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after the flattery

by Kliffs

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Rhythmkid
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Rhythmkid From “Sketches in the Sidewalk” to now (well, and a few earlier gigs) the musical mastery and evolution of Mr. Berube and now his musical Kliffs partnership lend healing and reflective harmony to my listening experiences with every album.
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1.
I'm your man 03:59
1 - I’m your man Gave my best, you’ve seen my worst you failed me once, I failed you first had it all, need it less here I stand lost the map, not the truth I’m your man couldn’t you understand fed the fight, nursed the bruise didn’t win, but didn’t lose lost the need, to hold the prize here I stand lost the faith, not the truth I’m your man couldn’t you understand
2.
Running 02:51
2 - Running Heard it for the first time at 16 thought it was a daydream didn’t wake up sun beating down in the courtyard beauty on the clothesline radio turned up little little sweet sweet echo of a heartbeat makes you feel like superman keep it keep it, repeat echo of a heartbeat nothing feels better than the shiver going up your spine like a fever a serotonin diamond mine like a river the kind of love that never stops running, running, running it’s running still FM radio Manzini Liverpool chemistry it shook me up sun beating down in the courtyard beauty on the clothesline it filled me up
3.
Undertow 03:49
3 - Undertow what did you see when you looked around? the trophies of your golden years were nowhere to be found how could you not know? how could you not see? that every fucking accolade you got meant nothing to me you didn't walk back, you didn't make a sign you didn't reach out for the rescue line you said goodbye without saying a word I love you now like I loved you then teenage boys with the world ahead you couldn't ever see, couldn't ever see couldn't imagine that you'd flee you went up high to go so low floating away in the undertow I went to the spot where we'd been before the Golden Ears still listen to our footsteps on the forest floor my memory is sharp your face doesn't fade the world you chose to leave behind won't ever go away you didn't walk back, you didn't make a sign you didn't reach out for the rescue line you said goodbye without saying a word I love you now like I loved you then teenage boys with the world ahead couldn't ever see, couldn't ever see couldn't imagine that you'd flee you went up high to go so low floating away in the undertow
4.
Black Sheep 02:56
4 - Black Sheep you know how how to do camouflage black bird in a midnight sky pretty song poisonous harmony and your flock that trailed behind in my dreams it never ended up this way though I should have seen it from a mile away how could you expect someone to dance that way a puppet for your masquerade you know how how to do chemistry a little flair, a little honesty a bitter taste, after the flattery first it shines and then it fades in my dreams it never ended up this way though I should have seen it from a mile away how could you expect someone to dance that way a puppet for your masquerade how was it that I couldn’t see got lost in your pleasantries I gave my heart you took it as a guarantee one more fool to keep you company how could you expect someone to dance that way a puppet for you masquerade
5.
Believer 02:56
5 - Believer Is innocence gone, or are we doomed? something has shifted, the light in the room you shuffle your cards, report what you see the headlines are bleak, loves in retreat have they gone insane, or is it just me? nursery rhymes come, then they go the melodies stay, as the band gets old but call me a believer I’ve never lost the fever that comes from loving you yes I’m a believer who’s never lost the fever that comes from loving you it’s first a mistake, later a farce you put in the knife, then call it art the enemy’s close, it lives in your head but you wanna win, so get out of bed the anger you feed, feeds on you instead the flowers will come, then they’ll fade the picture remains, as the petals decay but call me a believer I’ve never lost the fever that comes from loving you yes I’m a believer who’s never lost the fever that comes from loving you that star in the sky has already died but give me its light and all that remains is the love that you gave and the scars of the fight
6.
Dear Jane 04:12
6 - Dear Jane Dear Jane that night when the secrets in your head slowly crawled into the light you emptied your glass in the sink I held you as you held on to the brink enough becomes enough cracks in your tough you can have my shoulder nothing to regret better days ahead you can have my shoulder it hit you hard the devil in our blood has a few too many charms the face that you wear is the twin did you know of the one I also own enough becomes enough cracks in your tough you can have my shoulder nothing to regret better days ahead you can have my shoulder it’s true it’s funny how it sticks what happens when we’re kids
7.
Jackpot 02:47
7 – Jackpot after taking a deep breath I rolled out the carpet and put my mind on display each syllable that walked upon it sounded like a ricochet you stood there like in a museum your icy eyes on me you didn’t want to pay the admission to see my idiosyncracies you say the truth is a jackpot that I’ve got nothing to lose you say you want me to be honest til I tell you the truth we’re turning in circles our violence is verbal even the good is blamed we fight then surrender turn tough to tender then start it all over again now you stand there before me and I’m afraid of what your lips will do I’m only here for the honey and the hit of I love you it’s gotta be worth it to cut through the bullshit and test every theory on a fire
8.
Four Hands 03:51
8 - Four Hands Please don’t regret the mistake that you made in accepting my hand the hand me down wedding band that you threw across the room got lost in the vacuum the next afternoon I look at the wall its mortar and brick there’s no sign of sorry when the smoke is this thick call it a failure, a lie, or a wager what am I to do? together we stood a woman and man the wolf in your eyes and the sweat in your hands together we stood a woman and man we held the seeds of a masterplan we’d take on the mountain with four skinny hands my ego and all of my masculine clothes tailored to fit, tailored to pose you pick at the seams and pull at the strands you floss your teeth and spit in my hands it sounds like revenge born out of love smells like a fire I thought I had burnt out call it a failure, a lie, or a wager what am I to do? together we stand a woman and man the wolf in your eyes and the sweat in your hands together we stand a woman and man we hold the seeds of a masterplan we’ll take on the mountain with four skinny hands
9.
Alibi 03:46
9 – Alibi be the lullaby, for my sleepless nights be the parachute, for my fear of heights be the crystal ball, that only I can see be the Virgin Mary, that only sleeps with me be the Joan of Arc, for who I’ll aim be the oxygen, for my lonely flame be the cornerstone, for all of my beliefs be the prophecy, that my kids should eat give me some love, love, love I want you love, love, love I need your love, love, love as I wait for the rain be the thin red line, that I’ll try to keep and if I fail, be my retreat I was born of you, I’m your chosen one you’re the golden bullet, I’m your golden gun be the good father, who abandoned me be the faithful mother, who couldn’t see that all the love, that she had to give without forgiveness, was a tainted gift give me some love, love, love I want your love, love, love I need your love, love, love as I wait for the rain be the patience, cause it’s what I need be the gravity, that plants these seeds we don’t ever choose, what we’re here to do and that’s my alibi, for loving you
10.
Helmets 03:33
10 – Helmets we watched as the helmets took a stand fired pepper in the sky above a dumpster suddenly burst into flames the smoke became a flood I caught the look you gave me as the tension rippled through the air for a moment I forgot the reason why I was there and you said let’s start a fire we ran down an alley full of glass scattered on the cobblestone that morning we were thousands but now we’re running home alone nobody was certain in the end we could change anything but we did it anyway but I can see us falling it doesn’t have to be that way I don’t know, I don’t know what it takes to make a change paint a sign, learn the stakes read the books that burn the flags hold my hand, hold that spark that tear gas hit a loving heart I wanna see you look at me that way again

about

Recorded in Berlin at Akkerbouw Studios in the spring of 2022.

All songs were written and composed by Kliffs

Produced and recorded by Daniel Freitag with Kliffs

Album photo: Tina Juelicher
Album design: Hanna Zeckau
Label: Backseat

Website: www.kliffs.ca

credits

released February 9, 2023

after the flattery (2023 Backseat)

The songs for after the flattery were written and shaped during the Covid Pandemic. So much was happening in the world, and with their livelihoods on hold, they had no choice but to observe it and turn observations into songs. With no concerts and lots of time to reflect and refine, as a challenge to themselves, they decided to approach the writing of the album with a general concept for the first time - each song would be a letter; to a sister, a partner, an employer, a doomsday conspiracy theorist, a letter home from the scene of an epic anti-capitalist protest, or to a friend that passed away, among others. They wanted to limit themselves to only use the instruments that they could play themselves. As a result, the assortment of instruments at their disposal greatly influenced the sound of this album as well. Nylon string guitar and cello, synthesizer and voices, flutes, recorders and simple drumbeats, along with clarinet lines performed by Mark who played clarinet again for the first time in over 20 years. With their good friend Daniel Freitag, who recorded, mixed, and co-produced and played on the album, they made their best work yet.

The songs on the album dive into a range of issues that have touched them; from the crisis moment in a personal relationship when honesty becomes the weapon and the medicine (Jackpot); to the ‘trying-to-get-into-the-brain’ of someone who believes in Judgement Day and Armageddon and the righteous fight that involves killing those who are deemed not righteous enough (Alibi) ; to being on the frontline of the Battle of Seattle in 2000 when a military tank pulls up and soldiers start firing pepper gas bullets directly above your head (Helmets) ; to a fundamental feeling of hope in spite of the 24/7 newsreel dominated by war, climate disasters, and economic hardships (Believer) ; to the simple statement that tells the one you love you are here, fully and completely (I’m your man).

The choir at the end of "Dear Jane" is made up of some very beautiful and talented friends. They are:

Nils Ostendorf
Carolina Gomez
Moritz Bossmann
Daniel Freitag
Elia Rediger
Kojack Kossakamwve
Katia Flouest-Sell
Ian Orti

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about

Kliffs Berlin, Germany

Kliffs write recycled tone poems for the perpetually bemused, and pop songs for shy dancers. They channel the quiet of early morning sun rays tickling cloud banks and mix it up with songs better suited to late-night inner city bicycle rides.

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