Sunday morning, I am mistaken
'Cause I am nothing, you are nothing
And you don't see my flight through the skylight
And I falling, not fallen
If you are the son of everyone
Then we are the lost and lonely ones
You are there and you are not silent
So say something useful
Don't say that sequence is not important
And that you live and work in slow motion
If you are the son of everyone
Then we are the lost and lonely ones
I'm so tired of all your mistakes
And of you laughing in my face
So tired of this disgraceful world
I'm so tired of all my mistakes
And you living in my father's face
I am so tired of living in this world
If you are the son of everyone
Then we are the lost and lonely ones
If you are the son of everyone
Then we are the lost and lonely ones
I care a lot
I don't care at all
My heart is hot
My heart contains nothing at all
And I have been frozen
Since you said this is not a game
But you know my problem
Has always been the same
It's when the educated guess
Is all that's left, is all you've got
And I'm still terrified of pain
And of the cost, the risk of loss
I'm giving up
Never giving in
I'm backing out
I'm backing myself into a corner that I
Can never escape from
That I can never choose to leave
It's the only way that I'll grow
To move myself that I know
'Cause even after all this time
It's you and I and we're still on our own
With the educated guess
That's all that's left, is all you've got
And I'm still terrified of pain
And of the cost, the risk of loss
And when investigation ends
Will I be blameless in your eyes
Will you be here beside
Me tonight
Don't say you won't say a word when it's over
Say that you'll stay here beside
Don't say you won't say goodbye when it's over
Say that you'll stay here beside
And when investigation ends
Will I be blameless in your eyes
Will you be here beside
Me tonight
Here beside
Me tonight
Yeah, whether we walk or whether we run
Whether we split or whether we're one
I'll cut out my eyes
And swallow my pride
And if you were thinking of taking the easy way out
Yeah I don't think I'd hear you even if you were to shout
I'll cut out my eyes
And swallow my pride
And I won't be waiting here anymore
I'm dying a death, I'm lying at your door
Your door
Your door
Your door
You've heard this story told before
You've heard this story told four times before
But here it is again for you
It's clear and simple, beautiful and true
I have a little girl I love
She fell asleep I thought it was more than it was
And I'd heard a story about a man
I thought if this is true then he is her last chance
I put her life in his hands
But I didn't know his name
I didn't know his name
I found him and I grabbed his hand
I found him and I hoped he'd understand
But just as we were about to go
He turned 'cause someone sick had touched his coat
And so I stood there waiting patiently
While he wasted time talking to this old lady
And then walked in a friend of mine he said
I'm sorry you might as well leave him behind
Not long ago your daughter died
But I didn't know his name
Still didn't know his name
I didn't know his name
Or why he followed me home
He said she's only sleeping
Soon everyone was leaving
And then all I heard him say
Was Talitha K
Was Talitha K
Was Talitha K
Did I tell you his name
Did I tell you his name
Do you know his name
Or why he came
And any time now your eyes
Will look this way or retreat to the side
And infiltration is impossible
As long as I'm guarded inside
And I can feel this
That I can beat this
That I will see through
You and I never undone
And under covers as one
And someday soon I will hold your stare
As long as I am alive
And I can feel this
That I can be this
That I will see through you
And I can feel this
At last I can know this
That I will see you
See you through
Yeah anytime now your eyes
Will look this way or retreat to the side
I am not afraid
I am not a murderer
I am not alone
I am not loaded
If you could see me now
If you could see me now
Would you be disappointed
If you could see me now
If you could see me now
Would you think your seed was wasted
Put me to shame
Until I know your name again
Put me to sleep
If this is one promise you don't keep
Put me away
If what you've said is not what I say
Put me down
Get me out of here, away from elder son
Put me to rest
If this is just another graceless test
Put me to death
If with stretched arms, you only measured breadth
I am your
Elder son
I am your
Faithful one
about
Eight-song EP originally released on Autoclave Records in October 2003.
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"...writes as though guided by voices, massaging his words through a voice as swoonsome and melancholic as the finest American roots singers...ideal for late night listening, even at lunchtime. 4/5." - Logo Magazine
"...nothing short of brilliantly absorbing...the stark production only adds to an impressive set of eerie 'folk' tunes." - Is This Music?
"...bloody good..." - The List
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ORIGINAL AUTOCLAVE RECORDS PRESS RELEASE:
The ‘Son of Everyone EP’ (CLAVE004) is a full-length album (exactly 45 minutes, or one side of a C90 cassette) released on Autoclave Records. We call it an EP, even though it's full length, and we're selling it at mid-price album rates. It's also 9 songs long, even though it claims to be only 8 tracks.
Background:
Here's how it works; Calamateur have released the beautiful pastoral balladry of the ‘White Light Unknown / Inhabit’ 7", the disturbing and distressed electronica of the ‘Autocity EP’ (on hand-packaged mini-CD only) and the internet only mp3 mini-album ‘Tiny Pushes Vol.1 (How to be Childlike)’. A considerably warm critical opinion has greeted each collection of songs thus far. A full length, full-on album (‘The Old Fox of '45’) is in progress, but Calamateur and the label both felt the need for a release which reflected the live show and which would be available in time for Calamateur's three appearances at this year's Greenbelt Festival. Thus, the ‘Son of Everyone' EP was born.
The EP:
Although this is a 45 minute, 9 song album, it's an EP in our eyes because it has obvious lead tracks in the shape of ‘Son of Everyone’ and ‘Here Beside’ with a strong supporting cast of instrumentals, alternate takes, outtakes, etc. 'The Old Fox of '45’ is a more albummy album, whereas this is a generously cut EP. That's how we are at Autoclave. We like our quality control set to maximum, and so do Calamateur, so we're all happy. This is a sharp collection of great songs, which go together well and will whet your appetite for more. More is imminent.
The Songs:
'Son of Everyone' - is taken from the forthcoming autoclave album ‘The Old Fox of '45’. Crying out for radio play.
'Here Beside (cheap & dirty version)' - an alternate recording of the song. A more polished version will be on the album. This one, like its predecessor, is a pretty obvious radio pick.
'Reply All - a delicate guitar instrumental inspired by a four-way (and ongoing) email conversation.
'Walk or Run - a heartbreaking gossamer thing full of aching, longing and a dark undercurrent of blood and pain.
'Talitha K' - people who like story songs love this one, people who like quirky songs with proper tunes and unexpected arrangements and instrumentation really like it too; so everyone's a winner, baby. Yes of course it's got a weird name for a reason.
'Hold Your Stare (acoustic version)' - an alternate take of a song slated for future release. This is familiar territory to long-term fans of Calamateur; haunting, haunted, pretty, odd - "distressed pastoral", we like to call it. A peach.
'Disappointed' - melancholia, even more distressed and pastoral than ‘Hold Your Stare’. Gorgeous.
'Shame' - how good will ‘The Old Fox of '45’ be? Well, 'Shame’ was deemed not quite good enough to make the final cut, that's how good. This should be on the radio too.
'This Silence' - musically this harkens back to the days of ‘Inhabit’, with acoustic guitar, burbling electronica and found sound. It's starkly atmospheric and full of a disappointed and confessional yearning. This could easily be on Peel or Late Junction. So emotionally raw it's almost painful to listen to, you may feel intrusive.
The Band:
Calamateur is the work of one Andrew Howie. He likes to pretend that you all think he's a fully fledged band full of people with peculiar names, but there y'go. It's all Andrew, all of the time, except for the bits which other people helped him to do and for which they always get credit. Andrew is also half of the duo at the heart of critically acclaimed Glasgow dreamcore outfit, Oldsolar.
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As heard on Radio 3's Late Junction, Beat 106's Beatscene, Cielo Liquido and Radio Magnetic's Fallout.
REVIEWS IN FULL:
"Not many EP’s clock in at forty-five minutes, that’s a whole album in old (vinyl) money, still fewer can fill each of those minutes with interest. More remarkable still is that Calamateur is the work of one pair of hands, those of Andrew Howie. He shares an outlook, if not a sound, with Ed Harcourt, and he shares a sound (if not an outlook) with the likes of Damien Rice and Josh Rouse. Confused? Don’t be, Howie is a simple man who writes as though guided by voices, massaging his words through a voice as swoonsome and melancholic as the finest American roots singers, yet his basic palette includes not just acoustic guitars but also a light drizzling of understated electronics. Ideal for late night listening, even at lunchtime. 4/5." - Logo Magazine
"It's as if acoustic music in Scotland, once the preserve of wooly-pullovered real ale-quaffing beardies, has been liberated. Rejoice! Because while actual folk music done well is a rarity, alternative songs done on acoustic guitar are exploding all around us. theonewhoflew, Ally Kerr and even Aereogramme can all captivate an audience with some spellbinding stripped-down songs. Joining this group are Calamateur, last spotted making atmospheric soundscapey samplefests, but the 8 tracks here are nothing short of brilliantly absorbing, indeed on 'Here Beside' you forget it's just one man and a guitar. with reverberant haunting vocals and occasional augmentation by keyboard, the stark production only adds to an impressive set of eerie 'folk' tunes." - Is This Music?
"...fellow weegies Calamateur are bolder still. Their 'Son of Everyone' EP is not only ludicrously long at 45 minutes (OK, lets call it a mini album then, though a fair chunk of the running time is silence) but it still manages to be bloody good with it, coupling alt. country strumming with tortured lyrics 3/5." - The List
"Another local CD (9 song EP!) that I've had for a few weeks. On first airing, I must admit I thought "mmm, interesting production" on hearing the mix of raw electro-acoustic guitar and (home) studio electronica noodlings and soft chorused vocals. Then I thought "mmm, actually comes across as a pretty straight singer/songwriter that's managed to dress up some pretty M.O.R. pop-ish songs". Then I came back to it a little later and allowed myself to be drawn into Andrew Howie's relaxed yet earnest and melancholic world. And Iwas put in mind of Elliot Smith (famous in part for contribution to the Oscar-nominated soundtrack to Good Will Hunting). I dug out my copy of Smith's 'Either/Or' album to see if it was a fair reference. The following day I found out that Elliot Smith had died just 72hrs earlier. Made the comparison somewhat poignant. Probably significant is that Calamateur's songs contain more hope - both lyrically and musically. 2nd track 'Here Beside' stands out as a song that could see Calamateur move into the 'coffee table' market - I'm not sure if he desires that or not. I'm inclined to a) see him play live and b) watch this space." - Inverness City Advertiser
"...less rock, but more in the way of some acoustic introspection, comes courtesy of Calamateur who provide some heartfelt & earnest alternatives to all those noisy guitars that clog our ears. Here we have an 8 track CD E.P. on Autoclave, with a mini LP coming soon on the quality Shingle Street imprint. Eric Matthews & a mellower Death Cab For Cutie spring to mind as loose reference points for all you who give a damn, man." - Norman Records
"8 track mini CD from Calamateur and it is full of stark acoustic melodies that float along with sparse but emotive backing. Think somewhere between the Clientele, Elliott Smith and the Fence Collective." - Rough Trade
credits
released October 13, 2003
all songs written, performed & produced by calamateur. recorded at fertility doll studios and badass studios.
‘son of everyone’ and the original version of ‘here beside’ are taken from the forthcoming album on autoclave records ‘the old fox of ‘45’. the original version of ‘hold your stare’ is taken from the forthcoming mini-album on shingle street records ‘there is no other stream’.
‘reply all’ is for derek who is “...(to screwtape's chagrin and worse) creaking onto my knees each night....”
thanks to lindsay, richard, tom, mark, derek, andrea, rob, mum & dad, heather, jan, brennan manning and gareth & jane for the keyboard.
cover photo by softlad. design by calamateur and fatbetti
(c) 2003 calamateur under license to autoclave records
(p) 2003 autoclave records
Andrew Howie is a Scottish singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist & community music tutor who has been writing, recording and releasing his own music for over two decades.
supported by 10 fans who also own “Son of Everyone EP”
I listened to a lot of Steve Lawson's music before buying any. So easy to play in the background while browsing on the iPad. So many moods and good to hear it coming as played live. He gets a lot from a bass and its in HD flac. It was time to catch up on buying... Alan Hall
supported by 10 fans who also own “Son of Everyone EP”
Just discovered this ancient gem among the treasures of Steve's collection. Beautiful melodies, intriguing harmonies and textures and fascinating bass sounds unheard elsewhere. chorna
supported by 9 fans who also own “Son of Everyone EP”
Hello Steve, listening to “ Step Outside the Circle “ December 15th here in a hotel room alone on a rainy winter night. It so very appropriate for reflecting on the year gone by.
Perhaps in the coming year stepping out of my circle will happen for me. peterzabriskie/DeepFrequency