘deep album tracks’ they just might play on any given U.S. tour. Tracks here I was somewhat impressed the most with were “Madame Guillotine”, the hypnotic “Oasis Malade”, the ten-minute “Nine Shades To The Circle” and “Terra Firma Welcome”. Always good to check out one of many, {many} LPD discs that you haven’t heard yet. -Mike Reed

***

This album is a particularily good “summary work” of the legendary pink dots’ style before they moved onto their present style. Soft, melodic, and very spacy, this would be a great disc to get introduced the dots, especially if you’re into the earlier works of pink floyd. If you’re familiar with the Dots’ other stuff, this is along similar lines as The Maria Dimension and The Shadow Weaver part one.

***

Despite being almost totally unknown in America, the Legendary Pink Dots have been able to sustain an unbelieveably prolific career from their base in the Netherlands. Since Chemical Playschool in 1981, the group have released albums on a regular (almost annual) basis — and this in addition to various EPs, solo projects, and collaborations with cEvin Key (ex-Skinny Puppy) as The Tear Garden (whose Last Man To Fly album is discussed on the Tentative Reviews web site).

While their early works were strongly rooted in Euro-pop stylings, the Pink Dots eventually developed their sound into a unique form of modern psychedelia — combining Floyd-esque sonics (including more than a few blatant PF references) with some truly disturbed childlike/apocalyptic lyrics, frequently dwelling on space-related themes. Interestingly, these themes are frequently delivered in a somewhat detached manner (which might, come to think of it, account for the group’s staying power). Perhaps any country which is fairly lenient towards casual drug use is bound to produce casual psychedelia. It’s difficult to say. But whatever their origins, the LPD have managed to come up with some truly intriguing music within the space of their careers.

Some would argue that the LPD hit their “peak” with Asylum in 1985. Perhaps. But even a random purchase of any material released since that time is bound to yield a decent return. And, while it’s arguable that some Pink Dots releases have been “formulaic” in recent years, the boys are usually able to come up with enough new twists to keep things interesting.

Which isn’t to say that every song is a perfect gem. Some of the tracks on Nine Lives To Wonder (1995) are clearly less inspired than others, and there are times (here and elsewhere) where the eclecticism seems a tad forced. But even the lower points on the album aren’t all that low. While NLtW may not be the highest water mark in the LPD catalogue, it’s still a very good album, and a worthwhile purchase for progressive fans with a psychedelic bent.

The album commences, not surprisingly, with heavy apocalyptic overtones, as the saga of “Madame Guillotine” is brought forward — to judge from the lyrics, this figure seems to be power of cosmic destruction, forever trying to to remove the blood from her soiled hands (Kali meets Lady MacBeth?). The music is both strongly electronic and profoundly spacious, with older-sounding synthesizers matching with saxophones towards the end to a interesting (and very musical) effect. The shift in lyrics from personal to global occurs at about mid-song, with Ka’spel’s invocation of the famous “when they rounded up the […]” passage from holocaust times. This isn’t a particularly new direction for the Pink Dots, but it starts the album off on a strong enough note.

“On Another Shore” is an extremely background-sounding number, with all of the instruments (and, to a certain extent, the voice) mixed rather low — this eventually leads to a somewhat trancelike effect by song’s end. The bass and drum-brushes set the restrained tone of the song from the beginning; interestingly, the only instrument which breaks through this mix is the flute. The lyrics are a paean to a mysterious lost companion, who has apparently left the protagonist in isolation — the flutes might suggest an allusion to ancient Greece, but this could just as easily involve themes of alien visitation — lines like “The good ship sails away forever” might suggest the latter rather than the former. Not quite as well-crafted as the first track, this is still extremely good.

The album undergoes a sudden shift with “Softly Softly”, an odd blend of late-1960s Brit-pop (in the music) and vague psychedelic hints (in the lyrics). The mix is much crisper than before (which is doubly odd given the presence of a Skinny Puppy member on drums), and the flute once again receives a strong role. Short, articulate and non-essential, this may be the perfect case study of a “minor album track”.

“Crumbs On The Carpet” sees the Pink Dots revising one of their previous jokes, and telling the story of a troupe of pathologically deranged diners unable to satiate their all-consuming appetites (the “monkey brains” section is taken directly from an earlier EP track). The electronic effects (sounding suspiciously like a video game sample) come to the foreground again, thus leading to a truly odd beats’n’horns segment about halfway through. This isn’t the strongest number the Pink Dots have ever come up with, although the weirdness does have a certain charm of its own.

Continuing the theme of sudden mood shifts, “Hotel Z” is a detailed depiction of a decadent, regal figure literally fading away in his isolation (the most obvious implication of the title would be to suggest that this theme refers to a famous musician overdosing in isolation, but the specific interpretation is left somewhat open). Sung from the perspective of the tragic hero (with a dark, acoustic backing which shifts from guitar to piano), this decline is extremely well-presented. Of note is a keyboard “solo” which harkens directly back to early Pink Floyd without quite constituting a “rip-off” per se.

“Oasis Malade” is another unusual number, with Ka’Spel narrating an encounter with an long-lost beloved, who explains that she left him to explore the pyramids in Belgium (eventually returning when she discovered that there were none). After offering him a drink of tea from a plastic cup, she leaves again. It isn’t entirely clear if this is meant to be humourous or tragic — the confessional recounting of the encounter seems to reveal the character limitations of the protagonist as much as the absurdity of the tale. The music, of course, is dark and ambient throughout.

The group returns to electronic music again with “A Crack In Melancholy Time” (amusingly, the drum beat seems to be acoustic). This song features an appearance of environmentalist-based lyrics, which have never been Ka’Spel’s strongest point (see alsoThe Crushed Velvet Apocalypse for further examples) — the unironic nature of such themes doesn’t really suit him terribly well, though it must be admitted that his shift from the general to the personal in mid-song improves the general nature of the song. While a good number, this simply doesn’t rate with the best material on the album. An extended, pulsating instrumental concludes the track.

“Siren” begins with something of a classical flavour (admittedly not terribly complex, though), and quickly develops into a detailed/repetitive depiction of a group of sailors approaching the forbidden beauty of the titular creatures. In terms of both lyrics and music, some form of destruction always seems to lurk around the corner, never quite emerging — the thin line of beauty is put forward instead (including a “sail to me” chant, which lasts for a fair degree of time). A rather background- ish keyboard lead emerges as the track reaches its end.

And this leads to the brief “The Angel Trail”, a curious number featuring a “wavy”, almost Hawaiian-sounding guitar line merging with naive cloudland lyrics in an obvious parody of peacenik love songs. A bit on the short side (as one might expect from the theme), this is still a fairly clever venture.

The masterpiece of the album is “Nine Shades To The Circle”, a truly twisted number involving more sonic manipulation than any other track here, and a Burroughs-esque description of a morning departure for an urgent journey by train (featuring several different outcomes, all of which have the same general musical background). After an electro- acoustic introduction of sorts (presumably capturing the atmosphere of the station at dawn), the first variation on the lyrical theme emerges: an obsessed figure’s thoughts grow gradually more disturbed as he enters the station (a line about “Evil Santa punish[ing] the bad boys” comes out of nowhere), and eventually enters state of advanced paranoia in the middle of the station (allowing Ka’Spel to incorporate one of his more interesting vocal effects into the work, while the music enters a rather chaotic state). In subsequent lyrical themes, the story concludes with (i) a junkie stabbing the protagonist before the story really begins, (ii) a figure musing on a lost love while a radio explodes in the background, and (iii) a matter-of-fact description of the journey to the train, with no suggestion of what happens thereafter. Between each tale, the song structure breaks down in some chaotic manner. This is LPD insanity at its most refined, and perhaps its most rewarding as well.

Following this, “A Terra Firma Welcome” seems almost a necessary coda to prevent the album from concluding with total chaos. The music on this particular work is much more … well … “normal” than any other track here, and the lyrics are profoundly puzzling (involving a figure joining the space police, the sending of a “guest” into space with all of his body parts cut up and sterilized, and an alien race “returning for their boy”). It’s not entirely clear what any of this signifies, though perhaps any album of this sort has to end with some sort of mystery.

Nine Lives To Wonder is an interesting experience, featuring several tracks which rate well on their own terms. This isn’t necessarily the best introduction to the Pink Dots, but it should be able to convince most fans of eclectic music of their essential worth. –The Christopher Currie (review originally posted to alt.music.yes on 19 May 1998)

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Lyrics

MADAME GUILLOTINE

She washed her hands 300 times
But still they’re dripping red.
We caught her in the pauper’s pit,
She stole the prince’s head…
Cursing ‘blasphemy’…
O mercy me…
He staggered like a chicken.

They lynched him;
They left him flinching.
Running scared…
Took their seats…they kept on knitting.

God bless the noble savage
As he swaggers
As he sweats
He’s making bets on who is next-
He don’t care about the colour…

So many here to choose from…

(First they rounded up the reds
But I’m not red so…

Then they rounded up the blacks
But I’m not black so…

Then they rounded up the gypsies
And the junkies and donkeys.

Now I’m scared to whistle ‘swanee’
‘Cause they’ll ask me for my spit…)

It’s the garden that we walk in
And it’s dying…so we cut it down.
We’re drowning now.
There’s no way out.
We all fall down.
We all fall down
We all fall down
We all fall down
We all fall down
We all fall down
All fall down…
All fall down…
All fall down…

It’s the garden that we walk in
And it’s dying…so we cut it down.
We’re drowning now.
There’s no way out.
We all fall down.
We all fall down
We all fall down
We all fall down
We all fall down
We all fall down
All fall down…
All fall down…
All fall down…

It’s the garden that we walk in
And it’s dying…so we cut it down.
We’re drowning now.
There’s no way out.
We all fall down.
We all fall down
We all fall down
We all fall down
We all fall down
We all fall down
All fall down…
All fall down…
All fall down…

ON ANOTHER SHORE

All these years I waited
‘Cause I knew that you’d return.
No stranger’s hand has touched this temple.
One candle slowly burned…
For you.

(Were you waiting too?)

For you…just for you.

I swear I heard you crying
On the cruel uncanny breeze.
I saw you crawling down there
On your bleeding hands and knees.

Now crawl right up to me,
My captain.
The good ship sails away forever..
Leave us be.
The good ship sails away forever.
The way it’s meant to be.

The good ship sails away forever..
Leave us be.
The good ship sails away forever.
The way it’s meant to be.

These were the gentle words she said,
I could not find her in my head.
I searched for little clues
But all the lights were glowing red.

And in the end I smiled politely,
Snatched my coat and fled.

From you.

Just from you.
Just from you.

But still I hear her crying
On the cruel uncanny breeze.
I see her crawling down there
On her bleeding hands and knees.

Come to me!

Come to me!

The good ship sails away forever.
Was never meant to be.

The good ship sails away forever.
Never meant to be.

Never meant to be…

SOFTLY SOFTLY

Sink in the quicksand.
Linked to the branch of a tree…
Can’t see.
‘Cause it’s darker than death
And you guys up and left me out here to freeze.

And this forest plays its tricks
So I treat it with respect.
Threw my garbage in a skip,
I buttoned up my anorak.
Shuffled soft shoe.
I washed…
You can look me in the teeth

Comb your hair.
Comb your hair.

Choked by the quicksand,
Kicked from the branch of this tree

I’m free!

CRUMBS ON THE CARPET (Transcribed by cowell@cs.utk.edu)

Dinner whispers, “Come and get it”
Poses on the plate
We shot it twice with anesthetic,
Still it bites the waiters
Till they’re bleeding in the loo
So goddamn hot it burns their shoes
We lick them clean, we eat ’em too

Still there’s room enough for more masala,
Enchilada, monkey brains and donkey doos
More masala, enchilada, monkey brains and donkey doos
More masala, enchilada, monkey brains, donkey doos
More masala, enchilada, monkey brains, donkey doos
More masala, enchilada, monkey brains, donkey doos

We’d eat the wall if it could walk
And we could sink our forks in

We are what we eat
We are many-sided
Just you name it, sure we’ve tried it

We are what we eat
We are many-sided
Just you name it, sure we’ve tried it

We are what we eat
We are many-sided
Just you name it, sure we’ve tried it

Why hide it?

More masala, enchilada, monkey brains, donkey doos…

HOTEL Z

Overdose…
Comatosed…
I feel you close,
But you’re so very far away.

Surrogate…
There’s no escape.

I found a gate,
But it’s locked…
So I’m here to stay…

Every wish I have is granted.
Every hand is mine to hold
All the trees that I have planted
Touch the sky, turn gold.

Could buy the planet if I wanted.
Make it mine…
Yes, I’d unfold a tapestry that I’d recline in,
Somewhere we could both grow old together.

Our dream…

Dying eyes…
You sympathize.

I clutch my prize;
But it so slowly fades away…

Dying eyes…
You sympathize.

I clutch my prize;
But it so slowly fades away…

Dying eyes.
You sympathize.

I clutch my prize;
But it so slowly fades away…

Dying eyes.
You sympathize.

I clutch my prize;
But it so slowly fades away…

OASIS MALADE (Transcribed by cowell@cs.utk.edu)

Tanith dropped by today.
Like, I hadn’t seen her in years,
But there she was at my front door
In her colonial helmet.

Custom made Burmese fan
Poised in one hand…
Ready to swipe at any passing disease-ridden mosquito.

She’d been in Belgium, she told me…
Studying the pyramids.
It took her years to find out
That there were no pyramids in Belgium.

I asked her why she left me so suddenly…
Why she’d been silent for so long.

Didn’t I exist for her?
Didn’t we have something, well, special?

She asked me for tea in a plastic cup
With a well-fitting lid…

Then she left.

A CRACK IN MELANCHOLY TIME

I lean on the fence
And you squat in the middle
And we wait ’til the stream runs dry.
Though you don’t see the sense
And we can’t solve the riddle,
It’s amazing how time flies.

And we hear the children calling.
We agree that it’s appalling…
But it’s best to keep on stalling.

Count me out
Count me out
Count me out
Count me out…

Now there’s blood on my hands
And I’m wearing a muzzle
So I’ll look the other way.
Place my head in the sand
Let the rest solve the puzzle,
Think about just who’s to blame.

‘Cause I hear the children weeping…
And I see the virus creeping…
History is repeating.

Count me out
Count me out
Count me out
Count me out…

Now there’s chains ’round my neck
And my head’s in the oven
And the crowd kicks at my door.

And you’re leading the pack
Under wraps, undercover…
‘Cause you need to win this war.

You put up your flag and kissed it
With your black volcanic lipstick.

And I’m simply your statistic…

Count me out
Count me out
Count me out
Count me out…

Count me out
Count me out
Count me out
Count me out
Count me out
Count me out
Count me out…

SIREN

Sheba had nine lives that I could sleep in.
Sheba had the cutest little nose.
Sheba’s lips by Interflora.
Rollercoaster.
Lizard Lick.
She stings you like the 13th summer rose.

Sheba offers blind inviting alleys.
Sheba flutters two discerning eyes.
Twice unfocused.
Hocus pocus…

Witchy whispers on the wind…
“Come sail to me, it’s been so long.
Come sail to me, it’s been so long.
Come sail to me, it’s been so long.
Come sail to me its been so long…
So lonesome…so lonesome I could die.”

Like butterflies, we rode the breeze.
We read the stars and swam…
As Sheba coo-coo-cooed us from afar.

One single shining beacon on our limited horizon,
We asked no bitter questions
Lest she told us sugar lies.

And of course, we died there
On that stormy, stormy night…
As Sheba whimpered…
Whimpered…
Whimpered…
Whimpered…
Whimpered…
Whimpered…
Whimpered…

“Come sail to me, it’s been so long.
Come sail to me, it’s been so long.
Come sail to me, it’s been so long.
Come sail to me, it’s been so long.
Come sail to me, it’s been so long.
Come sail to me, it’s been so long.
Come sail to me, it’s been so long.
Come sail to me, it’s been so long.
Sail to me, it’s been so long.
Sail to me…been so long.
Sail to me…been so long.

I could die…”

THE ANGEL TRAIL

Close your eyes and count to nine.
Everything will turn out fine.
There’s nothing on this planet that can touch you.

This cloud belongs to you and me.
There’s nothing that we can’t achieve…
Hang on to my hand, I’ll protect you.
I never, never will neglect you.

Safe inside our tapestry…
The only place for you and me.
Hang on to my hand, I’ll protect you.

Close your eyes and count to nine.
Everything will turn out fine.
There’s nothing on this planet that can touch you.

This cloud belongs to you and me.
There’s nothing that we can’t achieve…
Hang on to my hand, I’ll protect you.

NINE SHADES TO THE CIRCLE

Like any other day,
I heard the bell and grabbed my coat.
Snatched a coffee and nearly choked
And semi-cartwheeled headfirst in the rain.

I knew I had to make that train.
My life depended on that train.

A laughing bag sang ‘Giant Panda’…
Evil Santa punishes the bad boys,
And once I told myself a lie.

I never quite figured out the reason why…
But everybody’s pointing at me.
Laughing at me.
Pointing and me and laughing at me…
Pushing…

Pushing…

They’re pushing…

Pushing…

Pushing…

Stop pushing!
Don’t push me!

Like any other day,
I heard the bell and grabbed my coat.
I snatched a coffee, nearly choked
And semi-cartwheeled…
Cartwheeled headfirst in the rain.

I knew I had to make the train.
My life depended on the train.

A junkie stopped me for some change.
Pulled a knife…

CUT!

Like any other day,
I heard the bell and grabbed my coat.
Snatched a coffee, nearly choked
And semi-cartwheeled headfirst in the rain.

I knew I had to make that train.
My life depended on that train.

And we met there on the platform…
So you took me to your room.
And though you reached out for me; I couldn’t touch you.

I watched you melt in tears.
50,000 tears.

The radio exploded…

I found your ear wrapped in a tissue.
Tried to lose you…
Lose you…

Like any other day,
I heard the bell and grabbed my coat.
I snatched a coffee, nearly choked
And semi-cartwheeled headfirst in the rain…

I knew I had to make that train.
My life depended on that train…

(Did you get it?)

A TERRA FIRMA WELCOME

E-minus on its ancestry.
It stuttered on the phone.
Tried extensive hypnotherapy
Sat there like a stone.

They checked its pockets,
They pumped the pentathol…
Stole marrow from its bones…
Left it naked in the guest room,
Quite alone.

Debated for a year.
The casebook, it stretched from here to here…
Quoted precedents and dissidents.
And Johnny joined the space police
And searched the stars for refugees-
His finger on the stunner
In the name of earthly peace.

And when it seemed that space was empty
And the moon was made of cheese,
They decided on a terra firma ‘welcome’.

But, guess…
Our guest was now deceased…
Rest in peace…

They cut it into pieces.
They sterilized them,
They placed them in a case and charged admission.

Now I’m watching television
I see laughter in his eyes.
I hear a rumble in the sky,
They’re coming…
Yes, they’re coming for their boy!

They’re coming…
Yes, they’re coming for their boy…

 

 

THE LEGENDARY PINK DOTS

<< back to the Combined Discography

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Release date and tracklist

1990
NL CS Mirrordot Tapes

side a

1. The Day She Left
2. The Day She Returned
3. The Day She Thought About Leaving And Fell Into The Duck Pond
4. City Of Needles
5. The Day She Lost The Key
6. Excerpt From The Citadel

side b

1. Divine Resignation Part 1
2. Divine Resignation Part 2
3. (Chinese characters: transl: “I am doing well learning this language.”)
4. East Of Shanghai

 

***
1994
NL CD Terminal Kaleidoscope TEKA999

1996
NL CD Soleilmoon #?

2001
PL CD SPV L-0012 (different cover)

16 June 2012
NL MP3 self-released on Bandcamp*

1. The Day She Left
2. The Day She Returned – [MP3]
3. The Day She Thought About Leaving And Fell Into The Duck Pond – [MP3]
4. Nadelstadt – [MP3]
5. The Day She Lost The Key
6. Excerpt From The Citadel
7. Divine Resignation Part 1
8. Divine Resignation Part 2
9. (Chinese characters: transl: “I am doing well learning this language.”)
10. East Of Shanghai

* The first 2 tracks were combined on Bandcamp to preserve cross-fade.

March 4, 2021
Four Days – The 30th Anniversary (Remastered​)​/​Expanded)
NL MP3 self-released on Bandcamp

September 16, 2022
NL CDR self-released on Bandcamp

1. The Day She Left / The Day She Returned
2. The Day She Thought About Leaving But Fell Into The Duckpond
3. Nadelstadt
4. The Day She Lost The Key
5. Excerpt From “The Citadel”
6. Divine Resignation Part 1
7. Divine Resignation Part 2
8. Your Chinese Has Improved
9. East Of Shanghai
10. Steel Town (Bonus)
11. The Way She Knots His Tie (Bonus)
12. The Day She Tied The Knot (Bonus)
13. Night Train To Minsk Parts 1 & 2
14. Roadworkx (Bonus)
15. The Night She Gave Me Flowers (Bonus)

***

June 7, 2024
US 2xLP Witch Cat Records WCR-025

Side A

1. The Day She Left / The Day She Returned
2. The Day She Thought About Leaving But Fell Into The Duckpond
3. Nadelstadt

Side B

1. The Day She Lost The Key
2. Excerpt From “The Citadel”
3. Divine Resignation Part 1

Sice C

1. Divine Resignation Part 2
2. Your Chinese Has Improved
3. East Of Shanghai
4. Steel Town

Side D

1. The Way She Knots His Tie
2. The Day She Tied The Knot
3. Night Train To Minsk Parts 1 & 2
4. Roadworkx
5. The Night She Gave Me Flowers

 

---

Credits

• The Silver Man
• Edward Ka-Spel

Cover art- Elke
2021 remaster by EK

---

Notes

Cassette:
Numbered edition of 100 copies in colour xerox cover

CD:
This is a slightly remixed re-release.  First pressing (1994) was limited to 1000 copies and distributed mainly through direct mail order from the Dots. In August 1995, 200 extra copies were pressed; a second re-pressing of 500 was made in 1996 mainly for the American market (distributed by Soleilmoon); and there have been several editions since.
“Nadelstadt” was retitled from the original release (where it was called “City of Needles”) since it appears in another form as “City of Needles” on SHADOW WEAVER.

from the CD insert:
As the title suggests, “Four days” was a work conceived and recorded in an intense but well starved short period of time in 1988. On the fifth, Elke made the cover for the original tape release, while the results were presented to long term Dots friend, Henk, before the week elapsed. It was to be a limited edition of our copy – a musical ‘thank you’ for a precious favour. Trouble is, we all liked the music and artwork too much to keep it under a carpet. Consequently, with the blessing of Henk, ‘Four Days’ was released in an edition of 100 numbered copies on casette only. By the time most people found out about it, ‘Four Days’ was four years ago – that’s why it is re-appearing now, again with Henk’s blessing. This time there are 1000 of them… it will not rear its head again. Dedicated, of course, to Henk.

Thank you to PIAS records for their blessing of this release. Klymnyeh – Sing while you may!
written and composed by P. Knight and E. Ka-Spel

from the 2012 Bandcamp release:
1990. Summer. Both EK and The Silverman were hopelessly addicted to vinyl but didn’t have the money to feed their habit. A little bird whispered to Phil that another collector in the North of Holland had the 3 (Lard Free) albums he desired the most AND the aforesaid had just discovered the Pink Dots. It was true, but Henk – the owner of those 3 elusive discs already had already amassed a huge collection of Dots’ titles.
Consequently we agreed to make a cassette release just for Henk (who is still a dear friend). Yup an edition of just 1, with Edward’s partner at the time, Elke, making the cover. It took four days.
However Henk insisted the world should hear it, so another 99 cassettes were made. Later it was 3,000 cds on The Dots’ own TEKA label, and then a Polish re-release.  Home-made in every way, but with loving care.

from The 30th Anniversary Bandcamp release:
The DAT tape was unmarked, the DAT recorder/player had been repaired and treasure was hiding between the ones and zeroes. In fact, more than an hour of unreleased/ unheard sessions for “Four Days” emerged which has been edited for this special expanded edition of the 1994 album. Consider this one as the final word on this release.
Again, here is the story of “Four Days”.
1990. Summer. Both EK and The Silverman were hopelessly addicted to vinyl but didn’t have the money to feed their habit. A little bird whispered to Phil that another collector in the North of Holland had the 3 (Lard free) albums he desired the most AND the aforesaid had just discovered the Pink Dots. It was true , but Henk – the owner of those 3 elusive discs already had already amassed a huge collection of Dots’ titles.
Consequently we agreed to make a cassette release just for Henk (who is still a dear friend). Yup an edition of just 1, with Edward’s partner at the time, Elke, making the cover.It took four days.
However Henk insisted the world should hear it, so another 99 cassettes were made. later it was 3,000 cds on The Dots’ own TEKA label, and then a Polish re-release. Home-made in every way, but with loving care.
Remastered February 2021 by Edward Ka-Spel.

2022 30th Anniversary Edition CDR is a limited edition of 113.

from I’m not sure where:
The Day She Left /The Day she Returned– A summer’s day. The doors were open , the microphone was on..These 2 tracks comibined under a single code to preserve the cross-fade.

Nadelstadt– Prototype “City of needles”. The improvisation that was the seed for the Dots’ evergreen..

Your Chinese has Improved– Elke was learning Chinese at the time. The original title was in Chinese characters.

2024 2xLP release:
34 years after it’s initial release, The Legendary Pink Dots “Four Days” emerges as a limited edition Double LP. Containing six bonus tracks, and a special remaster.

Paying tribute to the initial cassette release, the gatefold sleeve is adorned with Elke Skeltzer’s stunningly unique artwork, which was scanned from the original cassette cover and inserts that were packaged in a plastic baggie along with said cassette.

The records come in 3 different colors, Classic Black, Clear Desert Brown, and Citrus Mixed. 100 Copies of each available. 10 Test Pressings will be available, each with a unique cover made by Edward Ka-Spel.

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Reviews

Four Days is the LPDs’ most “industrial” disc, by a long shot. Sweeping violins, church-inspired keyboards, orchestral washes, light acoustic melodies, and the like are totally absent, in favour of churning, clanky, clattering sounds and deep bassy drones. Ka-Spel’s voice is featured on two of the pieces, the first being the most interesting, a sort of sing- song chant, the words almost tripping and rolling into each other. Also of interest, for those who have _Shadow Weaver_, is the fourth piece on _Four Days_, “Nadelstadt”, the German translation of “City of Needles”, and the two are nearly the same track, with a bit of remixing in the different versions. Melody yields to tension on this CD, and it isn’t for the meek or faint of heart. Four those in the mood for the some of the most challenging and “difficult- listening” sounds that the LPDs have put out, _Four Days_ comes highly recommended. For those looking for the more melodic sensibilities of _Any Day Now_, _Crushed Velvet Apocalypse_, or _The Maria Dimension_, you have been warned. This disc is for the most ardent of fans, seeking the more abstract side of our beloved Dots. And the LPDs have not made it any easier, either; the disc is a limited edition of only 1000 copies. The liner notes promise that this will be the entire extent of _Four Days_. And yes, I will not part with this voluntarily, either. And if I ever come across the bonus _MD_ three-incher, I’ll snatch it right quick… – Don Scheidt (september 28, 1994)

***

In 1988, Edward Ka-Spel and the Silverman recorded an album’s worth of material in, as the title suggests, four days, as a way to repay a friend for a favor. The one copy of this material was given to that friend, but the LPDs liked it so much they wanted to release it to their fans, and in 1989, a limited run of 100 cassettes was made available. Much later, in 1994, another limited run of 1000 CDs was issued on Terminal Kaleidoscope and sold via Soleilmoon. The music is of supreme quality for only four days of work, although it is mostly ambient and instrumental. The exceptions are “The Day She Returned,” with a frantic, maddening vocal that sounds as if it were recorded in the interior of a storm cloud; “Divine Resignation,” with its distorted speech, which acts as a sequel to Asylum’s “A Message From Our Sponsor”; and the suspenseful industrial instrumental “Nadelstadt,” originally titled “City of Needles” but given a new name after vocals were added to it for the 1992 album Shadow Weaver. – Rex

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Lyrics

Divine Resignation

In the interest of you all – the living and the temporarily indisposed I retire. You know, I had such ideas… When you are alone, with eternity to play with, to shape, to build – well you can understand the weight of my ambition. But I’ve created a monster, that was never the intention. The bureaucracy of my vision has now made it impossible to realize the totality of the vision itself. Merely a few friends, as equals. No delusions of grandeur. No pity, narrow winded struggles for “power” I’m sorry, it isn’t possible. I can’t cope anymore. As I said before, I retire.

The day she returned

you took my soul away snatched it and stole away stashed in a hole with a sack full of gold for a cold rainy day, gonna wash me away. Chasing the tail of a soft spoken whale in a gale in a flood. I got it in my blood. Gonna slice up my brother. I’ll slice up my brother. I’ll cater you. And nothing makes sense, I’m a hole in a fence and this planet’s immense and expensive. I’m broke but I’m broken you push in a token you pull on a whul(?) It’s no deal. It’s a death. It’s no deal wish a death it’s no deal.