ABOUT somnambulistic
Somnambulistic is a 9 track album of dark lullabies. Based on dreams, they flow on from each other to form one overarching dream as a narrative. The concept behind the album was to create something comforting, a giant protection spell against the horrors of the world without completely ignoring them. A journey through sorrow and out into the light on the other side.
Somnambulistic is a stylistic shift from previous releases. While guided by guitar, Plum’s voice travels through wall of sound guitar and bowed soundscapes. A variety of different instruments are featured including classical string arrangement and the Melbourne Town Hall Grand Organ, which is said to be the largest musical instrument in the Southern Hemisphere.
Collaborators include Tonal Noir from Macedonia and Valentina Veil (VV and the Void) from Berlin. Produced & mixed by Daniel J. Cross at The Pool Room in Melbourne, with string quartet engineered by Jesse Oberin at Crosstown Studios. Mastered by Dav Byrne of Iridium Audio.
Somnambulistic is supported by the City of Melbourne Arts Grants program
Raspberry Vine
Come in, closer. Find that touch, the roughness of the raspberry vine
the line you must follow. Softly, gradually, looping time
twisting sight around the stem, adjusting light with your eyes
Falling and floating away
Focus everything towards the woods
Hold on, with both hands.
Feel the weight pulling you closer and away and away and away
your fingertips are leaves
your stems are growing roots
A million years followed
widely stretching tree
integrate with dirt
sweet and safe to eat
How deep, how low
you will find you know.
You've finally let your raspberry vine arms grow
Lyrics & vocals - Plum Green
Guitar & atmospherics - Daniel Cross
Bass - Duncan Nairn
Pipe Organ - Plum Green & Daniel Cross
EYES SHUT
If you are aware that your mind is open, you may learn some things
it's strong and good to keep it unlocked, make sure that you are listening
First get through the night
you may have to close your eyes
Maybe a lead ball will form inside you, maybe you'll let it weigh you down
the heaviness you wear can haunt you, you may have to put your blinders on
Just close your eyes, and hold them shut tight
keep your eyes shut
You might need to keep them shut
Don't let the view decay you
Don't stare too hard into the light.
Your body will betray you
in order to survive
First get through the night
it's time to close your eyes
keep your eyes shut
we all need to keep them shut
Lyrics & vocals - Plum Green
Vocals & synth - Tonal Noir
Guitar & atmospherics - Daniel Cross
Bass - Duncan Nairn
Pipe Organ - Plum Green & Daniel Cross
WHITE KITTEN
How do I present to you
how do I confess I'm so confused
the wheels spinning
could have gone any way
everything that’s known could have been upside down.
Can I follow you home
I can't be here alone
the walls are listening
and suspicious of me
I'm sifting
through my little mind
nothing seems to dull
my warring rage inside
I'm gathering, and learning
I'm forming events
withheld information is the best form of defence
Can I follow you home
I don't want to be here alone
the world is watching
and conditioning me
Lyrics & vocals - Plum Green
Vocals - Nick Magur
Guitar & atmospherics - Daniel Cross
Pipe Organ - Emily Saeen
GRAVE SNUGGLER
Not to be there, to be loved anyway
to be excused, forgiven anyway
want to lay down low
closed in the ground
not aware of a thing
snuggled up inside
Eyes, don't really see
they're a lens for the mind
I know, it's on fire
everything feels sharp
want to lay down low
closed in the ground
not aware of a thing
snuggled up inside
to see what's going on, to be loved anyway
I see who you are, I love you anyway
Lyrics and vocals - Plum Green
Guitar & atmospherics - Daniel Cross
Bass - Duncan Nairn
Strings - Silo String Quartet
PEOPLE OF THE SNOW
Leaving finally, becoming the soul
seeing clearly a way of flying
Repurposing
a loss of control
We don't need a fireside
we're people of the snow
It grows in our bones
we are fire
Infinite angles
renewed awareness
becoming the soul
people of the snow
Lyrics & vocals - Plum Green
Vocals - Valentina Veil
Guitar & atmospherics - Daniel Cross
Bass - Duncan Nairn
WALK AGAINST THE WIND
We walk against the wind
we swim upstream
we look towards the moon
why move...We don't know
But I know we have to go
On our hands and knees we crawl
he drags my feet
I slide on blankets
slipping, stumbling
But I know we have to go
we both try imagining staying
we gaze into so many pictures
He is seeing trees, green and planting
I am trying not to sink
Pulling at a rope
unbinding our hands
trying all the doors
pushing, testing everything
we walk against the wind
and I know we have to go
the air is moving up the speed
so we know it's time to go
Lyrics & vocals - Plum Green
Guitar & atmospherics - Daniel Cross
Bass - Duncan Nairn
Piano - Ellen Sorensen
MOON OF HONEY
The world is turning again
into a shadowy softness
stone walls are crumbling in
and the stone inside everything
Praying, looking up
into our own sweetness
inviting us to accept the gentle voice calling
The heat is cooling again
the boiling simmers to slow
the moonlight glimmer glow
she empties the room to fill it
Praying, looking up
into our own sweetness
inviting us to accept the gentle voice calling
Lyrics and vocals - Plum Green
Guitar & atmospherics - Daniel Cross
Bass - Duncan Nairn
Silo String Quartet
HERE WE GO
Clicked on
came to
saw through
here we go
We saw
Ourselves
going on
Woke up
saw light
entering
Honed in
caught on
here we go
Right here, right now
we will unfold.
Here we go
Lyrics and vocals - Plum Green
Guitar & atmospherics - Daniel Cross
Bass - Duncan Nairn
Vocals - Ellen Sorensen
Silo String Quartet
BELLEZA NOCTURNA
What's in your smile
what's on your mind
street lamps become the moonlight
It’s hot and it's night
your skin on mine
Belleza Nocturna, beautiful with night
Bare your neck for the kisses
wondering, should I really do this
Show your pain one side at a time
Belleza Nocturna, beautiful with night
Practice your tears, show them your eyes
Dancing for us with the rain coming down
the heart knows to beat, (and stop) precisely on time
Belleza Nocturna, beautiful with night
I have a knife, your arm or mine
your water ways poisoned and flooded with wine
Down where the weather came
up where the weather's high
Belleza Nocturna, beautiful with night
Lyrics & vocals - Plum Green
Vocals - Tonal Noir
Guitar, atmospherics & Bass - Daniel Cross
Pipe Organ - Plum Green & Daniel Cross