Meadow Argus form a spirited ecosystem of
colorful life from a diversity of instrumentation. Their songs are melodically
appealing and vocally compelling, but it’s the instrumentation that catches and
holds the ear. “You're a Garden” is perhaps the leading example within the discography
of Meadow Argus.
The
promotional content for “You're a Garden” provides insights as to how the kaleidoscope of timbe is created. The refreshingly non-standard percussion is identified as distorted
xylophone. But is that a digeridoo at times, such as at 2:45? Probably not,
although Meadow Argus is from Australia, home of the digeridoo. Additionally, the bridge that
begins at 1:51 is powerful. The explanation is that the song includes “crisply
fingerpicked acoustic guitar to provide a bed for phasey 12-string swirls.”
Meadow
Argus hails from the outskirts of Eastern Australia’s hinterland town of Maleny.
“You're a Garden” was recorded in the rainforest studio of Jevan Cole, the
driving force behind Meadow Argus. Cole is identified as the arranger and
producer of the song, with Tim Hall contributing the Power Pop vocals and the percussion.
The song was produced and mastered by Jevan, but under the watchful direction
of Australia's wanderkind producer, Lachlan Gould ("Magoo").
Lyrically,
the song is quirky. We need to take the word of Jevan Cole when he explains,
"’You're a Garden’ contemplates the meaning of art, and its connection
to the divine, both within and all around us.”
The bands
description of itself is interesting:
“Australian
psych-folk freaks, Meadow Argus travel forgotten mountain tracks and narrow
country lanes collecting imagined folklore and abandoned ephemera. Found
sounds intertwine with bubbling synths, intricate acoustic guitars, and spaced-out
electrics. Woven into a tattered and worn tapestry of pastoral acoustic
abstracts, whimsical electronica, and sparklingly dark jangle fuzz pop songs. “
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/meadowargusmusic
Website: https://www.meadowargus.com/
Lyrics
of “You're a Garden” by Meadow Argus
In my new suit
I'm so sartorial
My feathered boots
Made me arboreal
I got so high
In the oldest tree
Fell through the sky
A god inside of me
I got knocked out
By a branch above
Song in my blood
Of the spotted dove
In my new suit
I'm so sartorial
My worn-out boots
Are memorial
Down down down down down
I'm adrift in your love
Hearts alight up above
Down down down down down
I'm afloat on your love
Can I give it enough?
You're a garden, garden, garden
Garden of love
Down down down down down
Down down down down down
I washed my face
In the coldest stream
Old rainbow trout
Came and stole my dream
Hid them from me
Below a heavy stone
Left me with naught
But hair and skin and bone
You're a garden, garden, garden
Garden of love