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A Kind of Alchemy

by byron

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1.
The Night 05:42
The Night (music&lyrics: Dan Byron) The night is riding its mares Filling the air with lost slivers of life; Its breath is leading you nowhere Where the inner you is waiting for strife... Open your eyes, but please, Don't interrupt this ride... The clouds are melting horizons The world is thirsty but this night is a stream; I'm up, but I'm not sure I'm awake, This pastel looks rather like a dream... Close your eyes, it's time to disappear, Undress these useless clothes and shine ! The sky is getting closer this time Feel the rain shivering down my spine... The night is swinging its cradles Singing a perfect tune but not a lullaby. The moon is hiding behind clouds Waiting for the right time to climb down from the sky And I hear you whispering in my ear That you don’t want the dawn to crumble this dream And I see your eyes are full of tears You’re not here right now or that’s how it seems
2.
Zeitgeist 04:39
Zeitgeist (music&lyrics: Dan Byron) There’s a lord of the waves He keeps us entertained and well informed, He never makes mistakes, Cause he knows us much better than we do. We’re so addicted to faith Every word he says we take as truth, We are lost in a maze, Got a wrong map, but such a beautiful view... Get in line, boy Just get in line! Take your new clothes and be yourself Is this trend or just another uniform? Just a file on a shelf, A certain target demanding specific inputs. There’s a clown juggling our heads, He has to keep us dizzy and confused While we are locked in sheds Waiting for tomorrow’s graze. Get in line, boy, Just get in line! There was a time when we fought for land Today we resign willingly There’s a clever guy out there who understands We're such an easy game to play... So, get in line...
3.
Diggin’ a Hole (music&lyrics: Dan Byron) I have a white house A legacy from my dear daddy-o It has a backyard A flower garden and a big fat ugly doll – a scarecrow. I heard some neighbours Buried their money in their courtyard and now they pretend to be poor I’ll find some good cause - I will convince the others they are not secure ! Diggin’ a hole My ideals are growing down My goal Is to make myself a fully black-gold kinky crown I am a nice guy I like guns but I will not touch one, don’t be afraid I have my dogs though Prepared to shoot your children while they’re drinking their lemonade. Just put your smile back I can revoke your damn rights whenever I want Cause I’ve got a white house And you’re nothing but a hound dog I can taunt. Dig a hole, man, dig a- dig a hole ! Dig a hole, man, dig a- dig a hole
4.
War 05:10
War (music&lyrics: Dan Byron) On my own it’s kinda scary, With none of you watching my back. On my own I have to carry This awful candle to light the dark... You’re confused calling me enemy, Same time asking me to save. You’ve been told I’m kinda scary And if you’re against me you should consider yourself brave. I say the war is over But it seems you didn’t get it yet, You carry a revolver Waiting, waiting for a threat. On my own looking for answers, Never pleased, I’m sure there are more. Same time you dress, you dress like a lancer – Put your helmet on and try to find the door.
5.
A Little Bit Deranged (music&lyrics: Dan Byron) Down below a thousand pipes Are pumping comfort to the spines In and out, exchanging chemistry, The veins of the city keeping us alive Like the roots of a tree. Billions of wires hanging around Making our living safe and sound, Hey, Mr. Edison, can you turn on the light? I’m just a little bit confused Fumbling in the night. We’re just evolving Our animal instincts changed Evolving The funny thing is we are all a little bit deranged. The fuel is pumped by the heart of my car, The air waves locked in a radio jar, Wireless thoughts shared in a long-distance call, Being so close separates us sometimes Like an invisible wall.
6.
I Don't Want to Entertain You (music&lyrics: Dan Byron) There are certain things haunting me, pushing me over As hard as I try, I cannot lie to you or keep you away from them I’ve got a fucked up mind merchandising our troubles You say tomorrow we’ll die, so let’s have some fun today But I certainly don’t want to entertain you… They say you’re just a point on a graphic scale and I should take you higher, I should make you forget your day made you upset, convince you everything’s just fine. They sure want me to be a rock’n’roll brat clinging on the edge of life, Glamorous shine lifting up your smile – curving your spine But I certainly don’t want to entertain you, I certainly don’t want to entertain you … Right in the middle of this tune was a riddle, but I cannot remember the sentence I guess I shooed the words – they flew like birds! – and now all my intentions are on this table Cut and come again till you understand there’s no room for chatter in this place Blame me, I’m not what you want me to be And I’m not sorry! They all sing on the moon and they are all out of tune but that supergiant star reclaims them And you pay the price – their outfits are nice! – seems your choices are weak-willed and unstable Cut and come again till you understand there’s no room for chatter in this place Blame me, I’m not what you want me to be… Cause I certainly don’t want to entertain you, I certainly don’t want to entertain you, Not this way !
7.
A Poem Without an End (music&lyrics: Dan Byron) So many years have passed and you are still here Watching me struggling for a peaceful night First I tried to bury your name but it resurfaced The vowels came out riding the consonants, Resonating... I burned all the photographs, all the letters, I changed my habits, the places I used to go. Didn’t see your face for a while, I thought I made it, But one day I called my girl uttering your name By mistake... There is one love, one love, One love we never forget One love Every day we try to recreate Funny, I saw you yesterday – you acted so clumsy, Trying to be pleasant, asking me to stay... I figured out it is not you the one who shakes me But these memories moving under my skin Like a snake. I know we’ve had our time – it’s irreversible We’ve lost that final rhyme – a poem without an end I know it looks so sad, but what is happiness? It’s all in our heads – we made this word up To define a final frontier...
8.
King of Clowns (music&lyrics: Dan Byron) It’s just around the corner, Walking down the street, Floating its scent around, but still discreet. It’s threatening your peace, Messing around with your life, Feeding your days with a big-time inner strife. It starts with a thought, Then you’re mesmerized You begin to see the picture in a different light: Red turns to black Blue turns to white. Lying in your rough bed Taking notes from your dreams Letters and numbers mixed up in a stream Head lays in its lap It caresses your hair Banishing your filthy, nighty mares. It’s already here But you disregard There are fifty-thousand dogs barking in the yard Head full of weed Hands full of heart. Madness comes like a thief Your angles turn into curves distorting your beliefs The angels bow performing your will You’re the king of clowns Fastening your seatbelt Waiting for a sign Thousands years of waiting in a line You will be promoted To a better bed Swallow your pill and save a piece of bread You’re already there But you can’t move at all Your tuxedo’s tight safekeeping your soul Head begins to rock Eyes begin to roll
9.
The Song That Never Was (music: 6fingers&Dan Byron, lyrics: 6fingers) Bathing in muse juice Waking my inner god Setting my soul loose To embrace the odd Travel in time on a sound of a rhyme End of an age at the flip of a page Birth of a world at the whim of a word And I see myself bleeding From the wounds I never knew I had Questing my soul In feelings overdose Leaving behind my real illusion I am slowly turning slightly mad Trying to find The song that never was Touching parallels Squaring circles right Freezing the nine hells Breaking the speed of light Travel in time on a sound of a rhyme End of an age at the flip of a page Birth of a world at the whim of a word Sill I am here stranded On the shores of consciousness Watching in awe horizons juxtapose Dipping my sight in pure sensations I'll be lost in muse's warm caress Humming away The song that never was
10.
Sirens 03:52
Sirens (music&lyrics: Dan Byron) I’m just a sailor on a sea Full of sirens chasing me With their deadly song But I press my knees over my ears Close my eyes and try to breathe While I’m singing this tune So I ride the waves up to the shore Where a long expected war Is burning up my memories But I will command the troops to hide Take them to the other side Where no one is waiting for me Till then I still wage my lonesome fight Maybe I will lose my mind My knees are already shakin’ I have to keep focus on this tune While I’m flying to the moon Reflecting its light to feel mine I just want to hear you screaming „Land, ho!” But you’re acting like a child saying „Eenie meenie miney mo” It’s alright I can handle this on my own It’s alright I better pray cause here come the stones !
11.
Vitruvian Man (music&lyrics: Dan Byron) Up the mountain, layin’ on ground, I can feel the Earth spinning round and round Arms wide open, vitruvian man I’ve lost direction, free again. Feel alive to the bone Feel alive back home Watching the sky, looking for a key - Billions of worlds looking back at me... Had a dream about that Had a dream, but I forgot... Unplugging the matter I let you behind, I told you there is a key I have to find.
12.
The Alchemist (music&lyrics: Dan Byron) Though my dreams are made From my daily affairs, I knew you before We’ve ever met. I threw a glance at you, Then you vanished in the air But you’re running, running in my head... It’s been a long time now Since I had that dream And here you are, Smiling at me... I wonder if you’re a song Or maybe just a theme Running, running in my head... I find it hard to carry this burden on my shoulders - Self-created it celebrates its role. Don’t like the grin on its face, it makes me feel colder No control, there is no goal at all I turned you into sound But you didn’t get it yet Trapped on tape Lost on a shelf Maybe we’ll meet again In case I don’t forget You were running, running in my head Wonder where’s the lighter Got a fancy cigar, Almost done here With this tune so far... Wonder if you’re conscious You’re nothing but a song, You once were a person, But you grew up wrong.
13.
Blinded by Sunshine (music&lyrics: Dan Byron) We passed all these years In a bed made of stairs, Pissing off the streets with a song, Fighting with snowballs We managed to smile - A statement of trust: “I belong”... A friendship blinded by sunshine, Foolish conceit, uptight The world was supposed to be just fine At least for a moment it looked alright We swapped our t-shirts Instead of a handshake Creating our own kind of play... The room was not big But inside was a world made of Wax, books and live for today. A friendship blinded by sunshine, Foolish conceit, uptight The world was supposed to be just fine Not yours or mine I tried to stare you down but You didn't look away A nice try but the game is over Now you go that way and I'll walk this one staring at the sun
14.
A Peaceful Mind (music&lyrics: Dan Byron) See the dawn stretching in your eyes with a smile on, Feel the rain running down your lips But the sky’s still clear underneath... I’m in love with your painted sun – just a wall though, Just a drill for a perfect day When you’ll scan the skyline and you’ll say: „Don’t you know I’m right here right now? Can’t you feel me? This is as real as you can get ! Inside blue sky, Outside rainy weather; A peaceful mind, Not just feeling better.” Take the spoon, put it in your cup, make a sweet mix, A little music for a sleepy head, I hear you humming from my bed. As if the nature imitates your smile, the rain ends, A reflection of the shiny world Makes the smoky air swirl. Good morning, take a deep breath The calling of a brand new day fills your chest - It’s your life running through your veins, It’s your day and this time it never-ever ends.

about

Clocking in at a bit over an hour, byron's latest release features a much more developed sound, as the band improved both their songwriting abilities and their studio skills. The fourteen tracks are more focused and to the point, sporting a wider diversity of influences (especially blues, funk and progressive).
The album as a whole deals with the process of creation from an artist's perspective - ranging from madness to zen. In frontman Dan Byron's words, "The mood is nocturnal, rather intimate, sometimes playful or even exuberant".

credits

released October 23, 2009

Music & lyrics by Dan Byron, except "The Song That Never Was" by 6fingers.

The band:
Dan Byron - vocals, acoustic guitar, flute, melodica
6fingers - piano, Rhodes, keyboards, accordion
Costin Oprea - electric guitar
Vlady Săteanu - bass
Cristi Mateşan - drums

Additional musicians:
A Quattro String Quartet (René Popescu, Ana Ghiţă, Alexandra Toader, Alex Gorneanu), Petre Ionuţescu (trumpet), Lu Cozma (vocals), Jane D. (vocals), Victor Panfilov.

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byron Bucharest, Romania

Alternating between introspective melancholy and playful exuberance, byron play alternative rock with a progressive flair. They're equally comfortable with loud amps or no amps at all, and they filmed a gig in a salt mine (300ft below) just to show they mean business. Featured live on MTV and HBO. ... more

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