(no subject)
I'd heard bits of it here and there. A rough cut of a file or tape he'd bring home. Or a little melody he'd strum on the guitar that would work itself into my brain until I was humming it in the shower and doing a little dance to it in the kitchen while making the coffee.
But this weekend Stephen gave me an advance copy of the soundtrack for In Good Company (which I guess I should explain he did the score for, in case you didn't know). I didn't want to listen to it while he was at my apartment. Not that I thought I wouldn't like it...but I wanted to give it my full attention instead of sitting there while he anxiously watched me listen to it. He couldn't even give me the disc with the full score...it's the soundtrack compilation. I know that I don't really like being in the room with people when they hear my music for the first time. I feel too vulnerable.
I made tea and curled up on the sofa. The vocal songs were lovely...David Byrne, Iron & Wine, Soundtrack of Our Lives...even some vintage Aretha. And then, this gentle little melody began. Muted xylophone, slightly tribal drums suddenly undercut by the gentlest touch of strings. It was beautiful. I looked at the CD case.
"The Chase" by Stephen Trask.
That's my baby.
I said it aloud without even thinking it. And then I laughed. And then I kept listening.
These compositions are so wonderful. There's a certain simplicity to them, but it's deceiving. There's a lot more going on than the ear initially reveals. I absorbed them again and again. And it felt like I had a little piece of them already. The little repeating guitar theme in "The Accidentials"...I've heard him play that before. That's one of the ones that would get stuck in my head. And hearing it blooming from my speaks with the swelling of backing instruments behind it -- it was amazing. The ever-increasing tempo of "I'm Psyched" reminded me of Stephen on a coffee rush. I love the title, too...it's just...him. The playful horns and melodic strumming and just a little hint of bongo drum.
Lots of people know him as the Hedwig guy, and maybe a few as the composer for Prey for Rock 'n' Roll, but I hope that more will take notice after this. He's a rocker boy at heart, but he stepped up beautifully and created these beautiful pieces of music that at first seem so fragile, but gradually reveal their inner strength. Their backbone.
It's him through and through. I'm so proud of him.
Another thing that struck me about the compilation was a song by Iron & Wine. I've heard some of their music in the past, but it's not the type of thing I normally go out and buy. I had to repeat the song a number of times and I wanted to curse them for writing what is probably the most simple, yet powerful and non-saccharine love song I've ever heard. I love it so much that I'm going to post a limited-time only link.
Naked As We Came - Iron & Wine
She says, "Wake up, it's no use pretending."
I'll keep stealing, breathing her
Birds are leaving over autumn's ending
One of us will die inside these arms
Eyes wide open, naked as we came
One will spread our ashes round the yard
She says, "If I leave before you, darling,
don't you waste me in the ground."
I lay smiling like our sleeping children
One of us will die inside these arms
Eyes wide open, naked as we came
One will spread our ashes round the yard
It's beautiful. It's perfect. It says I will love you until you cease to exist on this earth. There's a beautiful sadness to it, too. Like the thread that runs through every love affair worth its salt.
But this weekend Stephen gave me an advance copy of the soundtrack for In Good Company (which I guess I should explain he did the score for, in case you didn't know). I didn't want to listen to it while he was at my apartment. Not that I thought I wouldn't like it...but I wanted to give it my full attention instead of sitting there while he anxiously watched me listen to it. He couldn't even give me the disc with the full score...it's the soundtrack compilation. I know that I don't really like being in the room with people when they hear my music for the first time. I feel too vulnerable.
I made tea and curled up on the sofa. The vocal songs were lovely...David Byrne, Iron & Wine, Soundtrack of Our Lives...even some vintage Aretha. And then, this gentle little melody began. Muted xylophone, slightly tribal drums suddenly undercut by the gentlest touch of strings. It was beautiful. I looked at the CD case.
"The Chase" by Stephen Trask.
That's my baby.
I said it aloud without even thinking it. And then I laughed. And then I kept listening.
These compositions are so wonderful. There's a certain simplicity to them, but it's deceiving. There's a lot more going on than the ear initially reveals. I absorbed them again and again. And it felt like I had a little piece of them already. The little repeating guitar theme in "The Accidentials"...I've heard him play that before. That's one of the ones that would get stuck in my head. And hearing it blooming from my speaks with the swelling of backing instruments behind it -- it was amazing. The ever-increasing tempo of "I'm Psyched" reminded me of Stephen on a coffee rush. I love the title, too...it's just...him. The playful horns and melodic strumming and just a little hint of bongo drum.
Lots of people know him as the Hedwig guy, and maybe a few as the composer for Prey for Rock 'n' Roll, but I hope that more will take notice after this. He's a rocker boy at heart, but he stepped up beautifully and created these beautiful pieces of music that at first seem so fragile, but gradually reveal their inner strength. Their backbone.
It's him through and through. I'm so proud of him.
Another thing that struck me about the compilation was a song by Iron & Wine. I've heard some of their music in the past, but it's not the type of thing I normally go out and buy. I had to repeat the song a number of times and I wanted to curse them for writing what is probably the most simple, yet powerful and non-saccharine love song I've ever heard. I love it so much that I'm going to post a limited-time only link.
Naked As We Came - Iron & Wine
She says, "Wake up, it's no use pretending."
I'll keep stealing, breathing her
Birds are leaving over autumn's ending
One of us will die inside these arms
Eyes wide open, naked as we came
One will spread our ashes round the yard
She says, "If I leave before you, darling,
don't you waste me in the ground."
I lay smiling like our sleeping children
One of us will die inside these arms
Eyes wide open, naked as we came
One will spread our ashes round the yard
It's beautiful. It's perfect. It says I will love you until you cease to exist on this earth. There's a beautiful sadness to it, too. Like the thread that runs through every love affair worth its salt.