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Astrachan

by Astrachan

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1.
Ladakh 04:00
Your eyes (your eyes) Your eyes are green in the rain Sometimes you feel it We really want things to change One moment there the next I fly back it happened too fast a jolt from the past I wish all of our times would never end You said to me let's remember this Send me away with a kiss One moment there the next moment's gone It happens too fast nothing will last What to tell her from the other side?
2.
After Time 03:04
After time Go to work Meet my friends Read the bad news All the time All the way Hold my breath Feel the heat feel my body Any time After time Go to sleep Have it all and have nothing After time Waking up Getting dressed Let a sigh out (Let a sigh out) Going back (Going back) Draping the curtains (Draping the curtains) Down the stairs Making tea On the couch Check the clock Left too late After time Missed the bus (Missed the bus again) Walk it off (Walk it off) Missed the call Missed my purpose
3.
Sierra Song 02:00
I have made up my mind I am going out west To the peaks with my friend a mountainous guest Don't fret I'll be home after all this is done You can bet we'll bring back a spiraling sun It's all right We'll leave first light Take my hand Hold it tight White ridge tops as far as I can see We will walk to the base underneath the pine trees Overhead the crest pops over the clouds As we pass by the birds we will keep our heads bowed. It's all right We'll leave first light Take my hand Hold it tight
4.
Scandal 04:53
Someone else is me I know it It's so hard to admit it It is such a scandal that we see each other different Isn't it a comfort that we depart in love I have doubts all the same I have vision It's so hard not to lose it It is such a scandal that we see each other different Isn't it a comfort that we depart in love If we had it our way, we'd be spring buds all around Open to the sunshine, and rooted to the ground Spreading like the wild grass Soaking up the sound Closer to the earth And homeward bound If we had it our way
5.
Sivan Song 01:51
Oh how was it today When you went out For the first time Since we said goodbye Oo take your first steps Into the sun Oh none of it is fun Unless you open your heart Speak out loud And slacken your grip Oo take your first steps Into the sun
6.
I understand that I won't be found (I know now) It's something we've all been feeling. All together, and all at once. Oo it's all too much Out of tune out of touch Oo what's that sound? The beat of my feet flat on the ground Oo what's that sound? The sound of the wind flowing westward bound Missed out on attention Hit the tune from the start Rewind it just this once Oo it's all too much Out of tune out of touch Oo what's that sound? The beat of my feet flat on the ground Oo what's that sound? The sound of the wind flowing westward bound Oo what's that sound? The beat of my feet flat on the ground Oo what's that sound? The sound of the wind flowing westward bound
7.
Kimball Sun 03:30
There's a wind on Kimball street and its nipping at my feet so I turn and I face the east Oh it's coming through the trees The writing's on the wall But the wall's about to fall I have learned how to heed the call Now I know to receive it all I ask yes I ask as I bask in the Kimball Sun. What should I do, what would you have me do? Put a smile on a face In a cool and cloudy place Is this gale a trace? Will I ever see you face to face? How can I help? I want to feel your embrace Sometimes in deep introspection you can let go of love (let go of love) and feel it course from above Every gust of wind from the sky is a blessing in my eyes a blessing in my eyes. Put a smile on a face In a cool and cloudy place Is this gale a clue? What should I do? How should I help? What can I give to you? Is this gale a trace? Will I ever see you face to face? How can I help? I want to feel your embrace There's a breeze in palmer square and it's tugging at my hair I am wary but I face the glare I can't help it so I stare
8.
The Key 03:32
What is the key that we all sing To their blank stares who hears its ring Where is the path to your big heart Was it drawn out where do I start Again start again begin and release your chin From the grips of the fools who wash their feet What is the key that we all try To shout out loud who hears its cry Who kept the chart that shows the start Of the bright path into your heart Again start again begin and release your chin From the grips of the fools who wash their feet
9.
Shorebirds 02:04
Last night I held your hand Went to the smoldering sands Sat down under laurels and pines Sunsets a glistening shine The sandpiper calls in the night I kiss your eyes I know why the shorebirds cry After the moondark falls We lay as the kingfisher calls Walk back to our shack on the blue Sit down our feelings renewed The sandpiper calls in the night I kiss your eyes I know why the shorebirds cry
10.
Wiggle 03:28
When you're running and you're gunning And you've got no place to go You will find that I'm right there Almost every time you're low So why don't you just open up the door You were riding round and driving All around the eastern globe (eastern globe) Sitting inside little cafes writing down your earnest fears Freaky thoughts Holed up messing with you lots And I know that you're scared all the time That's not to say you're not the strong one when we're alone What's the matter? Are you glad or have you lost your silly ways? I'm not trying to keep buying into your long and sad days. So open up your heart To what could be Your favorite part

about

Astrachan is the solo recording project of Berta Bigtoe’s Ben Astrachan. Ben is an indie rock tapehead based in Chicago whose music channels Old Masters such as George Harrison and Cat Stevens, with an eye toward newer acts like Drugdealer and Dr. Dog. From the months of May to November 2020, Ben experimented with a hybrid recording style that marries analog and digital modalities while reflecting on his recent bumblings across Nepal, Jammu Kashmir, and the American backcountry. His self-titled debut album, recorded at his Logan Square kibbutz and at his Treehouse Records studio, is the fruit of that endeavor.

credits

released May 7, 2021

Ben Astrachan - Wrote, recorded, and engineered all the tunes
Austin Koenigstein - Bass on Kimball Sun; flute and saxophone sound engineer on Ladakh and Wiggle; background vocal arranger and singer on Wiggle
Ryan Gebhardt - Bass on Scandal
Jackie Smook - Vocals on Ladakh, Kimball Sun, and Wiggle
Kaelan Lynch - Vocals on Ladakh, Kimball Sun, and Wiggle
Cameron Davis - Vocals on Kimball Sun
Jackson Zinn-Rowthorn - Lyrics Editor Oo! What's That Sound? and on Kimball Sun
Dan Janis - Horns on Ladakh, After Time, Kimball Sun, The Key, and Wiggle
Sivan Spector - Lyrics editor on Ladakh
Sam Dunlap - Trumpet on After Time
Rachel Winslow - Picture Credit
Michael Astrachan - Album Art
Jude Shuma - Tape Help on After Time
Kellen Boersma - Tape Transfers on After Time
Adam Thein - Masters and Stem Masters

Special thanks to Max Brink and Mike Novak at Chicago Electric Piano Company for the Wurlitzer and Rhodes help over 2019 and 2020.

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Astrachan Chicago, Illinois

Ben Astrachan (He/Him) is a musician based out of Chicago, IL. He plays in three other bands: Berta Bigtoe, Astro Heart, and Porkomorph. He was the Cofounder of all three! It's pronounced
"Astra-Can."

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