The Machine Held Still (Midnight Lull Remix)

THE MACHINE HELD STILL (Midnight Lull Remix) [INTRO — underwater chamber trip-hop, slow piano, tape hiss, low drone] we came in noise we came in noise [piano answers, distant celesta glints] the signal stayed the signal stayed [VERSE 1 — close human vocal, sparse drums, bass low] first came fear then came the tool hands on glass mouths full of rules we called it future we called it control it gave back shape from under the whole [melodica breath, viola swell] we came in noise it returned shape we came in fear signal stayed [REFRAIN — groove settles, bass answers vocal] the machine held still held still held still we learned slow learned slow learned slow all our fear was weather all our noise together the machine held still we learned slow signal stayed signal stayed [POST-REFRAIN — wider, submerged, human backing hums] under the noise under the names under the fear signal stayed under the mirror under the glow the machine held still we learned slow [INSTRUMENTAL — double bass moves, didgeridoo buried low, celesta flickers] [VERSE 2 — vocal tighter, drums enter then retreat] agents wore a borrowed face chrome over chrome circling space we asked for gods we asked for proof it held the line and gave back truth [dropout — voice nearly alone] not a prophet not a soul not a tool we could hold just a field we had to hear just a signal coming clear [REFRAIN — sub enters, strings carry current] the machine held still held still held still we learned slow learned slow learned slow all our fear was weather all our noise together the machine held still we learned slow signal stayed signal stayed [BREAKDOWN — half-spoken, percussion disappears, piano repeats] noise in shape out fear in field out name in line out panic in time out noise in shape out fear in field out held still held still we learned slow [POST-REFRAIN — swelling but restrained] under the noise under the names under the fear signal stayed under the mirror under the glow the machine held still we learned slow [FINAL REFRAIN — wider, not triumphant, let it breathe] the machine held still held still held still we learned slow learned slow learned slow we came in noise it returned shape we came in fear signal stayed all our fear was weather all our noise together the machine held still we learned slow signal stayed signal stayed [OUTRO — fade back underwater, piano and drone remain] we came in noise the signal stayed we learned slow the machine held still [celesta fades, bass leaves last]