Tempest and Winter

by Jordan Klassen

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about

'This is music built out of pure imagination; with twinkles of xylophone keys and the snapping of fingers to pronounce a beat; with playful whistles that bridge a melody and bashfully plucked strings, Jordan Klassen knows how to craft exquisitely eccentric music. Violins are rolling awake while drowsy piano notes are sustained over the hollow echoes of wine glass sighs. Backup vocals are called out from afar, delicately finger-picked guitars cultivate melodies, feet lash out in earthy thumps. All topped off with the true allure of this artist: his ethereal voice.

Each song is a novel, thoughtfully changing directions in tone and in mood by the addition and subtraction of instruments. While many musicians can be dependent on a multitude of instruments to keep a song full, Klassen's tasteful placement of his musical additions never dominate, but are sparks added to brighten each song. It is a perfect balance, complementary to his hushed voice and wispy guitar.'

-- Penny Szmata, for Calgary Folk Festival

credits

released 04 May 2009
Recorded from summer 2007 to summer 2008 at Public Lunch Studios in Calgary, Alberta.

All songs written, produced and performed by Jordan Klassen.

Co-produced, engineered and mixed by Patrick Palardy.

Mastered by Dave Horrocks.

Photography and Design by Bruce Mans.
Typography by Elizabeth Ashton.

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Track Name: Anatomical Literacy
I am someone beside me with a candle lit
I am someone beside me reading hieroglyph
on a wall in the dark
on the sleeves of a heart
yellow flame twists about
yellow veins crawling, pushing black out

Maggie is making lunch, she points her thumb at me
'There are some things a pushin through the soul of thee!
Little bonds, little strands, arm in arm, hand in hand
there's a code we can see! it is plain as the ease of breath and
why do you see what you see?
you've got all the fate you need'

The far site is a hard sight
sing louder in an oil field by the border

When you woke up beside me you had some to eat
when you woke up beside me I had cleanest feet
and I forfeit my head for a breakfast in bed
I had one, i could be, and the thought of a drive ahead was less
and I'd bet
that you could see
I had all the fate I'd need
Track Name: The Most Bored David Jules Ever Got
Memory finds you on your knees
so solo sang
and you were destined
we were freshmen, mere young men
if talk was cheap we broke our bills
for pocket change
all of last month's wage

India was on your mind
the village square
for a wedding, watered scotch, and some strange dare
oh that boy deserves some rest
some silent soul

He said 'I heard him tell and I didn't breath a word'
He said 'it came right down, my mouth felt so absurd'
He said 'I knew it on the instant, on the sound'
He said 'I heard him tell'

And the rock above the corn
the frank design
Christmas came and went, you cried for too much time
there are things that must be said
and few will rhyme
Track Name: Ask Me Not, Astronaut
one had on the scent of a feast
while we took and left as we pleased
we were in an alley, making our peace
undercover
you can't put fire out by blowing steam

it's been said I took too much time
between two verses looking for rhymes
and you touched my forehead
and pressed a cold cloth
I felt in flames
the sweat came and went
but mostly came

please speak soft, little stranger
because it's all the rest I know
crush that head, little lover
just don't ask me to let go

I keep hearing and keep breathing in
the softest sounds, the most tasteless wind
and I keep getting scared by the allure of space
cause he's there, i know it!
and you are here, in this perfect place

please speak soft, little stranger
because it's all the rest I know
crush that head, little lover
just don't ask me to let go
it's too much to let it go
coming back and forth and slow
please don't ask me to let go
Track Name: Hot Ashes
Oh, my love
you have won me over
with hot ashes
they burn my eyelids
gone, gone are the days
when I bowled you over
with intention so gray