Promethean Heat

from Pale Cicada by Makeunder

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about

The story of “Promethean Heat” came from my father, who, about a month or so before he died, told me that he once had sex with a stranger in the woods. I didn’t get many other details out of him, so I wrote this tune to honor his impulse to tell me, inventing a story about some ancient mystical ritual among the redwoods of Northern California, where he spent his lost years before meeting my mother.

Nate Brenner (Naytronix / Tune-Yards) collaborated with me on the bass line. Read his essay on the track here: www.talkhouse.com/introducing-makeunders-promethean-heat/

Track 05 from the upcoming album, Pale Cicada.

lyrics

V1
The memory gone
The forest with the fire
But I can still taste the sweat on the tongue
After it all

O nameless bird in flight!
Never settles on its feet
A vision of another time and song
After it all

Whisper into my ear
Don't tell them 'bout the ember
I will hold it in my head till it boils
After it all

I need to make you understand
Deliberate the point of the land
I can still taste the sweat on the tongue
After it all
After it all

CH1
You can never say these things to another soul you tell me
"Tell no one"
But I will never forget that day so I sing it softly to myself
In my own way

V2
Faint stars in your eyes
Your hair smells like lavender
We're walking deeper through the understory
After it all

Take off your disguise
Celebrate Promethean Heat
The sun setting on canopy edge
After it ends

Lead me into your arms
Lead me upon your lips
I can still taste the sweat on the tongue
After it all

Cry from the distance "NO"
The ember flees the cavern of my mouth
And sets flame to the hole of it all
Whole of it all
After it all

CH2
You can never say these things to another soul you tell me
"Tell no one"
But I will never forget that day so I sing it softly to myself
In my own way

credits

from Pale Cicada, track released May 16, 2019
Hamilton Ulmer – vocals, synths, clarinets, production
Nate Brenner – bass / bass synths
Van Jackson-Weaver – guitars
John Doing – drums
Ian Pellicci – tracking
Douglas Showalter – lead vox production
Ian Pellicci – tracking (New, Improved Recording)
Nick Lobel – mix
Dale Becker – master

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about

Makeunder Oakland, California

Led by songwriter Hamilton Ulmer, Makeunder wrestles diverse tastes - from Renaissance motet, to art rock, to 90's R&B, synth pop, soul, & modern orchestral music - into powerful songs about death, survival, migration, & loss.

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