Outside

May 3, 2013 9:49 AM

When a band "dances" on the border between 6 or more musical genres and one of them happens to be progressive rock, the listener is often in for a delightful surprise. Hopefully this song qualifies as one of them. This is "Outside" by Ummagma.

Two girls are playing on a summer’s day
Hopscotch, marbles and fantasy
Sun’s dipping downward as evening falls
They play on but nobody’s calling them
Nobody’s home anyway
But what to do with a single mom
Who’s working all the time
Just to bring home something

Two boys have lost everyone they know
End up in a children’s home
Don’t understand how their folks could’ve
Left life and left them wanting
You heard what they say
We have no home anyway
But what to do when the state is handed
full control of children’s fate

Outside, the view’s alright
You know the grass is greener on the other side
And even if it were raining
Somebody would be saving me
Through the looking glass
Evergreen preview of another life
Now wouldn’t that be nice
If I could just trade my cards
In exchange for the one’s dealt me

Don’t have to suffer in silence
Or let your angst run astray
Culminating in violence
Blood starts to boil as fear takes hold
You have lost your way

Young man is waiting with his baby girl
Mother can’t be there to see her when
She’ll have her christening
Cuz noone’s listening
Union laborist daughter
She was sent home anyways
But what to do when the state doesn’t give a shit
About the lives its ending

Outside, the view’s alright
You know the grass is greener on the other side
And even if it were raining
Somebody would be saving me
Through the looking glass
Evergreen preview of another life
Now wouldn’t that be nice
If I could just trade my cards
In exchange for the one’s dealt me

posted by Brodyaga (3 comments total)

You can see a rather striking contrast between this song, for instance and this one, which is more synthpop or dreampop.
posted by Brodyaga at 9:50 AM on May 3, 2013


Or this one, which is total shoegaze noiserock
I think the diversity is what keeps this interesting for us :)
posted by Brodyaga at 9:54 AM on May 3, 2013


- and half a minute in and I'm delighted already :)

Especially liked the verses, the chorus very fitting but the breakdown, not as much. But that's not saying that I don't like the song, still delighted and all.

Personally I'd mix the voice a little bit higher but other than that, good song.

Btw, I'd like to rob your drum sounds... you know, how you record them, what mics, mix, etc etc. mostly the mix. I love the drums in each of your songs. Either they are just perfect or the very reason why I love listening to some of your songs!

My way of saying: Drums = awesome, keep it up *thumbs up Special Agent Dale Cooper style* and all that.
posted by AnTilgangs at 5:42 PM on May 5, 2013


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