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The Unbeliever

from New Leaves by Treebeard

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about

This has a long and convoluted history. In Silverwheel I came up with the idea of taking the Irish reel 'Kilarney Boys Of Pleasure' & setting it to a hip-hop/reggae/hornpipe beat. Peter helped with the chords & Sue sang The Grateful Dead's 'Black Muddy River' to her own tune over it. The band split before we finished recording it (though I have a pretty decent demo of it), and I'd always wanted to revive it, but felt we couldn't do it justice without a funky drummer. When Dan joined Treebeard I rewrote the lyrics, changed the key to suit my voice & we started playing it, first in Treebeard, then in Haze, but Paul felt that both the lyrics and arrangement were unfinished, so it got dropped until the new line-up congealed! The lyrics, as is my wont, are based on a book, or series of books, the Thomas Covenant Trilogies by Stephen Donaldson, very dark & densely 'wordy' books, almost the opposite end of the spectrum (in fantasy terms, at least) from The Stone And The Flute. During the recording I remained conscious of what Paul had said about it being unfinished, & when he declined to add a guitar solo to the mid section, inspiration struck & I asked Rob to add some very heavy bluesy harmonica instead. I was still looking for something to set the mood for the start of the piece, so James brought his didgeridoo into the studio, Paul fired up his Tibetan singing bowl and I brought out the Pipa, a four string Chinese instrument that I'd owned for years, but never made any serious attempt to play! Combined with a sound collage of over a dozen takes of Anna playing the chorus to the song I think we set a suitably epic expectant atmosphere.

lyrics

I've always been an unbeliever
Always I've had an outcasts soul
I never had time for easy answers
Cos only the dead go with the flow

I will walk alone with faith in contradictions
The paradox unfolds in white gold & blackened flames
I will find my peace in the silence of the mountains
The eye of the storm the Unbelievers shame

When the light is fading on the last day of the year
And all I can hear is ringing in my ears
The fire sheds no light in the darkness of the forest
This lepers absolution gives credence to my fears

I cannot fight, I will not surrender
This weakness is strength, though failure calls my name
I'm done with restraint, this doubt gives me purpose
Only the lost can find their road again

credits

from New Leaves, released July 28, 2017
The Unbeliever (Chris McMahon, Sue Cain, Peter Rophone)
Anna - fiddle. Ceri - whistle. Chris - bass, 12 string guitar, electric guitar, organ, pipa, vocals. James - drums, dumbek, didgeridoo. Paul - shaker, singing bowl. Rob - guitar, harmonica.

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Treebeard Sheffield, UK

Treebeard play original compositions as well as a selection of rock, pop, & folk songs & tunes on a variety of acoustic instruments.

They are regulars on the beer festival circuit, and describe their style as 'Heavy Wood'. They released their second CD 'Reel Ale’ on Gabadon Records in April 2010.

They are currently working on tracks for a new CD. ... more

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