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Powder Kegs Beneath Dagger Trees

by Trakan

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  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Packaged in a cardboard digipak with all the lyrics, liner notes and credits; featuring original provocative artwork by Veek, Kyle Spencer and Ethan Skelton; and super-cool photography by Caroline Horist, Nick Infusino, and Kennedy Shenberg. Graphic design by Trakan himself. Enjoy the 8-song story with all the visuals!

    Includes unlimited streaming of Powder Kegs Beneath Dagger Trees via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 5 days
    Purchasable with gift card

      $9.99 USD

     

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

    All full digital album downloads come with the lyrics, liner notes and all album art on a .pdf. Just like having the full CD package, without the plastic and paper.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $9.99 USD

     

1.
The Bridge 02:47
I was the best dancer in Switzerland. They didn't want me to stay. Could see it in their eyes. Not worth picking a fight at the time. I graze here among dandelions. Sometimes weeds get confused. Well, just like flowers in May, The summer comes, blown away. Just say, “A friend of a friend sent me” If you're still feeling trapped. Emotion just underground And stuck in a vent. I'm powder kegs beneath dagger trees. I'm fireworks on the bridge And every day here like these Are only days not like that. Well supersize that scotch. Killing the cells I don't wanna need and numbing that look in my mind. I'm standing over the edge. I'm on a bridge to integrity and leaving the weeds all behind. I'm getting ready to cross this time. Voulez-vous rester, monsieur, ici sur ce pont? Préférez-vous, mon ami, traverser ce pont? Avez-vous des ailes et du feu dans votre sang? Pensez-vous qu'on doit laisser les mauvaises herbes, cependant... Avez-vous, monsieur des regrets ou des sentiments Laissez-les emprisonner, et affamés, au bas du pont. Si vous avez des poches blues profondes et pleines du monde, Vous risquez, monsieur, de tomber par dessus ce pont. Well this story's getting so cold. Acoustics are so different at night but my hearing's just fine. Metamorphosis was a lot less fun the first time around And I’m finally picking the fight. I'm stuck out here in the tide, trying hard to swim back in to you And leave all the weeds all behind. Trying hard not to drown, I guess I’m gonna just have to see now If I shoulda jumped in. I shoulda learned how to swim.
2.
All I Need 03:12
You’re all I need. I don’t need you today. You’re all I dream about lately. I dream of runnin’ away. Hey hey hey. You’re all I want. That’s not a lot now to say. You’re all I think about lately. I think you drive me insane. Hey hey hey. I must be outta my head. Each day fills me with dread. I gotta escape. I’d be better off dead than let you mess with my head more this way. That’s all I need in my life. You’re all I’ve got. You’re so forgotten today. You’re all I dream about lately. I dream you’ve run far away. Hey hey hey. I must be some kind of crazy to let angels that saved me escape. I’d be better off dead. Was it something I said that chased you away? You’re all I need in my life. You’re all I need to get by.
3.
Valarie 02:54
Familiar smells here in the morning Black espresso, Irish tea. Swear I saw her again this morning. Can it be you, Valarie? Familiar sounds in here this morning. Sorta like bacon, with a tee. Mispronounced, what am I feeling? Can it be my Valarie? Is that you, Valarie? Can Valarie see me? I best be on my way. I’ll just be on my way. But I’m taking Valarie with me. And we’ll live on and on. She’ll live on and on.
4.
Wake up the silence of another day. Pursuit of something out on the horizon. A man guards the middle of an empty path. Arms spread and I'm trying to fly, but I'm stuck on the ground and I'm out of good ideas. He said: “Slow down, you're moving much too fast. You come across the middle, I'll knock you down, son. Well perhaps you shoulda chose another path. Well go and get some rest, my friend,” he said, “Tomorrow is another day.” You don't know me. You don't please me. You don't show me. What I'm needing, You don't know me. You don't please me. You're not worthy. You can't see me. You don't know me. You can't please me. I will cut you. Watch you bleeding. You don't know me. You can't please me. I will take your Heart, I'll eat it. You can't know me You can't please me You're not worthy. I'm gonna cross the middle anyway.
5.
When you leaned in, closed your eyes, and you kissed me, Well I swear on my life, I never knew That my heart’s made of ache And my legs full of quake And my life’s been alright but now it’s through. Because love was sabotaged, I’m getting over it. You make the same mistake twice, you’re a fool. There ain’t no denying it’s too late, now I’m walking the plank. I don’t want you, don’t love you, yes I do. When I gave into your eyes and stopped hiding And let go of a life I never knew, Well my head made a break For the door and got away Left my heart unsupervised here with you. And love was sabotaged, I’m getting over it. You make the same mistakes twice, you’re a fool. Ain’t no denying it’s too late, now I’m walking the plank. I don’t need you, don’t love you, yes I do. And if there’s buildings in the way, I’ll jump over them. And if you’re too far away, I’ll fly to you. There ain’t no length I won’t take to fill my heart back with pain. I don’t want you, can’t want you, yes I do. I don’t need you, can’t need you, yes I do. I don’t love you, don’t love you. Yes I do.
6.
A crusty dollar, a slow pouring beer Cost me my train, a long walk from here. I stepped into a cab and out of the rain. She took my hand, whispered spells on me. She wrapped her tail tight between my knees. Then cab six six six rolled away. I'm gonna crash, I can’t think, (You ain't drivin.) You can't crash if you ain't drivin, no time to think. Lush and creamy and so full-bodied. (Just a sip.) I'm so thirsty, I gotta drink. Well you're so hot. (Roll down the window.) Roll down the window, let the cold air kiss my face. No turning back, (Heaven help.) Someone please help. Drown in your eyes. There’s no escape. (There's no escape.) Some crusty dollars, I paid my fare. Smell of temptation lingered in the air As cab six six six rolled away. Stood on the bridge, hell I try to scream But tails still wrapped between our knees Hung us out over the river, and dropped us into the waves. This is the ride, my friend (Don't let go.) We take together. Water's so warm, what do you think? Lush and creamy (This can't swim.) I smell like apples, you misjudged things when you bit in. I’ll take your head down (We can't breathe.) Beneath the water. You're so thirsty, have a drink. No turning back. (Heaven help us.) We drown together. Together, there's no escape.
7.
Dis, mon amie, “Au revoir.” Parce que moi, ma vieille, je ne reviendrais plus. Et tu verras que moi, Je serais assez satisfait. Et puis on Serait des étrangers.
8.
Peter rode the bus today, out lookin for a job. Wastin his life away, at places where he don’t belong. Peter is a songwriter. He finds his words fall right where they belong. Trying to understand people, wrap em up tight, and put em in a song. He saw laughter in the window, and a staircase roped off as he rode by. Confused, misguided by zombies, betrayed by loved ones in gangs of bored disguise. Peter is a boat captain on one hell of a ride. Trying to navigate heaven, wrap it up tight and put it deep inside. You’re gonna get it right today. You can’t seem to get it right. He heard calliope music, dusty and scratching and trying to get out. Mind strayed with dangerous suggestion. Doubt and frustration, and rebirth of self. Peter is a dream maker. A simple stroke and all of the lines are blurred. Trying to blend all the colors, wrap em up tight, and recreate the world. You’re gonna get it right today. You can’t seem to get it right. He touched her breast. She reacted like they weren’t strangers. No, she expected this. Like breathing deeper when living for something. Like dreams and love – Yeah simply effortless. Peter is a heart breaker. He draws a blade and he dissects the moon. Light spills into the sky. Gather the light, and paint this crumbling ruin. You’re gonna get it right today. I can’t see. The colors got away. I can’t hear. The words all got away. I can’t feel. The dream has got away. Peter rode the bus today, out looking for a job. Wasting his life away at places where he don’t belong.

about

Wielding rock-forward sensibility, with plenty of unexpected instrumentation, Trakan’s dynamic new release, Powder Kegs Beneath Dagger Trees, is a foray through the phantoms, weeds, and cabdrivers of Trakan’s psyche. The lyrics come in English and French, and paint surreal backdrops for his agitated growl (think Frank Black, Tom Waits). Female vocal cameos sweeten the tension, and Trakan is also joined by notable performances by Deanna Varagona (Lambchop, Vic Chesnutt, Yo La Tengo, M. Ward, Bobby Bare Jr.) and Rocco Labriolla (Joe Pug, Van Ghost).

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released February 21, 2012

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Trakan Chicago, Illinois

Trakan's dynamic second release is a trip through the phantoms, weeds, and cabdrivers of Trakan's psyche. Bilingual English/French paint surreal backdrops for his agitated growl (think Frank Black, Tom Waits). Female vocals sweeten the tension, alongside notable performances from Rocco Labriolla (Joe Pug) and Deanna Varagona (Lambchop) ... more

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