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Formicarium
05:06
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I was born into the summertime so I'd see September arriving
I crashed and clawed my way to 35
But that year I learned to walk quietly - now you will never hear me by scarce perceptible stream
I'll stare a pheasant right down from a couple of feet
Water don't move, it's the forces upon: gravity, sun and wind
See I've already gone (she's already gone)
Slipped away by the light of day (slipped away by the light of day)
To the Pinetum (to the Pinetum)
Where I've stashed all your stork-given babes
When I'm a giant I stroke the land, oh so very gently, my great hand
Over prickling treetops, green velvet hills
A spire, now chimney smoke, through my fingers spread wide
I wash my hands in the lake, rub the water in
Giants don't get a giant brain, just a heart that beats nice and slow
And now I have got the brawn (she has got the brawn)
To lift great boulders from the moor (boulders from the moor)
And drop them out of the dimming sky (out of the dimming sky)
On the dogs who live next door
And when I shrink back down (when she shrinks back down)
If I should shrink too small (if she should shrink too small)
Build me a formicarium (formicarium)
And keep me sheltered from the storm
Keep the river to the right (keep the river to the right)
If you're here, be here (to the bridge and back again)
Under willow we will sleep (under willow we will sleep)
On the cusp of severe (it's just that time of year)
Dead as the water, alive as the wind
(To the bridge and back again)
Dead as the water, alive as the wind
(To the bridge and back again)
Dead as the water, alive as the wind
Dead as the water
I am standing still (we are standing still)
At both ends of the lane (both ends of the lane)
Cos time stops when I run (time stops when we run)
To the bridge and back again (to the bridge and back again)
And you saw a solid thing (you saw a solid thing)
While I swam in the Hall
The theatre spins through space
As rockets fly above us all
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Breathe, rabbit, breathe,
Wide eyes and red teeth
Our gigantic enemies can’t follow us into the earth
Skin and fur and skin
Here in our homely hollow underneath their feet
While the waters all flow down
To the Southern, the Southern hemisphere
And the rivers run so loud the people block it out
Wearing wide-brimmed hats and shouting
Sleep, rabbit, sleep,
Sleep now the soil’s falling
We don’t have to fight: these are equatorial concerns
Do not heed the beat of marching feet above us
Some things never change
Like how fine young women die
In the summer, in the summertime
And grand old ladies die
In the wintertime, after Christmastime
When the world has turned again
And the oceans are still
Let’s stay, rabbit, stay
Under the skin of the earth
Pushing up my legs: here is a trunk in two
Wait to feel first rain
All on the soles of my feet
All on the soles of my feet
All on the soles of my feet
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Nat Johnson Sheffield, UK
“A treat for fans of PJ Harvey and Alela Diane” – Subba Cultcha
"Let’s talk about Nat Johnson.
Sometimes people do, but not nearly loud enough or often enough, which is a shame, because she is as integral to the Sheffield scene as Kid Acne murals and Jarvis Cocker poems on the sides of buildings." - The Girls Are
... more
If you like Nat Johnson, you may also like:
Sheffield Shanty II / Groucho
by Monkey Swallows the Universe
supported by 12 fans who also own “Formicarium”
Another nice "reunion item" done by Nat Johnson and Kevin Gori in 2016, featuring two of their songs from the 2006 debut "The Bright Carvings". Nat Johnson's Version 2.0 of "Sheffield Shanty" has undergone a complete overhaul, shining with a full-blown wind arrangement now, similar to the stunning "Not Now, Horse" on "Neighbour of the Year". Kevin Gori's "Groucho" - a hidden track then on "The Bright Carvings" - is a quite faithful rendering of the original version, except that he's singing a bit less out of tune here... yes, really!
go to album
Live at Queens Social Club
by Monkey Swallows the Universe
supported by 11 fans who also own “Formicarium”
"Monkey Swallows the Universe" was Nat Johnson's first band back in 2006/2007. Unfortunately, the albums "The Bright Carvings" and "The Casket Letters" are difficult to get at the time of this writing, so this nice live recording of a 2016 reunion gig is sort of a temporary remedy. The songs are presented faithfully unplugged, led by Nat Johnson's trademark vocals (except for Kevin Gori's "Groucho", which is sung by himself), accompanied by acoustic guitar, strings, percussion, and - if I'm not mistaken - a melodica... well, it might be an accordion as well.
go to album
Indietracks Compilation 2015
by Indietracks Festival
supported by 11 fans who also own “Formicarium”
Is it that time of year already? Can't wait!!! Some great tunes on the comp this year.
go to album
Sorry I'm So Sensitive
by Bea Stewart
The second EP from Northern Irish singer-songwriter Bea Stewart runs from gentle folk to pillowy pop ballads, all perfectly executed.
go to album
Love, Loss and Washing Lines
by Matt Hawkins
A dozen folky songs from this Brisbane musician recall the wit and romance of early Billy Bragg.
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The Edge of the Land
by Katie Spencer
Spencer's indie folk sophomore album was recorded live in the studio over the course of two days.
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Indietracks Compilation 2014
by Various Artists
supported by 10 fans who also own “Formicarium”
Another great album - dean wareham, joanna gruesome, lonely tourist, dorotea, the chills, manhattan love suicides & spearmint are all highlights but the whole lot is pretty darn great really
go to album
