Source: LifeMusicMedia.com
From the mid to late 90s, I worked at a record tape CD store called Sunrise Records. Sadly, I think a lot of the locations are starting to close down. Funny how music stores never really figured out on how to capitalize on this whole digital music thing using location-based selling. Sucks, because I’m definitely one of those “hold it in your hands” kind of people. You know, the ones who read actual books still, purchase real DVDs, and still have a large CD collection. So it’s a shame really – it makes me sad to think that I never would have been introduced to such a wide variety of music had I not worked at Sunrise.
Around the same time as I worked at the record store, I started to open my ears to a lot of the new electronic music that was coming out. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the more commercial dance music that played at clubs on weekends, but some of the stuff I discovered made it a little more mainstream than I expected. One of the types of electronic music that I became pretty fond of was drum and bass. I fell in love with the sounds that musicians such as Goldie, Photek and Roni Size were putting out. But to this day, one of my favourite drum and bass artists is Lamb.
I first discovered Lamb in 1997 on a compilation CD that MuchMusic released (back when they were still actually playing music videos for more than 50% of their broadcast day). Before the crap that they play today, MuchMusic had such shows as The Wedge, City Limits, and one entitled rU receiving that featured established and up & coming electronic artists from around the world. A CD was released featuring some of the more frequently requested videos from the show, including Lamb’s “Górecki”. The song had only been released earlier that year on Lamb’s self-titled debut album.
The group features singer-songwriter Lou Rhodes and producer Andy Barlow, both of Manchester, England. After three albums, a slew of singles and a greatest hits compilation, the group decided to disband. Good news for me, however, as they announced at the end of 2010 that they would be reforming to release a new album in May of this year. Needless to say, I’m excited for their return.
“Górecki” has been featured in several films, including the use of its lyrics in Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge!, which of course is a favourite of mine considering Ewan McGregor stars in it. Singing no less. The song uses a sample of the second movement of Polish composer Henryk Górecki’s Third Symphony. While the group’s other work is much more drum and bass-focused than this song is, it is easily their most popular. Its haunting lyrics float over a backdrop of beautiful string and key melodies, and atmospheric percussion. Enjoy!
If I should die this very moment, I wouldn’t fear
For I’ve never known completeness like being here
Wrapped in the warmth of you
Loving every breath of you
Still my heart this moment, oh, it might burstCould we stay right here til the end of time
Til the earth stops turning
Wanna love you til the seas run dry
I’ve found the one I’ve waited forAll this time I’ve loved you and never known your face
All this time I’ve missed you and searched this human race
Here is true peace, here my heart knows calm
Safe in your soul, bathed in your sighsWanna stay right here til the end of time
Til the earth stops turning
Gonna love you til the seas run dry
I’ve found the one I’ve waited for
The one I’ve waited forAll I’ve known, all I’ve done
All I’ve felt was leading to this
All I’ve known, All I’ve done
All I’ve felt was leading to thisWanna stay right here til the end of time
Til the earth stops turning
Gonna love you til the seas run dry
I’ve found the one I’ve waited for
The one I’ve waited forWanna stay right here til the end of time
Til the earth stops turning
Gonna love you til the seas run dry
I’ve found the one I’ve waited for
The one I’ve waited forThe one I’ve waited for
The video is an edited version of the song, so I encourage you to seek out the full version if you like what you hear.
Massively Attacked 
I mourn the loss of the “real world”, like you I relish the feeling and excitement of unwrapping a new purchase. The feel of a book in my hand as I flip the pages, the smell of the paper. The tactile vibration in a vinyl record as the needle etches out the music.
It seems those simple things are going away like tears in rain.
So poetic Bob…and entirely too true. Our demands for instant everything are forcing some of us to give up what we love the most…reality!
You worked at a record store? That’s soooo cool. Was it just like Empire Records? Even if it wasn’t, just lie to me.
I did…and it was exactly like Empire Records. Okay, maybe not quite, but it was a very fun time in my life. Being surrounded by music (even crappy music) was a dream come true. Unfortunately, minimum wage doesn’t pay the bills or university tuition, and so I had to move on. But it was still a huge influence on me. Let’s just say, I never would have been able to see the Spice Girls without working there…hehehe…
Definitely cool that you worked in a record store. I loved this post. i’m like you in the fact that I’m a “hold it in my hands” kind of person. I love all kinds of music and can appreciate the artistry behind it all. I love your choice for this post. Thanks for sharing it!
No…thank you! You are the inspiration behind my new weekly Friday music posts! 😉
One of my first jobs between high school and college was working in a camera store, which was next door to a record store…I went in there and bought stuff all the time, because the guy who worked there was cute! Coincidentally, he dropped in to see me today (we’re still friends 30 years later).
I liked this group too…thanks for introducing me to it, Suzanne…
Wendy
Some of Lamb’s other stuff might be a little strange compared to this song, but you might also want to try finding a song called Gabriel…it’s just beautiful…
Funny enough, I think I started applying for jobs at the record store because I had a crush on one of the employees too! We still chat to this day too…ah music…makes the world go round…
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