I think the spaceship is a vinyl record… why else would it be called ‘Decks Dark’? Turntables! Reread the lyrics in this context and it has yet another meaning; as music fans, we all worship great music and kneel before its power. This is just as much about one’s intimate experience with music as it is imagining others experiencing their music, alternatively. He is both the alien ‘spacecraft’ and the ‘helpless to resist’. From this pov, it’s an ode to those who bury themselves in music, and allow it to take them away. You ‘cover your ears’ with headphones.. a face in the glass could easily be a bandmate in the studio, haha. I think the ‘alien’ thread running through the album is Thom consciously trying to flip around the ‘alienating’ label that is constantly pasted on him in a sardonic, satirical way; ‘Desert Island Disk’ does it even more literally—another reference to vinyl. The album is just a broad, beautifully maximalist stroke, which starkly contrasts the pure musicianship of say, ‘In Rainbows’. I hope it's not their farewell.
@maniacafrodisiac really intriguing interpretation. and merely regarding word choice, we get darkness here and light on Desert Island Disk. the album is growing on me. initially wasn't impressed but im coming around.
@maniacafrodisiac really intriguing interpretation. and merely regarding word choice, we get darkness here and light on Desert Island Disk. the album is growing on me. initially wasn't impressed but im coming around.
I think the spaceship is a vinyl record… why else would it be called ‘Decks Dark’? Turntables! Reread the lyrics in this context and it has yet another meaning; as music fans, we all worship great music and kneel before its power. This is just as much about one’s intimate experience with music as it is imagining others experiencing their music, alternatively. He is both the alien ‘spacecraft’ and the ‘helpless to resist’. From this pov, it’s an ode to those who bury themselves in music, and allow it to take them away. You ‘cover your ears’ with headphones.. a face in the glass could easily be a bandmate in the studio, haha. I think the ‘alien’ thread running through the album is Thom consciously trying to flip around the ‘alienating’ label that is constantly pasted on him in a sardonic, satirical way; ‘Desert Island Disk’ does it even more literally—another reference to vinyl. The album is just a broad, beautifully maximalist stroke, which starkly contrasts the pure musicianship of say, ‘In Rainbows’. I hope it's not their farewell.
@maniacafrodisiac really intriguing interpretation. and merely regarding word choice, we get darkness here and light on Desert Island Disk. the album is growing on me. initially wasn't impressed but im coming around.
@maniacafrodisiac really intriguing interpretation. and merely regarding word choice, we get darkness here and light on Desert Island Disk. the album is growing on me. initially wasn't impressed but im coming around.