We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Out

from Orographic by Oceanallover

/

lyrics

Way

The figure stepped forward into a
ladder of sunlight. Below precipital
shoulders a wild and pathless forest
grew with a darkened cleft or ravine at the
North and South faces, filled with
swift water. Seen at a distance, harsh
lines in pinnacular form lifted above
shoulders white with ice - three triangular
massifs, the central piece being the tallest.
Stepping across the landscape the
air around it was meteorological and
thick with a quad of ravens suspended or
pinned in indigo blue air. Above its
knees where the hem of a faded cloak was frayed
like mown hay and small animals waited
in hedged lines, there was a door.
The door from story, the
way in or through or down to where a
deity might reside, or perhaps a worm.
As the figure passed out of the sun’s charity and
into the depths of shade, at that moment before
it could no longer be seen, the door opened.

In

And I ran to where I had seen the opening,
or at least to where I thought it had been
and ran on for many minutes for the
the figure of the mountain had appeared so close.
But the figure had been enormous and
the distances vast; I ran on for more
than a day, but still felt no closer.
Perspectives shifted, unfolding in front and
engulfing to the rear, swallowing my
receding shadow; long where it had
once been short, until I too passed out
of the sun’s charity and was the poorer
for it. I knelt in a bank of tussock,
sinking between the grass heads. Turning
to look back I imagined myself out across
the plain and gazing this way, leaning forward
to gain sight of the giant figure, catching
my breath at what I took to be a door.
And here a ladder of reflected light on my
face, sent this way by a dark peaty pool
ricochetting the final waves. Behind me a flat wall
of stone, grey granite block, and my new shadow a
momentary body in sharp outline upon its surface,
hovering for a moment and becoming intense, a
violet-black opening, a way in, I spin
about while the sun breathes out and dive hands
first into the tunnel.

Side

I saw it from some way off and it was clear
that nothing of me or mine could ever be so massive,
so massed and dense so cracked, worn smashed.
Where the land rose out from black water
I looked but it did not return my gaze,
I walked and it remained.
My legs hurt with effort, pushing the living
over the crystalline, across lignified remains
and volcanic vomit, pressed sand and crustaceans,
mineralities, this can only be the smallest
gesture, my ascent and lying down.
Universe!
I shout up to the openness above
as, for a moment, I become the conductor for a
flash of energy rising out from the mountain head
and crackling upwards and away. My own body
quaking in an ecstasy of clarity.

Out

I’ll take a story from you, hillside;
I’ll make make something from you, something deep
like a door in your foot, a way in.
There will be singing, voices raised
and the gravity of mysteries that erupt
as small flowers around your shoulders.
We will go up with our eyes over and over again
until we live inside the land in our minds.
You will wear clouds on cold days around your neck
and press your head into the blue-black void.

credits

from Orographic, released September 16, 2018
See Album Credits

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Oceanallover image

Oceanallover Scotland, UK

Oceanallover are a dance, design and theatre company making original and exciting new work. We collaborate with a wide range of musicians working across many styles.

contact / help

Contact Oceanallover

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this track or account

If you like Oceanallover, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Fabiana Palladino stops by to talk about her mesmeric debut LP.
listen now