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JVA - JEROAN VAN AICHEN: Alexander's Dark Band

by jva

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1.
Chill 00:40
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2.
111th Floor 03:51
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111TH FLOOR Skyline rises. All these people with their hands in the fire. Things were different. Nothing mattered when I was a child. Did I climb this far to fall down? Far away forgotten sounds. Very strange that I still love you isn’t it? Isn’t it? Come up here where I can see you. I swear to God these words are true. I can’t believe I guarded you with my life. I’m so sad here without you. There’s nothing sacred. There’s nothing to miss. It’s funny how it finds you. But, it’s been said much better than this. Take my blessing. Small price, these wages of sin. No objections. Too full of blackness, I’m too full of gin. Am I right to hurt you this way? Have I wished all that I may? If I know you right you’ll say ‘So much for him.’ Come up on the roof here with me, with the hum in your brain thinking. You’ll be wishing that you kissed me like you should. Did I climb this far to fall down? Far away forgotten sounds. Very strange that I still love you isn’t it? Isn’t it? Come up here where I can see you. I swear to God these words are true. I can’t believe I guarded you with my life. I’m so sad here without you. There’s nothing sacred. There’s nothing to miss. It’s funny how it finds you. But, it’s been said much better than this. I’m so sad...
3.
Joyride 03:36
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JOYRIDE This is the scream of a blind locomotive. These are the tears from an angel of tin. This is the nightmare that sprang from a cold sweat. Rusted machines of original sin. This is the hot, bleeding breath of the devil laughing and pointing back there at your grave. You are the passenger, riding the engine. Red, glowing eyes turn you into his slave. Joyride. They’re making coats from my silk coffin lining. Priests hang from ropes at a white masquerade. The veins in my neck are exposed for his teeth, now. Scream through the fire again and again. Joyride.
4.
Alexander's Dark Band 03:57
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ALEXANDER’S DARK BAND Alexander’s dark band can’t come out at night. Alexander’s dark band lives alone in the light. Alexander’s dark band bows and frowns brow to brow. Alexander’s dark band is here for us now. Rain clouds put out the red carpet treatment for you. Always moving somewhere, always just passing through. The visitor’s advantage, every sky becomes new. And people stand there pointing at your view... I can’t keep my eyes on the road. Sound the trumpets, please come closer, water explodes. Alexander plays in the storm, naked as the day he was born. Alexander’s dark band, weighed down by it’s own gold. Alexander’s dark band is good luck I’ve been told. Alexander’s dark band stretches miles end to end. Alexander’s dark band turns to black where it bends. Double bowed, swift as lightning, hanging around. Drawing a sweet infants breath to find what I’ve found. Dying fast at 42 degrees as you are. You disappear, I get back in my car. I can’t keep my eyes on the road. Sound the trumpets, please come closer, water explodes. Alexander plays in the storm, naked as the day he was born.
5.
Drum 02:52
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DRUM They speak of worms, they speak in epitaphs. They speak of me in foreign tongues. I’m buying silver and black crosses made of string to the sound of a threatening drum. I’ve got my bullwhip, got my dynamite. I’m feeling dangerous and numb. I hope you live long enough to shake my buried hand to the sound of a threatening drum. Oh, drunk and heavy eyes. Sleepy and desiring eyes. I crawl under this white hot sun. Oh, I can’t get my fill. I’m spinning with the real quill and the sound of a threatening drum. I can’t drink the water so I drink the blood. I’ve named my price and my poison. On every corner is a weeping wooden saint and the sound of a threatening drum. I’m lonely as a distant train. Dirtier than passing change. Spent and empty as a shotgun shell. I’m angry and I’m running wild. Screaming like a hungry child. I’ve earned my place in any christian Hell. They speak of worms, they speak in epitaphs. They speak of me in foreign tongues. On every corner there’s a weeping wooden saint and the sound of a threatening drum.
6.
Cutting Room Floor 04:15
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CUTTING ROOM FLOOR Poor Freddy’s little hobby was all we left him to. What else can you give a shy boy who’s lost in darkness, feeling blue? My kid is eight feet tall. Crushing air from footballs. His number came up black thirteen. Born into the strangest dream. All those well wishers shook their heads, and said it must be hard. My wife and I felt helpless. We kept him inside the yard. Christmas fingerpaints. Dominoes and no complaints. But, my son had fooled us all, he wished for April late last fall. I’ve judged another cover. Burn me at the stake. Thank God he’s not on the cutting room floor with the other out takes. Intentions written on your forehead and your clean white coat. There’s a smile on your lips. You’ve got a plan? I’ll foil it. You want my child? To poke around his head awhile? To take him from his wishing games, so you can be a household name? I won’t ever throw out a bad batch again. He’s our last best hope. He gave us rubies and passed the moon. He’s our private periscope to the world. He’s focused before we’ve ever thought of looking.
7.
Abigail 03:46
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ABIGAIL Here stands the professor, confessing his fables to well weathered wood desks and kidney shaped tables. No one is listening, they treat him like a footpad. His mind travels back to when he was a lad. Her billowing skirt and his tails. They danced and then kissed by the balcony rail. Benjamin Edsel and his Abigail. His love for her will not die. Preaching to deaf ears is far from the gold days of saying ‘I love you’ in one thousand ways. Her heart grew restless, she counted to ten and the dish ran away with the spoon once again. Her billowing skirt and his tails. They danced and then kissed by the balcony rail. Benjamin Edsel and his Abigail. His love for her will not die. Nobody’s seen all the trouble he knows as he battles his memories of buttons and bows. ‘He’s senile! The facts are all here!’ cries Headmaster. So he cleans out his desk and he heads for disaster. Her billowing skirt and his tails. They danced and then kissed by the balcony rail. Benjamin Edsel and his Abigail. His love for her will not die. His love for her will not die.
8.
Reprise 00:48
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9.
Keep Your Head Down 04:23
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KEEP YOUR HEAD DOWN Hold me tight, my little one. You’re a target in that nightgown. They’re using real bullets now. This ain’t some phony Tinseltown. Pray and pray with all your might that we don’t end up dead tonight. They want to fill us up with lead. Instead, we’ll keep ahead of blood, blood red. She’s tightening her grip upon my forearm once again. Her little eyes are scared and wide. The wind drives back the tears she cried. Girl, don’t let me lose my head. This pretty face won’t look right blood, blood red. Keep your head down... Playing the heroic type is very, very tempting. But, the men are right behind us and the needle is on empty. She says, “Take a left, go south.” I told her to shut her mouth. “I take back those things I said, but don’t you understand that we could both end up drenched in blood, blood red?!”
10.
Lost 04:14
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LOST Shocked...Welcome home my love. Hot tears...I’d lost all degree of hope. Dead falls open under foot. I’m stepping straight into a trap. When I ask her where she’s been she just begins to laugh. I’m cut to ribbons on sorrow’s nails. Every action gone beyond the pale. The show is over. What brought her here? I’m fading at this instant. She lost her sight and half her soul. She lost her senses and control. She lost herself. She lost me too. She lost her balance. Words...The inside dope is mine. Long box...Poison, steel and wine. If I was a younger man I’d spit these rocks back in my guts. But I come up short and tired. Emotions shacked and shut. And I feel nothing as she stands in wind. Thinking surely I’ll save her again. She falls like paper down to rocks below. I stand watching her go. She lost her sight and half her soul. She lost her senses and control. She lost herself. She lost me too. She lost her balance. She lost her sight and half her soul. She lost her senses and control. She lost herself. She lost me too. She lost her balance. She lost her balance.
11.
Any Destination 04:06
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ANY DESTINATION A broken glow is coming from the town down there. A thousand home fires are burning. In the dark, I’d have welcomed any noise. But, now I hear the choir of light. Somebody’s singing in my sight tonight. We’ve been walking for a month of Sundays now. Haven’t seen anyone for so long. Just the sun by day and my heartbeat in the night. But, now I hear the choir of light. Somebody’s singing in my sight tonight. Too beautiful... Perfect as a diamond... Warm as any mothers’ arms... I pray that I’m not dreaming. I can hear my lovers’ eyes... Her silence only leaves me blind... Any destination... We’re coming in from anywhere. I’ll break down, but I promise I’ll be brief. I can’t let loose on a perfect stranger. I’m just wondering if it’s only in my mind. Too beautiful... Perfect as a diamond... Warm as any mothers’ arms... I pray that I’m not dreaming. I can hear my lovers’ eyes... Her silence only leaves me blind... Any destination... We’re coming in from anywhere.
12.
My Soul Was The Wire 01:53
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MY SOUL WAS THE WIRE My soul was the wire. My mind is black money at home. Never going out for questions. Staring into the tight curve of her back. At 6 am, my toes pray. It makes my feet numb. Downwind from the mountain skeleton. I draw back the arrow. The signals all were bushes. A rustle in the fire. The wind smells of cigars and deals. Chico’s kid was kicking late. My soul was the wire. It brings down the... I want to take enough something to scream. I stood stiff like old milk in fur. The train was long gone. The snow was lions. I’ll keep Anne wrapped in silk. My soul was the wire. I strike and bring my body ragged. Today is made of iron. Retiring, I bow back. Red sun made of freezing gravel. Working too early. The word came down the pike. We smoked down the sounds. Just leave what I’ve done. Just leave what I’ve done. My soul was the wire. My soul was the wire. My soul was the wire. My soul was the wire.
13.
Blue Movies 03:54
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BLUE MOVIES Forgive the intrusion. It’s your lucky day. You should be in pictures. With skin melting in more skin. You’re immortalized. Wearing that smile forever. A weekend in the country. You get a thousand bones a day. You can fake it if you want to. Lights, camera. Bang-bang. Hey. Blue Movies. She looks like she means it. Moistens up her lips. Doesn’t take much convincing. I flick off the safety. Baby, hold that pose right there. This will soon be behind you. Pretty hiker in the forest. She gets lost along the way. And she meets up with a chain gang. Stop motion. Bang-bang. Hey. Blue Movies. Stirring up the animal in you. Stirring up the mortal in you. So don’t you point the finger at the services I provide. I’m not the one who watches. Are you curious? Bang-bang. Step inside. Blue Movies.
14.
Say Goodnight Now 04:09
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SAY GOODNIGHT NOW I’d walk along the backroads when I was young, and tear a piece of the night down. I’d whistle up at the moon sometimes just to see the man in the sky fall down. I’d bust your arm on a twenty dollar bet. Now it’s easy to remember to forget. I make you shiver and you make me sweat. Say good night now...Say good night now... Say good night now...Say good night now... If you let the girl go no one will get hurt. Won’t you just believe me? I only go mad three times a year, and only then ‘cause it pays my salary. The one head that I could never touch is my son’s, I love him very much. It all goes round and round and such and such. Say good night now...Say good night now... Say good night now...Say good night now... To every frightened kid who cowers in the dark, you may as well start screaming. Stay on the tracks or I’ll be your nightmare and you won’t even be dreaming. This wouldn’t happen if you’d listen to facts. I’ll slap the polka dots off of your back. I’ll make it look like it’s a heart attack. Say good night now...Say good night now... Say good night now...Say good night now... Say good night now...Say good night now... Say good night now...Say good night now...
15.
Later That Same Evening 00:22
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about

My first cd. Released in 1994. Recorded on a Fostex cassette 4-track machine. I think I had one mic, one guitar, a drum machine, and a Mirage sampling keyboard. I recorded some of it in LA before I moved, and the remainder here in Portland. I have strong memories of being in our freezing apartment in NW staring out the window onto Irving St. working on this.

credits

released May 24, 1994

Toki Wolf played some bass, John Bell did the artwork, Mark Smith did the graphic design, I even got Kim to sing on a couple of songs.

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jva Portland, Oregon

Hi. I’m Jim Walker
I make music.

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