(Tickets please)
Ticket tally man is back again
Everyone dislikes him
No one wanna be his friend
Ticket tally man is back on the train
Everyone's eye-rolling
No one hears his command
They don't know what's inside of him
‘Cause he don't show what he's like
He's a sweet, sweet guy
They should give him a try
But only when it's quitting time
Ticket tally man has nabbed a delinquent
Everyone is swearing
No one will ever understand
I am not the same when I'm off the train
I could be your friend when we meet again
(Take a look inside, take a trip and ride)
And I'll take off my suite! (Yeah)
To be one of you (And we'll be just like you)
Ticket tally man, all curses he withstands
Everyone's opposing him
No one can comprehend
They don't know what it's all about (all about)
‘Cause he don't show that he’s right
He's a tough, tough guy
But he'll stop to fine
Only when it's quitting time
(Beer o’clock, beer o’clock, beer o’clock, beer o’clock)
Ticket tally man
Ticket tally man
Ticket tally man
Ticket tally man, whoah
Ticket tally man
Ticket tally man
Ticket tally man
You'll be fine for a while on Planet 9 and smile
Waiting for the light-blue bus
The driver wouldn't wait for us
We had to hold back the giggling laughter
To keep the groove of tired eyes
A wise man on a walking stick
Was the only one to join the kick
Our journey took to free our spirits
And unblend the moves to wired minds
The fairy tales the people told
Of windy hawks where Alice rolled
Misty nights of purple gold
The driver left us all alone
On the cemetery full of lost souls
But a wizard was awaiting us
In a sacred place of ancient dreams
His pipe blew multi-coloured rings
We all took off on mighty wings
The sorcerer sprayed a fuzzy cotton candy glaze
On sculptures without laser beams
The tumbling Stones seem far to old
The fox can't trot, too big and bald
And windy hawks where Alice rolled
Misty nights of purple gold
The nowhere man remains dissolved
The tied-up hearts get never cold
And windy hawks where Alice rolled
Misty nights of purple gold
And we'll be fine
You'll check in to Planet 9
We will fly high, high, high, high
about
„Wired Ways“ is the self-titled album debut of the aspiring band collective from Berlin and Hamburg. Originally started as a studio project, Richard Schaeffer and Dennis Rux have brought together more than 40 musicians to create a record that pays homage to the techniques and sounds of the late 60s and early 70s, without losing a modern point of view. The result is multi-layered, Beatlesque prog-rock with elements of pop art, psychedelia and world music. Surprising twists and exciting instrumentations unfold behind catchy melodies and imposing vocals, sending the listener on an enjoyable sonic journey.
In the inspiring ambience of Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Studios, between instruments and technology from analogue times, the songs developed their own life. Ideas, recording methods and influences constantly rewired themselves and a creative network of music makers emerged – a colourful collective of artists from many countries who share a common spirit for fresh music.
Since nearly all ideas were initially written by Richard Schaeffer in public means of transport, the complex song lyrics and stories deal with thematic worlds such as transfer, communication, connectivity, separation & letting go: Perception oscillates between reality and open dream sequences, offering the listener interwoven meta-levels of interpretation. Lines of text can be touching on the one hand because they take place on a personal, intimate level, while at the same time raise social issues and encourage the listener to investigate further, though without a moral pointing finger.
The core band on these recordings consists of multi-instrumentalist Richard Schaeffer (The Jooles, Geneses, Purple Callas and others) and producer/guitarist Dennis Rux (Angels of Libra, Hamburg Spinners, Rhonda and others), as well as vocalists Jean-Michael Brinksmeier and Daniel Albertus Brouns and drummer Lucas Zacharias. The extended line-up includes renowned musicians such as Axel "Lexa" Schäfer, Jan Stolterfoht, Sebastian Düwelt and Rocco Rossbach, who are active in bands such as Stern Combo Meissen, Berlin Boogaloo and the Baltic Soul Orchestra. A list of all those involved is best found in the lovingly designed booklet.
The cover for the album is also an outstanding work of art itself and was painted by prog artist Frank Grabowski, who is also a loyal supporter of the project. Thanks to him, former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett was able to hear a pre-release version and complimented: „It has a strong feel and is atmospheric, with a great use of Mellotron.“
In the future, the project will also be brought to the festival stages. This summer they already played a highly acclaimed concert at the „Night of the Prog“, alongside genre legends like Steve Hackett, Colosseum and Renaissance.
The album is available on vinyl, CD and digitally via Waterfall Records, distributed by Broken Silence and The Orchard. The release of Wired Ways is kindly supported with federal funds from Germany by Neustart Kultur and Initiative Musik.
credits
released September 9, 2022
Jean-Michael Brinksmeier – Vocals
Richard Schaeffer – Vocals, Tubular Bells, Glockenspiel, Shaker, Tambourine, Ching Zills, Electric Bass, Electric Guitar, Electric 12-string Guitar, Sitar, Fender Rhodes, Hammond Organ, Celesta, Synths, Electronic Tanpura, Recorder, Vocal FX
Dennis Rux – Electric Guitar, Acoustic Western Guitar
Daniël Albertus Brouns – Vocals, Upright & Grand Piano, Hammond Organ, Mellotron
Lucas Zacharias – Drums, Orchestral Cymbals, Orchestral Bass Drum, Orchestral Shoer Room Toms, Thunder Sheet, Wind Machine, Tambourine, Large Gong
Andreas Oelker – Timpani
Rocco Rossbach – Congas, Bongos, Shaker, Tambourine, Vibraslap, Cowbell
Ravi Srinivasan – Tablas, Koshi Chimes
Axel Schäfer – Electric Bass, Pump Organ, Celesta
Jan Stolterfoht – Electric Guitar, Electric 12-String Guitar, Acoustic Western Guitar
Horst Lietz – Electric Guitar, Electric 12-String Guitar, Acoustic Western Guitar, Acoustic Nylon Guitar, Acoustic 12-String Western Guitar
Davide Russo – Acoustic Western Guitar
Arne Reichelt – Cello
Friedrich Paravicini – Cello
Winnie Kübart – Viola
Matthias Kieslich – Viola, Violin
Ricarda Sybille Borman – Violin
Stefanie Hölk – Violin
Lê Mạnh Hùng – Monochord Gourd Lute, Bamboo Flute
Trần Phương Hoa – Plucked Zither
Dàn Nhạc Hà Nội – Plucked Zither
Rainer Oleak – Dampened Upright Piano, Mellotron
Sebastian Düwelt – Plucked Grand Piano, Hammond Organ, Organ Bass, Clavinet
Chris Haertel – Wurlitzer, Hohner Electra
Rainer Scharf – Church Organ, Harpsichord
Matthias Trippner – Yamaha Electrone
Lisa Maria Schaeffer – Soviet Children's Hurdy-Gurdy, Baby Talk, Laughter, Counting In, Bye-bye & Gibberish Singing
Tom Lang – Celesta
Andreas Günther – Vermona Synth, Siel Orchestra, Theremin, Telephone Replacement
Martin Zitzmann – Poly Moog
Joel Sarakula – Synths
Jonas Pietsch – Trumpet
Paul Santner – Flugelhorn
Max Hering – Tenor Saxophone
Michael Götte – Trombone
Oliver Fox – Piccolo Flute, Concert Flute, Clarinet
Yael Falik – Bassoon
David John Jaggs – Scouse Phone Call
Paul Herron – Ticket Tally Man
Dirk Sackhoff – Car Sounds
Udo Geist – Car Sounds
Michael Schönfeld – Corgoň
Production by Dennis Rux & Richard Schaeffer
Recordings by by Dennis Rux, RIchard Schaeffer, Lucas Zacharias, Horst Lietz, Oliver Fox, Heiko Bandasch, Rainer Oleak, Andreas Günther, Paul Herron, David John Jaggs, Davide Russo, Joel Sarakula, Martin Zitzmann
SFX Recordings by Richard Schaeffer & Andreas Günther
Editing by Dennis Rux & Richard Schaeffer
Mixing by Dennix Rux
Mastering by Fabian Tormin / Plätlin Mastering
Album artwork by Frank Grabowski
Album layout by David Frikell
Soothfully a phenomenal prog rock album—an instant classic. What motivates me to say so, is the music’s incredible expressiveness & its wonderfully cinematic song structures. Jargon is a very good fit with this band. It is quite evident that the band’s current lineup have great chemistry together & that they share a common affinity to this vein of music. I look forward to their next creation. Drifting Sun are definitely one of prog rock’s brightest lights. Thank you, DS!
9+/10. Alrihkh
What a gorgeous debut by this Polish quartet. Clearly, a nod to diverse 70s prog-greats (the usual suspects, nothing wrong with me!) but with a very fresh sound. The base might be melodic, colourful (sympho-)prog but folky or jazzy sprinklings are tastefully added. Carsten Pieper
Chugging, organ-laden motorik-psych from Spanish group Melange with lockstep rhythms and kaleidoscopic vocal harmonies. Bandcamp New & Notable Nov 13, 2017
Former members of Phenomenal Handclap Band expand on their “everything but the kitchen sink” approach, adding rich vocals and finely-textured arrangements. Bandcamp Album of the Day Sep 30, 2016