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Archives of the Natural World

by Odessa Chen

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1.
hang up your burning lights hang up your miles of wire hang up your hopes like arms, or ropes around me this sequence of streets revolving doors always wanting more hang up your burning lights hang up your miles of wire hang up your hopes like arms or ropes around me where we move they surround us with their dark machinery and guns will we fall as the others fell? with nowhere left to run as we are driven, driven into the woods, the woods into the woods as we are driven, driven into the woods, the woods into the woods as we are driven, driven to what remains of the woods to what remains of the woods hang up the sterling stars hang up the miles of pines hang up the night with no arms, or roads around me
2.
romance is dead mystery we’ve killed her thus devalued, she’s that much easier to claim gild all gods and angels forget from where you came thus elevated, we aren’t animals at all instead of flying and with no defenses instead of flying they did not leave the tethered sun unwilling witness the wild parakeets of the carolinas shot down, every one we don’t even know they’re missing instead of flying and with no defenses instead of flying they did not leave the tethered sun unwilling witness witness witness witness
3.
don’t wake the dawn I am yours and wish to sleep cradled at the base of your throat at the quiet intersection of those fragile bones at the quiet intersection of those fragile bones don’t wake the dawn she breaks, easy as the rib cage of a bird the quiet intersection of those fragile bones at the quiet intersection of those fragile bones in remembering all our archived dreams break free a stable of bright white horses horses pure and right I’m remembering a wonder pure and right the day will come but for now, for now this page one corner folded down its crease is like a scar its crease stays like a scar at the quiet intersection of those fragile bones
4.
the binding knots dismantling clocks whose arms hold where the time went you are the flanks of horses as they run, as they run… for there is no, there is no deeper there is no, there is no deeper than what we are we are a pair thread and needle I hear you whisper in handfuls of dirt you move so easily from form to form first a wolf and now the wind for there is no, there is no deeper there is no, there is no deeper than what we are you are the plain, you are the sky I am the ax, and the pine first a wolf then the wind, oh! first a wolf then the wind, the wind...the wind
5.
like you, I had plans, my intentions so nothing could go wrong it’s too easy to fall apart at the sight of crushed birds and doe on the sides of the highway I free fall while the others fall into the hands of the lord to reach a place so far removed that I’m not bothered by it anymore we sleep deep and have no dreams rest our heads upon the backs of geese and other lesser creatures maybe we never made it home… instead, lay back silently as leaves upon the glistening lawns so alike, so symmetrical like eggs that never wake or like graves the sky is a wishing well scattered coins I’m wishing now, now, now when I close my eyes I see clockwise arches and blizzard wings when I close my eyes I see geese, lesser creatures flying
6.
oh! oh! summer birds are flown and the fields are burning hear them heed the call of our season’s ending oh no, no, no, Atlantis, oh no, no oh! oh! summer rains don’t fall where the lamb are kneeling the places where they crossed unrecognizable or gone no no, no, no and we did not stop and we did not stop until the sea until the sea gathered in it’s fold all the edges of our world oh no, no, no, Atlantis oh no, no, no, Atlantis oh, no no no
7.
the clouds taken down the mercy of sound again return of the birds and in the air a subtle shifting like sand warmth rising like bread the holding patterns of dusk retrieves my heart sunk like a stone inside me the soft beating of moths meeting with milk white bulbs when all the voices, when all the voices when all the voices, when all the voices when all the voices, when all the voices stop.
8.
Cinders 05:11
the sparks come down arms flung out and falling embers and other beauties we see afar distances, oh that can’t be touched or known and therefore can’t be at all It started out with wanting and wishing on the moon or other beauties we see afar distances, oh that can’t be touched or known and therefore can’t be ruined oh…. cinders that strike our minds so bright the whole place burns right down all that’s left is me all that’s left is you and memories of light and sound were do we go from here…California? Arizona’s gone it all seems like a defeat of sorts or what comes after and I’m too young I’m too young for salvation I’m too young for salvation, I’m too young
9.
oh, oh...what could be contained in a box held in place with pins, a paragraph a single photograph, a single photograph silent, laid silent oh, oh...what will remain then an exquisitely cataloged cul-de-sac a single photograph, a single photograph when after all, what could I have done

about

WRITING ABOUT ENDANGERED AND EXTINCT ANIMALS IN OREGON'S NATIONAL FORREST
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In 2006 I was fortunate enough to spend time in the Oregon wilderness writing the songs that would become this record. I wanted to explore different subject matter, while still writing about something I cared deeply about.

On my mind was the rapid extinction of species and our exploitation of nature for short-term gain. To address this in my songs, I knew I needed to educate myself further, and in the process face my own inaction.

In my research I discovered creatures I’d never known existed, like the gentle ten foot tall Giant Moa bird, and the tiny Key Deer. As I marvelled at them, the irreparable harm we've already done came into even sharper focus. Slowly these creatures made their way into my songs. I hope I was able to capture some of their magic in this music.

Since I started this process, environmentalism has reached further into the mainstream. Even so,
there’s still real urgency to act. Hundreds of species go extinct every year as a direct result of our choices, and our well being is inextricably linked with theirs.

In learning how these species became extinct,
I came to fully realize how my everyday choices affect the world. Frustrating as it can be to learn a new way of living, small steps make up every journey, and I know I don’t want to continue on the path as it’s been.

I don’t want to tell anyone what to think, but I hope this music inspires greater empathy for other species, and awakens the curiosity to learn even more about how we affect the world around us.

credits

released May 15, 2011

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CREDITS
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This recording is dedicated to all the species (and all the independent musicians) still struggling for survival.

Thank you for purchasing this music and making future recordings possible. Please spread the word and share songs, but we ask that you respectfully refrain from sharing this recording in its entirety.

Access music, information, and events by joining our mailing list at odessachen.com. This CD was printed with soy ink on 100% recycled materials.

All songs written, arranged, and produced by Odessa Chen © P 2011, BMI. Vocals and electric guitar (all tracks), bowed guitar (track 7), keyboards (track 1-7), omnichord (track 9), and cello (track 9) written and performed by Odessa Chen. Drums and percussion written and performed by Rich Douthit. Bass written and performed by Devin Hoff. Electric guitar (except track 3) written and performed by Roger Riedlbauer. Piano (track 1) written and performed by Pete Commerford. Cello (tracks 5-6), french horn (tracks 2,7) and keyboards, organ, vibes, and hurdy gurdy (tracks 3-5, 7-9) written by Odessa Chen and performed by Nicholas Anton, Monika Warchol, and Matt Henry Cunitz.

Engineered and mixed by Jay Pellicci with assistance from Ian Pellicci at Tiny Telephone, except track 5, mixed by Ian Pellicci. Keyboards, horn, and cello recorded remotely by Jay Pellicci. Vocals, keyboard, piano, and cello recorded at home by Odessa Chen. Painting by Kelly Louise Judd, www.swanbones.com. Marbling by Galen Berry. Art direction and graphic design by Odessa Chen, www.swandivedesign.com.

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odessa chen San Francisco, California

Cinematic and spectral, Odessa Chen’s music is a journey, intimate as a long held secret. Each song, like a tiny rowboat maneuvering in the dark, transports us to the deepest part of the lake where the stars shine brightest. Through despair towards transcendence each snapshot in time speaks of the romance of heightened experience, pivotal moments, and the rush of love. ... more

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