The Trees Are Dead & Dried Out Wait for Something Wild
Encyclopedia
The Trees Are Dead & Dried Out Wait for Something Wild is the début album from SikTh
, released in August 2003 by Unparalleled Records.
About the people who wear a mask with a crooked smile... people who use & destroy other people for their own personal gain... people who have a different face for every person they meet... people who wear a ask & drink from the devil's flask.
Mikee Goodman.
A rant that used to run through my head - not preaching to anyone about how they should live, just giving a different opinion on the majority of people & TV that I see, inspired by planet Earth and all things clean & unclean.
Mikee Goodman.
Written in a comical way about the circles of energy you can create by hugging someone or holding their hand or fingers etc. Doesn't work for everyone - not for the hearts of stone.
Mikee Goodman.
Inspired by the world we live in, how beautiful it can be, and just how horrible it is too - so many good & bad things to reflect on, a few of which are dealt with in this song, each line spiralling off to somewhere new. There's no intention here to talk about recent events as such, it's ore to do wit the search for peace on all different levels, the pacifists way of life. "we sleep, they starve, we eat" refers to famine in the third world countries, and "instead of fighting, why not feed & clothe the poor?" is a famous quote from Bill Hicks
(RIP).
Mikee Goodman.
My dear friend Phil Emerson died on October 5th, 2000. Growing up we had dreamt of making music together... it makes me very sad that he can't be here today to share my achievements. Without Phil's influence, I wouldn't be doing this now. This is my thank you to him.
Dan Weller.
Some people try too hard to involve themselves in the lives of others. This song is about them.
Justin Hill.
About a relationship destined not to work because the people involved aren't sure of their feelings or themselves; the lyrics talk about confusion, lust, paranoia and all the things inbetween - about loosing a lover and not being able to find another one because one of the two can't let go, even though in their heart they know that it's not going to work.
Mikee Goodman.
Dan Foord & James had jammed out a number of different pieces, and I really liked one particular riff & rhythm, so I looped it and sang to it; it sounded cool, so I wrote a poem around it, improvised some ideas to it, then just kept adding various synths & instruments until I felt that it was right. Actually, Dan & James did eventually re-record the loop in a 'proper' studio, but the first version, just a mic in a rehearsal room, although not as good sonically, had a vibe to it that was impossible to match. In the end, that was the one we used.
Mikee Goodman.
The lyrics for what follows are drawn from a character in a book I'm writing. I wanted to use more voices/accents in a song, and since the music here is so frantic and wild, it seems like the perfect chance to bring this plan to life; however, the only way to truly make the characters work was to set them inside a fictional story! So I worked out the story, then all the characters were brought to life, and so was the aforementioned chapter.
Mikee Goodman.
For more see How May I Help You?
.
A song concerned with falling in love... or falling in love then realising it was simply infatuation. The first time you find someone you really care about, it can be deeply a confusing experience, and 'Perfect' deals with this, examining a new emotion that in the end just isn't meant to bear fruit.
Mikee Goodman.
A Song written long, long ago in a darkly humorous manner, STF is brutal in terms of subject matter, inspired by men & women in modern day society. Such The Fool is an extreme, fictional character who is both male & female... take the lyrical content here with a large pinch of salt.
Mikee Godman.
After writing this poem, I knew that it had to be included on the album.
Mikee Goodman.
This track was written and recorded by Mikee over a two-day period, leaving the rough edges on display and the honesty unpolished.
Other personnel
SikTh
Sikth were a progressive metal band from Watford, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom.-Early days:SikTh formed in late 1999, but consolidated their line-up in March 2001...
, released in August 2003 by Unparalleled Records.
Background
- Scent Of The Obscene
About the people who wear a mask with a crooked smile... people who use & destroy other people for their own personal gain... people who have a different face for every person they meet... people who wear a ask & drink from the devil's flask.
Mikee Goodman.
- Pussyfoot
A rant that used to run through my head - not preaching to anyone about how they should live, just giving a different opinion on the majority of people & TV that I see, inspired by planet Earth and all things clean & unclean.
Mikee Goodman.
- Hold My Finger
Written in a comical way about the circles of energy you can create by hugging someone or holding their hand or fingers etc. Doesn't work for everyone - not for the hearts of stone.
Mikee Goodman.
- Skies Of The Millennium Night
Inspired by the world we live in, how beautiful it can be, and just how horrible it is too - so many good & bad things to reflect on, a few of which are dealt with in this song, each line spiralling off to somewhere new. There's no intention here to talk about recent events as such, it's ore to do wit the search for peace on all different levels, the pacifists way of life. "we sleep, they starve, we eat" refers to famine in the third world countries, and "instead of fighting, why not feed & clothe the poor?" is a famous quote from Bill Hicks
Bill Hicks
William Melvin "Bill" Hicks was an American stand-up comedian, social critic, satirist, and musician. His material largely consisted of general discussions about society, religion, politics, philosophy, and personal issues. Hicks' material was often controversial and steeped in dark comedy...
(RIP).
Mikee Goodman.
- Emersion (Pt.1 & Pt.2)
My dear friend Phil Emerson died on October 5th, 2000. Growing up we had dreamt of making music together... it makes me very sad that he can't be here today to share my achievements. Without Phil's influence, I wouldn't be doing this now. This is my thank you to him.
Dan Weller.
- Peep Show
Some people try too hard to involve themselves in the lives of others. This song is about them.
Justin Hill.
- Wait For Something Wild
About a relationship destined not to work because the people involved aren't sure of their feelings or themselves; the lyrics talk about confusion, lust, paranoia and all the things inbetween - about loosing a lover and not being able to find another one because one of the two can't let go, even though in their heart they know that it's not going to work.
Mikee Goodman.
- Can't We All Dream
Dan Foord & James had jammed out a number of different pieces, and I really liked one particular riff & rhythm, so I looped it and sang to it; it sounded cool, so I wrote a poem around it, improvised some ideas to it, then just kept adding various synths & instruments until I felt that it was right. Actually, Dan & James did eventually re-record the loop in a 'proper' studio, but the first version, just a mic in a rehearsal room, although not as good sonically, had a vibe to it that was impossible to match. In the end, that was the one we used.
Mikee Goodman.
- How My I Help You?
The lyrics for what follows are drawn from a character in a book I'm writing. I wanted to use more voices/accents in a song, and since the music here is so frantic and wild, it seems like the perfect chance to bring this plan to life; however, the only way to truly make the characters work was to set them inside a fictional story! So I worked out the story, then all the characters were brought to life, and so was the aforementioned chapter.
Mikee Goodman.
For more see How May I Help You?
How May I Help You?
How May I Help You? is the second EP released by progressive metal act Sikth. The EP features the title track, Suffice and an experimental cover of Nick Cave's Tupelo.-How May I Help You?:"A chapter of a fictional story.....
.
- (If You Weren't So) Perfect
A song concerned with falling in love... or falling in love then realising it was simply infatuation. The first time you find someone you really care about, it can be deeply a confusing experience, and 'Perfect' deals with this, examining a new emotion that in the end just isn't meant to bear fruit.
Mikee Goodman.
- Such The Fool
A Song written long, long ago in a darkly humorous manner, STF is brutal in terms of subject matter, inspired by men & women in modern day society. Such The Fool is an extreme, fictional character who is both male & female... take the lyrical content here with a large pinch of salt.
Mikee Godman.
- When Will The Forest Speak
After writing this poem, I knew that it had to be included on the album.
Mikee Goodman.
This track was written and recorded by Mikee over a two-day period, leaving the rough edges on display and the honesty unpolished.
Track listing
Personnel
Band members- Dan Weller – guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
, pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal... - Pin – Guitar
- James Leach – bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Mikee W. GoodmanMikee GoodmanMikee Goodman is a vocalist best known for singing in the now defunct British metal band, SikTh. Goodman left the band in September 2007.He recorded two full albums and five EPs with SikTh. He was a guest vocalist on the Mercury Prize nominated Bat for Lashes album, Fur and Gold...
– vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, words, synthesizerSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones... - Justin Hill – Vocals
- Dan "Loord" Foord – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
/percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
Other personnel
- Andrew Scarth – audio engineeringAudio engineeringAn audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
- Colin RichardsonColin RichardsonColin Richardson is a British record producer, mixer and recording engineer. He has worked on over 100 albums, and is most frequently associated with heavy metal and its subgenres such as:*Anathema*As I Lay Dying*Behemoth*Bullet for My Valentine...
– mixingAudio mixing (recorded music)In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may... - Paul Hoare & Jakob Nygard - Additional Mixing
- Vlado Meller - Mastering
- Dick Beetham - Additional Mastering, Editing & Compiling
- Paul Chessell - Art Direction & Design
- Jana Leon & Patrick Ryan - Photography