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Up The Garden Path!
When they're not out
conquering the world, Savage Garden call their old mates at TV HITS for the goss
on their hot debut album. Singer Darren Hayes takes YOU exclusively through each
track.
Track 1: "To The Moon
& Back"
This was one of the first songs Daniel and I wrote together. It was a
beautiful, space-like instrumental that Daniel had been working on for quite a
while. He showed it to me and I took it away to work on the melody and lyrics.
The song came together very quickly. We recorded the song and included it on our
first demo tape. Thank God we did because it is probably the reason why we got
the record deal. Most people seem to zero in on this song. It is inspired by the
life of a mutual friend. Recording the track for the album was a real challenge
as we had become so attached to the original version that it was hard to be
objective. The album version features members of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra
in the outro sections.
Track 2: "Carry On
Dancing"
The scene is just before midnight ... a full moon at a masquerade ball
... avant-garde strings, timpani and even castanets create the gothic feel of
the song, inspired by Anne Rice's vampire chronicles. The feel is grandiose and
theatrical. We feel this song has a definite sound that we like to think of as
our own. We see this feel creeping up a lot in our new work.
Track 3: "Tears Of
Pearls"
A bittersweet take on the masks and illusions within relationships -
the games we play and the emotions we hide. Originally the song was influenced
by Seal, but the sound soon changed during the recording process. Now it is a
hybrid of influences. If you listen closely you will hear string arrangements
like old Diana Ross & The Supremes records - layered amidst the throbbing bass
and anchored by the almost dance beat.
Track 4:"I Want You"
This song was always a wild card. The original idea was very simple: to
use the voice as a rhythm instrument - cramming in as mnay syllables as possible
into one phrase. Prior to recording the album we had about 40 songs to choose
from. We narrowed down the list to record and came up with 15 tracks. "I Want
You" was on that list but because it existed in a simple rough demo, it was not
an obvious choice. The recording process really bought the song alive. The
simple vocal in the chorus became a bed of 12 voices. Six of Darren and six of
session singers that we sank very low in the mix to give the chorus the thick
layer of vocals that you hear. When we finished recording, this song just jumped
out as our debut single. Lyrically one of the more frantic and nonsensical
things we have ever written, the song is based on a recurring dream.
Track 5: "Truly Madly
Deeply"
A love song in its purest essence. This track was actually written in
the last few weeks of recording and was originally intended to be a subtle,
low-key ending to the album. Charles Fisher's producing and Chris Lord-Alge's
mix really made the song a much stronger statement. Definately a pleasing
surprise for us. One of the few songs that ended up exactly how we imagined it
would.
Track 6: "Violet"
A track which took on another identity during the recording process.
The thick doubled fuzz bass throughout combined with Rex Goh's funk/blues
guitars give this song an almost Prince-like vibe. Lyrically a trance-like
ranting describing a state of mind we would all like to get to at some point ...
the disco inside your head!
Track 7: "All Around
Me"
The most obscure track on the record. A quirky fantasy inspired by
Daniel's obsession with Meg Ryan. Features a high camp rap overflowing with
designer references and Absolutley Fabulous overtones. Definatley the shock
track on the album. We will have a lot of fun doing this one live.
Track 8: "Universe"
During the writing process this song was originally an instrumental
track possibly suited to guitar. We tinkered with it and added a Motown-influenced
melody and the track seems to have taken on a Smokey Robinson feel, worlds away
from where it began, but firmly rooted in the original structure. A sexy groove
cemented by a fantastic mix by Mike Pela.
Track 9: "A Thousand
Words"
One of the two songs about conflict in relationships. This track is a
very personal snapshot of a real life arguement and a play on linguistics and
twisted meanings. The rhythm section of Terapie Richmond and Alex Hewitson take
the track beyond its original Manchester feel and make it alive, grunting and
believable.
Track 10: "Break Me
Shake Me"
Once again dealing with conflict, this track is schizophrenic. The
slick moody bassline and held-back vocal in the verses are in direct opposition
to the intense anger and release of the chorus. Turbulent mood swings and angry
guitar hooks dominate throughout. When Rex Goh played the solo we were jumping
out of our skins. Even though it goes all over the place we felt that the solo
was perfect. It was a single take and was so angry we just had to keep it.
Track 11: "Mine"
This is also one of the first tracks we ever wrote. This song is about
delay. Every instrument is cycling through a delay in its own time, creating a
swirling continuos swell that culminates in the instruments finally locking
together. Lyrically based around the notion of desire so strong and yet so
completely unobtainable.
Track 12: "Santa
Monica"
This track appeared as a bonus track on the "To The Moon & Back"
single. When we released "Moon" we felt that the song had more potential than we
had at first thought. Then when we went to America, the record company fell in
love with the track. It really was written about Santa Monica, about feeling so
out of place in a new city but seeking comfort behind the mask of a telephone.
We were just getting into the Internet and we found it interesting how in
cyberspace you are only as interesting as your mind. You can be anything you
want to be. So sitting in a cafe in Santa Monica on day, this strange thought
came into being. |
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