"Timid Creature" - Evolution of a Song

So I wanted to publish a little back story for each tune on the "Out of Orbit" album, providing the 'inside scoop' if you will, on song histories, lyrical meaning, inspiration, etc. Figured if anyone out there is wondering what the hell these songs are about, it's best to hear it straight from the source. I'll be going in sequence as the songs appear on the album, so today's post is for "Timid Creature".

"Timid Creature" is possibly the eldest song in the Alphanaut catalog, and it certainly is the case on "Out of Orbit". The only other tune that has the same archival depth is "The Best Hasn't Happened Yet" from "The Lunar Age" EP, which was written around the same time. Don't remember which came first at this point. I wrote "Timid Creature" at the end of a painful breakup. The intensity of it all, amplified by youth, caused me to shield myself for a while. The usual defenses system we all go through for protection after such intense split.

As I was writing new material in late 2007 I figured I'd revisit some of my older works, primarily as an excersize to get the creative juices flowing. However, I was also curious to see if there was anything new to rediscover in these songs. "Timid Creature" is one of the few where I directly lifted an element from the original song and carried it over to build the new adaptation around. In this case the base line.

I was fortunate enough to unearth several old cassettes featuring earlier renditions of "Timid Creature". Below are five different versions of the song presented it from it's infancy to it's final state.

v 5.0 - Final Found on "Out of Orbit"
The final version of the song wound up being what I referred to as 'The Monster' when it came time to mixing the album. It was so ambitious in it's scope, that I felt very overwhelmed at times when trying to pull it all together. The song passes back and forth between so many live and sequenced elements during it's five and a half minute journey, that it demanded we attended to it nearly every mix session. The challenges involved; pulsating sequenced rhythms to be matched with real drums, synth bass on the verses changing over to live bass on the chorus, keyboard atmospheres galore, Chavo's guitars, plus my wall of vocals passes, each with their own individual effects. Ultimately, in the end I'm pleased with the result, but NEVER, NEVER, NEVER AGAIN!




v 4.0 - Album Demo of "Timid Creature"
This version represents all my original sequenced parts that were presented to the band for guitar, bass, drums, etc. The vocals were all done in my upstairs bathroom which I converted into a vocal booth for about three months. Other than the obvious alteration of live elements, the biggest thing I changed before the final mix was the sequenced vibraphone part. I felt it was to melodic once Chavo placed his guitars in the mix, so I changed the sound to more of a driving pulse. Also thinned my effects out the break for his guitar solo.




v 3.0 - Earlier Studio Demo
This version is from a project I created with my good friend Greg who played viola and sang backing vocals. We took four songs into the studio recording on 16 tracks with my trusty Mac running what I sequenced at home. We worked under the name "What Noise" which was inspired by one of my favorite 80's bands "Kissing the Pink", though this project never went beyond our demo. I decided to drop the lyrics in the break for the Alphanaut version "Sometimes you're a villan / sometimes your no more / sometimes you're a virgin / sometimes your a whore / sometimes I love you / Sometimes I hate you / but I just can't seem to like you any more". Just wasn't that angry about it these days.




v 2.0 - Early 4 Track Home Recording
This is a slight alteration to what wound up in the studio and was recorded in my living room several months earlier. The main difference here is my friend Janet is on guitar, bass and backing vocal with Greg again on viola. The three of us had been talking about starting a band together but ultimately the timing didn't work for Janet. However a year later Janet and I connected again and formed our band "November".




v 1.0 - First Instrumental Sketch
Here is a short instrumental sketch with me playing around with the song. Very humble beginnings.





"Timid Creature" Lyrics

I want to stay here
Where the silence grows
Where the fires never burn
Where the silence grows

I want to stay here
Where innocence is king
To be removed from everything
Where the silence grows

And when my number
Is called I’ll remember
To write it all down, to write it all down

And when my number
Is called I’ll remember
To throw down my guard
Not to take it so hard

I want to stay here
Behind my fence of stone and wire
In the safety of my room
And watch the timid creature run into the fire

I want to stay here
And while away the thieves
From the shadow that love deceives
Where the silence grows

I want to stay here
Timid creature that I am
Dried from the waters that I swam
Timid creature that I am

And when….

Love can be an energy
Or love can be an enemy
Love is the end of every storm
Love is the end of every storm

Purchase a copy of "Timid Creature" from iTunes