We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

A New Devotion (20th Anniversary Edition)

by The High Dials

/
1.
I live in the sky Safe and very high When the morning comes, I must come down through the door And give myself to you, earn my living and grow poor But I have found a cave Where dreams still crystallize Like diamonds in the dark Can you see them in my eyes? This is how I have survived We work in the sky Safe and very high When the evening comes, then you come down through the door You can’t measure what you lose, and you wonder what it’s for So you crawl in the dark Shutting out all you despise Sell your hands, but save your heart This is how you have survived This is how you have survived
2.
Feel your lack of volition Freedom is just an illusion There is a hand Like a ceiling that holds you down There’s no action We’re words upon the page Written by a hand beyond this age… Run about inside this maze Built by men in different days There’s no plan No way to make your escape A hand guides the way See this science-fiction See our true condition There is a hand Like a magnet that holds you down There’s no action We’re words upon the page Written by a hand beyond this age… This is The dead hand This is The dead hand This is The dead hand This is The dead hand
3.
City Rivers 02:53
Flowing through the tunnels Like grains of polished sand We turn the turbines, Power the pistons and Every day we write our numbers In the books and official ledgers Flowing quiet Like a river Singing gently Of forever Endless link to endless futures Flowing forward, city rivers Flowing quiet Like a river Singing gently Of forever Endless link to endless futures Flowing forward, city rivers Say you haven’t heard our voices Say you haven’t run out of choices Girl, you know it’s yourself you’re deluding City rivers
4.
Hello Boy 02:12
“Hello, boy You’ll be starting today Hello, boy All your training is paid Hello, boy Here we value your time Hello, boy On your weekends, unwind Hello, boy Here we work as a team Hello, boy I take sugar and cream Hello, boy There is much you will learn Hello, boy Here is what you will earn They have got it all worked out for you A ten-year plan that will Break your back and resolve Hello, boy Have you met Mr. Brown? Hello, boy He will show you around Hello, boy Here we value your say Hello, boy Have a wonderful day Hello, boy See the wonderful view? Hello, boy Many people like you Hello, boy It’s a place to begin Hello, boy On the life you must win They have got it all worked out for you A ten-year plan that will Break your back and resolve” Haven’t I to need the reason?
5.
Desiderata 05:24
I was a boy in a place not far from here Walled in from the noise, There my nights were dark and clear Sweet suburban blackness Beautiful and true Nights like midnight masses Silent offerings to you Now I’m a hologram An image of the man I used to be At seventeen Speak to me Set me free Blind me with the boyhood myth I seek in you Can I return? Can I unlearn? Oh I know it’s wrong But I still go on crawling back to you Crawling back to you Crawling back to you I was a boy in a house not far from here I played the saddest joy You put music in my ear Shapeless teen desire Alcoholic dream Flow through headphone wires Love me do and set me free Now I’m a hologram An image of the man I used to be At seventeen Used to be Used to be Used to be I see the seasons passing I feel the weight of wasted years I’m frightened by the feeling There is another city here And I can’t find the exit Cause there’s no way out on my feet There is a new devotion I must find it in my sleep… Sleep Sleep Sleep
6.
T.V. Mystic 01:48
Shadows fall through the windows of office halls Another day ends, twilight falls The city looms large I feel small A quiet drink, a vacant stare and then Down in the tunnels I go again Up on the ground Night begins I reach my door and turn the key Darkness surrounds me like a sea Except for the light of my t.v. Floating in space I start to dream Sunlight comes to break my dream apart But something stirred inside my heart Awakens as The new day starts In the streets the waking waters rise And wash me in upon the tide The new day waits I don’t arrive…
7.
Antenna 03:36
I am adrift In the wind In the streets I came undone Where the ground And tunnels meet And my mind is receiving… all the unuttered dreams of the… …people crowding my mind with their… …scattered hopes and desires… And my mind is receiving… all the unuttered dreams of the… …people crowding my mind… …pushing out all reflection and soft-spoken words of belief Have you ever had the feeling Speaking is the meaning Not the words? Have you ever had the feeling Speaking is the meaning Not the words? Resonating on a common band Resonating all across the land And my mind is receiving… all the unuttered dreams of the… …people crowding my mind with their… …scattered hopes and desires… And my mind is receiving… all the unuttered dreams of the… …people crowding my mind… …pushing out all reflection and soft-spoken words of belief All together now That sound is freedom of the mind
8.
Sad to Hear what I hear So sharp and clear Like a ringing in my ear Words reach They bend and greet But never meet Hear them echo in the street Ringing in separate keys Major, minor, F and C Ringing in separate keys Apparent to me, apparent to me Can you hear the bells ring? Stop and listen to The sound of people Hear them ring So very sad to Hear the things that I hear Sounding without answer Far and near Dreaming separate dreams Major, minor, F and C Dreaming separate dreams Apparent to me, apparent to…
9.
I see in glass windows Fields in glass Where the sun shines On the broken and displaced I say there’s a garden There are fields Where the sun shines Fields in glass for everyone I see revolving doorways In the glass Where the sun shines Fields in glass for everyone Someday I’ll go Through the glass And be free In the sun
10.
The machine The machine that gives me life Oh, I fear the day the tubes will burst And sunshine sting my eyes Save the machine! It’s obscene To hear you talk of breaking free How I fear the day the hum will end And silence fill my ears Save the machine! Oh, why can’t you see We are one with the machine Two as one in breathing Safe in our collective dream The machine The machine that gives me life How I fear the day it slips away And winds down in the night Save the machine! Oh, why can’t you see We are one with the machine When you change your thinking You will be at peace like me
11.
“I was a simple man Till I stumbled on to their plan It was a rainy evening And on the ceiling shadows played It was hard to abandon all my ways I tried hard Yeah, to learn to love this place” Another sleepless night, As the dark gives shape to your fright What is this empty feeling This sense of leaving the light? And the people Blow about this town like leaves And the people Go on living, go on breathing
12.
“You cannot just disappear A future waits, your home is here All your doubt and all your sorrow Might vanish in the air tomorrow Your mother is concerned If you’re there pick up the telephone We wait for your return, Please remember you are not alone Silas, please come home Don’t be frightened to Silas, please come home Don’t be frightened to”
13.
My heart is black The landscape’s poison to my eyes Full of lies, false persuasion I wear a mac The rain is poison to my skin The streets have spies they will crush you Make a mockery of pride Crush and forget you Everyone says it’s my perception But everything I know comes through my senses The black I see falls over me and you Corrupting all that’s rare but true Oh! My heart is black I roam the city, there’s no peace Still I try, still I reason I wear a mac The rain is poison to my skin They’ll draw you in and deceive you Draw you in with their deceit Trick and deceive you Everyone says it’s my perception But everything I know comes through my senses The black I see falls over me and you Corrupting all that’s rare but true Oh!
14.
The Birds 02:31
Beautiful and strange up in the blue Pointing out some way for me and you Shadows changing patterns Forming secret words What can they be saying? (Ask the birds) I am winding down towards my fate I will disappear without a trace Shadows changing patterns Forming secret words What can they be saying? (Ask the birds)
15.
Surrender 03:53
Please cease all subversive tactics (Yes, master, yes, master) We have crushed all your friends and allies (Yes, master, yes, master) Come on, come on, come on Strike your plans for a counter attack The day is ours You must learn to adapt to reality Lay down your arms And surrender to the voice Lay down your arms And surrender, girls and boys (Yes, master, yes, master) Lay down your arms And surrender to the voice Lay down your arms And surrender, girls and boys Come on, come on, come on Strike your plans for a counter attack The day is ours You must learn to adapt to reality Lay down your arms And surrender your future Lay down your arms All you beggars and choosers
16.
Assassins 04:36
Sweetness I am backed into a corner I am out of moves Sunday Sparrows sang of a disaster Open the bottle and pass it around Sheets of rain fall into the night Over streets and houses Sounds of unsheathing, the glint of a knife As the city closes Falling down upon the ground Low, low, low Down, down, down Low, low, low Down, down, down Scimitar handshakes that twist in my side Thrust from darkened hallways Sinister smiles, so hard and so bright Thrust from darkened hallways Lying still upon the ground Low, low, low Down, down, down Low, low, low Down, down, down I retreat And stumble out beneath descending roses Destiny has passed me by And I don’t know why… I am low
17.
St. Marie 02:48
In the streetlights dimming She is like a ghost Calling me forth with her hand In the glow of 4am I’m wide awake Staggering home drunk again Sitting in my sitting room Revolving once again I am the axis the house turns on Night is fading, masquerading Blowing me its kiss Find me on the staircase and whisk me off to bed Images come flooding up Out of the fading blue Soon the dawn will break and they will vanish in the sun Bells are ringing, choirs singing Flooding through the house Find me on the landing and whisk me off to bed
18.
19.
Wake to morning’s white vibration White electricity Feel the moment’s white sensation Washing over me Humming in the silver leaves Buzzing in the insects’ summer sound Oscillating in the wind Coursing through the fabric of the ground The world is new The world is here for you The world is new The world is here for you Wake to evening’s white transmission Particles in stream Coursing through the copper lines And penetrating dreams Pulsing in the paling glow Streetlights drinking deep from supple ground Generating in the dark Steady static signal makes no sound The world is new The world is here for you The world is new The world is here for you Wake to morning’s white vibration
20.
21.
Regeneration 02:48
Rest in the sun brings regeneration Soaking in the sea brings regeneration Love of a girl brings regeneration Deep inner peace brings regeneration Sweetness and light brings regeneration Music breaking time brings regeneration

about

When first released in July 2003, A New Devotion sounded like it might burst out of its jewel case. Even at a wopping 76-minutes, the CD could barely contain four hyperactive lads romping across music history like kids in a candy store. Detractors hated its retro, upbeat vibe. Some even accused the band of wearing stylistic straightjackets. But those who “got it” rejoiced—a merry band of influential and vocal supporters that included Little Steven van Zandt, Al Kooper, Andrew Loog Oldham and Anton Newcombe. Pre-social media, word spread the old-fashioned (i.e. slower) way—sympathetic message boards, local gigs and radio shows. The High Dials soon found themselves circling round and round the continent in their purple van, helping build the scene that would later blossom into psychedelia’s third wave.

Beneath what one critic called its “head-shaking innocence” however, A New Devotion hinted at some seriously bummed-out feelings. Songs described an alienating world of machines, shadowy overlords, spies and mechanical birds. A comic book was meant to accompany the release, telling the story of a boy named Silas and his attempts to escape a domed city. (Time and tiny budgets spoiled that dream.) Other major corners had been cut, too—key songs scrapped and mixes badly rushed.

Now, 20 years later, Hook & Prayer Records is proud to re-release A New Devotion as it was meant to be experienced. Fully re-mastered to tape, with remixes by songwriter/producer Trevor Anderson, never-before-heard tracks unveiled, and a comic book finally on the way, this memorable debut is set to explode out of its casing all over again!

credits

released November 3, 2023

All rights reserved, Hook & Prayer Records (2023)

20th Anniversary Edition produced by Trevor Anderson

Mixes by Trevor Anderson and Krisjan Leslie

Mastered by Richard Addison (Trillium Sound)

All songs by Trevor Anderson, except "Things Are Getting Better" by Rishi Dhir

Trevor Anderson: Lead & backing vocals, guitars, percussion, Juno, mellotron, bass on #4
Rishi Dhir: Backing vocals, bass, wurlitzer, harpsichord, harmonium, mellotron, moog
Robbie MacArthur: Lead guitar, percussion
Robb Surridge: Drums
Heather Anderson: Flute
Evan Cranley: Trombone
Matt Watkins: Trumpet
Anita Rice: Violin
Lorraine Muller: Saxophone
Jugjit Singh Soni: Tablas

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

The High Dials Montréal, Québec

The High Dials are an indie pop band from Montreal.
While their melodic sensibility, harmonies and jangling guitars owe an obvious debt to the 60s and power pop groups, they also draw upon shoegaze, new wave and folk sounds to create rich and varied albums. Their most recent album “Primitive Feelings” is a predatory summer mix of lo-fi grooves, acid rock guitars and razor-sharp humour. ... more

contact / help

Contact The High Dials

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this album or account

The High Dials recommends:

If you like The High Dials, you may also like: