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Two Sides To Every Story

by balbec

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    artwork by Céline Leroy

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1.
Echoes Of A Dead Heart 04:29
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One step ahead and I’ll be Over the threshold Beyond control Out of my mind (Two lovers) For once in my life I’ll let the beast Out of the bag And I’ll be brave And I’ll face Death Don’t you want to let her get out She said she wants to get out I want her… free Ooh you sing to the daemons To soften their hearts Life is cutting threads that wander Don’t stop stop stop… Before you’re out Or they’ll claim you back My pretty maiden Yes yes yes… We’re almost done And... No! I looked back at you Don’t you want to let her get out She said she wants to get out I want her… Ooh you sing to the daemons But the daemons are deaf Life is cutting threads that wander Today Is the day We sail away To the Caribbean Yeah I would stay here all day in the Caribbean We’re dead
2.
Governed By The Sun 04:58
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(It’s a) warm day I’m swelterin’ in the sun Money’s only an abstraction Here we are governed by the sun (and the) laws of physics (and the) laws of nature That delight us Look At The surface Of the pool Dissolving in a thousand blades This mirror was truly perfect In this torpor with no horror Wet Bodies Sliding In a sea of love (Are) spreading around A sweet eroticism We are governed by the sun
3.
I Turn My Face To You Baal 03:25
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My lover is a killer I turn my face to you Baal For a quick redemption A real communion If you would protect me Right now I swear I’ll worship you I’ll pray and worship you I fear those lonely places Cold and distant they are Those lonely places Where he could do Whatever pleased him My lover is a traitor I turn my face to you Baal For a quick conviction A real punishment If you would fulfil me Right now I’ll swear I knew it all Please spare my newly-born I’m scared to death
4.
Doubts 10:29
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It’s all about your pills and the vacuum it leaves It’s all about our debts and our declining wages Now I’m left staring at the ceiling, shivering, feverish I wish it could end But here comes another blow You talk about my father in law I choke You’re a blurred figure in the growing darkness Hush please Nothing you can say can soothe our re-opened wounds Stop beating about the bush You brought back sour times Each fight we have kills me slowly One o’clock in the morning, another sleeping pill It’s easy for you ‘cause it leaves you blank in the dead night While I’m transfixed with doubts 2:15 I stand in the living room I’m standing naked in the moonlight My footsteps echoing in the living room I’m doddering, you’re dozing Watch the stage or cross the scene All the same it’s so obscene that I’m left Almost transfixed with doubts 2:30 on a Sunday night And I’m left all alone with a buzzing mind I’m bathing, naked, in the moonlight Each fight we have kills me slowly What can I do? To ease the pain What’s left of self-determination amid this big depression? The credit crunch, the sovereign debt crisis, and then what else? Are we still the captains of our tossed vessels? Is the destination known? Has feudalism dethroned liberalism as the latest idealism? Are our personal cracks masked by the overall crash? Is that it? What’s your opinion? What if we jettisoned All our fears, all our remorses And fly away for Brittany or even better for the Maldives (Faster way to ruin a wedding Holler, whine, and cough, feel ashamed Call around the cousins away down home)
5.
Latitudes And Longitudes 03:55
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When your memory leaks When time stretches When your brain melts down When your nose bleeds I’ll pick up the phone and answer your call Whatever the latitude and whatever the longitude I’ll be your constant Out of pure commitment True involvement Blessed enjoyment But you’re gone and I’m lost I got a cold waiting outside by the door Your icy talk has led us to this age Whatever the latitude and whatever the longitude I’ll be your constant Out of pure commitment A true involvement A blessed enjoyment But you’re gone and I’m not So I’m wandering at night And our innocence is gone I got a cold waiting outside by the door Your icy talk has led us to this age
6.
In The Hay 04:42
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I wanna lay my head in the hay Not anywhere else The world in my hand, in the hay Not anywhere else (Stop before it’s too late I don’t wanna be frustrated I wanna lay in the hay I wanna lay naked) On a sunny day in Andalusia It makes me feel so, I think I’m gonna We’d better wait in the sunshine Than hurry underground Wanna lay my head in the hay Not anywhere else The world in my hand, in the hay Not anywhere else On a sunny day in Andalusia It makes me feel so, I think I’m gonna Fade away in the sunshine And leave off the ground Take me too… I want you to…
7.
Crestfallen 04:37
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When the sunset is dying A cup of wine is my only friend I moved here to escape the city Where once I was a queen I abandoned my dreams of a family For success that didn’t last a decade I plunged down from my aerie And landed on a snake pit I plunged down from my aerie And landed on a shark’s den Now that I am crestfallen It’s two hearts that beat as one I miss the most Now that I am crestfallen It’s the kids I never had I miss the most And a friend’s shoulder to weep on I was just so girlish I wanted to appreciate a real man I blamed my sweetheart for my failures When he only helped Now I don’t understand anymore why I left him No I don’t understand anymore why I left him While the sunset is dying [...] Now that I am crestfallen It’s two hearts that beat as one that I miss the most Now that I am crestfallen It’s the kids I’ll never have that I miss the most And a friend’s shoulder to weep on
8.
There Is A Shine 07:25
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(At the) end of the tunnel, I see There is a shine Is my universe shrinking? Or am I stretching For this shine Last months were hard times, but now I see There is a shine My eyes are burning, my lungs are burning For this shine (At the) end of the tunnel I see There is a shine In the middle of my dark sky (with you) All of a sudden I leave my shrine For this shine Brighter than the brightest of the stars There is a shine I’m so tired I think I’ll faint But this time I’m sucked by the golden hole (with you) (I am) surrounded by (a) tender love The sun will never rise nor set On a day when I am born again Just celebrate forget the pain -- Peeling back the pavement Holding back the payment How to pass the time Every single time Wrong all along Going for the paycheck Working hard to pay the rent Old paradigm Leave it all behind Wrong all along Gold as an investment Has always been the favorite So-called master plan Always so sublime Wrong all along Open everything I’m born again Let’s celebrate All alone All on my own
9.
Architecture Of Faith 05:58
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Pull the score chain and decide All the sad days, and besides, and besides Feel the scorching pain inside All the sad days left behind, left behind That is not my style, that is overplayed Feeling rather tired of doing the same things That is not my style, one I’d write again Fathers and their sons BURN, dying the same way Letters in your pocket, where they always stay That is not my style, one I’d write again
10.
Ready To Be King 04:20
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Then it’s calling me frustrated, I think I’m hurt And then I understand it, already but What if I can’t find? What if I can’t help? What is in your heart if it’s not a hurricane? Lieutenants in your odd place, they were all displaced Head in the sand, you’d better do begin What if I can’t find why I’ve lost my head? What is in your mind...? There is more than I explain Have you seen your own face? Look it’s all misplaced Head in the sand, you’d better do begin What if I can’t find why I’ve lost my head? What is in your heart if it’s not a hurry? Then it’s granting me first rating, last thing I’ve heard Oh then I understand it, already but That is not my pride, that is not your blame Feeling rather tired of doing the same things I’d demit in the first place, and go unreplaced Faking again, you’d beg her to be queen What if I can’t find why I’ve lost my head? What is in your heart if it’s not a hurry? Don’t kid me! It gets me shaking You’re giving me a freakin Headache and blood pressure This could bring some pleasure You’d better touch the stars You’d better shoot me down You’d better shoot me now What if I can’t find why I’ve lost my head? Waiting to be slain You’d better crush me down like a hurricane You’d better shoot me now What if I can’t find why I’ve lost my head? I’m ready to be king You’d better crush me down like a hurricane You’d better shoot me down
11.
Analog 06:02
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Joys of yore Sodom sent Sores anew So to say Just try to keep me out of that Just try to keep me out of days of sorrows Just try to keep me out of that Just try to dream in analog With the chosen amount to retain you Were you chosen along the path? But it’s always too soon to redeem you And it’s always a compromise
12.
Drastic 05:46
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Drastic means, life goes on, better every day, better every day Trusted means, cortisone, better every day, better every day Life goes on, drastic means, better every day, bitter every day Better every day, with a large intake Hell is in your scars, with a larger hand There’s the feathers in the cage, feathers…And you’re struggling on a secret wish All you’ve done is sabotage my life Tethered in the cage, tethered and you’re strangling on a secret wish Fellows in the cage, offenders ignored, struggling on a secret wish All you’ve done is jeopardise my life Drastic means, life goes on, better every day, better every day Spastic dreams, life goes on, better every day, better every day Life goes on, by this means, better every day, bitter every day Better every take, with a larger hand Heaven’s in your palm, with a larger hand
13.
Herd By The Horns 04:16
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Tell us you predate the story of our lives Trod in ancient footsteps Before light came down Torn in two, the Solar came, unforgotten But torn in two, it’s all arcane and forlorn Save and duplicate the story of our lives Trojan at your doorstep Before night came down Torn in two, like Solon King, take the herd by The horns, until my soul attains enlightenment
14.
Dogma 03:47
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This is not fear But I need help This is not fear Just don’t know how I’m gonna tell her The sounds are gone The hands are not Dry as the tongue I exorcized my lips upon her Grinning in the salty rain Grinning in the salty rain All I ever got could collapse with a single word I was looking back to see If you were looking back at me
15.
Helpless 05:54
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Tell me brother, where’d you get those drugs? That will get heard till very far I won’t tell her, where’d you get those drugs? & A mulatto till verified Pull that all out, that all out, pull that all out Pull that all out, that all out, pull that all out Pull that all out now, pull that all out, pull that all out Pull that all out, not allowed, pull that all out Pull that all out now, pull that all out, pull that all out Tell me brother, where’d you get those drugs? I would let her live dignified Haven’t met her since early child Gotta send her my best regards
16.
Cathedrals 06:35
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Allocate the saints of love, the chosen few Set in stone by some ordinary views In the cathedrals of the false and make believe Selling stones by some ordinary thieves Just because that I made us strand, caught in a major storm Killing distantly, killing instantly, won’t make no difference Feeling electric, winning the lottery I made a rip off Killing distantly, killing instantly I pressed the trigger Un – pre – ce – den – ted They say the pictures on the wall fit exactly so that I can feed into They made the pictures off-the-wall, lit exactly so that I can peer into This ain’t a picture, they made a fixture so that I can fit into They save the victims of the war, hit exactly so that I can feel it too Holding on, and I feel ashamed Caught in a major storm Thought I was led astray Totally made us strong Thought that I made a stance Caught in a major storm Why didn’ I maintain All the religious vows? Why didn’ I feel the same? Caught in a major storm Why did my brain drain All the malicious thoughts? Why didn’ I feel the same? Caught in a major storm Killing instantly, killing instantly, I’m laid bare Feeling electric, feeling electric I may drown And it feels so fine
17.
Ode To Joy 03:38
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Praise to Joy, the God-descended daughter of Elysium! Ray of mirth and rapture blended, Goddess, to thy shrine we come By thy magic is united what stern custom parted wide All mankind are brothers plighted where thy gentle wings abide Build the road of peace before us, build it wide and deep and long Speed the slow and check the eager, help the weak and curb the strong None shall push aside another, none shall let another fall March beside me, Oh my Brothers, all for one and one for all Freude, schöner Götterfunken Tochter aus Elysium Wir betreten feuertrunken, Himmlische, dein Heiligtum! Deine Zauber binden wieder was die Mode streng geteilt Alle Menschen werden Brüder, wo dein sanfter Flügel weilt Joie ! Belle étincelle des dieux, fille de l'Élysée Nous entrons l'âme enivrée dans ton temple glorieux Soyez unis êtres par millions! Qu'un seul baiser enlace l'univers!

about

Effortlessly holding your attention from start to finish, balbec are simply stunning
ARTROCKER

Une ivresse des nerfs et des sens, audacieuse et électrisante
MAGIC

balbec a tout d'une valeur montante du rock indépendant français
INDIEPOPROCK

"Une musique qui ne ressemble à aucune autre, un art qui en appelle autant à la littérature qu’à l’histoire. balbec nous gratifie de seize perles rares, des morceaux sans calcul carriériste qui trouvent leur format d’eux-mêmes. La production signée Ryan Morey (Arcade Fire) apporte encore plus de force à l’ouvrage. Sans le moindre doute l’œuvre la plus aboutie d’un groupe appelé à devenir à très brève échéance une référence sur la scène rock hexagonale"
ZICAZIC, Fred Delforge

"balbec est un nom que vous entendrez de plus en plus souvent.
Ce nouvel opus mélange littérature, mythologie et post-rock dans un univers atypique. On est vite envoûté par la voix et l’énergie du groupe qui place la barre très haut. Double album de 17 titres, Two Sides To Every Story accroche l’oreille avec brio et en a sous le pied. A découvrir absolument !"
VACARM.NET,Susie Q.

"Primal sans être primaire, dérangeant sans être enragé, nuancé sans être neutre, accro à l’indépendance... balbec arrive à maturité"
INDIEZONEMAG

"L’innocence saccagée par les coups : serait-ce là le symbole même de la démarche musicale de balbec ? Cet album, un manifeste pour un rock exigeant, intelligent mais toujours accessible, n’est composé que de Rocksongs. Des vraies, des bonnes, des belles."
BENZINEMAG, Denis Zorgniotti

balbec a gagné en maturité et propose un double album intello et grave, entre post-rock rêveur, rock sophistiqué et pop lancinante. Two Sides... a un intérêt qui ne se démentira pas même après de nombreuses heures d'écoute.
LONGUEUR D'ONDES, n°69

"Parisian indie-pop fivesome balbec released a quirky, captivating album that oozes strange and wonderful sound. balbec are very playful, intriguing artists. They touch on so many styles and have a very unique sound. They’re all about evoking feelings and emotions and clashing them together in ways you’ve probably not heard before."
"Dark, eerie, barely-there, spooky wailing vocal keeps cropping up on this album, littered with kooky harmonies, coupled with angsty punk shouts and firm aggression."
SHOW ME SOMETHING DIFFERENT, Alex Pattinson, UK

It is rare that you push play on an album of 17 tracks by a band you have never heard before and you are unable to walk away. This is exactly what occurred when balbec's sonic maze hit my ears.
"Two Sides to Every Story" blends elements of indie rock, art rock, proto punk, and progressive rock into a sound that is ever changing. It feels like it has a story arc with dozens of musical emotions. The dramatic build is simply stirring and gave me chills. Amazing stuff, truly. balbec should be very proud of accomplishing such a great piece of work.
"Echoes of a Dead Heart" and "Architecture of Faith" are pretty brilliant, they both possess an avant garde approach and are the epitomes of how wildly free form their writing style is.
balbec has crafted a must have for any music collector who values music that bridges the gap between experimental and indie rock. There is so much varied musical DNA contained in these songs, from so many genres and eras, that it feels like you are glimpsing into the past as well as the present. A sonic time machine for the ages.
AMERICAN PANCAKE

credits

released June 6, 2013

recorded and mixed by Alexandre Mazarguil
mastered Ryan Morey

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balbec Paris, France

Parisian outfit balbec’s new album “la déroute” is a sonic odyssey into the depths of the modern soul, embodying a fierce beauty and rebellious elegance. It defies conventional thinking and embraces our tumultuous era with indignant nobility. The album blends abrasive pop energy with psychedelic punk infused with krautrock, creating a unique transpop sound. ... more

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