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Cover of Cross the Water Steady

Album · 2022

Cross the Water Steady

by Elijah Stone & the Zion Gate

Ferries, street kitchens and monsoon roads: a record of people who keep moving when the day closes in.

Tracks

  1. 1. Cross the Water Steady, Morning Ferry RiseFerry leaves at six over water grey and wide. Cross it steady and morning will rise on the other side.anthemic roots, steppers3:08
  2. 2. Sunday Light on the Hill, Joy Come EasySunday light on the hill and a church bell in a still town. This is the sound I grew up inside.gospel roots, hymn reggae3:18
  3. 3. Stack the Stools, Hawker Hearts Keep WarmWok cooling, grill scrubbed. For the hawkers who feed the night and go home last.warm roots, one drop2:13
  4. 4. Get Up and Try Again, Morning Frost Is MeltingFrost on the ground, yesterday's trouble melting. Get up and try again.conscious roots, harmony reggae3:24
  5. 5. Keep the Wheels Turning, Monsoon RoadRain heavy on the road and the driver keeps rolling. The wheels do not stop, and neither do we.steppers, driving roots3:46
  6. 6. Stamp in the Corner Dub, Words From FarA postcard on the shelf, blue sea and blue sky. Words from far, slowed down and echoed.nostalgic dub, spring reverb dub2:30
  7. 7. Last Ferry Dub, Lamps on the WaterLast ferry going over, lamps on the water. We mixed it from the dock.dreamy dub, night dub2:52
  8. 8. Last Dance Lantern Dub, Floor Going QuietLast song playing, floor going quiet. The lantern goes out when the music does.nostalgic dub, ghost dub3:33
  9. 9. Closing Time Wok Dub, Steam Going HomeSteam rising, lamps going out, everyone going home. The hawkers' dub.nostalgic dub, minimal dub2:38
  10. 10. Frost on the Fence Dub, Breath Like SmokeCold morning and breath like smoke. A thin, bright dub for the first walk to work.wistful dub, spring reverb dub2:50
  11. 11. Monsoon Night Dub, Rain on the ZincRain on the zinc, over and over. We recorded it under a real tin roof.dreamy dub, spring reverb dub5:26

Liner notes

We toured the islands and the ports, and this record is what the ferries and the night stalls taught us. The roots side is for people crossing water and rising in cold, the dub side for the lamps going out one by one. It was the first time we recorded the whole choir in a church hall, and the room reverb found its way into the spring tank mix.

Elijah Stone & the Zion Gate