#electric arguments

(Two Magpies, 2008, Electric Arguments)

One for sorrow Two for joy Three for a girl Four for a boy or One for sorrow Two for luck Three for a wedding Four for death Five for silver Six for gold Seven for a secret never to be told

(a traditional children's nursery rhyme)

…wrote a secret code To never be spoken

Listened to this great eggpod ep interview with Youth about Electric Arguments.. and then listened to Electric Arguments for the first time (my approach is to the solo music is all over the place) .. and it’s kind of fucking great?? I had assumed it was all ambient music ..it’s a full proper record, Paul playing all the instruments. He’s really free and experimental and going all sorts of places. Lots of moods, melodies. Totally surprising (for me) in a great way.

Day 4: grey and gloomy Sunday afternoon vibes....a stormy seaside and a crisp autumn wind

Don’t Let It Bring You Down (Wings), London Town

Don’t go down - don’t get out of town

Get to know how it goes, how it goes

A deep cut favorite of mine. This track’s an odd hypnotic dirge showcasing Paul’s incredible vocal range (“up! and down! your carousel will go”). London Town is very much the Paul-and-Denny show, and their love affair with folk music during this time period shines through here, colliding poetically with the nautical tones arising from writing and recording abord a yacht in the Virgin Islands.

Travelling Light (as The Fireman), Electric Arguments

I’ll be travelling tonight

Oh across the sea

Where she waits, she waits for me

Across the broken sea

Paul says “fuck Heather Mills” three ways from Sunday:

Riding To Vanity Fair, Chaos And Creation In The Backyard

[Troubled Marriage] Serious, subtle (passive aggressive) Macca. Moody, and melancholic, with a gorgeous downbeat melody and arrangement.

You’re not aware

Of what you put me through

But now the feeling’s gone

But I don’t mind

Do what you have to do

You don’t fool anyone

Mr Bellamy, Memory Almost Full

[Separation] Oddball, obfuscating (passive aggressive) Macca. Bizarre baroque pop......about a cat stuck in a tree? Or a man contemplating suicide? Or is it pissed-off Paul blowing off some steam during the messy separation (many have pointed out “Mister Bellamy” is an anagram for “Mills Betray Me”)? Who knows!

I’m not coming down

No matter what you do

I like it up here without you

Nothing Too Much Just Out Of Sight, Electric Arguments (as The Fireman)

[Divorce] Raw, rocking, straight up aggressive Macca. Helter Skelter-harsh, no more mincing words or hiding his frustrations in restrained and polished songs. Real “How do you sleep, ya cunt” vibes here.

Don’t you try to betray me

Oh wanna betray me?

I was ready to test