“XMAS NOIR”

An Extended Play audio release by Clivey MacDougall


Well well well. Who would have thought it? It`s only going on a year , “well according to what we have been getting told”, since the world as we knew it disappeared into a fog-bank with absolutely no guarantee to ever fully come out the other side intact.

"Perhaps it`s the seed-shift the world has been crying out for as a natural counteraction to the mass consumerism of the recent 21st century"? Or perhaps "it`s a load of bollocks and we need to get back to where we left off" ?

Well , that's not up to me , and as a simple songbasher I can only attempt to convey my experience in the hope someone finds it mildly amusing. or even just has a listen Truth be told.

I`ve also put a few lyrics up just in case you can`t make me out.

Anyway. This free to Listen and to Download festive release " Selection Box" full of non sticky pop, rock ,disco and Latino diversity and variety, which I will call “my gift to you” is my 4th of the year following on from “ One way System “ et al, But anyway. They are all on my bandcamp page.

It`s also a first for me and perhaps my last ever Xmas record and I have attempted to mix it up in the genre dept , offering up a mixed very virtual socially remote “office party” buffet. Including such snacks as.


“Down to you.” Is basically the blame game in a rock format and you are free to use it. “It's now yours remember”, however you like, and also about whoever you like too. It's flexible you see . Like socks. So it also doubles as a guilt song for these times when you absolutely know that it was “down to you”.


A “party banger” in the form of.

“Bendoon and tie yer shoelaces Doll”. A Europop / Reggaeton Hybrid utilizing my very dodgy 32 bit autotune vst plugin and really a huge Karma warning about not being too much of an arse or overly uppity and supercilious. “Just in case mind”. “Karma comes along and bites you” , meaning that. You just cant make the payments any more. 90 short days?

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LYRICS

"You think that your doin well, bucking trends life so swell
fancy car fancy house and job kids schooling with the rest of the snobs
Rah rah rah girls n boys Oh so lovely ,don't go near them it's so ugly
cross the road honey we don't carry money
look at the jakies they're so funny.

You better ben down and tie yer shoelaces doll otherwise your gonna trip up and fall
Don't get too cocky and watch yer step bunny tip on a kerb end in the gutter pal."
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“Move Along”. “Fancy a nice samba round the tree with your partner”, is my first ever self penned bossanova song. I am at a bit of an advantage or say home turf here in not only being a very longtime Jobim / Stan Getz freak, but also in kinda having paid my dues to this genre playing on streets, beaches, welsh-pubs etc. etc, all over the place.

This is not a typical “bossa” however and it is a dark song reflecting it's location and timing. I try to get this across in the lyrics. I would imagine that many have at the very least shared in these experiences whilst at the same time hoping that things returned back to something that at least feels secure.
The Animal sound effect was “this animal” through a pitch-shifter.


LYRICS

I can see the end the end is comin into sight
December 2020 got this song to write
about this year it`s behind us alright
about this myth of a miracle of light
gonna make a festive record sing it round a pagan tree
I won`t mention that word coz it don`t matter to me
I really cant afford the resources to spare
It`s not that I don`t love you babe it`s not that I don`t care

No Navidad no joy to the earth pretty well no hope coz your not here
I won`t be wishing feliz ano nuevo this year No mistletoe dear
No snow only a hard hard sleet falls here that cuts through the layers like a razor it tears
and exposes the fear exposes the fear
It`s going to take more than one rewrite here.


Please please move along theres no vaccine here

I used to think I had too much time on my hands
I was wrong about that theres a burning in my glands
An ache in the bones this night so damp and cold
just get me home safe thats a gift truth be told
The streets at night are nowhere to be now
and if you listen you`ll here the wolfs howl
and it freezes the marrow as they crave the bone
your cash wallet or your phone
Oh god get me home oh god get me home
I hear the pack come


Please please move along theres naught to see here
Please please move along theres no vaccine here


I can see the light form coming into sight
blurred through the mist of this terrible night
Perhaps he`ll stop perhaps he`ll go
they do that for fun or so I`ve been told
Will you be pinning a wreath to your door
welcome infected carol singers you`ll never know
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“Dat Ol Chesnut”

I just could not do a straight version of this. Nor would have I wanted to so instead I recruit a few imaginary friends in the form of "Kitty" and the "Sali Mali thub tumpers" to give this the full Edinburgh winterfest appeal. Gilbert and Sullivan meets Ivor C meets 2 Ronnie's Xmas special I hope.

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"Meet With A Smile" by "Clivey and the Queer St Band" is defo AOR thats Amerikan Orientad Rock folks yes that uncool place that invented santa is to blame for this so I hope they are happy with themselves. Nuff said.
Anyway its a song about missing something and someone a lot and Yes the wide river is the Forth where else could it be? Bollullo Beach?

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Lyrics

I`m still waitin to see if I'm getting out of this alive
Y know I've been making these plans all along
Heart is aching – oh selfish me
I need to put my troubles aside
These ol hands of mine get more worn and torn each day
I really want to jack this work and just go away
There's a haar fog on the river tonight and I just can`t see through to the other side
it`s too far and wide so far and wide


I'm rememberin all the times
these long long soft warm nights
just lying out on the tiles
Walking walking we walked miles and miles
Everyone ya meet with a smile


Oh I'm going back to that and that's a simple statement of fact or a final act a final act.
Back to the Bollullo beach before
It's outa reach so so so far
Ya need to know. It`s time to go

I've got this ticket with my name on it
That you sent to me a while ago
back when back when it really mattered
Now it don't matter if I stay or go
Coz your not there oh no oh no no no

So these old arms of mine will hold you oh so so so tight
when I dream at night you`ll still be mine

I`ll still remember much better times
when you`d always meet me with a smile
meet me with a smile

So these old arms of mine will hold you oh so so so tight
when I dream at night

Meet me with a smile

- - - - - - - - -


"S****t S***a"

Ho Ho Not.. I started this in the hope It would make it in time for release and it's worked out as dark Noir as intended.
So many influences at work here Back to proggy roots for sure, but even further back into boyhood of late 60`s.
Really should not be attempting this kind of thing as I don`t have the gear or ability but what the hang.

LYRICS

Are you a giver a taker a maker or a breaker a Dandy runner Beano faker
Shapeshifter Groomed Skirtlifter Gumspitting karma drifter
All these things you are to me ,they warned me years ago but I declined to see
You cant see the truth if your mind aint free
And your still all that matters to me

Wrap me up tie me up tape me down drag me around
if you'll be my secret santa
have you got a present in your bag especially for me


Are you still a mover, redhoser, gatecrashing poser windowlicking loser like me
A bauble in your bubble , scally smelly trouble
Kerb-biting double-crossing streetfighter but still free


All these things and more you are for me
They warned me years ago but I declined to see
You`ll never know the truth till your mind is free
and your still all that matters to me


Wrap me up tie me up tape me down
drag me around just be my secret santa
you`ll have a present in your bag especially for me

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Clivey MacDougall Nov 2020.


LATE addition bonus , defo last track this release: It`s no use Baby

Remember the old moondance at the end of the night.


Heres wishing all a safe and well Festive period and a hopefully nicer feliz ano nuevo.
I hope you have enjoyed your virtual sleeve notes Lordy knows what I am up to 2021 probably more of same though I am severely hankering a rickenbacker 12 string at the mo so who , get that ,Who knows . eh?