Verticality

from Stray Tales (Album) by Jo Beth Young

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This track came through sheer improvisation. Jo Beth and virtuoso Scottish violinist Helen Ross jammed this improvised piece once during the recording sessions for the Strangers album in an old hall with a broken piano. The recording you hear here is a mic next to them whilst they jammed. The poet Shiu who was sitting and listening in the room wrote these incredible words in response to the music and the vocals were then improvised over the top of the recording in one take. Two recordings made this song and it was a special moment of creative magic between three people.

lyrics

I don't know why
there's verticality.
But let them sing.
Shouting open, open the door.
Vertical doors.
In moonlight and moonshine.
Nature of bright foggy eyes.
Sleep.
Foggy eyes, sleep then awake.
Transient states.
Limbo.
Watery windows.
Watching you.
Watching you in vertical skies.
Moonlight, Moonshine.
Up open the wings of sleepy foggy eyes.
Grey watery drops.
I don't know why,
There's verticality.
Vertical skies.
Vertical skies.
Open wings
of sleepy eyes.
Foggy eyes.
Grey Grey.
watery drops.
I don't know
I don't know
why..
there's verticality.

(SHIU)

credits

from Stray Tales (Album), track released August 28, 2020
Jo Beth Young: Vocals, Piano, Mixing
Helen Ross: Violin
Shiu: Lyrics
Kev Bolus: Mastering

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Jo Beth Young England, UK

"Deeply moving and soulful"
LOUDER THAN WAR

"Exquisite"
PROG Magazine
"This is an absolutely beautiful, spellbinding and mesmerising record. ..heartbreakingly beautiful.
SPIRIT ROCKS

"Pure artistry... one of the most innovative folk artists of recent years...
this is a work that others will be desperately trying to emulate for many years to come. "
FATEA MAGAZINE ... more

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