Office Ringtones

Full on fate
Our heads are drooping
And “I’m barley listening”
To your request
I’m watching windows flyby
As you mention it for the fourth time (replace this time)

I hear what you’re saying
But I’m not really listening
Why am I in this mess?
I couldn’t tell you and I care even less
You are my purpose here: I will do all I can
And answering this call could be the one I like (replace this time)

You’ve lost all sense of reality
What is the possibility of mortality?
A man with no grasp of the concept
Have I told you that I couldn’t care less?
And maybe I can see
Why I shouldn’t be here
I shouldn’t be here

The office ringtone rings again

You’ve lost all sense of reality
What is the possibility of mortality?
A man with no grasp of the concept
Have I told you that I couldn’t care less?
And maybe I can see
Why I shouldn’t be here
Why I shouldn’t be here

The office ringtone rings again
‘cos you’re all wired to the world
And I’m the only one left
“I will do all I can sir”
But what I really want to say...
Will have to wait for another day

Will have to wait for another day
Will have to wait for another day
Will have to wait for another day

Stephen 'Kokanez' Caines

Lost People Part I

After months and months of shouting at my mum whilst she watches X-Factor, dancing on Ice and other brain damaging drivel. I was thinking, Am I alone, does anybody else do this or just hate these 'reality' programmes.

After numerous conversations with the Black Whale and loathing with Sir David of Laley. I realised that my two closest mates were that for a reason.

X-Factor is designed to find future singers of this country and start a blossoming career which will see a once dinner lady performing in front of thousands. The idea seems good. Bringing the country's talent out of the woodwork. Allowing them to work alongside some of the biggest selling artists in the world. How can they fail?

Well, that's the whole point. These 'nobodies' are watched for months, engraved into the viewer’s minds. Stories to make you weep (if you have the emotional age of a 3 month old kitten), songs to make you go "WOW". The contestants are whittled down over the months and months and months and...There’s a winner who has been chosen by the shallow, blind public.

Anyway, I think you know how the show works but once the winner gets their five trillion pound contract. The money has been made from 13 million morons voting for someone who 'lost their best friend when they were 1 year old'. So, they don't need a successful artist. Release one fucked up single that will go to number one and break every record under the sun. Release a cover and let them off on their own because it’s more trouble than it’s worth.

My point is...I fucking hate this programme with every inch of my body and I just wish I was slightly more articulate to put this across, so fuck it I'm swearing.

I have no sympathy for the young lad that's heart has been broken or the previous prostitute with five kids who dream has disappeared. Andy Warhol was on the right lines.

No one has any class, decorum, shame. Well hopefully I'll see them all next Tuesday!

Stephen 'Kokanez' Caines

Night Sky Conversations

I’m breaking through this open glass
I like to walk fast

Slow motion life on the edge of a knife
Follow your strife

And all you want to do is breakdown
And all you want to do is shutdown
Is this true?
Answer if you have the time

You call this your magnum opus
That’s what your wanting, hoping, wishing

Frankly you haven’t a clue
Break up for your friends
Have the time of your life
Get drunk and be care free
Serenade the stars with pointless whispers

I’m opening the smashed window
Nowhere to go

Slower the time can pass
You’re a sad sorry lass

And all of this cannot be changed
And all of this cannot saved
Shall I stop?
Answer if you have the time

Frankly you haven’t a clue
Break up for your friends
Have the time of your life
Get drunk and be care free
Serenade the stars with pointless whispers

Grasp so tight the life is squeezed out
Rupture the cause and affect the solution
Capture the sadness in glass bottles

No one’s listening
No one can hear
Your whispers are just a misunderstanding of puzzled words stencilled on the night sky

Stephen 'Kokanez' Caines

No Bullets

Pinching salt through small telescopes
Is this the line you wish to take? Are we going the right way?
Caring for people unable to feel, incapable to see
Are these eyes drenched in the night sky? Blinded by the sight?
Trapping blustery winds with wings of waterproof suits, let’s take flight

Walk towards the sound of no bullets tonight
Making way through past walkways, no need to be polite
This sound of solitary silence
Will darken your already blackened mind

Valliant efforts from the years bellow but I was none the wiser
This isn’t what I came for so let’s go get lost
Drowning places torrid in nothingness
Where the top is taller than the fall
Trapping blustery winds with wings of waterproof suits, let’s take flight
Lets fly in the drowning sky
Lets fly

Walk towards the sound of no bullets tonight
Making way through past walkways, no need to be polite
This sound of solitary silence
Will darken your already blackened mind

Shivering limbs and chapped surfaces (no bullets)
Well before our time
Shivering limbs and chapped surfaces (no bullets)
Shake off the remains
Shivering limbs and chapped surfaces (no bullets)

Walk towards the sound of no bullets tonight
Making way through past walkways, no need to be polite
This sound of solitary silence
Will darken your already blackened mind

Walk towards the sound of no bullets tonight
I could hear no bullets in the flooding sky

Stephen 'Kokanez' Caines

The Door

Moments of silence
Moments of solace to lower your rate
Times are pointless, yes

The door
The door slams and there’s still no, still no sound here
I wish I had reviled

Then there would have been
There would have been a reason to capture reason
So annihilate these shackles

Transgress again
What’s five minutes between the two of us?
Vexed in this condition
Vacant conversations

The smallest abbreviation would annoy
The varied solutions that would convey

The smallest abbreviation would annoy
The varied solutions that would convey

A puff of smoke
In my face and there goes the door again
A flat drink in my hand
Broken toes and an unapologetic “I’m sorry”

Your laugh, cacophonous little laugh
Your wrath, raptitious little wrath

Moments of silence
Moments of solace...

Stephen 'Kokanez' Caines

Visitors

I’m coming to your town
People look at you with a frown
But there’s still hope in this little place, please relate
Where many things happened along with mates
Don’t speculate
One last time
When I saw the hill from afar
I knew I hadn’t reached my peak
But was the top taller than the fall
The bottom was way down
Taller than the fall, was it too far down
Taller than the fall, maybe “no”

Mountain tops touch sky so high on a broken cloud on which we sit
Although I know this home I will not fit
Thing is I bet nearly all the same people are working in all the same shops
Same old DJ’s playing the same new song on the same sticky dance floor to the same drunken few
But I love it anyway especially when nothings new
Little bubble

Bet not much has changed
When you’re wrapped up in your own little world
And I can remember what went before
You were always grasping at straws that were too short
Drowning can only happen on these torrents of nights when people are only trying to fit in
We’re staying for the win
Making sure tonight will last
Or just the next few years whether it be good or bad
‘cos soon it will be gone
The time from which you micturated upon
Come dance with me and talk about it later
Morning views made me stop
And made me think we had this lot, to make us question
What everyone else was waking up to
Maybe this will last forever
Or that little bit longer so I can walk the hill
To stand up above this sinking town
Oh, little bubble

Mountain tops touch sky so high on a broken cloud on which we sit
Although I know this home I will not fit
Thing is I bet nearly all the same people are working in all the same shops
Same old DJ’s playing the same new song on the same sticky dance floor to the same drunken few
But I love it anyway especially when nothings new
Little bubble

And its a shame we’ll never go back the same
Only as visitors and maybe for one last time
We were young and not in any line

Stephen 'Kokanez' Caines

Tom Curtis

Tom Curtis won’t go away
But where is he anyway
Tom Curtis won’t go away
But where is he anyway?
Tom Curtis won’t go away
But where is he anyway?
Tom Curtis won’t go away
But where is he anyway?

Found you on the broken path
I’m glad I didn’t get away that, fast
Stones spelt your name in the damp grass
Maybe one day we’ll touch shoulders and pass
Mist is in the air
Music was played in the amphitheatre
If you weren’t here yesterday
Then tell me where and I’ll find the written path
But they’re just pebbles down here
Making letter on the broken path

Tom Curtis won’t go away
But where is he anyway?
Tom Curtis won’t go away
But where is he anyway?

Found you down below
This time I was less mellow
Stones were spilt and no longer spelt ‘hero’
Faking soil for the time being

Lets move on from this ‘cos nothing happened
No one was even there?????
A flustered engine and rain drenched shoes

Lets never think of this again
Because to be fair nothing actually happened
I’ll just look at my laces and make sure they’re fastened

Tom Curtis won’t go away
But where is he anyway?
Tom Curtis won’t go away
But where is he anyway?
Tom Curtis won’t go away
But where is he anyway?
Tom Curtis won’t go away
But where is he anyway?

Stephen 'Kokanez' Caines

My Festival Adventure

So, Leeds has been and gone with a massive, world damaging bang. So many highs its difficult to know where to start!?! I'll go from the beginning...

...Excitement built (as it did the previous year) and I had about 6 hours sleep in two days, at this point I had been nowhere near Leeds or Bramham Park. A few last minute purchases were made which included alcohol, booze and batteries for 99p.

So I awake 0430 am on the Thursday before Leeds in the 'D' at my second home (Stuart and Gem do a grand job at looking after their Grant Mitchell/David Brent lovechild). Our first form of transport/baggage carrier/Leeds doer arrives and excitement levels rise, it starts to get silly. The second form of transport/baggage carrier/Leeds doer arrives and we then realise that we have insufficient space for luggage and people. We thought that we couldn't leave anyone behind and a diplomatic decision was made, the Castabino would be travelling to Leeds.

At the meet-up at the service station, which was a little later than expected but spirits were still sky high and on we went to our (my) heaven. A journey which, at tops, should have taken two hours, took ten. People got silly, threatened to turn around but due to their petrol shortage realised that they wouldn't have got far. The blue haired walker was always ahead, by a long way. But the five car convoy had the skills to move on through the queues.

Anyway, we arrived at Bramham Park a lot later than expected and everyone was tired but overjoyed that we had actually made it. The mud was...muddy and the bags were heavy, reinforcements were called and we got pitched and drunk, again, later than expected.

Friday came and this was the start, tonnes of band to see that I may only get to watch once in a life-time, friends that I knew were the best fun in the world so the ingredients were there. They mixed so well to make an unforgettable weekend of amazing, hilarious laughs and drunken Norwegians.

Its very rare that a weekend can be so good, nothing would be changed. I hope certain people can make it next year and the lump in my throat on the way out was in vain.

All I can say is "Leeds five" CLICK!

Stephen 'Kokanez' Caines

I Nearly Drowned So I Went For a Second Swim

So I realise, I could have died tonight
But that didn’t stop me going down, deeper under toe
The rain made it worse
So I handed you my phone
When we were in the lion I didn’t realise I could have died tonight
So buy me one last round ‘cos I’m going home
We’ll dance to one more ‘cos I want to go home

Can you hear that sound? Am I drowning down?
Will you listen when I say you’re going to die tonight?
Will you hear when he said its going to blow you away
I’m not going to die on a Saturday night

So I realised, I can’t swim with beer goggles on
Dancing on the sea bed, can’t touch the ground
We hung on the boat which was adrift, you decided to leave
I can remember why we swam so we could chill and have a beer
Sun burns my face whilst I try to swim
Sun burns my face whilst I try to swim

Can you hear that sound? Am I drowning down?
Will you listen when I say you’re going to die today?
Will you hear when he said it’s going to take you down?
I’m not going to die on a sunny day

Drowning...not tonight
Falling...not today
I’m not going to die on a Saturday night
I’m not going to drown on a sunny day
I’m not gonna go on a Saturday night
I’m not going to die on a Saturday night

Can you hear that sound? Am I drowning down?
Will you listen when I say you’re going to die tonight?
Will you hear when he said it’s going to blow you away?
I’m not going to die on a Saturday night

Drowning...not tonight
Falling...no today

Stephen 'Kokanez' Caines

Refelections

Tell me you were there
Tell me you were there too
Standing on the same trodden ground
That took us both under in threes

It can’t happen without the other
Thats why I’m asking for your presence
We could listen to some music
We could listen to some music and remember

Colour the sky with mirrors on the ground
Smash the stars with solid sound
Make the back of your mind work
Make it work so we can watch the reflecting moon

This could be so vicious
Or crazy, lady, oh so sinful baby
There is a spark
So lets ignite it into a fire

You’re “Weaving dreams” tonight
Inwards and release
Making mishaps for a while
Lets suffer just for tonight

Colour the sky with mirrors on the ground
Smash the stars with solid sound
Make the back of your mind work
Make it work so we can watch the reflecting moon

I stand here and stop
To take it all in
But all I’m doing
Is wasting time without you

Colour the sky with mirrors on the ground
Smash the stars with solid sound
Make the back of your mind work
Make it work so we can watch the reflecting moon



Stephen 'Kokanez' Caines

Shout Out Louds - Howl Howl Gaff Gaff album review

Shout Out Louds - Howl Howl Gaff Gaff (Capitol) Reviewed on: 31/7/06

These five melody makers from Iceland hit the right chord with this record. Uplifting, introspective, soulful, thought provoking and magical like sounds grasped me in a way that no other record had managed to do in a long time. Not a million miles away from ‘The Hush Sound’ and transpiring to a more chilled out ‘Kings of Leon’.

The Shout Out Louds manage to write love songs that give hope to the romantically challenged or a shoulder to cry on, but you wont be crying for long. ‘The Comeback’ is a superb introduction, they set the scene straight away. You get the notion that everything was gloomy and depressing before this record hit the sound waves but ‘The Comeback’ allows you to believe good things are to come. There’s no time to come down either, ‘Very Loud’ keeps rising and its time to getaway, “I always choose another way/this is why this love can’t stay”. They never remain in one place, love is the core but it won’t stop the perplexing undertone of loss . “But I got a plan, a plan to get us out of here”.

‘Go Sadness’ is the magical moment, it encapsulates the album as a whole. Very eccentric although the music is calming. “Hello sparkles and flies” Adam sings with similarities to Mercury Revs’ Jonathan Donahue. Although this track captures the album it seems to be a moment of escapism and poignant thoughts.

It’s as though the albums kicking off again after an interlude, but its never stopped. ‘Please Please Please’ is the happy dance floor song, propelling two people back together. On ‘100 degrees’ they’re back together and “in my room its gonna be at least 100 degrees”. Nothing can go wrong from this point and everything seems to be perfect.

“C’mon love is all we’ve got” (’Hurry Up Lets Go’) is the lyric that shows the true meaning of the album. This fades out, then starts again with an identical beat but this is ‘Shut Your Eyes’ now they want confirmation that the lover’s going to stay. Will they walk off into the sunset? “it came as a big surprise, ha ha”.

Howl howl gaff gaff isn’t a load of gibberish. It’s about wanting love, looking for love, finding love, relishing love and holding onto love. This timeline of feelings transpires to many different but universal endeavours. The Shouts Out Louds make a lot of sense.

8/10

Track listing

1. The Comeback
2. Very Loud
3. Oh, Sweetheart
4. A Track and A Train
5. Go Sadness
6. Please Please Pease
7. 100 Degrees
8. There’s Nothing
9. Hurry Up Lets Go
10. Shut Your Eyes
11. Seagull

Broken Horizons

This is not where I belong among stone built statues
Bring me horizons of sun broken haze instead of falling people ablaze

Stars are spat at by white t-shirts
Trailing jeans are torn in scuffle fallen knees

There are eyes to make sure you are correct
Stolen hearts are not seen or given respect
My thoughts have not yet processed
Or realised I’m among the hopeless

This place hasn’t sunk
It just shot its own foot and hobbled across
As white shirt ties call themselves boss
And trailing phones have no tones

Now, making sense of senseless, silly and strange
Punching bouncer to make his point, if not someone face he will rearrange
The moons light shadows this dark cage
It started with the three of us and it’ll end the same
These streets of Wimbledon will remain
These streets of Wimbledon I disdain

Crippling cold shivers the good, individual lone walkers walking home
Street light vision, bouncer blues, happy slapper
Racing hearts aiming for that one solitary mission
Glazed eyes for the chiselled charming caper
Reflected puddles mirror selfish, forgotten thoughts
No more

Now this place has reaped the rewards
But never taken credit for the young drunken cowards
And this place has reaped the rewards
But never taken credit for the young drunken cowards
This place has reaped the rewards

This place hasn’t sunk
It just shot its own foot and hobbled across
As white shirt ties call themselves boss
And trailing phones have no tones

Now, making sense of senseless, silly and strange
Punching bouncer to make his point, if not someone face he will rearrange
The moons light shadows this dark cage
It started with the three of us and it’ll end the same
These streets of Wimbledon will remain
These streets of Wimbledon I disdain

Knocked out lady with flashing lights oblivious
Stretching voices to make young happy people obvious
Stone cold lady with flashing lights oblivious
Stretching voices to make young happy people obvious
Dead end lady with flashing lights oblivious

This is not where I belong among stone built statues
Bring me horizons of sun broken haze instead of falling people ablaze

Stephen 'Kokanez' Caines
06/08/2008

Open Hand

Open hand, will you play what you want to play
Open hand, will you show the ball each and every way
Open hand, this one isn’t a crime
Open hand, this ones gonna take time

200 degrees
Out here, out here, out here
Touched on the white
You know, you know, you know
I will take this to the fight

Open hand; lower yourself to the lowest point
Open hand; don’t hold back this time
Open hand, I got a move up my sleeve
Open hand, this one will make you cry

200 degrees
Out here, out here, out here
Touched on the white
You know, you know, you know
I will take this to the fight

Make eyes at the other end
Making eyes for purpose and ready
Which one will you send?
One last ditch to keep it in
Making gasps for one last chance
This ones for the win

Open hand, giving it away
Open hand, oh
Open hand, see my flow
Open hand, oh
Open hand, see my flow
Open hand, oh
Open hand, open hand
Open hand, I’m out

Stephen 'Kokanez' Caines
30/07/2008

Scattered Patterns Gone Astray

Scattered Patterns Gone Astray 16/07/2008

These effervescent nights
And a stream of colloquial repetition
Shanghi will be my place
Of rest tonight
My eyes will close at 12
No matter what enters

Bring on the next minute
‘cos I won’t be here
I shall drift away now
But I’ll be back soon
To meet my withering eyes, yeah
This is not perplexed today
Scattered patterns have gone astray

Let’s lay our head here in this place tonight
Let’s lay our head here in this place tonight

My skin will itch and I will fall
To battle these weaknesses
I cannot stand up tall
You sigh “nothings ever happened”

Eyes are fading, fading
Eyes are fading, fading

Eyes are fading
Near here or far
“This will be my night”
Once was muttered among the sanguine
Amongst the sanguine

Bring on the next minute
‘cos I won’t be here
I shall drift away now
But I’ll be back soon
To meet my withering...

Bring on the next minute
‘cos I won’t be here
I shall drift away now
But I’ll be back soon
To meet my withering eyes
This is not perplexed today
Scattered patterns have gone astray

You are the invincible
But you hold me above regardless of my imperfection

Stephen 'Kokanez' Caines
16/07/2008

Leeds and beyond

The next month or so should prove to be spacial to say the least. Leeds has been on my sub-sub-conscious for the last 11 months and a very close call of not nearly getting any tickets was pretty hell raising.

It all started a few months back when myself and Mr. L decided on a whim to go and see Sons & Daughters Fibbers and it turned out to be a delight. But most of all it reignited the flame for live music which had been dwindling for a short while.

Watching a band who have had medi-core success but have just continued to do what they do best with no compromise whatsoever made me think that's there are band/artist out there that shit on the door step of the mainstream shit stream.

Knowing that Leeds will be impregnable and a strong listening regime to allow maximum listening time for all band at the festival meant all I had to do was turn up! But then on the horizon, The Duchess turns up, sticking its fingers up to its neighbour and could well be setting a new bar. Evan Dando, We are Scientsis, Iglu & Hartly to mention a few are gracing this new palace of audio orgasm.

On my return I shall be turning my attention to 'Stay Positive', the staggering new album from the Hold Steady.

Until then, I shall burn at beached, fly at Leeds and punch the air with joy at the up and coming Time to Leave gig.

The future looks bright but that's not to say I will stop looking...

Time To Leave - 3rd January 2008, Vintage Rockbar, Doncaster

So, Time To Leave come home (well Andy Hunt does) and perform their new EP on home turf. I originally saw them in Leeds where the venue was a little more deserted and less personal but a good show was put on and I looked forward to seeing them again along with the release of 'Dedicate Yourself'.

The warm up act who, to be fair were forgettable and the computer was the best performer on the night.

Time To Leave graced the stage with nothing to prove and nothing to lose. There were no egotistical twat on stage or anyone punching above their weight, just a bunch of lads playing to their hearts content and show a real musical endeavour.

The new songs sound tried and tested, as if they have been played for years on the circuit creating an assured, cocksure performance.

Stand out song 'Armour Won't Save You' was a highlight. Each song contains real rock elements, fantastic solos and the vocals are second to none.

The difference from a couple of months ago has been incredible and the venues will only getter fuller and bigger.