Exchange (Eye for an Eye)
from Soft Verges by Michael Bassett
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Streaming + DownloadIncludes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.Purchasable with gift card
$0.99 USD
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Buy the Full Digital Album
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Limited Edition Vinyl
Record/Vinyl + Digital AlbumWe proudly present Soft Verges in a signed-and-numbered limited vinyl edition! Much of Soft Verges was tracked live at Chicago's legendary Electrical Audio; then lush-sounding 180-gram vinyl was cut directly from the original tape for a completely analog listening experience. The whole thing is wrapped in a holographic foil-embossed jacket designed by Black Sea's Justin Lloyd. Only 300 copies of this edition exist; each one is hand-signed and numbered by Michael Bassett and Justin Lloyd and comes polybagged in crystal-clear archival mylar.
Includes unlimited streaming of Soft Verges via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.Sold Out
lyrics
it finally came home
equal and opposite
settling scores
it’s a cruel thing
the exchange of the eyes
it’s confusing
when you’re missing the storyline
up from the ashes rise all the questions
while simpletons peddle slick packaged lies
from tiny-mind titles bought from the shadows
jerking the strings of a giant inclined
to a fool thing
the exchange of the eyes
and it’s soothing
to fight fire with...
out on the tarmac the turbines are howling
singing of envelopes laced with black hope
raise up your hands to trace empty sockets
circular patterns that bring it all home
it’s a sure thing
the exchange of eyes
it’s burning
you’re playing with...
two empty holes on the face of an island
empty as life facing gunmetal cold
as empty and still as the grave of a stranger
as empty and still as things never told
empty as words like freedom and justice
empty as minds lead by the storm
empty as scores that can never be settled
empty as veins running with scorn
as empty as bellies of children in deserts
vacuums where hatred is waiting to bloom
black and as empty as night city skyline
black and as charred as hiroshima’s doom
as black as a rescue sealed in the rubble
lives coming down like rain in the streets
as black as an airplane of innocent travelers
blown into dust over persian seas
as black as the smoke in a tiny village
black as a yellow star sewn to your sleeve
black as the walls of a prison camp oven
as black and as burning as palestine’s grief
how many eyes of black empty vengeance?
filled with a fury that’s driving it home
grope in your darkness to seize on an answer
and you will find nothing but black
angry holes
equal and opposite
settling scores
it’s a cruel thing
the exchange of the eyes
it’s confusing
when you’re missing the storyline
up from the ashes rise all the questions
while simpletons peddle slick packaged lies
from tiny-mind titles bought from the shadows
jerking the strings of a giant inclined
to a fool thing
the exchange of the eyes
and it’s soothing
to fight fire with...
out on the tarmac the turbines are howling
singing of envelopes laced with black hope
raise up your hands to trace empty sockets
circular patterns that bring it all home
it’s a sure thing
the exchange of eyes
it’s burning
you’re playing with...
two empty holes on the face of an island
empty as life facing gunmetal cold
as empty and still as the grave of a stranger
as empty and still as things never told
empty as words like freedom and justice
empty as minds lead by the storm
empty as scores that can never be settled
empty as veins running with scorn
as empty as bellies of children in deserts
vacuums where hatred is waiting to bloom
black and as empty as night city skyline
black and as charred as hiroshima’s doom
as black as a rescue sealed in the rubble
lives coming down like rain in the streets
as black as an airplane of innocent travelers
blown into dust over persian seas
as black as the smoke in a tiny village
black as a yellow star sewn to your sleeve
black as the walls of a prison camp oven
as black and as burning as palestine’s grief
how many eyes of black empty vengeance?
filled with a fury that’s driving it home
grope in your darkness to seize on an answer
and you will find nothing but black
angry holes
credits
from Soft Verges,
released August 1, 2008
Produced by Michael Bassett
Music and lyrics by Michael Bassett
Michael Bassett: voice, steel-string acoustic and electric guitars
Bob Gilmore: string arrangement
John Blakely: kit drums
James Dumbleton: hand percussion
Maja Bugge: cello
Ben Marquis gilmore: violin
David Prior: piano
Kevin Sanders: standup bass
Elisabeth Smalt: viola
Jon Sterckx: tabla and hand percussion
David Prior: engineering and production
Kevin Bartlett: digital mixes at Aural Gratification Studios, Woodstock NY
Pete deBoer: engineering and transfer of digital mixes to tape
Mastered by Kevin Gray at Acoustech, Los Angeles, CA
Produced by Michael Bassett
Music and lyrics by Michael Bassett
Michael Bassett: voice, steel-string acoustic and electric guitars
Bob Gilmore: string arrangement
John Blakely: kit drums
James Dumbleton: hand percussion
Maja Bugge: cello
Ben Marquis gilmore: violin
David Prior: piano
Kevin Sanders: standup bass
Elisabeth Smalt: viola
Jon Sterckx: tabla and hand percussion
David Prior: engineering and production
Kevin Bartlett: digital mixes at Aural Gratification Studios, Woodstock NY
Pete deBoer: engineering and transfer of digital mixes to tape
Mastered by Kevin Gray at Acoustech, Los Angeles, CA
license
all rights reserved
tags
about
Michael Bassett Bath, UK
With soaring vocals and powerful-yet-delicate guitarwork, Michael Bassett combines the raw catharsis of modern indie, the world-wise acoustic lilt of classic folk and the virtuosity of progressive rock on his Eschatone debut, puddleskinwaving, and his wonderful sophomore release, Soft Verges. ... more
discography
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Aug 2008 -
Oct 2006
contact / help
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