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Hell and High Water

by Napier's Bones

supported by
Dirk Radloff
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Dirk Radloff Take ingredients of classic 70s Prog, particularily of King Crimson and YES, stir this with an atypical Prog-singer with a rocking edge and an amazing talent for dramatic climax, shake it with a gothic story in the tradition of Poe and E.T.A Hoffmann, add at last a splash of audio-drama and clever arranged instrumental parts and you get an album, which will attract all, which still think, that Progressive Rock is not Progressive Metal. Favorite track: No Return?.
thePiecan
thePiecan thumbnail
thePiecan Big Fan the all encompassing Napiers Sound ..amazing Vox,Guitar,Bass SynthMellotron and Storytelling. Actually Bought all their albums now...sooo good! Very professional Sound! Favorite track: Mallerstang Morning.
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1.
Another week, a new assignment Ratings up with every phantom found Goodbye kiss then onto Devon roads Such a Happy Haunting Ground Another well-loved ancient story Handed down through history Like Wistman's Wood, the Hand of Glory They cling to make-believe Discarding age-old superstition On camera captured in full view : If it's there, it's on air Darting by the river, I see the ruined church in silhouette So it's Squire Cabell, his spectral hounds and mausoleum glowing red Sensors all around the tomb, remote connect all seeing eyes Rational sights you can believe, midnight transmission time Presenting only what I find The viewers making up their minds : Success, Speaks for itself An air of mystery, goes a long way A hint of danger, goes a long way A little guidance, goes a long way And who needs certainty? They all prefer it to be this way....
2.
Broadcasting Live, O ruined church what have you seen? Is there anyone there? Can you speak to me? Can you speak to us? We mean you no harm Just give us a sign, the faintest of glows, pass through the bars Now a gathering breeze, tainted with smoke, there's something not right Never felt this before, a gnawing unease has seized me tonight And try as I might My thoughts can't escape from The Squire's Return But the Show must go on Turning in the Fire, Burning on in Hell Driven by the coachmen, of Squire Cabell Focus my mind, trust the machines, the best money can buy Simply relax. stick to the facts, nothing different this time I know shadows can't dance, just a trick of the light recorder's turned on, movement is sensed, no longer alone! Sulphurous mist shrouds the stones, hangs in the air, I hear voices I swear This is no parlour game, sensational claim, this is happening now! And I don't know how Coach wheel shower sparks see! A vision that mocks me! The Squire's Return
3.
No Return? 10:09
Another so-called seeker of the truth, Another Fool in search of wisdom Another Fool demanding proof I care not for your difference engines Machines cannot the truth divine Your petty laws, philosophy In the darkness cannot shine I serve a different master now No chains of sin, no need atone As Doubting Thomas found belief All you have is Death Alone Mark well, no artifice Your monuments and spires crumble, it all comes down to this We, The Hidden Ones, The Veiled Ones, Eternally We, The Hidden Ones, The Veiled Ones, Eternity Now Veiled Thou Art ! *** Children's Rondo : Distant*** In this Half-World, this land of dreams The dark, forbidden realms of sacred mystery Far removed from mortal ebb and flow Condemned to watch, and watch alone, all the life I've known Such a long way, Such a long way Such a long way from home Such a long way, Such a long way I'm so very far from home
4.
Full of pride as Nateby's left behind, on to Mallerstang, all I survey, this morning's mine The mounting light, the silky sky, Precious gifts received with thanks, so debonair am I From place to place, unfettered free I sing my songs, the life I choose, oh this is me Eden's real, I hear her song, Cross Wild Boar slopes, I make my way, lightly skip along Pendragon dwelt here years ago, I quietly bow, breathe the air, I feel I know I ply my trade, I sell them smiles From feast to fete let's celebrate, different names for different times A wandering minstrel I, with fiddle, harp and rogueish smile Bring you news, I'll sing for you, A jester, healer, seer too Gather round beside the fire, I'll perform to your heart's desire Smiling all, a sight to see, You'll not regret the time you spend with me The road is home, the road is life, with courtly grace, a maiden's blush, gallante as any knight Many skills have I acquired, curing palsy, curing gout, banish pains within, without From place to place, unfettered free I sing my songs, the life I choose, oh this is me Past Abbotside as evening falls, I see the lights of village life, time to make my calls Hear thrilling tales as ales are poured, of witches deeds, enchanted sleep, on High Stainmore I ply my trade, I deal in smiles From feast to fete let's celebrate, different names for different times A wandering minstrel I, with fiddle, harp and rogueish smile Bring you news, I'll sing for you, A jester, healer, seer too Gather round beside the fire, I'll perform to your heart's desire Smiling all, a sight to see, you'll not regret the time you spend with me You'll not forget the time you spend with me
5.
I am here to bring you news from distant parts, tales of kings and wars, intrigue at court and darker arts For little more than food and ale and, a nightly bed, I can entertain, inform, distract, why I've heard it said .... **Landlord interrupts** Just one night and I'll be gone, pay my way by singing songs Confusing me with someone else,you...you have me wrong So no-one wants to know and there's nowhere left to go and There's nothing I can say, no room at the Inn No room at the Inn, is there nowhere left for me? Nowhere for me? In the dark I make my own way, as I leave the town behind, With delight, they all refuse me Rejecting difference, not of their kind And as the rain begins to fall it hides the tears on my face I spy the faintest hope ahead, I see the faintest light from a ramshackle place A place called home On the edge of town, a modest farm. As if disowned, remote, closed-in but closed-out, And now it's my only hope Alone ***Tenant Farmers*** Come in inside lad, don't stand out in the rain Room beside the fire lad, for us you'd do the same It's like the Good Book says, we're all neighbours after all We've nothing here to boast about but ..... we're glad you called We'd love to hear your songs but can't afford to pay Only bed and board if you still want to stay There's a rabbit for the pot, and we won't go short of ale So help yourself, take your fill.... let's hear your tale ***** As the final farm receives me, the humblest abode Like some parable of charity, those with least of all, offer most Well I can't summon fire and brimstone but I curse their pride, I curse their town For the tears I wept so bitterly, let calamity rain down Begin the Fall! Pride before a fall Let calamity rain down. on them all Let them sink beneath the gloom, Asleep 'til Doom They cast me out into the night Their wealthy town, their weighty pride Let calamity rain down, on them all I curse them all!
6.
Rain Down 07:06
I can't summon fire and brimstone, but I curse their pride, I curse their town For the tears I wept so bitterly, let calamity rain down This wealthy town, they wear their pride It draws them down 'neath the righteous tide Let calamity reign now, for them all Begin the Fall!
7.
Fond farewell to friends as morning breaks Now their lonely farm the only house by Semerwater Lake Great & Good consumed by their own pride For those with most now all is lost Beneath the righteous tide Yoredale's left behind, I travel free So when it's dark and you hear a knock, it could be me A wandering minstrel I with fiddle harp & rogueish smile Bring you news, I'll sing for you, A jester, healer, seer too Gather round beside the fire I'll perform to your heart's desire Smiling all a sight to see You'll not regret the time you spend you me Oh, you'll not forget the time you spend with me.....

about

Hell and High Water

The Transfiguration ----(1, 2, 3 )
Transfiguration : metamorphosis, an exalting, glorifying, or spiritual change in form or appearance.
A paranormal investigator, rational advocate of evidence & causality, is Devon-bound to debunk another myth for the benefit of his eager TV audience.
Ratings pressure has led him to a compromise between scientific principles and dramatic viewing.
The ruined Holy Trinity Church of Buckfastleigh, is the location for his latest assignment : to find hard evidence relating to the infamous Squire Cabell.

Semerwater : The Fall-(4, 5, 6, 7)
Flood-as-retribution stories are found throughout history in every society and culture. From Sumerian legends to Noah's Ark and Plato's Atlantean accounts, the themes are similar : a natural disaster representing a punishment for human transgressions.
We're travelling to the Yorkshire Dales of Northern England for a local explanation of the origins of Lake Semerwater.
The lead character, one of the last itinerant minstrels, travels between rural villages, earning his living with a blend of news, gossip, entertainment and life-advice.

credits

released March 18, 2016

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Napier's Bones UK

Napier's Bones are a UK band steeped in classic prog and using it as a foundation for their own take on long-form progressive rock music.

The focus is firmly on dramatic storytelling with subjects capable of resonating with today's listeners. Music that references the past but is very much of the here and now.
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