-
There’s signs in this early morning
As mindful you wake from your sleep
Theres life in this early morning
A life that you wan’t to lead
If your not ready forget it
Lay down and fall back to Sleep
If your not ready forget it
Lay down and fall back to Sleep
-
If you needed fire
I'd dig you a well
If you needed water
I'd raise up hell
The earth beneath us
Is framed by the sky
And as I look upon you
I need never know why
For I'm the opposite of you
As one we balance two
And after all that we've been through
All I need in this world is you
As I lay dying
You taught me to live
If in life I am selfish
You taught me to give
I beg if I hurt you
Please try to forgive
For no man is perfect
In this world that we live
This world we live
If love was the jailer
Then love held the key
As I fell from the mountain
Deep into your sea
And fear cherished safety
Unbounded you were free
And if it was not for darkness
This light I would not see
for the voice in our heads
Is all thats separating now
As one we move slow
Through this eternal night
I know we are gonna make something of this
Great longing called life
Like my heart's been drunk on kerosene
And you are my light
For I'm the opposite of you
As one we balance two
And after all that we've been through
All I need in this world is you
***
Are you ready?
To see this world open up before you?
-
I woke to a brave new world
Where we'll fake anything to distract our suffering
We live online, together alone
Lost under heaven's automated light
Why's your heart filled with darkness, baby?
Why's your head filled with useless thoughts?
We live our lives in neon darkness
You know we are so much more
No don't worry
Don't worry about a thing
This world isn't all that it seems
All we are is just people trying
All we are is just people trying to live
Trying to live a life that means something
Trying to live a life that means something more
In waking life I am restless
For every new day is caught in the same routine
My body is a temporary vessel
Reflected in safety's distant screen
I don't want to think about it
I don't want to keep y'all dumb and poor
Look at this life as special
Of greater worth than whatever lays beyond these walls
You know it's a brave new world
A brave new world to be
Believing in something you can't see
Believing boy in anything
If we break these walls in this brave new world, you'll see
This game is nothing, no baby you are free
All we are is just people trying
All we are is just people trying to live
Trying to live a life that means something
Trying to live a life that means something more
And it looks like heaven from the earth
But climb so high and you'll see what it's worth
No don't worry
Don't worry about a thing
This world isn't all that it seems
-
They asked me in this life, what's true to you?
And how to survive this world you were born into?
I answered with someone's words I wish I knew
For in the distance all I see is future blues
I'm so bored of this reality
Of fearful men trying to limit me
I am so much more than this body
A fading memory
Of another day
Sitting around in this place
It's just another day
Watching time turn to waste
All that's lost, it shall be found
In long forgotten towns
Like blossom leaves
In abandoned factories
Speaks of infinity
The silence speaks
Of another day
Sitting round in this place
Just another day
Lost in timeless space
(If we don't leave this small town then we won't learn anything
We are safe in this small town but our lives are stuck on repeat
We live, love and die
Yes we breathe all the same
If we create winners or losers maybe we need a new game)
The future is unwritten but it still haunts us
-
I couldn't even save myself
From falling in love with you
I couldn't even save myself
This truth speaks no words to you
No I cannot take it baby, I let this whole world slip away
No I cannot fake it baby, you're the reason to breathe in this day
Let's leave this world together
When it rains, you know I'll find shelter
When it's hot, hell knows I'll find shade
Through this life spent dreaming of tomorrow
We forgot how to live for today
And if you don't want to hear it baby
This truth speaks no words to you
If you don't want to hear it baby
Then this truth speaks no words to you
If you don't want to hear it baby
If you don't want to hear it bae
If you don't want to hear it baby
Then this truth speaks no words to you
Let's leave this world together
And I'm not alone when I am standing here
I see your eyes
I see the fear, but not a single tear for this world to hear
Won't you hear my apology
I know these words won't set me free
But I found love in this world when you stand by me
Why can't we live together?
Someday comes forever
Do you remember?
When we used to play
Down by the rivers now veins in this city scape
Do you remember
When we used to say?
Nothing is more sacred than our mutual self respect
Sha-la-la-la-la-babe
This truth speaks no words to you
The truth of this moment
It's passing you by
I can see the fear now in your eyes
Let's leave this world together
-
I see money over everything
MAYA is my mind
This the mantra of my generation
Living in end times
You said drop one and I could rule like a king
Yet through this ecstasy screaming
Still my shadow it sings
Who are we?
No no no no, what have we become?
No, we won't stop the party until the drink dries out
(We only live once so take all that you can get)
We won't stop the party until it is over
(We gon' purge this world of love 'til there's nothing left)
We built this kingdom for us
Tell me why would I change it for you?
You're just jealous of this game
Sitting in the dark of win or lose
And I know you're afraid
That this culture is dead
But I can't hear you over my money, babe
For all the greed in my fucking head
You don't know this work
You don't know shit
You're a slave to money that doesn't even exist
I earn a life like this
You know I deserve a life like this
Once I lived, a life like you
Jealous of the ease of a privileged few
But I earned a life like this
You know I deserve a life like this
Singing
Hey boy, you know the game is rigged
Don't even try boy, the truth does not exist
Well its something that you will never understand
We are born free to exploit this land
The world is structured for a privileged few
There is nothing that you'll ever be able to do
So keep quiet, live the life that you were born into
I'm singing
Hey boy, you know the game is rigged
Don't even try boy, the truth does not exist
Go work sleep repeat until you are fucking dead
The world is structured for a privileged few
You know you are the product that I consume
You got one life so take all that you can get
And gorge your soul with all the greed in your fucking head
-
Why does this darkness feel so black?
And why does the black make me feel so blue?
A black sun sets across your face, as silently you say
Baba don't cry, all in this world is not a lie
If I lived these dreams in a world that was true
Would I still be here singing these songs to you?
These songs, these words are all that I've ever had
They cannot fill this void in the heart of man
You see a shadow cast, twice the size of my hand
Chokes the lifeless throat of this holy land
So why don't we end this now, my soul is too tired to speak
Our voices tell nothing to this new day's break
I have seen it all, show me something new
But just give me some hope to put my kerosene heart into
For this kingdom is about to fall
We can build a new world
I know this city leaves you cold
Without love's tender hold
So triumphant we say
It starts today
Let the old fall away
For the dirt is truly gold
In your love's tender hold
Your love's tender hold
-
Do you expect my loyalty?
As a son his father's crown
To this future am I free?
Or by tradition am I bound
Do I respect my ancestry?
Or lose all they have found
Or break blue melody and bring this down
Let's bring it down
We're gonna sail away from this town's darkness
We're gon' to sail from everything
Tell me where we go from here
Tell me where we go from here
In waking life you are not aware
Our time has come, our moment's near
So don't make a sound
No don't make a sound
We're gonna sail away from this town's darkness
We're gon' to sail from everything
And it's the moment you have left
You see what's lost
Can never be found
It's with pride that I talk to you
And with pride I ask you, hear me when I say
Tell me how do you expect our loyalty
With the disrespect you serve out everyday
Still I have to ask myself why we go on living in this way?
It is fear that they hold us with
A fear of self that will slowly fade away
The moment I hear you say
I am no subject of this crown
I walk with dignity
And make no sound
As we bring this down
Let's bring this motherfucker down
We're gonna sail away from this town's darkness
We're gon' to sail from everything
-
I always knew it would end like this
On a sinking ship
The only lovers left
In a world that’s lost all meaning
Your truth got me believing
We meant something
A hope that there's a point to
This big nothing
Lost under heaven angels sing:
Do you expect the blind to see
What is yet to be
My girl, my girl, I see beyond fear
There ain't no home for me
Now these eyes can see
My girl, my girl, I know we don't belong here
And if these eyes can see
Is it reality?
And we all know
That it's bullshit
Say it's just life
And we live it
And I always want
I always want
More than I have now
And I am never full
No, I am never full
For I don't understand how
You can never get enough
Of what you don't need
With all this desire
How can I be free?
I was not born to live like this
And I know another world exists
As long as I got my baby
Our love as armor for our protection
Lost under heaven angels sing:
You are the earth, moon, sea
You are the trinity
My girl, my girl, don't you talk like that
Close your eyes and see
What is yet to be
My girl, my girl, your words exact
Close your eyes and see
A new reality
And we all know
That it's bullshit
Say it's just life
And we live it
-
You are not supposed to die, you were my love
If this king was of the sky, why didn't he fly away from here?
Ambition it rises high before it sees what's lost
The fall broke my fickle bones but it saved our love
It changes everything
And love itself can not be helped
In the others arms,
You know we shall survive, impatient one
The struggle is our lives, we shall overcome
For no-one ever said there was a problem
No-one likes to admit why we're here so often
Then you came to heal my wounds
Guide my restless soul to wake the lost in sleeping tombs
We let the silence say
All we know of death is that you can't come back
We stand united by our fates, formless black
No it don't scare me
For my heart it guides my head
To miss the mark my only sin
And love itself it can not be helped
When you follow your true will
If you can't live with yourself, how you gon' live with me?
If you can't live with yourself, how we gon' set them free?
So come on and lose yourself
Come on and lose yourself in Ecstasy
love itself can not be helped,
when you follow your true will
-
No I
Don't know
Where this world is going
For all this life is showing
Breaks through
The paper chains that hold you
They hold me
You know I try to stay sober
But this feeling it's over
Life in this coma
It's hard to stay sober
In this life
Alone the struggle seems holy worthless
So find your friends
In defiance shows we are no longer helpless
You made me forget my self until the moment
I found I was something else
My heart is good but believe me I could
Watch these heads go blow
I am so alive, I can barely feel fear
I won’t let go
Of this life I am going to free myself
And I heard what the horsemen Say
And I am waiting on Judgment Day
I hear what they say
But ain't life just a funny game?
I make no apology for these words
An understanding I can not escape
I have no more love for this world
If you hear me then let's break away
So people come on, the world that held you now has gone
Together the wolves will play
Together alone the wolves will play
You made me forget my self until the moment
I found I was something else
My heart is good
Believe me I could
Watch these heads go blow
I am so alive, I can barely feel fear
I won’t let go
Of this life I am going to free myself
And I heard what the horsemen Say
And I am waiting on Judgment Day
I hear what they say
But ain't life just a funny game?
So live your life
I am so alive
I can barely feel fear
Live your life
From this life I will free myself
(When all is said and done there is still a part of me
That wants your love inside of me
Wants your love laid next to me)
Lo' to the powers of old, to the powers that be
You have fucked up this world but you will not fuck with me
-
I, I & I lay between my brother and sister the sea
I, I & I hold nothing as real as what you believe
So don't you ever cry for what's hard in this life
You know the world over it's people struggling
And when you stand alone your fight is our fight
For nothing is given but what we achieve
And so far away, so
So far away there is somewhere
Where sacred oro ain't a sign of being free
So far away, so
So far away there is somewhere
Where my baby's boy is going to live in peace
It's that longing pressure
The great longing pressure when you say
Baby come home
No, it's the longing pressure
The great longing pressure when you say
You are my lover, no you're not my friend
We start when this ends, now this ends
Now this ends, now this ends
Oh, we start today
And I've got faith in us, so hold my faith as trust
And let's start today
Spiritual Songs for Lovers to Sing (2016)
For as long as there have been lovers, lovers have serenaded each other. And for as long as there have been Gods, mortals have serenaded them, too.
In that sense, Lost Under Heaven's debut Spiritual Songs For Lovers To Sing is familiar, but as a whole – an album, a band, and a concept – it's something totally fresh; a record built on ideas not influences, and it is as powerful and passionate as anything you'll hear this year.
Lost Under Heaven is Ellery Roberts and Ebony Hoorn, the lovers of the title. Ellery's name might be familiar as the frontman of WU LYF, the incendiary Manchester four-piece whose rhetoric, imagery and solitary album described a new model for the untamed fury of youth.
Ebony and Ellery met in the band's dying days in 2013. Ellery returned to Manchester from touring and met Ebony (visiting from Amsterdam) in the derelict squat that a group of Manchester based musicians shared. They made an instant connection, "We're both lone wolf characters who don't often find much joy other people, but we found something we enjoy in each other," says Ebony.
Both are artists in their own respective fields – Ebony is a recent graduate of the audio-visual department in Amsterdam’s prestigious Rietveld Academy – and the two quickly found themselves in constant contact over the internet, sharing dreams and inspiration. Eventually Ellery left his refuge in London to make a life with Ebony in Amsterdam, and they were able to focus on a shared life project in totality.
"It's interesting living and creating together," says Ellery. "Fundamentally we had this instantaneous feeling that we wanted to do this together, to explore life together. And music for me is an instinctual way to explore, document life."
It was a tonic for Ellery, who was struggling with the notion of being the frontman of a band, a train of thought that led him to split the group. "When something becomes the performance of realness, the performance of passion rather than the actual emotion, you may as well be selling soap," he says. "But relationships are intense things, you know. Enough to get your blood boiling or singing. That realness gives an intensity to it."
The pair's crucible bubbles over. "We have a real shared interest in discovering all this world has to offer," says Ellery. "Ebony's really amazing at finding really new and interesting things – music, film, culture, she just has that ability to unearth them."
Discussing the project, they talk about the potentiality of post-humanist singularity and the collapse of capitalism. They cite as inspirations not just fellow musicians, but big thinkers like Buckminster Fuller, proponent of the geodesic dome and inventor of the Dymaxion Map. "Ideas that are now, more than ever, potent for implication" says Ebony.
It's something that tallies with the aim of Lost Under Heaven – to unite listeners, to take people on a journey with them. "Culture now is people embracing and taking on a thousand identities, tastes, everything," says Ellery. "I really feel in the world we're living at the moment, there's a big us and a little them. The universality of life experience is dissolving all those boundaries. It's just the experience of life, you know."
One book, or one story, seemed to strike a chord for the pair, describing their experience of meeting and creating as well as pointing towards a structure for the album: Joseph's Campbell's Hero With A Thousand Faces, which pinpoints the reoccurrence of a timeless myth throughout human culture and, to an extent, can be found in each of our lives. "Everyone's got a choice whether they want to be the hero in their life or the person on the side watching," says Ellery. "I guess meeting Ebony in that moment was a moment of realisation that if I wanted to do what I want to do with my life, I had to get on and do it."
The hero myth – epiphany and power and triumph over adversity – informed the narrative of the album, a looping song cycle based around movement from impulse to experience and glimpses of enlightenment. "The record comes from a really alienated and materialist perspective that then reaches breaking point with the song $ORO. After that it rebuilds towards self-realisation, taking responsibility for your life and what you do with it,” explains Ellery. "Maybe you hit 12 o'clock and you're in not in too dissimilar place to where you started, but the experience has progressed you somewhere in your mind or your understanding."
In that sense, the first and last tracks, the anthemic I&I and the semi-acoustic The Great Longing, are companion pieces, designed to guide the listener back to the start. "The beginning and end of the cycle is the record looping perfectly," says Ellery. "It can just go round and round." The former references esoteric symbolism, "a notion of a oneness caught with a dualistic separation." The power and grandeurs of the great mystery are flirted with, yet one dogmatic message isn't overtly subscribed to. "Everything that's symbolic is presenting a truth. Religion based on certain perceptions of truth has been a system of authoritarian power for thousands of years," explains Ellery. "I don't think the teachings of the world religions are invalid, but the bureaucratic organisation of them has made them about control and power."
Another influence on this album – musical this time – is Marvin Gaye's What's Going On. " I really loved the idea of What’s Going On as a blueprint for an album, what it communicated, questioned. It was through reading about it I came across this notion of it being a song cycle, and it all seemed to fit together with the cycle of a hero and all the different stations and movements you go through," says Ellery. "It worked as a template for making a body of work, a record – and I think if you're making a record, you have to make a considered work from start to finish, not a bunch of songs that someone can stream."
Invoking all of the above is music that taps straight into something primal and forceful; Ellery's raw, distinctive voice, untamed since his teenage days in WU LYF, is counterbalanced by Ebony's cool restraint. Meanwhile, the instrumentation ranges from lush grandeur to jarring Auto-Tune – the latter most notably on the cataclysmic $ORO. "That song is a piece of shadow play, losing your common respect for humanity and your empathy towards others and living in this binary way, post-human. Auto-Tune on the vocals reflected that," says Ellery. Says Ebony: "It wasn't necessarily a self-conscious stylisation, we didn’t say ‘let's make zeitgeist contemporary pop music’. We're reflecting the times we are living in currently, things that are mirroring culture."
The two made the album in isolation between Amsterdam and Manchester, recording on Ableton. "It got to the point where it needed the ears of a producer," says Ellery. "We wanted to make something really bombastic. We didn't want something scuzzy and lo-fi – it had to be a blockbuster, so we needed somebody who could facilitate that."
Enlisting the British composer Bobby Krlic - known for his work under the pseudonym The Haxan Cloak - on production, Lost Under Heaven settled upon the idea of recording on the Island of Osea, a sparsely habited piece of marshland accessible only twice a day upon a decrepit Victorian causeway. "We wanted to go somewhere where we could just disappear and not have any outside input," says Ellery. "It was May, the sun was showing first light, the blossom was out and it quickly satisfied my idea of utopia – people [including engineer Ray Tovey] living a collective life, cooking for each other, working together. We were able to work 24/7 and allow the songs to open up and grow, take on new life."
So far, little is known publicly about the group except from the package they released via BitTorrent that included the track Lost Under Heaven. It was their appropriation, they say, of a Fluxus-style artefact for the modern age. A box to make you think. The album – due in spring – is complete, and the creative synapses are still firing. Ebony and Ellery are working on the live interpretation of the songs; something that they say over time will incorporate elements of immersive theatre and experiential art. "At the moment, the initial workings of Lost Under Heaven are quite conventional – it’s a band with a record on a label – but it's a functional necessity to get moving and develop with that support. Over the years we will follow this impulse to develop something we don't quite have a word for yet,” says Ellery.
They're looking forward to taking Lost Under Heaven out onto the world stage, and feel confident about where it’s headed, avoiding pitfalls of the past. "WU LYF was very romantic and a big part of it was just growing up and seeing the way that the world goes around and functions in very exploitative ways. You're like, I feel horrible about this, but this is just what we do. I am complicit. A big thing with Lost Under Heaven is just understanding that side of the world and working out a way to live that we feel comfortable with. Lost Under Heaven becomes a process of mutual learning with me and Ebony and anyone who comes on the ride with us. It's inspired by developing ways to do things differently and progressively to live a better, more abundant life."