the witching hour
(cover image by Neil Rough)
The Witching Hour
(artist portrait by Magali Charron)
This is The Witching Hour, the new album by Brooklyn's Soft Black. It was recorded live in the studio by Daniel Schlett at Strange Weather in Brooklyn (DIIV, The Men, The War On Drugs).
What you're about to hear is raw. Ghostly crackles and stoned breaths litter it's 40 some-odd minutes of minor-key, gothic folk-rock. While there are more than a few touchstones hinted at in the music, ranging from folk-noir to psychedelia, kraut-rock, and post-punk; The Witching Hour ultimately paints in it's own unique and dynamic greyscale.
From the motorik drive of "Heaven Is A Place You Go" and "Midas Tongue" to the lilting Beatle-esque balladry of "Breathe Fire Pts. 1 & 2" The Witching Hour builds a universe of contrast. A sound where empathy is raised in darkness and droning tension is released in vulnerable bursts of melody.
side 1
1. i'm not afraid of you
2. the darkest rays
3. breathe fire pt. 1
4. midas tongue
5. the witching hour
side 2
1. fists in the dark
2. alien autopsy
3. breathe fire pt. 2
4. heaven is a place you go
5. ...and i walked along
The Lyrics
1. I'm Not Afraid Of You
When I held you tighter you slithered from my reach. You were born a fighter and you've never known defeat, but I'm not afraid of you.
You when you boil over, you're known to burn and maim. The one's who'd gotten closer, I watch you wash them from your way, but I'm not afraid of you.
The sun burn's hot and quick on our vulnerable young skin, I stayed out in the light when you thought I would've split, cuz I'm not afraid of you.
2. The Darkest Rays
There is something to the way, held beneath the darkest rays, how your body seems to glow. Trapped inside your winter heart you blossom and you fall apart. Up close it moves so slow but it's eating up the road.
What you want might massacre me.
Earthly things are born in stir, every day becomes a blur, you'll foster in your bones, don't you feel like letting go? Trapped inside your withering skin, everything your forcing in, it will begin to dissipate after melting you away.
What you want might massacre. I know you want, you're just undeserving.
Your saddles thrown but you've got to drag your body home. You're all alone
but you've got to drag your body home. You're all alone so drag your body home.
3. Breathe Fire pt. 1
I never meant to see the fangs in your teeth, but when you're tired anything is possible. I always want to believe you say what you don't mean, that you're a liar and not an asshole.
Twisted lips speak desperately, laughing lungs breathe fire on me.
Blind, hearing everything, the roach still flaps his wings, like when your tired I'll make you watch the cripples rise. And I'll keep remembering, every sweaty suffering, and I'm saving all my anger for that night.
Twisted lips speak desperately, laughing lungs breathe fire on me.
4. Midas Tongue
When I was a little boy they told me I was dumb. They tied my hands behind my back and made me run. But I'm not a crier, I'm not here to pin these things on you. I'm not a crier. Are you?
When I'm far away from here I'll pull my compass out and pray for God to send The Flood into your mouth. You took so many things from me that time cannot repay. You took so many things from me and you ran away.
We both know you're a liar but you think you're fooling everyone. You're a liar, you've got a Midas tongue.
5. The Witching Hour
I want to talk to you but all I've got to say just slipped away. It just slipped away. I want to listen to a word to calculate. What did you say? What did you say? On your time you're gunna find out.
Everything I ever told you was a lie can you compensate for me? Everything comes back to you in time. Can you come and break into me? On your time you're gunna find out.
Every time I look I feel your power
Your heat will rise in the witching hour
6. Fists In The Dark
Turn back from the wreckage that you hung around your head like a necklace. Fists in the dark are gunna reach in your heart and detach the veins. I know you're sick but you can't take all this medicine.
I heard you're still trying to save your soft face but no one's gunna help you from this rat race. Fists in the dark are gunna reach in your heart and detach the veins. I know you're sick but you can't take all this medicine.
7. Alien Autopsy
Now that you're back on your frail feet, you're running desperately. Like an alien autopsy, skin flailing in the breeze.
Break me out.
Set my spirit free.
Break me out.
Release me.
There's something living inside me I feel it when I walk. There's something living inside me, it listens when I talk.
8. Breathe Fire pt. 2
Why do you breathe fire on me? Ashes falling from those dark teeth. Livid like a dragon flying, you worked your claws into my spine.
Why do you breathe fire on me? Brushing by so sly and scaly, you left a hundred burns on my skin and formed around the turns I'm held in.
Why do you breathe fire on me, when I'm on my knees already? When you take the sky I'll guide. I'd never be the one to tie your reckless glide.
So spread your wings and fly from me.
9. Heaven Is A Place You Go
Well, I kept telling lies and committing petty crimes. Then I found out, the hard way, that you were right. I kept a straight head when people doubted me. I laid in bed until a voice intervened, "I came back to earth to find you when you were unaware, that heaven is a place you go when you're tired of living scared."
"What's wrong with you? Why can't you just talk to me?"
Then I stared at you in your doubtful mess and tried to put my arms around your formless chest. You looked at me insulted as if you could not see how I just kept on living as you acted dead to me.
Well I know I'm a fool. But your heart is a cruel. Yeah I know I'm a fool. But your heart is just cruel.
Well I stopped telling lies and committing petty crimes. Then I found out, the hard way, that I was right. Yeah, I was always right. You take a strange path to fin an easy street. You get a bloodbath before they hose you clean. I fell back asleep to find you before I'd ever known that hell is just place you go when all your doors are closed.
"What's wrong with you? Why can't you just talk to me?"
10. …And I Walked Along
I ruled the world while it slept. I laughed inside while everybody wept. I broke the bones I had grown to make me taller, all my stitches showed.
I shouted aloud at the sun as it rose, then I caught fire while everybody froze. Hand me down lives in hand me down clothes, I'm just trying to hide what everybody knows.
I buried my savior, I buried my God, I buried my savior, and I walked along.
I walked on.
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