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Year 0

by Atlum Schema

supported by
Michael Mayes
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Michael Mayes The first time I heard Andy play it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up!! This album is a masterpiece with its haunting melody. Thanks Andy. Favorite track: This Grave.
Ewan Jones
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Ewan Jones Andy's most personal and persuasive songwriting yet. Every song is crafted with passion, delicacy and confidence. Every new release continues to build on the previous work - am I allowed say 'masterpiece'? Favorite track: Bottom Line.
Richard Harrison (@mr_spoon)
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Richard Harrison (@mr_spoon) Perfectly minimal album, such fragility to the songs but also stuffed to the brim with emotion. Favorite track: Traveller.
Timothy Watson
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Timothy Watson I keep coming back to this record. One of my top 10 from the last decade. Atlum Schema mines the depths of human experience. His lyrics are uplifting and wrought with tension and release. There is a beautiful spirituality within this work and it is a reminder that all are on journeys in some form or another. the whole album is an absolute delight. And it is catchy too with lots of great hooks.
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1.
you hold your sway, the light will not divide opinion. what’s in the way fills the shadows up behind your skeleton where nobody will find us nobody will find us in here we start again. they told us we would make for nothing. not out ahead. we don't steer but we just look without touching where nobody will find us nobody will find us in here you watch and you pray for forgiveness. you bomb a new day, now you’re guiltless, where nobody will find us. nobody will find us in here you don’t fold when you play and you gamble because you hope that you’ll stay safely landlocked where nobody will find us nobody will find us in here
2.
We drove it down. Kingdom and settlement fell beneath our feet. They beg and call, Shouting for freedom from arms and industry We are the accepted face. We make the rules for the game. Carry the gun filled with fatal saving grace. This is an empire, I’m sure, 'cos the thing that we fear is the thing we fight for. This is the empire of the soul. We stole the past. Culture and evidence fell beneath our feet. The small man knelt, reached for the gun I had given him; so I took my aim We are the accepted face. We make the rules for the game. Carry the gun filled with fatal saving grace. This is an empire, I’m sure, 'cos the thing that we fear is the thing we fight for. This is the empire of the soul. Dreams and stories We destroyed it Change and market the truth
3.
i am caught in a web trapped by something he said down drainpipes he’s selling us short with lessons i need to be taught you can’t use me to be your wrecking ball i refuse mate to be your wrecking ball if you choose me to be your wrecking ball you will lose me just to soften your fall real time, keeping it slow impact from the nonsense you sew the words that come from your mouth make heavy work for the crowd i’m on their side not your side this time i’m on their side not your side of the line you’re perfect, it’s not about you it must be what the rest of us do we’re vile and we’re creatures of hate please don’t give up on us you are great
4.
This Grave 04:12
Slipping into line for the other one tonight. Moving in and out; if I'm choosing one, it's the other one. I don't want the same thing to happen here to you. And I just want to lie down in this grave tonight, This grave. Tonight. And you said we were the only ones, the only ones, the only ones. Standing in the line where the gloaming shines its light. Landing on the side in the murky night without a bite. I just want the same thing to happen here to you. And I just want to lie down in this grave tonight, This grave. Tonight. And you said we were the only ones, the only ones, the only ones. Talking about our future. You said it wasn't time. Watching the days slip hopelessly by You said it wasn't time. Promising us the future. You said it wasn't time. Trailing the hours upon hours upon the sun trips
5.
sleep talking investment quickly sell my soul for a chance priest is quick to grant forgiveness where i’m going is hell it’s impossible to wake someone pretending to sleep it’s impossible to wake somebody like me arms break back like spider fractures bee stings, walking the line oath sworn, dry mouth, short term, get out, sandstorm blows me away head in the sand, feet in the sea, submerged within nature, and the places I flee. my form isn’t good but getting better with age it’s protected by prayer and the minimum wage a bottle of help is only short lived we’re slicing up dreams, they’re all allocated wriggle and squirm, from pressure and time pretend to myself that I’m doing just fine
6.
Bottom Line 04:55
Nobody is perfect, But shit rises up. It builds a roof for all of us underneath the top. Forget it in the background, Let its goodness fall. Levelling the prize down, to benefit us all. What am I worth to you if I’m alive? What am I worth to you? Please sir, did I meet the bottom line or am I dispensable? Did I meet the bottom line? Did I toe your party line or was I reprehensible? Did I toe the party line? I got a call from daylight, It seems I’m running late. Just leave my brain inside the drawer over by the gate. What am I worth to you if I’m alive? What am I worth to you? Please sir, did I meet the bottom line or am I dispensable? Did I meet the bottom line? Did I tow your party line or was I reprehensible? Did I tow the party line? I can see you up there in your big golden tower. I can see you up there in your big golden tower. What you doing up there in your big golden tower? What you doing up there in your big golden tower? Trying to reach God, trying to reach God. What you doing up there in your big golden tower? Hiding from God, hiding from God. What am I worth to you if I’m alive? What am I worth to you? Please sir, did I meet the bottom line or am I dispensable? Did I meet the bottom line? Did I tow your party line or was I reprehensible? Did I tow the party line?
7.
The Box 06:11
Slingshots and swords in the box Our evolution got lost Living it up in the Dark Age saves us lots Keep our bullets and bombs underground So we can sleep safe and sound Hiding in tents filled with thorns that comfort. Cheer that the war was over before it even began Cheer that the war was over, didn’t think out a long term plan. The kids are our slaves in the box So that our freedom’s not lost What we can’t see isn’t happening here to us Keep our bullets and bombs underground So we can sleep safe and sound Nothing says freedom like threats and fear so that We cheer that the war was over before it even began Cheer that the war was over, didn’t think out a long term plan. I’ll scratch your back if you scratch mine, We see you living with no one else in mind. I’ll step forwards if you look back, Where you keep living like the world’s a trap.
8.
Stay close Failed pose This pretence has got us nowhere The generous, you know they don’t care Caught out More drought taking on a change of heart now making up for failing big crowds who we never knew said, Help me if you can I’m on my way back down Help me kick the can or else I think I’ll sink and drown And I don’t know if I will float this time around Slip by Red night Everybody there was so proud Everybody there looked so now when they heard us cry for Help me if you can I’m on my way back down Help me kick the can or else I think I’ll sink and drown And I don’t know if I will float this time around I had to hit the bottom before I could start climbing up Could start climbing up again After I hit the bottle, when I could not get enough, Could not get enough of it.
9.
one of us must leave this town, there’s no room for two points of view so i’ll pick up my pillow and find myself a new place to rest i can’t breathe, i’m choking on my own excuses i can’t breathe, i’m choking on what i believe thoughts don’t fit, with fire that lit. these juggle sticks and voodoo kicks bring pain to the weary, i’ve got it written over my face Centre stage, take the blame, I don’t know what to say. But I’m coming home anyway. I have glue, nothing new, I don’t know what to do, but I’m coming home to you. In the wings, with the kings, gorging on power that brings all the wealth possessed sovereign rings You will fall, when you’re called, And you wont go before, the right time, I hold a wrecking ball. I hold your wrecking ball. you gave me this wrecking ball you built the wrecking ball now i’m using it. now i’m using it on you.
10.
Traveller 07:07
Stake a claim, destroy my name with love Play the same old stupid game and run I’m a traveller who’s scared to move A traveller I’m a traveller who’s scared of moving on Sliding pieces fall to bits and form Tight nit circles shelter from the storm I’m a traveller who’s scared to move A traveller I’m a traveller who’s scared of moving on Coaches moving through my mind, If you want it you can have it. Escalator riding time, If we need it, we can take it. I’m a traveller who’s scared to move I’m a traveller who’s scared to move along I’m a traveller who fears what might go wrong I’m a traveller who’s scared to move it on I’m a traveller who’s scared of moving on

about

I spent the past two and a half years with an inadvertent fresh perspective on the fragile nature of human existence, helping care for a friend who was tragically diagnosed with a rapidly debilitating and imprisoning form of Lewy Body Dementia in 2011.

The album came together over just two weeks in the summer of 2013. It confronts themes of loss, the frailty of the human body, the potential strength of human spirit and the absurd attention and importance we collectively give to futile things.

Initially intended as a stripped back, acoustic record, it grew through the recording process into an ambient spirited, reflective, electronic exploration of the human condition. It is about discovering within the past the inescapable clues to the mysteries of the future, and that every passing moment is a new opportunity to change things.

credits

released March 31, 2014

Andrew Mort: All Instruments and Voices
Produced and Mixed by Andrew Mort
Mastered by Steve Lawson (www.stevelawson.net) and Iain Macdonald

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Andy Mort Warwickshire, UK

Andy Mort is a singer-songwriter and ambient sound artist from The Midlands in the United Kingdom. He blends dream-pop with haunting ambient post-rock soundscapes. His music explores what it might mean to be human in a world of anonymising systems, prescriptive algorithms, and rapid innovation. ... more

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