more from
TAR / MM / UOH
We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Colours

by Devon Sproule

/
  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      £7 GBP  or more

     

  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Includes unlimited streaming of Colours via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 3 days
    Purchasable with gift card

      £10 GBP or more 

     

  • Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    Gatefold 180g black vinyl

    Includes unlimited streaming of Colours via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 3 days
    Purchasable with gift card

      £20 GBP or more 

     

1.
When it was warm enough I cast out for the brown trout I came all the way out of the bay I took my shirt off, I felt the sun sauce I heard the sail flap, I saw the waves cap I let the rope out, I came about When the work is done When the light is gone Then you can come home When I began this, I ran a fast ship Top of the water, I barely scratched it But each empty day, I took on the weight I lost the wide eye, I lost the wide sky I took a last run in the last of the sun I ain't winding the line in until I find it When the work is done, When the light is gone. Then you can come home. The wind changed, the rain came. It took me over into the water The mast went into the black depth I felt the rough touch of the muskelunge I moved toward the centerboard One body is not enough to get this boat up When the work is done When the light is gone Then you can come home
2.
I can't go home, Though the wind is getting meaner I can feel it in my bones Nobody's gonna be there And I need someone to be there I'm pulling in a long long line. I always think I got 'em. The water column's full of life, but I'm dragging the bottom This is me dragging the bottom Hoping there's Magic in the panic, magic in the upshift Magic in the scattering of the family I could do it in the early days In among the lost ones I had the campaign in my veins The drummer in the rostrum Drumming the lost ones But when the lost ones grow up, You're hitting on a lonesome drum The shrug comes creeping in Just looking for the season's end, Hoping there's Magic in the panic, magic in the upshift Magic in the scattering of the family
3.
I've always wanted it, Since I knew how to want And I've worked so hard Just to get this far The day they pulled you out All of the stars lined up You knew the formula Before they held you up How does it feel to be carrying so much light? You can't help it You can't help it that you're so good I don't believe that he loves us all alike You can't help it You can't help it that you're so good A plane is powerful With a noble wingspan A fine-tuned rush of air Perfected by man But a bird is natural In the wild above When it sings its song We look up How does it feel to be carrying so much light? You can't help it You can't help it that you're so good I don't believe that he loves us all alike You can't help it You can't help it that you're so good
4.
Colours 03:07
I don't want to make you mad I don't want to hold you back I'll show my colours now You haven't felt the fire inside You haven't heard the stormy night I'll show my colours now I never said I could change I never said I could change the way I am Like it was nothing I can be gentle when I'm trying to sell Generous when it serves me well I hide my colours well I wanna wear them on my sleeve The things you say, I wanna believe But oh, my colours... You don't have to pretend if you don't understand You should be afraid to dig that line. But if you are brave, you might find Blue under the robin's nest. Green to lie back against. Find my colours I never said I could stay. I never said I could stay and play the game Like it was nothing at all
5.
The Fan 04:23
I'm so afraid you're gonna hate the summer The heat will be more than a bummer, in the summer When we moved, the air was moving all up and down the city It's gonna be more than a pity when it gets shitty I know you love to sleep with the windows open And it's so sad when you have to close them And the night can't nose in And the fan goes 'round and 'round… We'll take a boat out on the Town Lake With your brother when he comes to see us. We'll fix the rope swing between us, in the pre-dusk And I'll fly to Carolina when my sister delivers her second I'll try to figure if I'm dead set on kids yet I know the day is long and the night is fleeting And the clean start could still use some cleaning When the dog days come creeping And the fan goes 'round and 'round… When July has set a record And August is clawing its way in When all you want is to stay in And not let the day in There will still be ice in our glasses Night at the end of the day I hope you feel the same way Then as you do now And the fan goes 'round and 'round…
6.
I have run a mucky verge Cheering twigs down a river Camouflaged by winter's subtle colors I have come alove Muddy water shushed Me back in my body Met with longing I have interbeen Wintering, in his rumbling brown Revisiting language unsettlingly round Two warm hands inside your wooly vest Do your best to act unimpressed And to separate the day from the daydream Two bodies on a centerboard Muddy water over safety orange And beneath, the sharpened teeth  Of the muskellunge slip by Spidery air on the bottom bare In the out house at night Soft sand in your hand but you're gripping too tight I have swam past his fingers. They were perfect fifths in two rivers I have secured to memory the shiver I thought one of us would be lost Walking in the folly Body follows body Instead, I've been roused From the couch hunch Where I have been I have found new ground To plant the old seed in I have left just a thumbprint In the midst of his chin I have been pushed back from the edge By just the wind Hiked down to the human town to try it all again Knocked off a stock song to forget about it in
7.
Talk To You 02:40
Down at the Seahorse To some loud R&B horns You danced with a pensioner She said, "Forgive everybody, Be happy to see them When you're sure of yourself you'll know They wanna talk to you." The kids in your city Happy to see you Happy to know where you've been Pouring you coffee Selling guitar strings Doing it all again They wanna talk to you You see them coming You turn away from them No one can find you there You've had your secrets And you've had your reasons But no one is stopping you now You wanted to be true You want it to be true I'm telling you: it's true They wanna talk to you
8.
I came looking for someone awake in the witching Feeding and burned by a fire inside You rode in from Richmond and the city lights. You took the exit and the music started I came looking for someone awake in the morning Whose body was warm a whose breathing was clean You were looking for someone to take you under To show you the wonders of the fire inside And you'd learned a little trick about the jealous heart It'll tear you apart if you listen to it You were looking for someone who had it together Who didn't change with the weather And whose fire inside didn't eat them alive. Where's the fun In always getting along? What doesn't make you crazy makes you strong I came looking for someone awake in the witching Feeding and burned by a fire inside
9.
My cattle are escaping Nobody tells me a thing How can I corral them? Nobody tells me a thing I know they're laughing when I turn my back Don't they remember my mom and my dad? My friends back in the city Nobody tells me a thing They don't think I have it in me Nobody tells me a thing (Do you remember days kept in by the rain On the sleeping bag with the old rodeo scene?) I could give up I could blame the wintery air But where will it stop? I fear wherever I go I will find myself there I came to turn it over Nobody owes me a thing But I'm so alone here Nobody owes me a thing It's wild out in the garden Nobody's tells me a thing Inching toward my doorstep Nobody tells me a thing I wake up in the darkness Nobody tells me a thing The stars are in the millions Nobody tells me a thing How can I corral them? Nobody told me a thing
10.
Sometimes it's so easy To see where you belong And to see where you want to go I can see you all the time I will remind you when you need to know But when it's hard to see Then you don't believe me even when I tell you so I can only hope that you'll remember By the time you have to go Just close your eyes And you'll see the way to where you need to go And when you're far enough away I will show you just the stuff That I want you to see I will keep my secrets And pretend that we are who we want to be The shallow end is easy Sitting on the edge and making ripples with your toes But someone has to jump before The sun is gone and everyone is cold I know I should jump but what if I come up and everyone is cold?

about

Troubadour Devon Sproule returns with a new body of collaborative work with Mike O’ Neill of Canadian indie band, Inbreds. They release new album ‘Colours’ via Tin Angel Records on 23th September. Following on from her acclaimed talent for moulding elements of jazz and folk with an indie-pop and country pastiche, comes a self-effacing and quirky collaboration bringing with it a new found confidence that has allowed Sproule and O’Neill to stretch into a new musical ground.

Opening with the colourful summer tune ‘You Can Come Home’ the listener is immersed into the world of Devon Sproule picking up from where 2011 album ‘I Love You Go Easy’ left off. The go- easy rhythm section builds up to crashing percussion that cascades and collides with the striking bass lines of musical maestro Dan Fortin. Leading into the hazily paced ‘Magic In The Panic’ their first vocal duet seeing O’Neill’s indelible voice echoing into the aether.

Wearing their hearts firmly on their sleeves comes the illuminating title track ‘Colours’ which is a quintessential lo-fi pop song humming with animated and whirling electronics. The captivating ‘Walking In The Folly’ reaches beautiful high notes with the sweeping trombone of frequent collaborator Doug Tielli while ‘Talk To You’ encompasses the spirit of the Beatles.

The duo first met when O'Neill submitted a song to Low-Key Karaoke, a project in which Sproule splices videos of herself and others singing together to create remote duets. At first too shy to video himself, Sproule encouraged O'Neill to submit more and before long, they were writing songs together; he from Halifax, Nova Scotia and she currently located in Austin, Texas.

‘Colours’ features an all-star Toronto band including guitar and synth wiz Thom Gill, a rhythm section borrowed from the R&B project Bernice (Robin Dann on vocals, Philip Melanson on Drums and Dan Fotin on bass) and Sandro Perri at the production helm. Considering how long these two Ontarians have been away from home; Colours is decidedly a product of Toronto. The city, the songs and the ensemble have knocked these two established artists off balance and right into their element.

There is a striking resemblance between Devon and Mike, though one might have to look a little closer to find it in their music. O'Neill's early work as singer/bassist/songwriter for the Inbreds paved the way for a solo career of complex, melody-driven pop. After an eight year hiatus, 2012 saw him release his follow-up solo album ‘Wild Lines’.
O’Neill's credentials include winning the Gemini award for his compositions on food program ‘French Food At Home’ and is known for his portrayal of Thomas Collins in TV show Trailer Park Boys.

American chanteuse Devon Sproule has four critically acclaimed albums under her Tin Angel belt including ‘I Love You Go Easy’ and ‘Keep Your Silver Shined’. Performances include Glastonbury, Cambridge Folk Festival, Moseley Folk Festival along with sell-out performances from Union Chapel and the QEH. Tour supports include a plethora of legendary artists such as Richie Havens, Lucinda Williams and Bill Callahan. Back in her teen years it was the attention of Dave Matthews eye that saw her on the road with the Dave Matthews Band and en route to a steady career in music.

credits

released September 23, 2013

sandro perri — production, synth
thom gill — arrangement, vocals, guitars, rhodes
dan fortin — upright and electric bass
philippe melanson — drums, percussion
doug tielli — trombone, euphonium, banjo
ryan driver — synth
robin dann — vocals
mike o’neill — vocals, guitar, synth, percussion, marimba
devon sproule — vocals, guitar

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Devon Sproule Charlottesville, Virginia

north american music with weirdo roots. ds was raised on eco-villages in ontario and virginia. she works with tin angel records and tours solo and with a band (bernice from toronto when possible!) in europe, n america, and australia.

contact / help

Contact Devon Sproule

Streaming and
Download help

Shipping and returns

Redeem code

Report this album or account

If you like Devon Sproule, you may also like: