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All About the Tides

by jacob gemmell

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1.
Hotel Blues 04:26
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When the time is all out And the cash is all gone We won’t give up or give in We won’t give up or give in Bills stack up The system’s corrupt And so this will begin And so this will begin When the battle’s won This tears me apart You know this aint the way You know this aint the way Time has it’s bark and it walks the walk You know I’m here to stay
2.
6/27 04:07
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I lost my will to walk with spite Everything is perfect in hindsight You sponge my conscience dry You give me dreams as death runs by not looking back, I'm not looking back I'm not looking back No fears in matters Even righteous paths are fragmented I lost my patience in the storm sometimes the only voice I hear is my own You're not alone, You're not alone not looking back, not looking back I'm not looking back No fears in matters
3.
11-17 02:16
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Some have it figured for you And some just don’t care some walk on pins and needles cause they fear the air Everything costs something but you Give your heart for free Disintegrating faster than it holds You owe nothing Oh you are standing when the whole world falls apart God, save us, oh
4.
Break Free 02:48
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you say a lot of things When you don't say anything why do you trick your self into thinking that I'm your generation smothering fiction dividing citizens while this world is burning itself halfway to death What’s the mix up Time is shifting They reap this land splitting fields with broken pacts It’s hard to hope here When peace is fragmented It's time to kill the systems that were constructed underhanded
5.
What's Your Way in Me 03:01
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Overcome, overcome with jealousy I'm on my knees Survival of the fittest Common ground, common ground, souls depart from wicked ways It's the coldest day of winter What's your way in me? I walk around, all around the cityscape, my passerbys they're alive and they are sized No time can pass no money lasts grocery bags can break your back I just want to get away What's your way in me?
6.
Flint 03:22
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You told me so much about the trip you all took Without saying it was a tragedy overlooked They were so far from home in their own homes How can I give it a shot ? when it's so hard to believe Essence was poisoned with government approval No one can count the deficits Would you do this to your palaces Can't give them rights and now you take away lives How can I give it a shot ? when it's so hard to believe Essence was poisoned with government approval
7.
This One's Giving Me a Blur 04:03
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Seas and landlocked states are stressed with weight -- I never told you It’s surreal This one’s giving me a blur To tell you, surreal This ones giving me a blur --- Oh, such a shame Oh, the things we say oh the Simple things Can also fray Don’t be afraid I am here to stay and I’m not some kind of tool But perfect That's hearsay I never told you It’s surreal This one’s giving me a blur To tell you, surreal The world is now one
8.
Whistle Mountain 02:13
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I was born on this side of the road They made the call but had nowhere to go and the rest is just a bunch of history I was born in the ecosphere I was born and the time is here There ain't nothing wrong being yourself Cutting grass and it's fire outside wish it would last, this heat at night I stand up while the world burns down I was born in the ecosphere I was born and the time is here There ain't nothing wrong being yourself I’ve got nowhere to go but out If the end is here then how did it all come about?
9.
Would You Believe 03:30
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Would you beleive as if these places we called home are not just four walls and roof that leaks into my mind, it can be it’s own democracy Would you beleive that this state of mind As a collective is fragmented under Why I’m a human being Their minds' alive but its' eye has died Their minds alive but their eye has died all those things that are sad to say wish I never said wish I never did say again all these things they can end before they begin if I can make just one change today then I know you can and I know we can do it again all these they can end before they begin Would you believe that you can change these patterns Would you believe that you don’t have to be weathered with dangers Would you believe that everything can be repaired Would you believe that you can change these patterns Would you believe that we can stop this war tonight Their minds' alive but its' eye has died Their minds alive but their eye has died all those things that are sad to say wish I never said wish I never did say again all these things they can end before they begin if I can make just one change today then I know you can and I know we can make it again all these they can end before they begin
10.
1980 02:35
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we've always been animals The devils in the details here we lost it we masquerade like we're so good we wrestle where the ethics stood we lost it the trial defined we are casualties of our own greed do better fight harder we need a miracle to survive we cant bend the horizon we have this day given we need this, believe this listen to the prohpecies wading in the tides in spring we have this the trials defined we are casualties of greed do better fight harder we need a miracle to survive
11.
Working for Me 03:52
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Everybody’s chain reaction Don't let it go Let it go away oh we gotta get together oh we gotta get together There’s no delaying ---- Cause you're working for me --- I've got material reasons Don't push your luck Push your luck today Oh it's not the kind of season That's what they say ---- Cause you're working for me --- Gotta live a little stronger Gotta live with strength in numbers while they drift away oh we gotta get together there's no delaying This revolution starts with you It's not about what they say for you to do The revolution starts with you The best way isn't the easiest through Cause you're working for me
12.
4-16 01:42
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nature doesnt care Sky breaks across not so far away flights are delayed, we’re counting down are you listening? I can't even tread here lightly you wish you could but you can't stop us now flashes breaking high rained out cargo freights , as we wait There's a series echoing on and on TVs parading news Animal world leaders wear suits everyone just aches to get on home
13.
Unilav 03:49
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its not long ago or far away when thoughts give way to these angles Is there anyone who tells you that this is careless treason ah is this real? it's not found and you're still all this talk and hating and the filters decimating with these dangers they're snuffing all the questions they'll listen to your phone calls its debated ah is this real? it's not found and they still act like they cannot answer you
14.
The Struggle of Existence 04:43
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well we're in the company of magicians It's too late, such an understatement to be frank here Can we address the elephant in the room or will it destroy all of us How long can we allow ourselves to be dictated by those who derange here as i walk through the narratives on the boulevards there's trash that blowing in the wind TVs tilting scales who sways destinies that drain to sea the dust will never settles It's the struggle of existence Well I thought this was the end here Too late just an understatement to be frank here I can't deny this argument that they'll be better than you give them credit for These broken bones tell systems that ruin them were done with these sayings as i walk through the narratives on the boulevards there's trash that blowing in the wind TVs tilting scales who sways destinies that drain to sea the dust will never settles It's the struggle for existence

about

Art is like religion, there is belief so strong in something that enormous efforts and sacrifices are made in order to see it as a reality.

Going into this project in 2015, I knew that it would be tough to create the right space and time for these songs to come to light. During the week following the election I was testing some of these songs in the live context with the support of Brian Cooper on drums and Kyle Alexander on bass. There was an overwhelming tone in the district that felt very similar to the heaviness of being at a funeral along with an anxiousness of entering into an alternate reality. We played these songs, as I was becoming aware of the systemic injustices around us.

I was doing political event work in DC, I sat through government consultations that were becoming so far removed from reality that I began to question the very system itself. How could an “idyllic” democracy allow for human rights violations such as the Flint Water Crisis to happen? The chilling part of the Flint story is that it wasn’t just one agency responsible. Multiple layers of bureaucracy failed the people of Flint. This record explores many of these kinds of questions.

As good as it would feel to paint myself as a hero, I will caution the listener against this view. I was born into a narrative that often unfairly gives me advantages. Much of my life I have been oblivious to these injustices. It gives me great pain to know that I didn't have this self examination and I perpetuated this narrative. I owe it to myself to continually listen to the world around me. As we craft systems, we are left with the choice of falling into the trap of complacency or creating a system that more fairly services the human being. The road to equality is not the easy path. It requires tenacity, strength, resilience and constant pressure from all sides.

The story in this material became a wrestling act, going back and forth between hopefulness and desperation. Seeing the various protests and people get energetic about creating a better society gives hope. Seeing the systemic injustices makes us desperate for change. It’s my goal that this record will communicate these wavelengths. These noises can interact. Perhaps if enough noise is made, the change we all seek will not just be verbally or visually articulated but etched into the history books in a tactile, meaningful systemic way.

Much of the record is written on a Yamaha PSS470, a vintage children’s synthesizer. Any person can buy one at the local thrift store for about $15. The budget circuitry in the keyboard meant that noise was a factor in the original sounds. Embracing noise became a fundamental philosophy. As these harmonic distortions interact with distortions in drum samples and in other instruments there are underlying textures that hopefully give the listener the perception that these songs came from a real, actual space.

Simplicity in arrangements meant that I make quick progress and decisions within the short, 20 minute time brackets I had to work with.
Working fast was essential.


Thank You!
Ammiel
For having patience with this. For being supportive. For pushing me to pursue this vision to the fullest.

Brian
It’s been really fun playing music with you through the years. I hope to jam with you soon. Thank you for trusting this vision regardless of all the oddities.

Felix
Though I judge myself a lot and experienced a lot of internal friction and delicacy with this, hearing from your perspective has been very encouraging. You look at the facts and pushed me to keep moving fast.

credits

released August 19, 2020

1 Hotel Blues
Recorded at Lowercase Studios

2 6/27
Brian Cooper - Drums
Felix Nieto- Guest Recording Engineering
Recorded at Lowercase Studios
Additional Vocals recorded at Wolf Gang Records Studio
Drums Recorded at New Hope Church

3 11/17
Brian Cooper - Drums
Felix Nieto- Guest Recording Engineering
Recorded at Lowercase Studios
Drums Recorded at New Hope Church

4 B r e a k F r e e
Brian Cooper - Drums
Felix Nieto- Guest Recording Engineering
Recorded at Lowercase Studios
Additional Vocals recorded at Wolf Gang Records Studio
Drums Recorded at New Hope Church

5 What’s Your Way in Me
Brian Cooper - Drums
Felix Nieto- Guest Recording Engineering
Bass, Drums, Guitars, and Main Vocals Recorded at Vantage Recording Studio
Vocals Recorded at Lowercase Studios
Additional Vocals recorded at Wolf Gang Records Studio
Drums Recorded at New Hope Church

6 F l i n t
Brian Cooper - Drums
Felix Nieto- Guest Recording Engineering
Recorded at Lowercase Studios
Drums Recorded at New Hope Church

7 This One’s Giving Me a Blur
Brian Cooper - Drums
Felix Nieto- Guest Recording
Engineering
Recorded at Lowercase Studios
Additional Vocals recorded at Wolf Gang Records Studio
Drums Recorded at New Hope Church

8 W h i s t l e M o u n t a i n
Brian Cooper - Drums
Felix Nieto- Guest Recording
Engineering
Recorded at Lowercase Studios
Additional Vocals recorded at Wolf Gang Records Studio
Drums Recorded at New Hope Church

9 Would You Believe
Recorded at Lowercase Studios
Drums Recorded at New Hope Church

10 1980
Recorded at Lowercase Studios
Additional Vocals recorded at Wolf Gang Records Studio

11 Working For Me
Brian Cooper - Drums
Felix Nieto- Guest Recording Engineering
Recorded at Lowercase Studios
Additional Vocals recorded at Wolf Gang Records Studio
Drums Recorded at New Hope Church

12 4-16
Brian Cooper - Drums
Felix Nieto- Guest Recording Engineering
Recorded at Lowercase Studios
Drums Recorded at New Hope Church

13 Unilav
Recorded at Lowercase Studios
Additional Vocals recorded at Wolf Gang Records Studio

14 The Struggle of Existence
Recorded at Lowercase Studios
Additional Vocals recorded at Wolf Gang Records Studio

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jacob gemmell California

Jacob Gemmell is a Bay Area musician.

He has played shows with a number of artists, notably: Alexi Murdoch, and Midnight Movies. He has produced hundreds of songs, with a few secretly distributed EPs.

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