Sleep
Kicks, a Norwegian quartet, recently released the EP “How You Know Things.”
All six tracks are recommended, but we particularly gravitated toward two – “Sawdust”
and “How You Know Things pt. I.” The first is a Post Punk gem that was
originally shared as a single in 2023. The second is Part I of three songs that
can be considered the “title track” of the EP.
“Sawdust”
was written shortly after the band’s debut album “The Afterdrop.”
Sleep Kicks explain that the single was evidence that they did not intend
to rest on laurels of the debut album; the urge to just keep working and
pushing towards new achievements is thinly veiled in the lyrics of “Sawdust.”
Both the lyrics and the interplay between the vocalists interplay are masterful
in the final segment of the song, when the suffix “ing” takes a lead role:
Sleep Kicks are based in Oslo, Norway. They are Terje Kleven (guitar,
vocals), Frode Gundersen (drums), Jørn Landbakk (guitar), and Stephen Gardener
(bass, synth). The credits of “Sawdust” show that Jade Marie Hasselgård
contributed background vocals. Talking about their music, Landbakk once
explained:
“We quickly found out that the four of us have too many different influences to be able to stay within the strict boundaries of post-punk. Instrumental post-rock dynamics can be heard in several songs, while others lean on an almost krauty repetitiveness.”
“Sawdust”
by Sleep Kicks
Can’t stop the bleeding
The circus is leaving
For another town
Always competing
Never retreating
Eventually healing
Failure is fleeting
Patterns repeating
For the soldier and the
clown
“We quickly found out that the four of us have too many different influences to be able to stay within the strict boundaries of post-punk. Instrumental post-rock dynamics can be heard in several songs, while others lean on an almost krauty repetitiveness.”
Lyrics of “Sawdust” by Sleep Kicks
Not a sparkle, not a sound
Bruised and battered on the ground
Collecting dogtags on a chain
Yet another failed campaign
Way outnumbered and unprepared
And all ambitions left for dead
Can’t stop the bleeding
The circus is leaving
For another town
Failure is fleeting
For the soldier and the clown
Filter teardrops, sweat and blood
Through the sawdust and the mud
Time to reload, go again
Find the strength to entertain
Walk the tightrope for the crowd
Before the silence gets too loud
Can’t stop the bleeding
The circus is leaving
For another town
Always competing
In search of a meaning
And the clock keeps counting down
It’s time to get back on the horse
Ride out to conquer the applause
Can’t stop the bleeding
The circus is leaving
For another town
Always competing
Never retreating
Eventually healing
Failure is fleeting
Patterns repeating
For the soldier and the clown
Bruised and battered on the ground
Collecting dogtags on a chain
Yet another failed campaign
Way outnumbered and unprepared
And all ambitions left for dead
Can’t stop the bleeding
The circus is leaving
For another town
Failure is fleeting
For the soldier and the clown
Filter teardrops, sweat and blood
Through the sawdust and the mud
Time to reload, go again
Find the strength to entertain
Walk the tightrope for the crowd
Before the silence gets too loud
Can’t stop the bleeding
The circus is leaving
For another town
Always competing
In search of a meaning
And the clock keeps counting down
It’s time to get back on the horse
Ride out to conquer the applause
Can’t stop the bleeding
The circus is leaving
For another town
Always competing
Never retreating
Eventually healing
Failure is fleeting
Patterns repeating
For the soldier and the clown
“How
You Know Things pt. I” is the more Atmospheric Rock than is “Sawdust.”
And the backing vocals of Jade Marie Hasselgård play a larger role. The song
does not include the standard instrumental intro, but does include an extended
spoken-word segment during the second half (the lyrics are included in this
post).
The materials released with “How You Know Things pt. I” state:
“[The] track leans more clearly than before into the band’s long-standing dream-pop influences — soaring, melodic, and atmospheric - and perhaps a tad in a more uplifting territory than the band has previously operated. The lyrics nod to Hemingway, while music nerds will certainly approve of the bouncy 7/4-groove in the bridge.”
“How You Know Things pt. I” by Sleep Kicks
The materials released with “How You Know Things pt. I” state:
“[The] track leans more clearly than before into the band’s long-standing dream-pop influences — soaring, melodic, and atmospheric - and perhaps a tad in a more uplifting territory than the band has previously operated. The lyrics nod to Hemingway, while music nerds will certainly approve of the bouncy 7/4-groove in the bridge.”
“How You Know Things pt. I” by Sleep Kicks
Lyrics of “How You Know Things” by Sleep Kicks
Clearly, I miss him
But since you put it in that way
Why not leave them to it?
She was silent and asked for nothing
“There is no chance,” she said
And left without a smile
Without a smile
I believe that it must be
I will sleep as they would sleep
Met him in the doorway
Must have been a Tuesday night
Oh, those awkward moments
They're gone in just ten seconds
Couldn't look him in the eyes
But I think I saw a smile
I saw a smile
I saw a smile
I believe that it must be
I will sleep as they would sleep
Were you expecting someone
To show up at your door?
How you know things will be
Exactly how they were before
Did you expect the feeling
to fade out silently?
How you know things will be
Exactly like they used to be
Were you at some point thinking
There's nothing left to do?
How you know things will be
Precisely like you'd want them to
Was this the first incentive
To grow a thicker skin?
How you know things will be
The same as they have always been
I believe that it must be
I will sleep as they would sleep
Clearly, I miss him
But since you put it in that way
Why not leave them to it?
She was silent and asked for nothing
“There is no chance,” she said
And left without a smile
Without a smile
I believe that it must be
I will sleep as they would sleep
Met him in the doorway
Must have been a Tuesday night
Oh, those awkward moments
They're gone in just ten seconds
Couldn't look him in the eyes
But I think I saw a smile
I saw a smile
I saw a smile
I believe that it must be
I will sleep as they would sleep
Were you expecting someone
To show up at your door?
How you know things will be
Exactly how they were before
Did you expect the feeling
to fade out silently?
How you know things will be
Exactly like they used to be
Were you at some point thinking
There's nothing left to do?
How you know things will be
Precisely like you'd want them to
Was this the first incentive
To grow a thicker skin?
How you know things will be
The same as they have always been
I believe that it must be
I will sleep as they would sleep
No comments:
Post a Comment