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Between Blood and Ocean

by Courtney Swain

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l_o_n_g
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l_o_n_g Take that, vaporwave. Favorite track: Snowflakes.
carmmo
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carmmo so inspired, so edgy. after my first listen I thought 'i can't wait to hear this again' Favorite track: Black Sheep.
Brent Linaweaver
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Brent Linaweaver White Trees and Sand Angels are two of the most beautiful songs I've heard in recent memory in addition to the album as a whole. Favorite track: Sand Angels.
oofle
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oofle Hard to pick with track is my favorite. Changes through each listen.

I'd Kill, Don't look at me, Black Sheep are probably the three that fight for #1 the most.

But I love Courtney's voice and the great variety in the types of music that come with her albums.

Favorite track: Don't Look At Me.
Zhant
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Zhant Courtney's finest solo album yet (which is actually a group effort, as various related artists collaborate troughout the album), in my opinion. Great composition, musicianship and production, as expected, with a bigger emphasis on arrangement and nice variety. Every single track is great, so it's hard to pick a favorite. Favorite track: Silver Needle of Pine.
munstopher5
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munstopher5 One of the best albums I've heard all year. Gorgeous melodies, runs the gamut from catchy hooks to deeply-felt existential ballads, and lyrically some of the best poetry I've heard in ages. Simply incredible. Favorite track: Hekla.
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1.
Uranium City 04:07
Muted blue shadows in gentle lines Cobblestone of frozen land Dragging pasty brush strokes along the plains Fractured ice with omens peeking behind Uranium city How much longer do we have Uranium city How far do we have to go Are we going East or West I don't know I've lost track of when to open eyes And when to close Just another crack in my peeling heart Uranium city How much longer do we have Uranium city How far do we have to go And we're seeing from a bird's eye view That keeps us entertained And we're trying not to look at things That stir up the set There is so much empty land If only we could brave the cold But our courage fogs up With all the feelings we held back Are we going East or West I don't know I've lost track of when to open eyes And when to close How much longer do we have How far do we have to go
2.
Sweet Snow 04:52
Branches grow From our tongues They weave a shade From the sun Slip the children Into frost Lean on twigs Make 'em snap Snow fall like sugar White out our vision so we can see What's closest to us That we never learned to love enough The single mistakes Trivial like the snowflakes on your tongue If they were so sweet We'd never ask for spring again
3.
I'd Kill 03:05
White plastic salty slick Groped by half the world Heads hum unslept, unrest Wings folded sideways Haven't seen them spread in years Where's the exit to this pack house I'd kill to carry what you have I'd kill to flush my cheeks rose I'd kill to waddle like a cow I'd kill to grow another Masochistic fairy tales we're bred to believe I'm a princess past her shelf life If I see another girl showing off her precious pea Imma snap and go pick a fight, like "What did you do that I didn't do to deserve meaning in this crowded swamp?" I don't wanna go home every night trying to believe All alone, maybe I'm better off I'd kill to carry what you have I'd kill to flush my cheeks rose I'd kill to waddle like a cow I'd kill to grow another half
4.
Train tracks shriek as we round the curve Doors glide wide open to another birth Of the same old day being part of the herd Step tight one foot in front of the other Suit, tie, right style, let go of the rudder We'll beat the sunrise by the time we boot Don't look at me All the white elephants got together To build this ship so let go of the rudder What's one more day missing out on the sun Your dreams called, said they can't wait any longer They found someone else who's a better lover So get back to work, go crunch some numbers Don't look at me You're not one of us
5.
Snowflakes 04:19
In that moment I stopped being afraid I could turn off the light because I knew That you're in the shadows waiting for me And the moonlight's enough to guide my way I'll grow stronger so I stand tall Tall enough to reach the tip of your tongue You needn't say more than trace the shapes 'Cause I'll be able to make out the rest Snowflakes dance alone in the night Gently pulsating with star light From now on the door's ajar I've learned it's easier to accept The wind take me away to a new place Snowflakes dance alone in the night Gently pulsating with star light As the dawn breaks they kiss the ground A carpet of love for where you stand Snowflakes dance alone in the night
6.
Every day in the dim lit room He felt her skin turn white Cold and moist like dead fish Staring out of tarnished water He cast is line To bring her back to her mind Silver needle of pine Tapped above her lip Am I ready to go You're not ready to go Her static breath began to hum Soon rushing out in song Then tumbled out a skull-full of tears Was it joy or something wrong The agony of waking up the dead Silver needle of pine Tapped above his lip I'm ready for you to go It's too late to go
7.
Hekla 04:09
Black triangle spears the mist Congealing in and out of lore There's nothing left on the scarred ground All painted ash in this empty field Angry red torrents Wiping clear all in its path I'll be hear 'til the end Worshipping the slopes Watch it dominate the landscape Even the wind treads lightly Silence ringing in our ears Waking the whispers In broad daylight A doomed servant with no front or back An incoherent dragon foaming at the mouth There's no one left to howl or gasp So I'm kicking 'round the blame in this empty field Oh Hekla Are you smiling or just scowling Or just a pile of rocks I'm skeptical but not faint hearted Dominate the landscape Even the wind treads lightly Silence ringing in our ears Waking the whispers In broad daylight
8.
Black Sheep 03:14
I woke up feeling like I missed the memo The trees were done-up for a party in white The glare off of the immaculate blanket Reveals the baggage inside I keep circling around To see if the trouble's still there It's been couch surfing in my head I wish I could melt into the landscape But black sheep can't hide in snow I tried so hard to make amends But black sheep can't hide in snow I think I'm sick from all the feelings I chugged I'm weeping into my tea What do you do when you've done terrible things Should I check WebMD? I keep circling around To see if the trouble's still there It's been couch surfing in my head I wish I could melt into the landscape But black sheep can't hide in snow I tried so hard to make amends But black sheep can't hide in snow There's no way out of here unscathed 'Cause black sheep can't hide in snow I tried so hard to make amends I'll trek out to the snowy docks To contemplate my life And when the frostbite feels too real I'll head back inside
9.
White Trees 03:36
Every time I hold you i'm obsessed Dazzled by the flashing red lights Clamoring my mind I hit a wall Of amnesia As every thought flies into the cloud Thousand pupils blazing wide Exploding black rings Fireworks, lightning Frozen in white trees This morning I opened you all the way up Emasculate your sweetest voice that pulls me back Floating in glass, divine deisgn How did I? Ever live without you by my side Thousand pupils blazing wide Exploding black rings Fireworks, lightning Frozen in white trees Stereocilia locked in frenzy Intoxicating dreams Acid rain, hurricane Frozen in white trees I can see the world in your eyes Hold still while I reach inside
10.
11.
Sand Angels 06:49
Ten fingers from the dusk The sun's turning the West white So strange A day alone feels like an age In other people's arms The wave's footprints are soft Meander like my thoughts Shipwrecks and wrath are out at sea While playful tongues are lapping at feet I'm spreadeagle on the beach I wish that you were here But I'm learning to be selfish All by myself Drawing angels in the sand No words will make it past The wind's heavy-handed laugh The breeze and the sand and sea and sky Have nowhere to be And no given time I'm spreadeagle on the beach I wish that you were here But I'm learning to be selfish All by myself Drawing angels in the sand

credits

released May 1, 2019

Written by Courtney Swain
Produced by Vince Welch
Engineered by Bradford Krieger at Big Nice Studio, and Dave Minehan at Woolly Mammoth Sound
Mastered by Randy Roos at Squam Sound
Artwork by Chisato Tanaka
Album layout by Scott Siskind

Courtney Swain - voice, piano, keyboards
Asher Kurtz - guitar
Jed Lingat - bass
Kyle Harris - drums
Tim Doherty - guitar on Sweet Snow

The songs on this album were written on Martha’s Vineyard during a residency awarded by the Turkey Land Cove Foundation. Thank you for the incredible opportunity.
Thank you: Vince, for all the hours you spent on this and for believing in me. Asher, Jed, Kyle, and Tim, for bring these songs to life. Brad, for all the fun we had making this record. Josh, for letting us come over to record your Prophet. My family and friends for their love and support. Chisato Tanaka, Kazuki Saito, and Riki Nitabaru for sharing their worlds with me to create the artwork and visuals for this album.

Thank you to all my patrons for their generosity. Stefan Hagen, Andy Swain, Brad Smith, Peter Lazzarino, Elena Mertus, Clare Jones, Andrew King, Luciano Senes, Michelle Monette, Clay Walnum, Sam Downey, Jarod Fedele, Scotty Quill, Sigurd Skjeggestad Dale, halfleanred, Oliver Rose, Michael Berg, Childish Japes, Michael Roberson, Sam Braun, Steve Hardy, Fred Lessing, Daniel Baisi Hadad, Andrew Clark, Jefferson Ogata, Glenn Hughes, Dan Vado, Ben Levin, Jean-Luc Putaux, Leonard Trinceri, Vince Welch, Justice Cow, Charlie Giargiari, Paul Crane, Dustin Benton, Shahar Zivan, Daniel Jarvis, Rolf Kjellby, Make Weird Music, Sergey Goncharov, Andy Mallaby, Jacob Mreen, Hugo Maurier, Avery Escobedo, SKuby, Tommy Guerin, Victoria, Cole McBreen, Feron, Stephane Montgomery, and Nick Stevens.

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Courtney Swain Providence, Rhode Island

“A gorgeous blend of overwhelming vocal talent, modern keyboard techniques, and contemporary sophistication.”
— New England Noise

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