All Paths Divide

// tracklist & download

01. Reverie (3:55) [320kbps] // download
02. Fear (3:52) [320kbps] // download
03. Memories (4:39) [320kbps] // download
04. I Regret (3:56) [320kbps] // download
05. Quicksand (1:55) [320kbps] // download
06. The Fall (4:49) [320kbps] // download

All Paths Divide

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All Paths Divide

// info

Produced & Engineered by Steve Watts & David Lydiard
Mixed & Mastered by Steve Watts
Words & Music written by David S. Lydiard

Reverie

// lyrics

Words by David S. Lydiard
©2007 Falling Nine Music

An evil choir sings for Satan
Singing out of tune with empty words and phrases
Every tone cuts deep as rain in summer
Every chord formed tears open wounds

(chorus)
Come down
Let the rain wash over me and cleanse my soul
Falling down
Let the floods fall down and sweep me away

The cries were silent from her broken lips
The screams were nothing more from her than pushed out air
Every tear filled my throat with boulders
Every tear was a painful memory

chorus *2

I'm the blackened candle
Holding all the light
I'm the whispering wind
That howls throughout the night

When in comfort I stand in fires
Every tone cuts deep as rain in summer
Every chord formed tears open wounds

chorus *2

Print these lyrics

Reverie

// info

This song came about because of the drums. The beat sounded so cool and that led itself to the simple but effective guitar riff creating an hypnotic loop for the vocals to go over. The original demo contained a longer gap between the chorus and the second verse and had this cool little piano melody playing along but as the track went on we decided to cut the gap down to keep the momentum going and the piano was cut as the song became more Industrial sounding.

Lyrically, I was writing about a nightmare or a nightmarish scene and the title itself came about because I thought “Nightmare” or something similar sounded lame whereas Reverie had a more mystical and cooler ring to it despite it meaning “daydream” as opposed to a nightmare.

For the solo I had originally intended to have a guitar playing but I experimented with strings and felt it added something different to the song.

- David

Fear

// lyrics

Words by David S. Lydiard
©2007 Falling Nine Music

There was a time, when I thought it's all over
Live a lie, or roll over and die
I could feel pain, but couldn't get across in rhyme
Floating up and feel release get closer

All frustration made each step a mile
Took a plunge and sunk into my mind
All the colours got lost in translation
Get up and leave this world behind

(chorus)
White fires light a blackened doorway
My path divides
I have a way of opening up

I cannot swim in these tides of anger
Make a choice, choose fear or choose love
I cannot let you consume every waking thought in my head
Choose fear cos fear lasts longer

chorus

I cannot sing you a happy song
Tear me open, rip the flesh away
The only hook I have is buried in my gut
I'm just a white bear that swings both ways

chorus *2

Fear

// info

This track was originally written in the summer of 2006 amidst a huge Chili Peppers/John Frusciante binge. I was absorbing myself in all their music and was inspired by Frusciantes life story in particular. I was struggling to write lyrics for a while and this came out fairly easily summing up my frustrations in the first verses and it led to more lyrics from then on also. Despite the track easily being able to be performed by a lone acoustic I wanted it to be more layered and electronic and the demo did contain a lot of synth parts. When cutting the track we stripped it back to more traditional instrumentation but the melodies used in the synths inspired the backing vocals.

The outro solo was a late addition with the track originally ending after the final chorus’ but we decided we wanted to tag a solo onto the end. It took a couple of forms including a catchy synth but we went back to the guitar to give a “balls to the wall” finish.

- David

Memories

// lyrics

Words by David S. Lydiard
©2007 Falling Nine Music

A presence still lingers here
The feelings of a pain I once felt
I still feel it under my skin
Flowing through my veins like a river of mud

A river that numbs my touch
Empties as I overflow
A searing kiss that soothes my pain
The light in the darkness of my grey days

(chorus)
All of these memories still remain
Some wounds that scar, time cannot erase
Your spoken words, like razorblades
Cut into me deep and their slashing my hopes away

It's cold, the wind plays with my neck
I lie still and quiet
Contemplating life as an hour glass
The sands of time slip through my fingers
I ponder what my next move is
And why I should really care

The thoughts awake me with their fires
So clear, yet you lose yourself
The skin peels back to free the blood
To let forth life in its raw form

chorus

A numb feeling, sweet sensation
I felt a chill as she reached for my hands
A glowing, dark temptation
Time stood still as we danced the eternal dance

chorus *3

Memories

// info

This is possibly the oldest of all the songs on the cd. Lyrically this predates Attempted Fate and was in fact the first song recorded for those sessions!!

With other songs taking priority this was left off that album but we felt it had something special going for it and wanted to work on it for this one. Musically it has a happy, clappy summer kind of feel to it but lyrically quite dark (as usual).

We spent a lot of time overdubbing vocals onto this to give it that layered sound which began with back with Invisible and some of the higher parts only came about because of the higher acoustic parts in the mix. I think there are around 7 acoustics on this and like Fear this could easily be played on a lone acoustic.

- David

I Regret

// lyrics

Words by David S. Lydiard
©2007 Falling Nine Music

Like the candle, I keep burning
I'm the thorn that makes you bleed
When I cut, my blade keeps turning
Pain and suffering, what I need

If I were God
You wouldn't make it past the door

(chorus)
I regret it
I regret it all
Maybe it's a lie
I let out silent screams
Pick up broken dreams
I'm not someone on whom to rely

In the mirror I've seen your face
It's all I ever wanted
In the corner I caught a glimpse
Of the emerald demon
The rage swelled inside of me

chorus *2

I couldn't feel the come-down
What does that tell you about my head?

chorus *2

Stay alone, stay alone
I'm not someone on whom to rely

I Regret

// info

This song has turned into something completely different to how it was originally intended. The Moog synth part that is the main riff I suppose, was very late in making it onto the cd. It was an afterthought that I had put under the second verse to pad it out a bit, and once Steve grabbed hold of it he made it more prolific in the song. There were also supposed to be many guitars going on playing Eastern-style licks but, as the song progressed, it turned into more of a dancey/synthy kind of track.

An interesting fact about this song is that when it was written it was the defining song that made us decide to let go of Jenny. Initially the idea was that because things were taking so long I would write the lyrics and the melody, sing a rough version, give it to Jenny to learn and then she would record the proper lead vocals. However, when writing it, it became very clear that this would be too much for her to sing and with us expanding the songs the way we have done, we thought it would be easier to continue as a two-piece instead of a three.

Quicksand

// lyrics

Words by David S. Lydiard
©2007 Falling Nine Music

If I feel your fingers
Crawl upon my neck
I’d pray the touch takes away my breath
I pray for death

If your hollow eyes
Burnt right through my skin
I’d pray that you’d end my suffering
I pray for pain

If the time stood still
Pollutes my thoughts with fear
I’d pray that the days just disappear
I pray you’re near

I put a foot in the quicksand
Became addicted so I jumped right in
On this multi-faceted journey
It’s the words not the daggers that sting

I found myself clutching at nothing
Cutting my loss like a string
I don’t break my fall when I collapse to the floor
I found I’m not me anymore

Quicksand

// info

I had written the lyrics for this around the same time as Fear and it was another John Frusciante style acoustic song. The only problem I had with this was that the lyrics were written before the music so they had predefined the structure of the song and there was no traditional chorus to build upto. The chords for the "second half" of the song were figured out but the "first half" kept being changed, so I had put it to one side in order to work on other songs.

Steve had mentioned previously that it would be cool to have an a cappella song but nothing ever came of that so it was always just an idea in the backs of our heads. I was out walking one morning and started singing the lyrics and I realised that the structure and the phrasings lent themselves well to maybe this being the a cappella song we were looking for. We cut the lead vocals in one afternoon and the basic backing vocals on another afternoon. I thought this would be a simple song to record but it turned out to be quite tricky, lots of intricate vocal lines going on but with no music to work off.

A few sessions went by before we finally finished the song. The only effect used is reverb to give it more of a cavernous feel and we put a pre-delay on the last line so it comes in before the actual lead vocal but apart from that everything you hear is as it was recorded, no autotune or anything fancy like that.

I think at a guess there are between 80-100 voices on the song, 90% I would say was myself and 10% Steve. Lots of hard work went into recording this one and we are happy with the outcome, especially as it was very late into the sessions and could've easily not made it onto the cd.

- David

The Fall

// lyrics

Words by David S. Lydiard
©2007 Falling Nine Music

I still remember the haunting sounds
Of tears falling from my eyes
I was immersed deep in the dakness
Shrouded by shadows fighting the light

You drown me in sunlight
Shine through this heart-shaped hole
The sting that comes when you're not here
Is poison penetrating my soul

(chorus)
The higher you make me feel
The bigger the fall
And I'm so high right now I cant see the ground no more
The deeper my love runs, the further I'll fall
And I'm falling for you

Keep breathing the air that I'm breathing
Breathe it in, breathe it out, breathe it in
Without you I'm dust, I'm nothing
Loves a race that I want us to win

Holding on to the memory of you
So tight, it hurts my fingers

chorus

Falling like a leaf on the wind
Falling like a shooting star
Falling for you

chorus *2

The Fall

// info

This was my attempt at a muscular, modern rock love song a la Live, Creed, Matchbox Twenty et al. Big sound, big guitars, something for the ladies but with that muscular edge to it. I wouldn't say that this song sounds like any of those bands, but it is my take on them.

The arpeggio guitar in the intro/verses has been around for a long, long time. It was always something I would pick out but it never had a song to it, then when I was working on this track everything fell into place and that part had found it's song (finally!). There are two chords in the entire song - Bm and A - but as we were working through the song it became clear (to me at least) that the song was more about the mood and atmosphere than how many chords you can cram into four minutes.

Like all the songs on this cd we worked extensively on backing vocals and they added another colour to the song, especially as they come out of the first chorus and into the second verse. That is possibly my favourite part of the song, its when the song kicks into gear.

- David

Attempted Fate

// tracklist & download

01. Invisible (4:30) // download
02. Say Goodbye (4:43) // download
03. Scarred (4:07) // download
04. You Kill Me (2:52) // download
05. Love You To Death (9:28) // download

Attempted Fate

// info

Produced & Engineered by Steve Watts & David Lydiard
Mixed & Mastered by Steve Watts
Words & Music written by David S. Lydiard
Track 2 & 4 lyrics written by Jenny Jarman

©2006 Falling Nine Music

Invisible

// lyrics

Words by David S. Lydiard
©2006 Falling Nine Music

The way she moans
Is almost obscene
Whether she is crying
Complaining or getting beat

I cannot differ
Between the sounds she's making
They've become one
A relentless uncomfortable buzz

If only she knew
The complex scenarios
That spew forth from my mind
The mind in which I'm trapped

(chorus)
And it feels like I've been locked away
In a chamber where there's only me
When I need to talk
You can't hear me speak
I'm invisible

The mystery
That I hear on the winds breath
Is more interesting
Than knowing the truth

My memories
Are beautifully distorted
Numb and collapsing
Agony and orgasms combined

And you as a flower
Bloomed when the wrists were cut
Intoxicating scent
Wilting in my prison

chorus

And I feel like I've been thrown away
To a hell on Earth
That wants me to stay
When I need to talk
You dont know my name
I feel miserable

chorus *2

Invisible

// info

This was originally called "The Used" and had completely different lyrics until I realised before I was due to record them that the sentiment of those lyrics didn't ring true anymore and they were infact quite poor. The only part that remained was the chorus. Musically it has a sort of Pop Punk feel to it, the rhythm reminds me of something Blink 182 or All-American Rejects would play, so I think that helps with the aggression on the verses. We were still learning when it came to recording on this cd and thats why the sound isn't as great and there is some bleed where drums will go into the guitar tracks and so on.

This was the first song that we really went to town with regarding backing vocals. I remember laying them down and then sitting in front of the speakers whilst we played the song back with just vocals. We were both blown away by this wonderful noise we had created.

The guitars will be re-recorded to give it the bigger sound that the song deserves.

- David

Say Goodbye

// lyrics

Words by Jenny Jarman
©2006 Falling Nine Music

Say Goodbye
I don't want to cry
But I can feel it coming
Walk away
Don't want to say
That we both know it's ending

I can't breathe for you
I can't speak for you
I can't bleed for you
I can't see for you

(chorus)
The sun seems to shine
Just on our side
I think it's time to go now
Someday down the line
You'll realise you were fine
Time can tell so many stories

So there we go
I don't know
Why life can turn out like this
I'll turn my back
I won't look around
I'm just going to keep on walking

pre chorus

chorus

chorus *2

Say Goodbye

// info

A different song altogether from Invisible, more of an alternative pop song. When you write a song, you have an idea of where it'll end up and I could not envisage this song ending up the way it did. Musically its pretty much the same as the original demo I had put together but Jenny's lyrics,melodies and vocals took this into more of a pop sound than I would've taken it. I like how it goes from a happy acoustic strum into an almost electronica pre-chorus but I dont like the guitars, they sound too dirty. I prefer a cleaner crunch.

It's a shame we didn't work on backing vocals more extensively on this song because I think it could've sounded great with more going on vocally.

- David

Scarred

// lyrics

Words by David S. Lydiard
©2006 Falling Nine Music

A razorblades sweet kiss
Softly caressing my skin
I thought that the wounds you inflicted
Weren't that deep
To bury themselves in

I've been tainted by her purity
The serenity that she brings
Releasing the demons that sour me
Painting a portrait of misery

(chorus)
Are you scarred by the memories that haunt you?
Are you scared? Are you alone?
I'm still tainted by the lies that you told me
I'm damaged, but how would you know?

Slipping away to endless slumber
Suicide is painless
But it comes before us all
Dripping the scarlet onto pages
Stained with the tears
She wrote about her fall

chorus

About the pain I'm feeling
And the screams that bring it out
Won't you stop the bleeding
I got to open myself up to let the pain out

chorus *2

Scarred

// info

Inside Scarred is an awesome Modern Rock/Pop song trying to escape. You can't deny the catchiness of the track, but for me it lacks that sparkle that our better songs have. It's a song I would like to revisit and rework and turn it into a more polished track. I dont remember much about the recording, except that the main riff was on another song I was working on but it fit so much better over the rhythm guitar of this song.

Another song where backing vocals seemed to be forgotten and could've taken it to another level had they been worked on more.

- David

You Kill Me

// lyrics

Words by Jenny Jarman
©2006 Falling Nine Music

If I could find the words
To say what you do to me

(chorus)
Oh you kill me
It's all inside me
What I do to be with you
Oh you kill me
It's all inside me
What I do to be with you
Oh you kill me
Oh you kill me

If I could say
To you how feel today

chorus

I'm under no illusions now
You've got me where you want
Just say those words
And I am there

chorus

You Kill Me

// info

This is a mish-mash of a song that kind of has a structure but at the same time doesn't. The riff I came up with one afternoon and I remember playing it over and over because I just loved how it sounded and the clean guitars were something I came up with in a jam with our old drummer. I think I had bought a new keyboard around that time so I was playing with the strings on it and I think thats why this track has pianos and strings all over it.

Again, when you give a song to someone else, they take it to a new direction and Jenny did a good job at the time. In hindsight, I would've done something different but at that time, we were loving this song for what it turned out to be - a trippy alternative, lo-fi, ambient at times mash of notes and words.

- David

Love You To Death

// lyrics

Words by David S. Lydiard
©2006 Falling Nine Music

Leave me here bleeding
Leave me to crawl
This wounds sunk too deep
Watch as I fall

Your iodine kiss
It burns me still
Open me up now
And go in for the kill

(chorus)
I can see you wherever you are
I'm the shadow that lurks from afar
But I will love you, til my last breath
I will love you, love you to death

Outside the circle
Surrounded by fear
An eerie presence
That makes itself clear

Then midnight wrapped me
In her warm embrace
Your tears fell like rain
Down your sweet face

chorus

Struck by your beauty
You're my obsession
I want to make you
My prized possession

Your loveless green eyes
Fill with despair
A rush of blood
Now silence fills the air

chorus *2

Love You To Death

// info

I remember playing the verse chords and randomly singing what would become the chorus lyrics and loving the whole idea of the lyrics. There is a creepy tone lyrically, definitely evoking a stalker type situation but at the same time the term "love you to death" is something that could be a good thing. So it has this double-sided edge to it.

I recorded the guitars on a clean electric but as it should've been an acoustic song we re-recorded onto an acoustic and it instantly made the song sound a hundred times better. The lead vocals were recorded one afternoon when I was ill, which helped me get that low because I do find it a struggle sometimes to sing low down.

Steve thought the song needed some drone-like backing vocals so again we went to work layering voices and it just turned out great. An obvious choice to close the album and I think with All Paths Divide this song leads nicely into that and bridges both albums.

- David