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Fact And Fiction (1982 Studio Recordings)

by Twelfth Night

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leezyrider
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leezyrider A friend introduced me to this album back in '83 whilst we auditioned some nice HiFi in Woods of Wolverhampton, and I've had it on vinyl ever since. The lyrics blew my mind, at the age 16 and I still play it regularly today, but finding it here was such a nice surprise, and now I can play it in my car. Happy indeed.
Carsten Pieper
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Carsten Pieper How could I have missed this album (obviously a neo-prog classic of some acclaim...) for almost 40 years? Some songs strongly remind me of early Marillion (MSH/Grendel-era), although with a little more "edge". Whether that edge was deliberately or due to a stricter budget, I don't know... Taking into account the date of this recording, I'm even not sure, which band influenced the other one more!
An interesting "wavey" feel can't be denied, which doesn't appear that often in things prog! Favorite track: Human Being.
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1.
We Are Sane 10:23
a) Te Dium In upstairs rooms The meals are eaten The cars in the garage ready to go-go Disco baby shed no tear Hot light overhead Shaking meat meet Ho ho weekend, ha ha party Moo moo sacred cow The White House some days On the lawn Well kept pedigree Snap over bones Surplus requirements Appetite angel going down b) We Are Sane Meanwhile below reports flop into the in-trays In-trays Meanwhile below reports flop into the in-trays She stares out of her window Her will is still in bed She has no memory of herself For care has drained her head The poster on the billboard Says she should paint her lips Like the smiles on the TV people File #1 If the thought processes of an individual can be permanently limited to the point of strict conformity to an outside source of thought, the said individual need no longer be considered as such. The enforcement of order becomes possible for anybody with enough power to control what is projected. See? It's all quite simple... Mary! This woman's place is in a home Society has judged She does not fit official standards And they cannot be budged There's something in her eyes that says The struggle's gone too deep And there's no comfort in the thought of Watching acolytes of doubt Try hard to fight their problems out Excess profit has the clout To spread the message We are sane! Not insane! She reads about a will to power In papers full of lies She hears that every time she breathes Some foreign kiddy dies She's convinced it's her fault She's tortured by the strain As words of judgement pour out of the Mouths of those who make their mark By keeping people in the dark Those who bite worse than they bark Are loudly shouting We are sane! Not insane! And the chorus says "It's all quite normal... la-la-la" And the chorus says "It's all quite normal... la-la-la" The choruses... Are happy as they know no different way Except what they've been told today ("Left! Right! Left! Right!") Accepting their limited 'truth' and blankly humming We are sane! c) Dictator's Excuse Me And we are not to blame We must protect the claim Praise those who hold power They shall save the last hour Using sacred science They can stamp out defiance Wheee...! File #2 Technician, we want you to build a component for each of our workers, to be with them always, at all time watch closely, so we can keep track of their actions, their interests, their morals, their time out. Some musak to maim them, some fear to contain them. Policy will judge, them brute forces degrade them. Practical behaviour, the cleanser, the saviour. A private vocation has no sense of nation. The maintenance of power can be so fulfilling Just as long as all the slaves are willing So this is an order: We must curb thought disorder With a miniature transmitter We can Pavlov the litter And train it to do as we tell it State surgeon, the seed plant Thought soon get a new slant So tiny a dogma idea turn to quagmire Thrum-humming transistor a brain wave insister Closed circuit hypnosis an inbuilt psychosis Not one self expression deliberate suppression A cycle to squeeze out anyone who we doubt Will must be pliable to be reliable. Tuned into the media system Picture getting hard to see How did you end up as a prisoner When you were supposed to be free? Oh, wouldn't you like to know? Lebensraum for megalomania Endless song with one refrain All eyes fixed upon the conductor Baton taps inside the brain...
2.
Human Being 07:47
tremulous and quivering such victims as there are contend with emotions under skin without wearing water wings the strike against the stream hopelessly believing they might swim here they all come rushing down again here they all come rushing down again time has hardly swallowed up the evidence how is it they say they did not know that history grows up like a weed doctrine pinned upon it bars across the window destroy human being static mind solidifies can no longer flow up against it's borders and unable to pay much attention to... human being, human being human being, human being when in doubt you turn to find a scapegoat on the wall gaze into the mirror begging pardon if every time we tell a lie a little fairy dies they must be building death-camps in the garden Pacing back and forwards conscience in a box barred in from the sunlight getting pale and losing every sense of... human being, human being human being, human being the forces of oppression forge links around the earth ordering our faces to the floor the wilful non-involvement by hirelings of the crimes is futile and inhuman as before the sum of our best efforts shouldn't lead us back to here on the road to murder where we can no longer admit to any human needing, human feeling human living, human loving human fragile, human being
3.
This City 04:01
The abstracted shapes Of the people's thoughts Different shops and pubs All the cheap facades It is all this city It is all this city Wind shaken trees Half crumbling parks The enquiring eyes Fingers parting lace It is all this city It is all this city Long straggling queues Of the out of work A baby sucking sweets Dribbling down his quilt It is all this city It is all this city All this city
4.
instrumental
5.
TV is switched on The screen reveal a spokesperson Adverts, politics, editing the real Cheap words, money talks Naming itself to be the key To Utopia, Cornucopia To a better world you go buy and buy And if you listen carefully You can hear the bacon fly Don't make me laugh! Don't make me laugh! Don't make me laugh! Don't make me laugh! History shows that policy demands weapons Selfish desires simply lead to pain The chit-chat continues A big pretence that divides Into power blocks Where the orthodox Have a propaganda war to fight And if you're looking closely You can see that black is white Don't make me laugh! Don't make me laugh! Don't make me laugh! Don't make me laugh! If the "unthinkable" should happen And you hear the sirens call Well you can always find some shelter Behind a door against the wall Don't make me laugh! Don't make me laugh! Don't make me laugh! Don't make me laugh!
6.
instrumental
7.
Creepshow 11:50
welcome welcome first today to see the creepshow come see the exhibits but do not touch they cannot bear touch here in the freak show please do not hang back it's hard enough to show people around the creepshow the creepshow first, here on the rack strapped a child's virgin mind we see the careful whitecoats affix their machines veins to the pulsing neck side checking dials they monitor reaction she must love her daddy's banker she must love her daddy's banker for her part in the creepshow the creepshow Amanda, so sad Amanda but let's brush over sadness give her the pills and diagnose madness give her... give her... give her... give her... give her... give her... give her... give her... Amanda Amandahahahahaha! anymore for any more? no! Cyril Has-Or-Might-Have-Been must fill his lust they let him bayonet robots as his morning constitutional to sate his rage unless he feels his age we can't have that! sometimes he'll watch a war-film on the moron machine in the corner of his cell lost in time lost in mind Cyril writhes like smoke his bigot's eyes are slashed skin their expression none the nicer for being blank Amanda, still mad Amanda still sad... "And so ladies and gentlemen, we come to the nerve centre of the whole affair. As you will see, it is a mirror. To some it is the mirror of dreams, where every passion, desire and action flit through the still spaces behind its surface, tantalising yet distant. Of these many stand before it until death. To others, it is distorting, everything in it being warped and buckled by fear, yet perceived as reality. These will cringe before it, wimpering and immobile, though a few batter their skulls against the dull sheen, attempting to smash the horrors they believe are in the glass or at least attain oblivion, whichever comes first. Some see just a mirror, whilst some see what at first appears to be their own image. Which, however, moves them saying 'Come On, Wake up! Who's running this show anyway?'" now it's up to you use your free will you decide yes you! you! you decide whether or not you will return for if you come again you'd better bring your ball and chain unguided embittered attraction of the creepshow the creepshow the creepshow
8.
Love Song 05:40
everybody has wisdom everyone understands food when we are hungry the touch of loving hands no one is anyone's property no one should be a slave the joining of hearts in free will begins a tidal wave don't hold back don't think that hope is pointless love is a, love is a, love is a, love is an open door don't believe that life is closed against us love is a, love is a, love is a, love is an open door and it doesn't make any difference the colour of anyone's skin we need the rejection of prejudice let peace come flooding in jealousy is just a parasite hatred is disease respect for human dignity become skittering wind blown leaves don't hold back don't think that hope is pointless love is a, love is a, love is a, love is an open door don't believe that life is closed against us love is a, love is a, love is a, love is an open door the time is surely coming when we could all be free when eyes for so long blinded in opening shall see that children may grow happily safe in the love of all the earth a fertile garden where nobody need crawl don't hold back don't think that hope is pointless love is a, love is a, love is a, love is an open door don't believe that life is closed against us love is a, love is a, love is a, love is an open door and if it seems that your hoping heart has led you into pain take a tip from the carpenter forgive and love again and again
9.
Being Human 03:45
Tremulous and quivering such victims as there are Contend with emotions under skin Without wearing water wings The strike against the stream Hopelessly believing they might swim Here they all come rushing down again Here they all come rushing down again Time has hardly swallowed up the evidence How is it they say they did not know That history grows up like a weed Doctrine pinned upon it Bars across the window destroy human being Static mind solidifies Can no longer flow Up against it's borders and unable to pay Much attention to... Human being, human being Human being, human being When in doubt you turn to find a scapegoat on the wall Gaze into the mirror begging pardon If everytime we tell a lie a little fairy dies They must be building death-camps in the garden Pacing back and forwards Conscience in a box Barred in from the sunlight getting pale And losing every sense of... Human being, human being Human being, human being The forces of oppression Forge links around the earth Ordering our faces to the floor The wilful non-involvement By hirelings of the crimes Is futile and inhuman as before The sum of our best efforts Shouldn't lead us back to here On the road to murder Where we can no longer admit to any Human needing, human feeling Human living, human loving Human fragile, human being
10.
11.
East Of Eden 03:24
It seems that paradise Has been well locked and barred To all the issues of Adam It seems that children must Pay for their parents crimes Until they wish they never had them The clouds are fabric balls The earth machinery To gather power from the stars Each of us has a gateway Through which infinity calls To touch each victim through their scars We are walking through A kingdom that is found Out here somewhere East of Eden East of Eden East of Eden East of Eden East of Eden
12.
Ah, look at all the lonely people Ah, look at all the lonely people Eleanor Rigby picks up the rice in the church where a wedding has been Lives in a dream Waits at the window, wearing the face that she keeps in a jar by the door Who is it for? All the lonely people Where do they all come from? All the lonely people Where do they all belong? Father Mckenzie writing the words of a sermon that no one will hear No one comes near look at him working, darning his socks in the night when there's nobody there What does he care? all the lonely people Where do they all come from? all the lonely people Where do they all belong? Eleanor Rigby died in the church and was buried along with her name nobody came Father McKenzie wiping the dirt from his hands as he walks from the grave no one was saved All the lonely people where do they all come from? All the lonely people where do they all belong? Lyrics written by Lennon / McCartney.

about

Recorded Summer 1982, Revolution Studios, Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire. Produced by Twelfth Night and Andy Macpherson.
First released December 1982.TN005 (Cassette) & TN006 (LP).

Fact and Fiction took nearly a year to record, being finally released in December 1982. During this time it had gone through numerous changes. We had originally been offered the opportunity to record by the owner of Revolution Studios in Cheshire who had ‘fallen in love with’ our version of The Beatles’ classic Eleanor Rigby and wanted to release it as a single. Our simplified arrangement of the original song, one of Geoff’s favourites, had seemed to offer a good opportunity for us to make a successful cover version. In return we were allowed to record some other songs during studio ‘down-time’.

When we first went into the studios we were planning an album showcasing the two sides of the band – the ability to write shorter more commercial songs as well as the more traditional progressive rock tracks. We originally planned to include Eleanor Rigby, Three Dancers, and East of Eden on the album, and run several of the tracks together.

Recording at ‘Revo’ involved staying at Geoff’s house in Salford (trying not to upset his wife Jane, who provided backing vocals on the album) and using the studio in the late evening and early hours of the morning. By day we would rehearse in his tiny cellar where we had previously written This City and Creepshow.

It was while we were in the studio that we realised ‘progressive rock’ was gaining more media coverage and commercial success. Heartened by this we decided to shift the emphasis of the album; out went Eleanor Rigby and East of Eden, Human Being was rewritten (the tempo was slowed down and a more ‘progressive’ feel applied, and in came World Without End and most significantly Creepshow. Furthermore the album now opened with We Are Sane setting a much heavier progressive tone.

With this in mind we asked Geoff if he could write something with more positive lyrics in order to provide a more uplifting close to the album, especially after the lyrical intensity of Creepshow. So as Clive played him a simple chord sequence Love Song (the track that subsequently became our anthem) was born.

By the time Fact & Fiction was finally released, Rick had rejoined the band and we were firmly set on a course that would see us progress in a few short months from Marquee support band to headline act in our own right. Within a year we had played the Reading Festival for a second time, toured all over the country and recorded a live album chronicling Geoff’s memorable last concerts with the band at a packed Marquee Club. It was arguably the most successful period in the band’s history; it was certainly one of the most enjoyable.

Extracts from Brian Devoil’s sleevenotes to the Cyclops CD release in 2002.

credits

released September 4, 2020

Brian Devoil: Drums, percussion.
Geoff Mann: Vocals, tape effects.
Clive Mitten Bass, keyboards, classical guitar.
Andy Revell: Electric and acoustic guitar.
Jane Mann: Additional vocals (World Without End, Fact And Fiction).

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Twelfth Night UK

Twelfth Night are an English progressive rock band of the 1980s, reformed between 2007 and 2012 and again in 2014.

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