Rome Burns

The Static Murmur

Mon, 09 Nov 2015 18:44:00 +0100

After many, many years - the lyrics for The Static Murmur are here

1. Escapology

You make it so easy –

Misdirect me, misdirect me.

Thunderflash and flourish,

And I vanish,

It’s not commitment, sense or sentiment,

- It’s true it isn’t you,

It’s me, it’s fate, it’s a character trait,

I must escape.

- chorus -

Wholly slaves or wholly free,

Not much choice to move between,

But if I must I bust the locks,

Leave the jacket in the box,

Bust the locks. Loose the chains,

Wholly slaves to rearrange,

Their lives in perfect hindsights… and empty spotlights.

Lead on Macavatie –

Misdirect me, misdirect me.

Too much going on,

And I’m gone,

It’s not commitment, sense or sentiment,

- It’s true it isn’t you,

It’s me, it’s fate, it’s a character trait,

I must escape.

- middle 8 –

- chorus -

2. Boddhidharma

Patience died in her sleep,

I know. I was there at her funeral.

A friend of mine read the Eulogy,

- It was beautiful.

We heard that she would rise again,

So we buried her nice & shallow,

A cup of coffee at her feet,

For when she wakes up on the morrow.

Chorus

Waiting for an answer for a question I forget,

Kicking heels and counting petals, she’s not ready yet,

I cannot rest, in case I’m pressed to serve her anyway I can,

I’ll be ready, I’ll be set, I’ll be damned.

A rose-coloured visionary’s tale,

A memory: a mythology,

Rewriting the past; a regular task,

Prescribing a one-a-day deity.

But that was all well and good,

And if it was right it was rationed,

I’d sit and stare or play solitaire,

And sometimes I’d play patience.

Chorus

Waiting for an answer for a question I forget,

Kicking heels and counting petals, she’s not ready yet,

I cannot rest, in case I’m pressed to serve her anyway I can,

I’ll be ready, I’ll be set, I’ll be damned.

Middle 8

I will no longer stand in line ‘till you are mine.

I will no longer watch the clock-hands dance the hours that time demands.

I’m in denial. I missed the trial. I went straight to the sentence.

I’ve lost my, I’ve lost my, I’ve lost my patience

Chorus

Waiting for an answer for a question I forget,

Kicking heels and counting petals, she’s not ready yet,

I cannot rest, in case I’m pressed to serve her anyway I can,

I’ll be ready, I’ll be set, I’ll be damned.

3. Then Janus

I cannot seem to make you laugh,

I only seem to bring you tears,

I bring you symbols, books and songs,

And tattered souvenirs,

And you look upon these treasures,

Without so much a smile,

We look each other over,

And cry awhile.

Chorus

All I want’s a Panacea,

A remedy for the tears,

A promise to erase the source,

Eradicate the years,

Turn away the threatening storm,

And leave no more the stain,

Of the time we told each other,

That it was only rain.

I can no longer make you cry,

And I still can’t make you laugh,

And something atrophies in here,

The symbols break in half,

And the treasures are reburied,

No marker will remain,

To remind us of each other,

And let us cry again.

Chorus

Middle 8

Double Chorus

All I want’s a Panacea,

A remedy for the tears,

A promise to erase the source,

Eradicate the years,

Turn away the threatening storm,

And leave no more the stain,

Of the time we told each other,

That it was only rain.

Cork and flax and sealing wax,

Nothing seems to stop the flow,

But something born of tablet-form,

May give some control,

Turn away the threatening storm,

And leave no more the stain,

Of the time we told each other,

That it was only rain.

4. Coordinates of Control

Set aside, your pride, and move along,

I’ll find a place, a space for you,

A million sounds and each a song,

Between the notes, a space for you,

I’m trapped in your gravitational pull,

Newtonian body, I’m attracted to,

The un-iverse is growing full,

But there is still some space I know…

-chorus-

The remainder won’t go,

No cold-hearted love of geometry,

Will ever help me to know,

The shape of your soul,

The scale of your influence over me,

Coordinates of control.

The remainder won’t go,

No cold-hearted love of geometry,

Will ever help me to know,

The shape of your soul,

The scale of your influence over me,

Coordinates of control.

-short break-

On a pin, they begin, to spin and grind,

I’m sure I’ll find a space for you,

And every step is one towards,

The universal face of you,

Between the atom and the cloud,

A loud and violent space I know…

-chorus-

-middle 8-

Heaven’s here, I fear that so is Hell,

But just as well there’s space for you,

And there’s a mansion made for two,

Space for me and space for you,

Four chambers painted red and blue,

A prime location: a space for you,

And in each room there is a view,

A vista made for you on show…

-2xchorus-

5. Rebecca Eureka

This is the theme of the film of the same name,

An audible echo,

Rebecca Eureka,

A radio or Geiger counter,

Writing morse code odes about her.

Once was urban now is feral,

Infrequent mild peril.

Once was urban now is feral,

Infrequent mild peril.

This is the theme of the film of the same name,

Bypassing the censor,

Rebecca Eureka,

A cry beneath the static murmur,

When I set antennae to her,

An interval in verse integral

Infrequent mild peril.

This is the theme of the film of the same name,

Red Letter Rebecca,

Rebecca Eureka,

A cry beneath the static murmur,

When I set antennae to her

- middle 8 -

- quiet bit -

This is the theme of the film of the same name,

A tabula rasa,

Rebecca Eureka,

Enigmatic selfless creature,

Non-existent we invent her.

A hollow echo an empty vessel,

Infrequent mild peril.

Carefully hidden in peripheral vision,

Infrequent mild peril.

6. Tears of the Avalanche Girl

As fickle as an icicle, as brief as morning frost.

Or as permanent as firmament above the winter gloss.

Her tears take several thousand years to melt into the sea,

And take away all that she has lost.

-Short break-

Franz Josef climbed a precipice, to present an edelweiss bouquet,

But she would not abandon vigil: sent the emperor on his way,

Her tears are frozen into place across her stern and terminal face,

She cannot change the season and she’ll never leave this place.

As fickle as an icicle, as brief as morning frost.

Or as permanent as firmament above a winter gloss.

Her tears take several thousand years to melt into the sea,

And take away all that she has lost.

Stay alert, Say you will, Stay a little longer,

She resides on mountainside, there’s nothing in the valley for her,

Cloud children play around her throat and whistle sharp eroded notes,

Some pains will ease, but some men leave too soon to wrap in winter coats.

As fickle as an icicle, as brief as morning frost.

Or as permanent as firmament above the winter gloss.

Her tears take several thousand years to melt into the sea,

And take away all that she has lost.

-middle 8-

As fickle as an icicle, as brief as morning frost.

Or as permanent as firmament above the winter gloss.

Her tears take several thousand years to fall upon the ground below,

And in the snow she makes a show of staying so much longer,

She will not go. She says she knows that she is fated to belong there,

Above us all, in ice-white shawl, she laments the tragic cost,

The heavy price, the sacrifice, the line that she has crossed,

The risk she took, the lover she has lost.

7. Splitting Adam

Double jointed honest men stab themselves in the back,

I’ve been busy – gently imploding.

Streets are deserted - the pavements are cracked,

I smash the mirrors – gently imploding.

Shallow breaths and shallow thoughts,

Conspiracy of cosmonauts,

Any storm in every port,

Let me go.

Shallow breaths and shallow thoughts,

All is crosses all for nought,

We weren’t saved we were caught.

Let me go.

Go find a friend for a house that’s condemned,

The boundaries are eroding,

Between futile actions and what I intend,

Smashed again – gently imploding.

Shallow breaths and shallow thoughts,

Conspiracy of cosmonauts,

Any storm in every port,

Let me go.

Shallow breaths and shallow thoughts,

All is crosses all for nought,

We weren’t saved we were caught.

Let me go… to pieces.

-middle 8-

I’ve mislaid the part of the brain or the heart,

The off-switch that’s marked – gently imploding,

Now I am stopped I’m unlikely to start,

I’m counting backwards - gently imploding.

Shallow breaths and shallow thoughts,

Conspiracy of cosmonauts,

Any storm in every port,

Let me go.

Shallow breaths and shallow thoughts,

All is crosses all for nought,

We weren’t saved we were caught.

Let me go… to pieces.

8. The Writing’s on the Wall

You can hide; you can avoid the question,

You can spin the truth in bizarre arrangements,

Talk and talk and talk and say nothing at all.

If I’m vague; it’s only natural,

There’s little at the core that’s pure and factual,

I’m fighting but the writings on the wall.

The writing’s on the wall, (denying)

Cassandra’s on the dole, (and crying)

Delphi’s in the DMZ,

Under strict U.N. control,

Certainty conformity,

Spreading like a plague,

I would like to reassure you,

But I’m a little vague.

If I speak - with ambiguity,

Because maybe, possibly, probably,

The odd adverb is what we all deserve,

It’s not weak; it’s not a character flaw,

It’s probably not worth fighting for,

But I implore the principle preserve.

The writing’s on the wall, (denying)

Cassandra’s on the dole, (and crying)

Delphi’s in the DMZ,

Under strict U.N. control,

Certainty conformity,

Spreading like a plague,

I would like to reassure you,

But I’m a little vague.

Middle 8

The writing’s on the wall, (denying)

Cassandra’s on the dole, (and crying)

Delphi’s in the DMZ,

Under strict U.N. control,

Certainty conformity,

Spreading like a plague,

I would like to reassure you,

But I’m a little vague.

Pause

Certainty conformity,

The plague begins to grow,

I would like to reassure you,

But I’m a little – I don’t know.

9. Allegiance Lies

Allegiance Lies,

The words of diplomats and spies,

Allegiance Lies.

Allegiance Lies,

Tell me truly where your,

Allegiance lies.

Come to me my friend my saviour,

Tell me what I need to hear,

Is your heart and head aligned together,

Are your motives clean and clear,

Which side do you really favour?

Are you true or are you quisling,

Come to me as friend and saviour,

Bring me gifts a Greek might bring.

Allegiance Lies,

The words of diplomats and spies,

Allegiance Lies.

Allegiance Lies,

Tell me truly where your,

Allegiance lies.

I won’t believe what they say about you,

They can’t see what I see,

No matter what, I’ll always trust you,

Turn my back on jealousy,

You will never turn against me,

Never raise a hand in anger,

You’ll remain the same,

But whose the similarly dressed stranger.

Allegiance Lies,

The words of diplomats and spies,

Allegiance Lies.

Allegiance Lies,

Tell me truly where your,

Allegiance lies.

Allegiance Lies,

Close your Peter Lorre Eyes,

Allegiance Lies.

Allegiance Lies,

Tell me truly where your,

Allegiance lies.

Denial, dear denial,

I've known you now so long,

That I put my heart on trial,

But the cardiograph went wrong,

Now the couples are departing,

I guess that’s what you get,

When the cardiograph's maintaining,

That we never even met.

10. Biding Time

It’s worse than how it first appears,

If we succumb to our worst fears,

It’s bound to end in tears,

The condemnation of our peers,

Interest groups will interfere,

All accounts are in arrears,

Apathy my dear where is your sting,

When we’re better off doing nothing.

Side-lined in the biding time,

We were in the watch and wait and see,

In the biding time,

Biding time until the what will be.

This is how we face the end,

We smile the better to pretend,

We’re happy making do or mend,

We can’t talk back, we wont offend,

The Front line fails and so defend,

The dying embers we attend,

Apathy my friend where is your sting,

When we’re better off doing nothing.

Side-lined in the biding time,

We were in the watch and wait and see,

In the biding time,

Biding time until the what will be.

11. Never Reign

In clerical black, in study sat, in candle soot and smoke,

And little else but library shelves of dark and living oak,

He had no need of friends, indeed had little to endear us,

To helioscopes and heliotrope bags containing mirrors.

Two line pause.

-Chorus-

Black wings are closing in,

Another line of questioning,

A futile gesture,

Defend your own agenda

Knowledge is its own reward, the pen a sword to cut away,

The veils of fog that dog the thoughts of theorists of the day,

The practical must never fall for petty goals: must never reign,

Must keep control, a modest role, anything else is strange.

-Chorus 2-

I will not feature -

In your agenda –

It is unnatural to be social (I’m not that creature),

I didn’t come to do good works,

I didn’t come to save the world,

I am not destined for the girl,

I keep my own council (I keep my own council).

He relents but consequence is only a fingertip away,

And who will pay the piper, who will bow and who’ll obey,

The king may claim to rule again on indignant wings of scorn,

He resents his eminence, neither bishop king nor pawn (he will not play).

-Chorus-

12. Past the Embarkation Point

The passengers begin to pale, prepare to set their minds and sail,

Relax and drown their sorrows in a G&T or two,

And here and there, I might have caught a glimpse of something overboard,

But no one gave a second thought to what it was or who.

A mental drain, a Lethe lane, nostalgia passed the other way,

All those bitter memories are caste aside a-stream,

I lost your hand in the crowd, then lost myself and then aloud,

I mouthed out a wordless shout; there were no words to scream.

I – need to stop this trip, to get a hold and get a grip,

I can’t erase just bad days; I cannot pick and chose,

The bathwater and baby boy, are cast aside with mindless joy,

I’d rather reclaim every pain than live a life to lose.

I killed the crew and captain so, to turn the ship against the flow,

And now it all comes back to me; a river like a scar,

Now every possibility has it’s own validity,

I passed the embarkation point and clearly went to far.

This isn’t Hell but you can see it from here,

I cannot tell what is real, I fear,

I’ve too much information,

I don’t need to know.

(Information overload

Information overload

Information overboard

Information overboard)

Too much information I don’t need to know.

The beginning of the end...

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 15:14:00 +0100

It’s with a heavy heart that we announce that the next two gigs (Leeds on the 1st September 2012 and London on 22nd September 2012) will be Rome Burns’ last ones.

I think we achieved most of the goals we had when we started. We kept making music that no one else could have made (or should have made!?). We’ve headlined gigs and festivals. We’ve shared stages with icons and idols. We’ve had a lot of fun, learnt a lot, worked with some talented and amazing people and hopefully made some small but positive changes to peoples’ minds and hearts through the power of obscure lyrics and a few minor chords.

The good news is that these final two gigs will have a bit of a fun reunion feel as we’ve dragged Tori out of retirement to play bass for us. There are also some post Rome Burns project discussions going on but we are all sworn to secrecy about these.

Do not mourn, just keep the bar open for a long and glorious wake

~Simon Satori (spokes bohemian for Rome Burns)

Rome Burns to play Leeds on 1st September

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 16:56:00 +0100

Yes folks... after a long break the band return to stage with two September dates and a three piece line-up... First off the bat see the band headlining a four band line-up at Flock in Leeds...Rome Burns weave art, electronic rhythms and live instruments to produce a complex post-punk tapestry. Described by Mercer as the UK's most charming alternative band, he continues "their music can at times be rawly invigorating while at others takes on a more soothing glow, dazzling you with restraint and the best lyrics in the UK Goth scene". The band will be debuting their new line-up at this gig!

http://www.romeburns.co.uk/

Cold In Berlin are translators of our imploding society. The Artrocker favourites' new single (produced by James Aparicio whose credits include Depeche Mode, Nick Cave and Liars) fills the void between post punk and grunge. Capturing the bands raw dynamics, "The Lie" combines hard as nails guitar, moody tribal drums and Maya's pointed lyrics picking away at life on the fringes of society. Notorious for their riotous and wild live performances, the East London band have an incendiary energy reminiscent of early grunge and even earlier no-wave, like Siouxsie Sioux smacking you in the face with a Mudhoney record.

http://www.coldinberlin.com/

Terminal Gods formed in the summer of 2011. They quickly released a self produced demo EP, stocks of which quickly depleted. The band have been playing live on a regular basis in some of the dodgiest dive bars in London (not to mention an incredible performance at Flock last October), playing songs that combine an air of swaggering rock’n’roll machismo with aloof post-punk melodrama, all the while maintaining an amount of wry pop sensibility. The band's fortunes are steadily on the rise and after the successful release of their first single, "Electric Eyes", TG are back on the run up to their next 7".

http://www.terminal-gods.co.uk/

The Jan Doyle Band play minimalist post-punk synthesiser music for the dark hearted. Taking influences from Siouxsie and the Banshees and Front 242, they forged their unique songs from lyrics scribbled in long forgotten school exercise books.

http://www.facebook.com/jandoyleband

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Doors 7pm, first band onstage 7:30pm, clubnight from 10:30pm
£5adv which includes entry to "Flock!" clubnight.

Tickets available online here:
http://www.sheepish.net/tickets

London September date added

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 11:50:00 +0100

The first official news of one of our September gigs has just emerged. Keep your eyes peeled. More information for September’s excitement will come soon.

Vagabond Undead presents: Attrition, Twa Corbies, Rome Burns

Saturday, September 22, 2012
at Slimelight
Electrowerkz, 7 Torrens Street, EC1V 1NQ London , United Kingdom

We're hosting three excellent bands, Rome Burns's first live show in some time, Neo-Folk legend Tony Wakeford (Sol Invictus) is performing with his side project Twa Corbies and the amazing Attrition. We'll also be introducing DJ Kittybitter.

Free admission into Slimelight after the gig.

Early Bird Tickets: £12.00 We'll offer a total of 100 tickets on this offer, so get in fast.

On the door: £18.00

*ADDED NEWS: Tony Wakeford has very kindly offered a free CD to the first 30 people buying tickets for the gig!

For tickets: www.nochex.com - to djpaulsticks@gmail.com (please mark the payment 'Gig' to avoid confusion).

--Sticky-- Current Gig List

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 10:51:00 +0100

Here's the Current Gig list

September 2012

Rome Burns shall be playing the following dates:

Saturday 1st September at The Library (Leeds)

Saturday 22nd September at Slimelight (London)

Nevla Leaving Rome Burns

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 10:02:00 +0100

It is with a heavy heart and a light tail-wind that Rome Burns say goodbye to Nevla.

Tallist and skinniest guitarist that Rome Burns have ever used and abused Nevla is leaving penniless and with a bad whiskey habit to help out a bit with Last July but mainly to be a father.

Currently the band have good money on the child being called Ibanez if it's a boy and Alice (after Alice Cooper) if it's a girl.

Nevla's last official Rome Burns gig will be in Leeds on January 28th and will commence with Nevla climbing into a giant wicker hedgehog. The rest of the band will then set fire to him and dance around his burning pyre singing Cliff Richard's songs... but don't tell Nevla about this... it'll be a secret just between us, ok!

Rome Burns - Coming to a Leeds near YOU

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 10:14:00 +0100

Rome Burns have been booked to play in Leeds on 28th January at "The Library" on Woodhouse Lane. Tickets £4 in advance, doors 19:30 and support from "The Marching Men"

Flyer below

New Rome Burns photos

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 10:08:00 +0100

A few weeks ago, Rome Burns played at Nambucca in London. The venue had a great cellar/backstage area, and this seemed the perfect spot for an impromtu photoshoot, courtesy of SteveK

Rome Burns Do London on 12Nov2011

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 12:31:00 +0100

Rome Burns, Last July, Nosferatu, Ghosts of Lemora & Dyonisis at Nambucca, November 12th 2011.

Five bands play at Nambucca at Holloway Road.

Doors open at 1900hrs.

The music will be amazing, the crowd friendly and peculiar... and you get the chance to see if playing in two bands, one immediately after the other, will shred Nevla's fingers to a bloody pulp.

Obviously it'll be a pain for him but I think it will be a great show!!!

More info here...

Rome Burns Headline German Festival... sort of!

Wed, 07 Sep 2011 13:08:00 +0100

According to this article Simon Satori Hendley entertained the British travellers to the Mera Luna Festival in Hildesheim, late on the Saturday night

An impromptu small-scale acapella affair but as the last vocals of the evening it does officially mean that Rome Burns (and the wonderful Dyonisis, who brought guitars and luscious melodies over from blighty) headlined over the likes of Qntal, Mesh and Within Temptation!

DV8 Fest Review

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 11:59:00 +0100

Rome burns had a triumphant return to gigging, after far to long away, at the DV8 Fest in york a few weeks ago.

Don't take our word for it, there's a review of the night over at Dominion Magazine...

It's not that often Rome Burns perform these days, a lot of murmuring amongst the attendees suggests they thought they'd split up. Perhaps this is their 'comeback'? Which would be nice, because bands like Rome Burns are never disappointing. In front man Simon Satori they have a charismatic and friendly personality, who often reacts warmly with the crowd which means you can't help but notice him. Tonight he's wearing a very distinct black and white suit, just in case you missed him. What's also special about him is his distinct voice, a unique blend of sound that's relatively high pitched. Of course, enough about Simon - the rest of the band are in good sound also, Nevla taking great pleasure in shredding out riffs, new bassist Heather hiding badly behind Daevid on the right.

It's a mixed set tonight encompassing the 'Non-Specific Ghost Stories' and 'Static Mumur' albums. '...Ghost Stories' was many critics 'album of the year' in 2004 and with tracks like 'Seeking Mr Hyde' and 'War of the Pygmies' still doing justice it's still looking justified.

Read the full review here:
http://truecultheavymetal.com/index.php/dominion/2011/08/02/live-review-dv8-fest-2011-saturday

Rome Burns confirmed for DV8 Fest

Tue, 31 May 2011 19:07:00 +0100

Details of Rome Burns's performance (and forty five or more other bands!) are now posted up on the DV8 website.
Click HERE for the website

Rome Burns will be playing at The Stereo, York on the 23rd July with Voltaire, Ghostfire, Alice Moving Under Skies and Savoy Ballroom. It should be great show... and if you're around on the Friday you can also see Nev performing with Last July at the same venue!

Rhombus Burns?

Wed, 04 May 2011 10:02:00 +0100

Simon will be appearing with along with Rhombus and other musicians for a one off show in honour of World Goth Day on the 22nd May at The Dev in London

For more details, please visit Dominion Magazine

Nevla's appearances with Last July

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 15:23:00 +0100

The next few gigs featuring Nevla playing with Last July are the 7th and 8th of April

Last July @ The Cornerhouse, Cambridge
Thursday at 7:30pm
231 Newmarket Road, Cambridge CB5 8JE
http://www.reverbnation.com/show/4121895

Last July @ Club Incarnate
Friday at 8pm
St Nicholas Centre, 4 Cutler Street, Ipswich, SFK, UK IP1 1UQ
http://www.reverbnation.com/show/4016533

Hope some of you can make it!

Nevla and Last July

Wed, 13 Oct 2010 12:16:00 +0100

Nev is pleased to announce that amongst his other pleasures and duties he has joined Last July

If you haven't yet heard of Last July, golisten to their stuff now. It's good stuff.