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A Soft Escape

by Plastic Ants

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1.
GRAFFITI VALENTINE From dizzying heights, crash-landed on satellites of love. On Saturday nights, left stranded, awaiting a call from above. Valentine, know your time is arriving, though it seems so long overdue. Valentine, know your heart is commanding. Like the tide heeds the moon over you, I’m drawn to you. In glittering lights, you signal. Acetylene bright, you shine a message of love, eternal, searching for signs of life. Valentine, know your time is arriving, though it seems so long overdue. Valentine, know your heart is commanding. Like the tide heeds the moon over you, I’m drawn to you. I’ll fall for you. In glittering lights, you signal. Acetylene bright, you shine a message of love, eternal, searching for signs of life. Valentine, know your time is arriving, though it seems so long overdue. Valentine, know your heart is commanding. Like the tide heeds the moon over you, I’m drawn to you.
2.
Broken Spell 03:41
BROKEN SPELL You came to talk of Jesus. You came to talk of war. You came to talk of music no one plays no more. This was underwater. This was overdue. You tried to float a story just to drown the truth. Will words stay colorfast in a flood of light as laughter splits the dawn and abdicating emperors keep hanging on? The sound of failing engines. The sound of cracking boughs. No sadder sounding sound than a broken vow. Will love stay airborne when the pressure drops and storms are forming fast? Calculate the distances that good things last. It’s a broken spell we cast on ourselves. It’s a broken promise. The return of patience. The return of sleep. The return of meaning. We were under deep. Will love land lightly in a hurricane so no one dies alone navigating time and space left to atone? It’s a broken spell we cast on ourselves. It’s a broken promise.
3.
YOUNGER THAN TOMORROW I wish I could hold you forever, but it all feels so finite tonight. I’ll fight to hold it together and check for a breath at first light. ’Cause I know only love is forever, when time is slipping away, please tell me, “Don’t stop, we’re younger than we’ll be tomorrow. Don’t stop, we’re younger than we’ll ever be again.” Remember. Young poets sign-posted these moments, times when the world slips from grace and darkness puts light into focus. Romantics put cynics to shame. ’Cause I know only love is forever, when time is slipping away, please tell me, “Don’t stop, we’re younger than we’ll be tomorrow. Don’t stop, we’re younger than we’ll ever be again.” Remember. You are everything I ever wanted. You are everything I’ll ever need again. Remember.
4.
HOPE IS STILL FLOATING IN SPACE She was born in black and white with a Technicolor mind. Kept a mystery to herself. Knew she felt like no one else. No place called home. When the blackbird broke the news, it sent a ripple through the room. She went godless for a time, till a message left her smiling in her sleep. She dreamt she was flying. Earth’s floor fell away, till the sun wasn’t rising. She was spinning toward a new yesterday, one where the world hadn’t changed yet and hope was still floating in space. Wide awake she would confide to release the fear inside, “There’s a better way than this, other strangers in our midst calling us home.” She dreamt she was flying. Earth’s floor fell away, till the sun wasn’t rising. She was spinning toward a new yesterday, one where the world hadn’t changed yet and hope was still floating in space.
5.
A SOFT ESCAPE We could slip into seclusion, a soft escape. Let them jump to dumb conclusions, no news to break. We could float without a reason, like clouds take shape. Drift into another season, so light, so late. Just slow down, never ever come down, ’cause even if you run out, the feelings would still be here tomorrow. Just slow down, no one needs to come down, ’cause even if we run out, the feelings would still be here tomorrow so don’t tell a soul before we go. We could drop all our illusions on streets below. Leave the world to its confusion, one thing we know. Just slow down, never ever come down, ’cause even if you run out, the feelings would still be here tomorrow. Just slow down, no one needs to come down, ’cause even if we run out, the memories would be here tomorrow so don’t tell a soul before we go, before we go. Don’t tell a soul, they’d down our hopes, but we both know, we both know.
6.
THE ORDINARY BLUES I thought I saw you on the news. I thought I heard you turned a new blue. How’d it feel to go so soon, when you thought you were immune to the grace that comes in waves daily to save us from the ordinary blues that comes in hues you thought only you could see? I thought I saw you on the move. I thought I heard you shot up to the moon. How’d it feel to go so soon, when you thought you were immune to the grace that comes in waves daily to save us from the ordinary blues that comes in hues you thought only you could see? I can’t explain it, your isolationist routine. Once you’d made it, why’d you paint it pretty green, when we all knew, it was ordinary blue? I thought I heard you fit the noose. I thought I read you said, “It’s no use.” How’d it feel to go so soon, when you thought you were immune to the grace that comes in waves daily to save us from the ordinary blues that comes in hues you thought only you could see? You thought only you could see.
7.
PARTING GESTURE Tell me everything you want is everything you felt you got. Maybe everything you bought served to fill the hole shaped like god in your heart. Is this the measure of love lost and won, a parting gesture to life left undone? Is this the place you’re from? Or just a place you’re passing through? Burnt out in suburbia, no mystery that you missed the mark. Bent upon oblivion, downed a bottle till you drowned the spark in your heart. Is this the measure of love lost and won, a parting gesture to life left undone? Stored-up treasure, you could be the very first one. It once seemed so sure, but now it’s all come undone. Is this the place you’re from? Or just a place you’re passing through? Is this the measure of love lost and won, a parting gesture to life left undone? Stored-up treasure, you could be the very first one. It once seemed so sure, but now it’s all come undone. Is this the place you’re from?
8.
FIGURE GROUND You fixed your eyes on setting skies. How was I to know you would take the morning flight? Was I wrong to write a song before you’d gone and ask you to sing, won’t you sing along? Face to face, we form a space. See us one or both ways. Rescue me or take your leave. Best concede the pen in my hand is gonna bleed off the page, when oft betrayed, through awful days in need of some tears and sympathy. Stick it out or stuff it down or send us to lost and found, lost and found. Look what’s become of us. Look what’s become of you. Look what it’s coming to. Figure ground down and out as tension mounts, I’m tending to doubt you’re coming ’round. Space to space, it’s time to face, we’ll see as one or part ways. Look what’s become of us. Look what’s become of you. Look what it’s coming to.
9.
Lifted 03:14
LIFTED Freezing rain delayed her flight. Planes had stacked up overnight, leaving her to turn through terminals and wander through her mind. She’d been leaving for so long, in her heart already gone. By the time she climbs through clearing skies, he’ll wonder what went wrong. Lift off leave him behind. It’s time to start a new life. Love will lift her next time. The privilege was his, but he missed her flight. Soft of voice and slow to speak, her pauses were his clues to read. He never heard a word while waiting for another turn to preach. Nothing left to second guess. Love should collide, not coalesce, like rain on windowpanes at departure gates and the faces they reflect. Lift off left him behind. It’s time to start a new life. Love will lift her next time. The privilege was his, but he missed her flight. This is her goodbye.
10.
BECOMING WHAT YOU ARE When the world seems so unnerving, it’s time to fix your mind on what your heart finds all inviting. In the bliss you’ll find you’re becoming what you are, becoming what you were, becoming what you’ll always be for the whole world to see. When the way seems so unyielding, it’s time to slow your mind, till the signs are all revealing. In the light you’ll find you’re becoming what you are, becoming what you were, becoming what you’ll always be for the whole world to see. You’ve been home all along.

about

"Don't tell a soul before we go."

On their third album, “A Soft Escape,” Plastic Ants explore ways to leave behind alienation, grief, self-delusion, unfulfilling relationships... even life itself. And not always the soft way. But despite the heavy heartedness of some songs, it’s the encouraging words and indelible hooks that stay with you once the trip has ended: hope is still floating in space; don't stop, we're younger than we'll be tomorrow; valentine, know your time is arriving; you're becoming what you are, what you'll always be. In a cultural landscape offering fleeting distractions, this is one departure that rewards attention from beginning to end.

credits

released September 18, 2020

ROBERT CHERRY voice, acoustic guitar, electric guitar on “Broken Spell” GUY VANASSE keyboards, vocals, string arrangements JOHN CURLEY electric bass JOE KLUG drums, percussion, Mellotron on “Broken Spell” SHIRA BEDER cello ROBBIE REIDER electric guitar BETH HARRIS vocals on “Younger Than Tomorrow” and “A Soft Escape”

Produced by JOHN CURLEY and PLASTIC ANTS

Recorded and mixed by JOHN CURLEY at THE LODGE Dayton, Kentucky

Mastered by ADAM BOOSE at CAULIFLOWER AUDIO MASTERING Cleveland, Ohio

Art Direction by JEFF JOHNS

Dedicated to the enduring spirit of DAVE DAVIS

Thanks to PATRICK MILLER, BILL BROUN, MIKE SWEENEY, CHERLYN VARGA TOTH, DEE ANNIS and our always supportive family and friends.

Special thanks to KAREN D'AGOSTINO, KYLE CADENA and THE STUDENTS at the MUSIC RESOURCE CENTER in Cincinnati, Ohio, for their support and inspiration. Please consider making a donation to the teen recording and performing arts program at mrccinci.org.

Words and music by ROBERT CHERRY (BMI), except “Broken Spell,” “Hope Is Still Floating In Space” and “Lifted” by GUY VANASSE and ROBERT CHERRY (BMI) ©2020

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Plastic Ants Cincinnati, Ohio

Inflight entertainment by singer-guitarist-songwriter Robert Cherry, bassist-producer John Curley, keyboardist-singer- songwriter Guy Vanasse, drummer-singer Joe Klug, guitarist Robbie Reider and cellist Shira Beder. In a world carved out by Plastic Ants you're only as tall as the height of your hopes. And things, well, they're looking up. ... more

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