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Conflagration Vespers

by The Craig Torso Show

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1.
Hope Deferred 03:23
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望をかけて／Hope Deferred 君と出会って パンチを一発 顔に食らったみたいだった そのことに感謝し 僕は心を開く 気持が高ぶって とても声にだせない 胸にずっと抱えてきたことだけど 言えなかったんだ 今まで それぞれの言語で 見つけてみせる ぴったりの言葉を 距離という制約のせいで 僕らには常に半日のずれがつきまとう なぜかわからないけど わかってもらえる気がする すべてが変わること ここから始まることを いつまででも 君の瞳を見ていたい そこに宿る魔法が これからどうなるのかを なにもかも 知ってたことが すっかりひっくり返されてしまった 今夜は 眠ろう 君が変えた星明かりのもとで Meeting you hit me like a punch in the face For which I am thankful, I am open to Graces A feeling so great, never uttered aloud I've carried this forever but I couldn't say it until now Through different tongues I will try to find the appropriate words the tyranny of distance means we're always a half day apart Though I can't say why, I feel that somehow you'll understand How everything is changed and that this is where it starts I could spend a lifetime looking into your eyes And the magic living there will do what it will do Everything I've known has been forever altered Tonight I will sleep beneath starlight bent by you
2.
I Saw Your Eyes in the Sky 02:44
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君の瞳が空に／I Saw Your Eyes in the Sky 歩きながら 君のことを 考えてると 君の瞳が 空に浮かんだ 今夜は 誰かの愛に 包まれていてほしい だってほら いつも 僕がそうしてきただろ 電話をとって 君の番号をダイアルする ２回 呼出音を鳴らし 電話を切った 独りでいるなら まだ寂しくないかもしれない 君はそれをよくわかってる 僕なんかよりも 君の瞳が 空に浮かんだ 見つめても 教えてくれない 今夜 寂しいかなんて 車を運転しながら 君のことを考えてると 君の瞳が 空に浮かんだ 陽が昇るにつれ 君は徐々に消えていき 朝は ゆっくりと 過ぎていった 電話をとって 君の番号をダイアルする ２回 呼出音を鳴らし 電話を切った 独りになって 寂しく 夢見がちになった 君から 電話してくれたらいいのに 君の瞳が 空に浮かんだ 見つめても 教えてくれない 今夜 寂しいかなんて I took a walk and I thought about you I saw your eyes in the sky I hope tonight you have somebody's love You know you always had mine I picked the phone up and dialed your number I hung up after two rings If you're alone you may still not be lonely You'd know that better than me I saw your eyes in the sky They didn't say if you were lonely tonight I took a drive and I thought about you I saw your eyes in the sky The sun was rising and you faded away The morning slowly slipped by I picked the phone up and dialed your number I hung up after two rings I was alone waxing lonely and poetic I wish you'd telephone me I saw your eyes in the sky They didn't say if you were lonely tonight
3.
Adamant Shoulders 02:03
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堅固な肩／Adamant Shoulders 暗黒が 地平線を覆い 不幸を予感させる 男らが 傘を盾に さしている 誰にもわからない これから起こることは 明日に もたらされるものが 言いしれぬ喜びや 例えようもない恐怖なら 立ち向かうがいい 断固として 揺るぎなく 世界がもたらす すべての重みが 美しく 堅固な 肩にのしかかる 遅いんだ 僕が倒れてからでは いいかい 僕は全力を尽くしてる 山であれ谷であれ 何であれ 与えてくれないか 君の暖かさ 勇気を 君の強さ ユーモアを そしたら そっくりそのまま お返しをする 立ち向かうがいい 断固として 揺るぎなく 世界がもたらす すべての重みが 美しく 堅固な 肩にのしかかる There's a darkness on the horizon that portends misfortune There are men opening umbrellas ahead We can't tell what might be unfolding If tomorrow will bring us unspeakable joy or some unnamed dread You stand intent, unwavering The weight of all the world can bring Borne on shoulders lustrous and adamantine It's too late to keep me from falling I'll tell you I'm all in for the heights and the depths of whatever may be Send me your warmth and your courage , your strength and your humor And all of the same you will get from me You stand intent, unwavering The weight of all the world can bring Borne on shoulders lustrous and adamantine
4.
Strange Powers 02:03
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不思議な力 観覧車のうえから コニーアイランドを眺めてる タイの夜の女たちより 数多くある 星の下で 僕らの髪は宙を舞い 唇は綿菓子で青く染まる キスをかわすと 空飛ぶ円盤が 着地するような気分 なのに眠れない 君に不思議な力があるせいで 夢の中の君は 不思議な力を持ってる ラスベガスでは 電気代が とんでもないことになってる 奇抜な装飾に サッカリンのような甘ったるいショー なんという黄金時代 もっともな理由がまかりとおる すばらしき時代 消費者が王様で 不幸は反逆罪 なのに眠れない 君に不思議な力があるせいで 夢の中の君は 不思議な力を持ってる 太陽は 蜂蜜のように垂れ落ち 月は 水銀のように流れ落ち 星は 金貨のように降りそそぐ ようやく 君は戻ってくる なのに眠れない 君に不思議な力があるせいで 夢の中の君は 不思議な力を持ってる だから眠れないんだ On the Ferris wheel looking out on Coney Island Under more stars than there are prostitutes in Thailand Our hair in the air, our lips blue from cotton candy When we kiss it feels like a flying saucer landing And I can't sleep. 'cause you have strange powers You're in my dreams, strange powers In Las Vegas where the electric bills are staggering The decor hog wild and the entertainment saccharine What a golden age, what time of right and reason The consumer is king and unhappiness is treason And I can't sleep, 'cause you have strange powers You're in my dreams, strange powers The sun falls down like honey The moon pours down like mercury The stars fall down like money And you come back to me And I can't sleep, 'cause you have strange powers You're in my dreams, strange powers And I can't sleep
5.
Thief in the Night 02:06
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夜の恋泥棒／Thief in the Night 朝からずっと 君はぼんやりしてる 恋の病いに効く薬はない 誰もいないオフィスで 君は仕事をして暇をつぶす 居残りしてるあいだ 世間の人たちは恋に落ちてる 帰れば 独り 深夜番組を見る 夜どおし 泣いても 誰も君を抱きしめてくれない 昼は安全 愛をすべて閉じこめてるから でも こっそり 君の心に忍びこむ 得意とするところだ 僕は愛の錠前師 夜の恋泥棒 はっとさせ ハートを奪う 暗闇の悪党 君は気持ちを隠すけど 君が欲しいんだ 月曜から金曜まで働き 土曜の夜になれば 君も恋に落ちるだろう 好きな男がいればね でも 僕が這入りこむ 君の心の奥へ 賭けてみよう 僕に決まってる 君が欲しいのは 僕は 夜の恋泥棒 はっとさせ ハートを奪う 暗闇の悪党 君は気持ちを隠すけど 君が欲しいんだ All day you dream there is no cure for romance The empty office, you work to occupy the time While you stay late the world is falling in love You fade away and watch the late show alone All night you cry, you've got no one in your arms By day you're safe, you've got your love all locked up But I'll sneak in and use my cat burglar touch My specialty, I am the locksmith of love Thief in the night Take your breath away, steal your heart Rogue in the dark Hide your feelings, but it's you I want All week you work and then it's Saturday night You'd be in love if there was someone you liked But I'll break in the secret place in your heart And take a chance that I'm the one who you want Thief in the night Take your breath away, steal your heart Rogue in the dark Hide your feelings but it's you I want
6.
You're Still Blushing 01:31
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君は顔を赤らめたまま／You're Still Blushing 夜に入っていくと 木々が 横向きになぎ倒され 星は 近づき 天体は ひときわ輝いている すべてがつながり 一生懸命 生きている 信じてる 愛が 君との距離を 埋めてくれると 大陸も海も ひとまたぎで 越えられると 言葉の壁が 君の眼差しから 消えていき 年月が 過ぎた月日を感じさせない 今という光のもとで どうすれば 伝えられるだろう 君への気持ちのすべてを 月に歌いかけてみよう すべきことを わかってるから Step into the night to the trees blown sideways The stars somehow closer and the brightest of moons Everything connected, alive and striving In the belief love can bridge the distance to you A continent and an ocean spanned in a stride The limits of language fall away in your eyes Years lose their meaning in the light of right now How do I tell you everything that I have for you? I will sing it to the moon It will know what to do
7.
Noah Fents (faults and virtues) 02:57
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悪気はない（過ちと愛の効力）／Noah Fents (faults and virtues) 隠し事はしない 見え透いた （君が訊ねるから） 正直なところ まったく動揺していない 「歩み寄ってもいい」って 君が言ってくれさえすれば その言葉だけで 僕は満足する 君がしなくちゃならないのは 場所を決めることだけ ふたりが向かう先を さあ言葉を胸に 踊ろう とまどい気味の天使たちが 歌ってるあいだ...... 現実主義者なら 懐疑的になって 決めつけるだろう 愛とは不条理なものと けど 愛について これがいちばん説得力をもっている 僕にわかることでね 愛は どんな障害も乗り越え 謙虚にさせ 心の糧となり 気持を明るくさせる 愛さえあれば 開けられる ふたりの間に引かれたカーテンを ランチをしながらでは時間が足りない うまくいかない理由を あれこれ話し合おうとしても ひょっとして 君はディナーまで居つづけるかもしれない...... I am an open book in a dead language (since you asked) Truth be told, it doesn't faze me in the least If you said that you'd be willing to meet me halfway The declaration would mean everything to me All you have to do is name the place from where we will embark We'll dance with words while addled cherubs sing... The pragmatic would be skeptical and label love absurd But that's one of the most compelling things about it I can see Love laughs at any obstacle, humbles, feeds, illuminates It's the only thing that will lift the curtain between you and see There isn't enough time over lunch to discuss all the reasons why this shouldn't work Perhaps you'll stay for dinner...
8.
In Utsunomiya 02:20
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宇都宮で／In Utsunomiya 穴を掘ろう ここに ぜんぶ埋めてしまえるだけの 苦しめられた何もかも すべての誤り 後悔 心配ごとを ふたりで 背負っているものの 重みに耐えていく 乗り越えてきた あらゆる厄介ごとを みんな落として 地面にふりまく あとは 新しいものに変わるのを見守り それらを放りこんで 土をかぶせる あとは 自然にまかせる 黙とうを捧げて 過去を振り返り ともに 夕日を拝もう 君と出会ってから 何をすべきか わかってきた 考えに賛成してくれるなら 君にだって もちろんそうするさ ふたりで経験してきた すべての苦労が 僕らを方向づけ 進む道を教えてくれた 道は険しかったけど 行く先に導いてくれ こうしていま ふたり向かい合っている 大地から 新たに芽生えつつあったものが いっきに花を咲かせた 僕らの目の前で 黙とうを捧げて これからに思いを馳せ ともに 日の出を拝もう Let's dig a hole that's big enough To bury all that we need to here Everything that ever caused us pain Every misstep, regret and fear We'll take the weight of what we're carrying All the shit that we've both been through We'll shed it all and plant it in the ground And watch it turn into something new We'll toss them in and cover them with dirt And let nature do the rest A moment of silence to recollect And together we'll watch the sunset Since I met you I've become aware Of what it is that I need to do If you're up for what I have in mind I will surely do the same for you Every hardship that we've ever known has helped to shape us and informed our way The paths were hard but they led us To where we're standing face to face today Something new, springing from the earth Will burst and bloom before our eyes A moment of silence to anticipate And together we'll watch the sunrise
9.
Conflagration Vespers 02:35
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愛の祈り／Conflagration Vespers 君はいつでも 心がわかる 人生経験を積んできた人のね ある者は ひねくれ 疲れ切り 弱々しくなり ある者は 現実から逃げ 踏みだそうとしなくなる 失敗することになるという 不安から ある者は 確信する気持ちを 深めるようになる 何を求め 何を拒むのかという めったにないけど ありのままを 上手く見分けられることなんて 君はやってみたいことを なぜ見つけられるのだろう 喜びのためだろうか 繋がりという お返しの贈り物を見る 理由を知るためだろうか 会えない時間が ともに過ごせる意味を際だたせる 時は 幅や深みや高みを与える 君が感じているすべてのものに 伝えようとしてることは 僕の愛は 計り知れないっていうことなんだ You can always tell a heart that's been around the block Some grow cynical, jaded or frail Some withdraw behind walls never venturing out From a fear that they're destined to fail Some emerge with a heightened sense of clarity Of what they want and what they won't abide As rare as it is to ever get it right How you know that you're wanting to try For the joy to behold the reciprocal gift of connection To know how absences sharpen how much the presences meant Time will add breadth, height and depth to everything that you're feeling What I'm trying to let you know is My love is immense
10.
On Obsession 03:32
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諦めきれなくて/On Obsession   もし　主張できなければ 君の名前を言うとき　口ごもるなら　 わかるだろう　恥ずかしいんだって 情けないんだ　すっかり心を奪われて　 たぶん　僕はなんの魅力もないだろう　 君にはもう　以前にも増してさ だけど　君は僕の琴線に触れたまま 心の奥に居すわってる　 君のことが頭から離れない　最高の君も　 最悪な君も　ほかのどんな君も　 苦しみ　悦びをもたらす　 君のことばかり考えてる すべてが遊びだったと言っても　 元へは戻せない　済んでしまったことは　 だから　終わらせる　君がやりはじめたことを　 執着に身をまかせ 君は南からやって来た　ほふり場に引かれて行く子羊のように 君の名前を口にすると　渇きが癒やされる　水のように 野獣はより野獣らしく　星は天空により広がるように それに　君はますます美しくなる なぜだかわかんないけど　そうなるんだ　 君のことが頭から離れない　最高の君も　 最悪な君も　ほかのどんな君も　 苦しみ　悦びをもたらす　 君のことばかり考えてる どうしたら　弱くも強くも　いられるだろう 完全に正しいのに　まだ間違ってるなんて 歌じゃあ説明がつかないんだ 頭がいっぱいなせいで If I cannot stake a claim If I stammer when I say your name You can put it down to shame The shame of my obsession Maybe I am nothing more To you now than I was before But you have touched the very core The core of my obsession Obsessed with you, the best of you The worst and all the rest of you I am cursed and blessed with you You are my obsession To say that it was all in fun cannot undo what we have done So finish what you have begun Surrender to obsession You came from the south like a lamb to the slaughter Your name in my mouth quenches thirst like water Beast becomes more bestial Stars seem more celestial And you become more beautiful Though I'm damned if I understand how that's possible Obsessed with you, the best of you The worst and all the rest of you I am cursed and blessed with you You are my obsession How can I be both weak and strong Completely right and still so wrong I can't explain it in a song Blame it on obsession Blame it on obsession On obsession
11.
The Work of an Astronomer 03:23
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天文家の役まわり／The Work of an Astronomer 失敗に賭けよう 苦難の旅に そうでなければ 別の苦労話の 合唱に加わろう 君が考えてる旅は 始めるには 危険すぎる 真心を持った人が ナビゲートしてくれないと時間をくれないか 納得させられるだけの 位置を確かめ 僕が道案内役を買ってでるって 屋上からの眺めは レンズに焦点を合わせたから はっきりしてきても 目的地までは程遠いんだ 世界が回るのを止めてしまう 君が意志を通せば 重荷から解放され 宇宙へ飛び立とうよ 時間をくれないか 納得させられるだけの 位置を確かめ 僕が道案内役を買ってでるって Make book on our missteps, a journey in a bind Or join the chorus of another tale in hard time The trip you are contemplating is too grave to undertake Without a true heart to help you navigate Could you find the time to make some sense of this Help me get my bearings, be my astronomical fix The view from my rooftop as I focus in the lens Is clearer to me but I'm no closer to the end You'd stop the world from turning if you had your way Freed from what weighs us down, we'd go flying off into space Could you find the time to make some sense of this Help me get my bearings, be my astronomical fix.

about

This album's origins can be traced to March 26, 2021- a particularly wind blown and starry night of revelation that culminated with me standing in the middle of a field singing my heart out to the moon. The first song had arrived-suddenly and had not only announced it's presence but declared," I'm just the advance scout. There's more on the way and yes, you have to do this". Subsequent songs often arrived at odd hours. When a song shows up on your doorstep at 2 AM, you don't tell it to come back at a more reasonable hour, you thank it for arriving and invite it in. These past months it feels like I've been living inside this album and I have to say that it's been a pretty wonderful place to be, Sleeping, eating, drinking, exercise and writing habits have all been altered-I thought for this album, but having finished it I can see that this is who I am and how I need to live. The album brought me here.
I'd like to thank some insanely talented friends without whom this wouldn't have happened- Oliver Ignatius for his production, arranging and multi instrumental expertise. He had a huge amount to do with how good this album sounds. Zac Coe for his wonderful drumming throughout. My damfino brother in arms Joel Bachrach for the lovely piano on "Adamant Shoulders" , former bandmates/ collaborators Citizen K, Marc Garella and Cindi Merklee who made their presence felt. Bill Merklee for the perfect graphics to go along with the music, Nancy Friedland for permission to use her beautiful painting for the cover, Wyatt O'Connell for his ongoing animated adventures and Rieko Adachi for her scholarship and insight in translation. This was a labor of love from start to finish and I couldn't be happier to let it out into the world .
Joe Merklee
Dumont, New Jersey
January 1, 2022

credits

released January 1, 2022

Produced and engineered by Oliver Ignatius at Holy Fang
Arranged by the Craig Torso Show:

Joel Bachrach- piano on "Adamant Shoulders"
Zac Coe- drums
Oliver Ignatius- bass, guitars, organs, pianos, mellotron, tambourine, shakers, hand claps and vocals
Joe Merklee- guitars, mellotron, harmonium, shruti box, tanpura, gong, shahi Baja, electric sitar, hand claps and vocals

Songs written by Joe Merklee except-
"I Saw Your Eyes in the Sky" by Citizen K
"Strange Powers" by Stephin Merritt (Magnetic Fields)
"Thief in the Night"by Citizen K and Joe Merklee
"On Obsession" by Peter Blegvad
"The Work of an Astronomer" by Marc Garella, Cindi Merklee and Joe Merklee

Design - Bill Merklee
Cover-"I wish I didn't miss you" by Nancy Friedland (nancyjanefriedland.com)
Animation- Wyatt O'Connell (facebook.com/HaywireInk)
Translation- Rieko Adachi

Contact:
Email-jemerklee@gmail.com
Bandcamp-TheCraigTorsoShow.bandcamp.com
Facebook.com/TheCraigTorsoShow

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The Craig Torso Show Dumont, New Jersey

The Craig Torso Show is a studio project by Joe Merklee (damfino) , Oliver Ignatius ( Holy Fang) and whoever else we can enlist to the cause. The debut album Estonian Breakfast Strategies also features drummers Steve Bartashev and Andrew Feyer.
The second album Conflagration Vespers also features drummer Zac Coe and pianist Joel Bachrach. ... more

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