Mycelium
by @adforperu
Liner Notes
This is a song for Julie and our dearly-departed puss, Ichabod.
I wanted to try and portray the mundanities of home life and how they are often the best things in the world. Whilst 'Ichabod' wouldn't fit the cadence, I do wonder if I should have used 'baby' instead of 'she', since it sounds like I'm talking about Julie each time lol
Mycelium is used as a metaphor for our interconnectedness, and the fact that her favourite spot was under our acer tree - in the soil - fits very nicely with that.
The roof that Ichabod is on again is, thankfully, not the roof of the house, but the roof of her Catisserie, her 2nd favourite spot.
The 'Julie fighting bigots' refers to online arguments rather than actual fisty-cuffs, though I've no doubt she'd be up for smacking jonno6941391 from the comments section if the chance presented itself.
Lyrics
I am in the kitchen Julie’s in the bathroom she is in the garden mycelium
Julie’s watching Alien she is on the roof again I’m making the tea, then mycelium
she is making biscuits I’m writing a play-script Julie’s fighting bigots mycelium
Julie plants the heather I’m reading Ottessa she’s under the acer mycelium
Comments
So sorry that you've had to join the ranks of the "commemorative cat song writers club" this year, but this is an absolutely gorgeous example of the form. Such a lovely mix of specifics and mysteries and the bendy synths fuzzing into post-rock guitars are perfect.
Oh, your poor puss. I think this sums it all up brilliantly, the shifting chord changes, smooth mellow keys blossoming into a lush production. That better be the Labs soft piano! And the whole mushroom network thing is the cherry on the cake. Dreamy stuff man
Very senstively done and such an array of music, gentle glock, big stabs - has a weary hurt wonky feel, a work of craft
That synth brass line adds a magical wonky energy to this, it sounds like it's going to go all optimistic and then you swoop down to a darker chord which keeps me on my toes and makes the payoff hit me all the harder when the brightness does finally come. The second half of this song is beautiful and makes the journey worth it. On the second spin it feels like the first half is in space (I now just realised the Alien line), and the second half is like landing on Earth and everything is okay again
What a song! Just beautiful and seriously touching, especially thanks to the detailed information the liner notes. But I would also love this song if I didn't understand a word of it, the melody is gorgeous. You are a true artist.
Beautiful and appreciative of the memories with the knowledge and sadness that it's now in the past. Perfect tribute. Pour one out for a real one. X
Scanned the lyric before listening. On its own, it's already beautiful poetry. I love the image of mycelium connections. Me and my garden can't wait for spring.
Listening, the layered but nearly spoken vocal delivery feels so comfortable on top of the synths, like the beauty of home-life you describe. Maybe the "she" you worry about could be "kitty's" or even just "the cat is." Sorry for the loss of Ichabod, our cats certainly help make our home.
I love slice of life when it’s done well, and this is so beautiful. The subtle shoegaze stuff in the middle section is incredible
Totally agree with mundane home life being the best ever! This captured that comfortable, cozy, connected feeling where it felt zoomed in on your family (sorry for the loss of your fur baby) and then the instrumental expanded it to somewhere timeless and placeless.
Damn, this is proper gorgeous. You've painted the picture of everyday life with a cat in the simplest way possible. It's funny what binds folk together when there's a furrball in charge of the house. That lift in the middle carries real emotional weight. Oh, and as I'm writing this our Sasha has come to shout at me. Or at the song. Or maybe it's just lunchtime. It's hard to tell sometimes...
Oh I love this idea and feel—connectedness is probably one of the most valuable and elusive experiences for many. This song just exudes that feeling, where mundane is beautiful. I love it! Well done
Aww Ichabod :( so hard to lose your fave furry family. Of course this is poetic n benignly beautiful, with the epic heavenly glimpses for us earthlings n our pathos. Love the cute glock melody doubling
Soinding so smooth, cool.idea for the song its very unique and you know what if harry styles dropped this on an album people would love it so im giving tbis a big thumbs up. Enjoyed it.
Really like this. The track behind the vocals is epic and the mycelium refrain is great. Nice vocal performance as well. Reminds me of Radiohead at times.
I'm floating! Drifting into the song. Thanks Ad. I enjoyed! RIP Ichabod
Loving the synth going on here and the vibe you’re creating. Really opens up when the drums kick in towards the end. Really enjoyed this. Sorry about Ichabod.
you had me at mycelium but I absolutely stayed for Ichabod 🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹 this is so so pretty in melody and sound but it’s also so pretty in meaning. I love this
That was amazing! The simple lyrics really paint the picture of being home with your love. The tone-downed delivery reminds me of Pinback and Radical Face combined, and that build gave me shivers. Well done!
Aww, this is a really nice song. Sorry for your loss ❤️
When I first heard this penetrating the walls it gave me major SIM CITY (circa 1991) vibes, which is one of my all time fave game soundtracks so I was very excited when you said you were writing it about me and baby girl 😁 Now I am listening, it ALSO sounds like you’ve wrapped a bit of the mysterious Vanilla Dome a la Super Mario World up in there! You’re spoiling me, really ❤️ That’s before we get to lyrics describing the curious goings on of Mrs Whiskers of course. She’s up in heaven now HEAD BANGING to this, showing it off to all her friends, even if she does think it’s a little.. how would she put this.. white sounding.
Rip to your kitty… this is a beautiful ghosty tribute. I would not have expected “mycelium” to be such a poetic refrain, but it is perfect. I like how you’ve chosen a synth that sounds like a pipe organ at times to fit the somber mood. The bridge section with the low buzzing and fluttering high tones is excellent for first releasing and then building up tension