Calamateur – White_Light_Unknown.mp3
I wrote this song years ago, possibly as far back as…hmmm….1998. 10 years – wow, I didn’t realise it was that long ago until I figured it out just there.
The song began it’s life with a completely different chorus which hopefully only 1 or 2 other people will remember. Then, in the summer of 1999, my friend Mark (who I was in the band Oldsolar with) went away for 3 weeks and let me stay in his flat and use his studio equipment. I recorded 6 songs, including White Light Unknown, and then in early 2000 I released my first and only 7″ single, with White Light Unknown as the A-side and Inhabit as the B-side.
White Light Unknown was played by John Peel, Radio 1’s Scottish Evening Session & Beat 106 and got some great reviews. I was thrilled and surprised by the positive reception the single received and I think White Light Unknown is still many people’s favourite Calamateur song (which is both cool and little bit depressing!). Hopefully most folk will think this new version is an improvement on the original.
As for the B-side Inhabit, it recently had fresh life breathed into it when the song’s lyrics were chosen by DUFI to be one of 30 stencillised quotes to be sandblasted into the city streets as part of the current re-development of Inverness city-centre:
October 8, 2008 at 5:14 pm |
Yup, that 7 inch was my first introduction to calamateur – all in exchange for a lift home from the Barrowlands after a Delirious? gig. I’d love to be able to say it was an edgier gig, but alas – that would be fable.
I remember not having a turntable set up at the time and, if I’m honest, the single gathered dust till I bumped into Craig B one night when walking up Sauchiehall St after a gig Keith and I had been at. Again, I’d love to say it was a coller gig – but in honesty, Keith and I had taken a trip down memory lane and gone to see The Mission play at The Garage. Craig said how much he liked the single and I got my turntable set up after that and have loved your music ever since. I can’t recall whether I’d got “Many Buffalos…” by Oldsolar at that stage or not – but that also still gets regular rotation all these years later.
Is this my favourite calamateur song? Not sure – I do still really love it though. I think I became fascinated once the penny dropped about what the lyrics where about and who the first person singing them was meant to be.
Loving the slow release of the Jesus Is For Losers songs. Keep ‘em coming!
B.
October 12, 2008 at 4:21 am |
I was introduced later by Richard. I think he was talking about how clever the “you are here and you are not silent” line is and I asked to hear the track. So It took time to fill out the back-catalogue and I never did find a copy of the 7″ so this is all new to me.
It is good though. My favourite of the released tracks anyway.
Looking forward to more soon.
s