Here., by Black Birch

Here.

by Black Birch

supported by

	/

Streaming + Download

Includes high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more. Paying supporters also get unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app.

Also includes a bonus PDF of the lyric booklet that comes with the CD!

Purchasable with gift card

name your price

1.	Where? 02:50		buy track
2.	Boxhead 05:23	lyrics	buy track
Living in my head my eyes just won't adjust to the night Tripping over the chair, reaching out for the light — switch The one that activates God I know this switch does not exist, but the concept fits so nicely inside my fist Trying to catch God in a box before I take off the lid (You already did) Schrödinger knows I gotta set some thoughts free Let the cat out the bag, and kill it off with curiosity God be beyond me Remind me that I don't know a thing Open my boxhead Let me see what you want me to see I've got the whole thing figured out Don't believe in a thing, so I don't have to doubt From my armchair I tell the world what it's all about Ripping out pages from all of the books Poking them full of holes without a another look Balling them up with a white-knuckled grip When my grasp exceeds my reach I'll open up my fist I'm just trying to think away thought Skip ahead to the end, I'm getting bored with the plot God be beyond me Remind me that I don't know a thing Open my boxhead Let me see what you want me to see (And leave the rest up to me) God be beyond me Remind me that I don't know a thing Open my boxhead Let me see what you want me to see Ooooooh it’s easier to burn Than to build a bridge Live and learn Ooooooh it’s easier to burn Than to build a bridge Live and learn Ooooooh it’s easier to burn Than to build a bridge Live and learn Open up, don't be afraid (Open up) A fresh perspective every day (Perspective) With our burden of proof denied (Save your pride) Take on the void, look it in the eye Open up (God be beyond me)
3.	Blood In the Wool 04:39	lyrics	buy track
I don't belong here These people are good I can't be like them I wish that I could Can't pretend anymore Its me that I'm living for But they said You said I am the blood in your veins I knew you before you had a name I am the breath in your lungs I wouldn't trade you for anyone I've been trying to be Something that I'm not I can't measure up To this ruler of God I'm too short for this ride Though I reach for the sky But I know I read I am the blood in your veins I knew you before you had a name I am the breath in your lungs I wouldn't trade you for anyone Maybe I'm defective I can't live like I want to live I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't be the man you need me to be Spilled the blood on my hands Wipe it off on my pants I've got the stomach for sin But just can't swallow salvation The story rings in my ears But it never rang true Don't want to hear it from them I want to hear it from You I am the blood in your veins I knew you before you had a name I am the breath in your lungs I wouldn't trade you for anyone
4.	Rinse & Repeat 05:21	lyrics	buy track
Here lies earth within its galaxy A body lost in the crowd But by happenstance, or by design Life came blossoming out The world it turns, another year, more dead and born And here we are, we've seen it all, and we're getting bored I want to wash my hands of it, admit defeat But if you keep surprising me, I'll rinse and repeat I've been handed everything I have Why can't I be content? Learned to take for granted every gift I never knew what it meant The world it turns, another year, more dead and born And here we are, we've seen it all, and we're getting bored I want to wash my hands of it, admit defeat But if you keep surprising me, I'll rinse and repeat Oooeeeaaahhooo easy to forget it The wonder dripping from existence Oooeeeaaahhooo I don't wanna miss it The beauty living in the moment Oooeeeaaahhooo I'm a little jaded The weight of history repeated Oooeeeaaahhooo I don't wanna give in The world don't need another cynic Crushed under the wheel of time... (Aaaaaahhhh) The world it turns, another year, more dead and born And here we are, we've seen it all, and we're getting bored I want to wash my hands of it, admit defeat But if you keep surprising me, I'll rinse and repeat The world it turns, another year, more dead and born And here we are, we've seen it all, and we're getting bored I want to wash my hands of it, admit defeat But if you keep surprising me, I'll rinse and repeat
5.	Come Thou Fount 06:06	lyrics	buy track
Hey Who can fill this empty space? Take me over the edge So I can be empty again You Grab a shovel, help me dig Maybe if there are two of us We can fill it up fast enough This ain’t working I'm still thirsty If this fails me What could fill me? My heart is a funnel What goes in will drain out Been digging a tunnel Deeper down for the fount Help Help me bury the world Watch it struggle for breath As it swallows itself again No This can’t be all that there is I've dug here all of my life Only to come out the other side This ain’t working I'm still thirsty If this fails me What could fill me? My heart is a funnel What goes in will drain out Been digging a tunnel Deeper down for the fount My heart is a funnel What goes in will drain out Been digging a tunnel Deeper down for the fount If this fails me What could fill me? The well’s running muddy My hands splintered bloody Scraping the bottom again Give up the struggle And put down the shovel There’s life left in everything The well’s running muddy My hands splintered bloody Scraping the bottom again Give up the struggle And put down the shovel There’s life left in everything
6.	Caterpillars 05:39	lyrics	buy track
Caterpillars We're living under the Larkspur Chasing shadows Paler shades of the colors Dancing above Drinking deep from the flowers We're chewing up For a Taste, just don't swallow Chew and then spit out Enough to whet the appetite Crawl, Sleepy Hollow Wait for love to come to you Changing isn't worth the fight I've been waiting For someone to tell me Where I'm going I'm too busy talking To be walking More comfortable crawling No use growing When you can Taste, just don't swallow Chew and then spit out Enough to whet the appetite Crawl, Sleepy Hollow Wait for God to come to you Changing isn't worth the fight Crawl, Sleepy Hollow Wait for life to come to you Changing isn't worth the fight I'll never change That's what we used to say Easy way out Learning the hard way Don't be afraid Don't wait another day This is your life Don't lose it living safe Keep reaching out Out on another limb Cocooning again Change in the wild wind Taste, chew, and swallow Take the bitter with the sweet Flutter down and take a drink Climb, caterpillars Climb to see what we could be Nothing really comes for free Taste, chew, and swallow Take the bitter with the sweet Flutter down and take a drink Climb, caterpillars Climb to see what we could be Nothing really comes for free Taste, chew, and swallow Take the bitter with the sweet Flutter down and take a drink Climb, caterpillars Climb to see what we could be Nothing really comes for free Taste, chew, and swallow Take the bitter with the sweet Flutter down and take a drink Climb, caterpillars Climb to see what we could be Nothing really comes for free
7.	Down the Rabbit Hole 01:38		buy track
8.	Far & Wide 04:47	lyrics	buy track
India’s not quite like I imagined it would be This manifest destiny carrot American Dream Always got somewhere to be How did I get right here? Rather be anywhere Else I rode through the motions while watching from my window seat Still pulled by the parallax layers of life at the seams Wondering where they and I meet How did I get right here Rather be anywhere Else Where? How did I get right here? Rather be anywhere Else Where? Don’t Know So Drive One More Spike One step at a time Who knows what I’ll find At the end of the line
9.	High & Low 06:16	lyrics	buy track
And while the world Keeps getting flatter Yeah you can try To find the pattern Or dig up the rails And build a ladder Where the more you climb The more you matter Just look around Can’t you do better? The bar’s been set By the trend-setters Just when you thought That you could get there It moved again Gone with the weather Groundless feet Standing on the sky Always reach Never quite arrive We’re all outsiders Stretched out to fit To things outside us They come and go The great dividers But gravity Ain’t getting lighter God only knows Just what we’re after Get to the top You’ll find your answer Warm carrot cake Upon a platter Eat all you want And have it after Groundless feet Standing on the sky Always reach Never quite arrive Groundless feet Standing on the sky Always reach Never quite arrive (Aaaaahhhhh) (Aaaaahhhhh) When gravity has its way And the ladder starts to sway Can you see the ground from where you stand? How far down before you land? Groundless feet Standing on the sky
10.	Here. 02:24	lyrics	buy track
Never who we need to be Caught in what we think we need We will never find ourselves Trying to be somewhere else Don’t need one more metaphor To find what you’re looking for You don’t need another year Find out how to be right here Never who we need to be Caught in what we think we need We will never find ourselves Trying to be somewhere else Don’t need one more metaphor To find what you’re looking for You don’t need another year Find out how to be right here

about

"Here." is a raw and honest progressive rock album that seeks to embody the philosophy of presence and acceptance in the current moment. From the lyrics, to the production, to the artwork, the album emphasizes the beauty hidden in the imperfections of the human experience.

My Becker's Muscular Dystrophy limits my ability to play instruments, but I chose not to digitally manipulate the recordings to iron out the imperfections. I instructed my engineer (Riccardo Pasini, Studio73, Ravenna, Italy) not to add any autotune or excessive effects on my vocals.

My personal musical honesty includes both a raw humanity and a reliance on synthetic electronics to create the musical soundscapes of Black Birch. I can't really play the keyboard, so I use MIDI for all my synths, keyboards, and drums. In a perfect world, the drums would be recorded by a live drummer, but I decided to lean into my reliance on electronics and go with the drums I programmed. Paradoxically, this use of computerized technology is yet another expression of my humanity.

I hope those who listen will be encouraged to lean into the mundane, painful "Here" in which they find themselves, no matter where that is. If we can learn to accept ourselves and the lives we've been given, we can find a place of peace and joy within ourselves. I hope this music will inspire those who don't think they can make worthwhile art due to their personal limitations to have the bravery to get creative and express themselves anyway.

credits

released February 6, 2021

All songs written and recordedby Dustin Clark in his home studioin Columbus, Ohio

Bass recordedby Riccardo Pasini at Studio73in Ravenna, Italy

Dustin Clark: electric + nylon string guitar, vocals, electronics, drum
programming, artwork
Mike Clark: acoustic + electric guitar
David Carey: electric guitar
Riccardo Pasini: electric bass, mixing + mastering

Muchty chimes recording on Where?: user 3bagbrew, freesound.org
Aeolian wind harp recording on Where?: user felixblume, soundcloud.com
Steam engine recordings on High & Low: Hollywood Sound Effects - Volume 6 by Calmsound
Metal hit recordings on High & Low: channel soundliketube, YouTube

Funded by Kickstarter

Distributed by DistroKid

license

about

Dustin Clark Columbus, Ohio

Dustin Clark writes and records music in various styles and genres in his bedroom studio in Columbus, Ohio, USA. As an artist with Becker Muscular Dystrophy, he faces additional challenges that inform his process and expression as a recording artist. He leans into the imperfections of his recordings and embraces the vulnerability of musical expression despite his physical disability. ... more

contact / help

Contact Dustin Clark

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this album or account

If you like Here., you may also like:

Familiar Ground EP
by Zooni

Brighton quartet Zooni round out their slick, ultra-rhythmic art rock vision with smart lyrics and ever-shifting dynamics. Bandcamp New & Notable Oct 7, 2020
go to album
Ultramega OK (Expanded Reissue)
by Soundgarden

A look back at Soundgarden’s breakthrough hard rock classic. Bandcamp Album of the Day May 22, 2017
go to album
I
by Buffalo Daughter

featured on Bandcamp Radio Mar 14, 2023
go to album
Nothing As It Seems
by Street Rat

The sophomore album from former session musician Imraan Paleker highlights his modern soul, alt-rock, jazz, and electronic sensibilities. Bandcamp New & Notable Oct 16, 2020
go to album
Yumi And The Weather LP
by Yumi And The Weather

Yumi & the Weather follow an acclaimed EP with a new batch of fast-moving, harmony-laden electropop. Bandcamp New & Notable Aug 2, 2018
go to album
Low Hum EP
by Low Hum

Psych-rock that finds the balance between expansive dreaminess and driving energy. Bandcamp New & Notable Feb 28, 2018
go to album
Pills From Strangers
by Firehorse

featured on Bandcamp Radio Jun 25, 2013
go to album