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The Salmon (Digital Single)

by Pairdown

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about

The b-side to lead single "70s Bert" is the tale of “The Salmon” and his blind muse. Like the species of fish, the song’s human namesake and narrator appears to behave involuntarily.  His re-reading of old letters sets off an impulsive journey to reunite with their author.  Escaping peril, the two reach the far north, where migrating starlings fill the sky in unison movement in a phenomenon called the “black sun.”  The three-part song structure also mimics the life cycle of salmon: from origins in freshwater streams, to maturity in the open sea, to remigration back to the streams for spawning.  The third movement of the piece features a sonic collage of bowed gongs, submerged cymbals and clustered guitar chords that evoke the remigration before a coda brings the song full circle.

lyrics

An old letter that you wrote to me
Is folded in my hand, when I reach to ring
Peel your skin from the Naugahyde
I’ve come calling one last time

Tell me, without making lectures, what you’ve seen
The “promised land” you speak of, is there room there for me?
The bell sounds again
We’re long gone when the bear crashes in

“Describe it to me!”
A black sun made of starlings in the northern sky
On the edge of town, each year around this time
What spurs them, no one can divine

A traveler stands, caught in his tracks
And frames the spectacle on his display
With uncovered hands, turning red in the wind
That brings the tap-tapping from your cane

You mainstreamed and were unsure what to do
I was the first to approach and speak to you
Now cover up my meal, pull your letters from the drawer
Spellbound, with my duffel, through the door

credits

released September 2, 2016
David Leicht - acoustic guitar, vocals
Raymond Morin - acoustic guitar, electric guitar, vocals
Sue Powers - banjo, vocals
Jeff Berman - drums, percussion

Recorded by Jay Dudt at Audible Images, with additional recording by David Bernabo

Mastered by Peter Fletcher

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Pairdown Pittsburgh

The sound of Pairdown combines a keen focus on guitar interplay with a songwriting sense that strives to be at once harmonically and melodically challenging, while also retaining its rhythmic buoyancy and a wry sense of humor.

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