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Cover of Hands of the Morning

Album · 2017

Hands of the Morning

by Elijah Stone & the Zion Gate

Hills, bakers, restless feet and a road that will not wait, the band at its most driving and its most hushed.

Tracks

  1. 1. Before the Sun Wakes, Bakers RiseThree in the morning and the oven is warm. The baker is the first preacher in town.anthemic roots, one drop4:04
  2. 2. Ride the Hill Road, Wheels Turn StrongHill is steep ahead, so push the pedals down. We recorded the drums to sound like wheels.steppers, driving roots3:03
  3. 3. Pick Up the Phone, Rise Up FriendLong time I did not call your name, pride and shame in equal parts. Pick up the phone, friend.hymn reggae, harmony reggae3:00
  4. 4. Move Along, the Road Don't WaitSomething stirring in my chest that will not let me rest. The road does not wait, so neither do we.steppers, conscious roots2:34
  5. 5. Bicycle Against the Fence Dub, Rust and RainOld bike by the fence, rust on the chain. A dub for everything we meant to ride.nostalgic dub, spring reverb dub2:33
  6. 6. Three A.M. Clock Dub, Hold the HushThree in the morning, the street still. We held the hush as long as the tape allowed.night dub, minimal dub2:58
  7. 7. Last Stall Lights Dub, Plastic Stools StackedLights going off stall by stall, steam fading. I wrote this standing at a street market after closing.nostalgic dub, ghost dub3:41
  8. 8. Restless Feet Dub, Can't Sit StillRestless feet, window, floor, repeat. The dub paces the room with me.dreamy dub, spring reverb dub2:42
  9. 9. Night Bus Dub, Empty Seats RollingEmpty seats rolling, lights low. The last bus dub, and the end of the record.night dub, dreamy dub2:35

Liner notes

Hands of the Morning is about the people whose hands start the day: bakers at three, riders on the hill road, a friend finally picking up the phone. It travelled with us to the UK sound systems, and you can hear us writing for big speakers now, with deeper bass and wider reverb. The restless dubs are the nights before the early start, when you cannot lie still.

Elijah Stone & the Zion Gate