FAWM: "Absence Makes the Art Grow Stronger"

Absence Makes the Art Grow Stronger

Liner Notes

Another one where I'm mostly pleased with the music (especially the bassline) but don't really feel like I'm hitting the targets with the lyrics. It's about working from home being a slow march towards death, I guess. The "you" I'm singing to is me. I don't know. Octave pedal guitar solo? I ran out of words.

#newwave #powerpop

Lyrics

take a break, it’s not that hard
a short walk, or a cry in the car
ride out this heavy weather
and pull yourself together

you hid yourself away but
can’t take it any longer
you can’t convince yourself that
absence makes the art grow stronger

you’ve got your shield, you’ve got your screen
talking to people that you’ve never seen
what is business without leisure?
a life devoid of pleasure

Comments

@loveonamixtape 6d

OKay, everything about this really works. The title/refrain alone is such a winner! The Cars-y breakdown at around 1:50 is really great, the whole arrangement is so fun, especially with that synth line, and the lyric is really crisp and clever. I love how your "I'm not really hitting the targets with the lyrics :-( " is still smart and clever as hell and better than like 90% of people!

@thelowestbitter 1w

I love the stop/ start nature of the riff and vocal lines in the verse, the pause at the end of each line, gives it a really nice rhythm. Synth is nice and woozy and fuzzy and cool. Chorus melody is really hooky and like the little harmony parts too.

@owl 1w

Love that synth, I was listening to the Cars earlier and the synth/guitar combo and catchy vocal kind of remind me of that. The octave solo is super cool! And the breakdown/buildup! I feel a bit anxious about the subject matter, having worked from home for like 15+ years now 😅 but surely that has nothing at all to do with any mental health issues?!

@tfish77 1w

Nailed that new wave sound. Production is nice and clean, and the chorus hook is catchy as hell.

@catmisgivings 1w

the dynamics on the warm synth part as the song goes on draws me deeper and deeper into that chorus

@scottmcb 1w

I love how you've put this one together. Every sound is perfect and they all fit together so well. Really nicely done

@jimdgreen 1w

super strong indie vibe, likeing this muchly

@communitykickabout 1w

oh yes, some great guitar indie-riffage in here, love the slidy synth sound as well. The BVs in the chorus work a charm, and lovely solo to boot! Love the stripped back bit straight after too.

@bradbrubaker 1w

That "cry in the car" line. Oof! The title line is a great one to build a song around. The simple single note synth bits elevate things nicely.

@adforperu 1w

I know 'well-crafted' is a bit of a running joke (maybe just with me and Dan), but I really do mean it! The instrumentation, the tones of each instrument, the form of the song, the dynamics, the arrangement, everything feels like it's put together exactly as it should be, and if anything was to change it would just sound plain WEIRD. The clean tone start/stop riff is giving me real 00s indie vibes, but otherwise it sounds fully contemporary.

@odilongreen 1w

This is really catchy and has that kind of Americana / New Wave blend that characterizes some of my favorite 80s songs. The music and vocal performance are simultaneously comforting and energetic. I feel like this would be perfect to listen to on a road trip (which is kind of ironic given the "stay at home" theme of the lyrics)!

@danxduran 1w

Good little tune - so good that half an hour after listening to it, the damn hook is still in my head.

@burrMod 1w

when i skimmed the title i totally missed the pun until i heard it in the chorus! very cool late 90s indie vibes for sure. i get what you're saying about the "you" being you, but i think even in its current form it's open to broader interpretations.

i mean, still about work in some form being a slow march toward death, but... :)

@iveg 1w

Working from home is a slow march toward death? I wonder if it's the lack of social interaction, no change in scenery, no escape from work environment? Is there a way to get more face to face, different places, etc, to make it better?

@thedutchwidows 1w

I like the idea of taking break from work by having a cry in the car. Not 'like' as in a thing I would like to do, but as a lyrical image. Sad poetry. The vocals in this are all kinds of good - the harmonies in the chorus are great. Guitars sound ace - more tiny amp action? I concur on the bass part - very nice indeed. The synth too - that's some lovely stuff. Talking to people you've never seen - is that a MS Teams reference? I get very freaked when I actually meet people I've frequently chatted with on Teams, and they turn out to be much taller/shorter than I thought they would be. One of life's little modern surprises.

@michellelyons 1w

Liked this a lot, as usual! Really good solo, and typically nice analogue synth work.

Oddly I've got another track just begun that has a more "alt-rock" feel - there's clearly something in the air!

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Absence Makes the Art Grow Stronger

Liner Notes

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