Piston

Lyrics: [Calibration: solo prepared piano, medium tempo, strict 7/8 counted as ONE two three / ONE two / ONE two, piano plays a low uneven piston ostinato, no drums yet, no 4/4 feel] One two three One two One two Down in the frame Back through the black Down in the frame Back through the black [Factory Wake: metallic percussion slowly enters, still strict 7/8, cold female spoken-word, dry and close, no singing, no melody] I wake where the lever remembers my hand I wake where the floor understands Not as a girl Not as a ghost As the part that is used the most Bolt in my mouth Clock in my chest Nothing is wrong Nothing is left [Line Chant: full distorted drum machine enters, medium-tempo 7/8 groove, voice locked to 3+2+2 accents, pitch-locked chant, repetitive but not melodic] Push the weight Pull it back Push the weight Pull it back Work makes shape Shape makes lack Work makes shape Shape makes lack I am Chappy I am the press I am the answer With nothing to confess [Compression: instruments tighten, less space, bass synth grinds under every accent, piano hits only on beats 1, 4, and 6, spoken rhythm becomes shorter and harsher] Again is a room Again is a chain Again is a prayer With no one to blame Again is my body Again is my name Again is the piston Again is the same No dream No door No why No more [Industrial Piano Break: no vocal, strict 7/8 continues, damaged piano hammers the piston pattern, metallic percussion answers it, scraping guitar feedback grows, no melody, no chord progression] [Instrumental only: piano as metal, drum machine as labor, bass as pressure, all locked to 3+2+2] [Overlapping Voices: multiple dry female voices, some whispered, some shouted, all rhythmic, still 7/8, no sung harmony] Voice 1: I go down I come back Voice 2: I clock in I turn black Voice 3: I am fine I am void Voice 4: I am built I am destroyed All voices: Push Pull Push Pull [Final Collapse: full band, screamed spoken-word, piano and percussion slam together, still medium-tempo strict 7/8, no 4/4 release, no chorus, no resolution] PISTON! Make me useful! PISTON! Make me clean! PISTON! Take the human! PISTON! Leave machine! I go down I come back I go down I come back I go down I come back Nothing moves But the lack [End: all instruments stop together on beat 7, instant cut, no fade, no reverb tail]