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The New Islands EP

by Rhys Howlett

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1.
The New Islands 03:09
lyrics
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Take me down to the waterline Take me down to the sea Watch me load up the cargo And wave goodbye to me The sun rises over the sails Salt water kisses your knees Seagulls follow the trawler Breathe, baby, breathe The new islands They're coming right out of the water The new islands They're coming right out of the water Skipping like a stone It's rum, old bread and canasta The only question worth asking: Will it make the boat go faster The third day's always the hardest You can make it three days you can make it a year I see clouds break over peaks in the distance No fear, no fear, they're here... The new islands They're coming right out of the water The new islands They're coming right out of the water Don't look back, you never look back The bigger the wake you know the faster the past catches up The new islands They're coming right out of the water The new islands They're coming right out of the water
2.
On a Boat 02:10
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Wanna take you on a boat Anywhere, anytime, the deeper the better Skin on skin, skin is in Anything with you Feel like a kid Thinkin in cliches again... Breathe it in Breathe it in Falling is the easy part But getting up, and staying up After the fall is the hard part But this feels good, easy and good And I can smell you On my favourite t-shirt I breathe it in Breathe it in
3.
Captain's Basket 04:11
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Captain's Basket At the Riverfront Motel The sample bag's shrinking, the waitress is winking Or maybe that's dirt in her eye So many airports and so many roads And everything's under construction And every damn exit I take is the wrong one But I always find my way home I'll plan to be back for sunset But that last call will always come up So I'll eat Spanish Mackerel and head to my room Fill my cup And the stars tonight they are singing And the ocean is hushing the moon And these holes in my boots they just keep getting bigger And I'm pocketing hotel tea spoons Cos that's what you used to do wasn't it babe? You couldn't resist, what a sight My beautiful bride, so smooth, so cunning You slipped away into the night But that was back then, when we were a pair The New New is Now and the sheets are so tight As I lay down my arms in my hotel-made bed I wish you a very goodnight And I'm up in the morning, and back on the road The fog's clearing out of my head "Keep taking the tablets and making the calls" That's what the old salesman said Cos there's no finish line, no end to the game Only more sales to be had More sales, more money, silver tongue dripping honey Til I'm back in that hotel-made bed And the stars tonight they are singing And the ocean is hushing the moon And these holes in my boots they just keep getting bigger And I'm pocketing hotel tea spoons
4.
A Thousand Cuts 03:51
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I’m a whale, stranded, on the shore Hoping this tide’s coming in I’m an insect, crawling, on the floor Wings pulled, no idea how to find my way outside I’m a fox caught in a trap you set Chewing like mad through this leg Cos if I’m still here when the sun rears its head I know I am a goner And it’s death, death, by a thousand cuts Death, death, by a thousand cuts Exposed, bleeding. Each incision Hurts more and less at the same time Till the wait is over And it’s done The final cut is made And it's death, death, by a thousand cuts Death, death, by a thousand cuts
5.
Smoko Dog 02:33
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Woke up, before sunrise Rub the sleep, out of my eyes Spend the morning working and yawning But you won't see me... Til the sound of the thermos opening Biscuit lid turns and I'm hoping Loping in just in time For a spell on the log Call me Smoko Dog If you need me, then I'll stay But I'd prefer a half day Water finds its own level Mine's right here on the hot gravel And why so serious? Why so damn serious? Take a spell on the log Like Smoko Dog

about

This album is about Hope, like letting go of the past and moving forward and searching for The New Islands and hoping things will be better there.
The nautical theme runs strong throughout, I like nautical imagery and things. I think everyone who gets On a Boat is hopeful, hopeful for a good catch or just a good breeze and a safe return home.
I started writing Captain's Basket ten years before recording it, in Tasmania, at the Riverfront Motel, before I even wrote songs. I finished it in Perth, at the Ocean View Motel. In the ten years between I had been married and divorced, and produced two wonderful daughters. Everything in that song is true, Perth is a really hard city to navigate if you haven't driven there much. We did that song in one take, it means a lot to me, it's really a fond farewell and a hopeful glance towards the future.
A Thousand Cuts is the least hopeful of this batch I guess, more of a dissection of how relationships can fall apart. Even though it's kind of a sad one I hope people who relate can take strength from knowing someone else has gone through it and there is life on the other side.
I first heard the expression Smoko Dog when I rocked up late to work one day. A dog you don't see all morning but is always there on cue when it's time for a break and a bite to eat. Kind of my Spirit Animal really. At the first winery I worked for my nickname was Half Day Howlett because once my first daughter was born I usually asked for a half day if there wasn't much to do. Would always rather be home than sweeping leaves for peanuts.
That nickname was given to me by Toppo, you can read and hear more about him on The Eagle on the Hill EP.
So these songs are all very personal but really came to life through the beautiful playing of some incredible people I am lucky enough to call friends. I will always be thankful to them for sharing their talents with me and my songs on this EP. To Sarah, Wolfpanther, Hannah and Aaron - you are wonderful and I thank you. It was a genuine thrill to record with Mick Wordley at his Mixmasters Studios, here's hoping it can happen again one day. And huge thanks to Dexter Campos for mastering - a true gentleman and a very cool chap.
Thanks for reading all the way to the bottom and for listening, hope you like the songs.
Cheers, Rhys.

credits

released March 7, 2016

Songs by Rhys Howlett

Performed by:
Rhys Howlett - vocals, acoustic guitar
Sarah King - violin
Hannah Tunstill - piano, rhodes organ
Wolfpanther - electric guitar
Aaron Farrant - drums

Recorded and mixed by:
Mick Wordley - Mixmasters Studios

Mastered by:
Dexter Campos - Dental Jams

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Rhys Howlett Adelaide, Australia

Songs about people, places, work, identity, hope, home, food, beverages...

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