Eliza Delf: Exploring the connection between the wilderness of the natural world, and the psychological wilderness within. Both are areas of untamed freedom and risk – with an edge of danger as well as sanctuary. The peace at the heart of the wilderness can only be found by overcoming the anxiety of letting go.
Deciding to find joy, or at least acceptance, in the more troubled parts of one’s life. It’s a bit of a “whistling in the dark” song – keeping the shadows at bay. The verses have a detached and observational quality to them.
Jon Loomes: Acceptance and finding peace; conclusions and wrapping up. I've tried to bring together a lot of ideas we've heard earlier in the album. Musical recapitulation aside, there are borrowings from the folk tradition, orchestral sounds both raw and processed, colouristic effects, themes derived from hidden places and a textural density that by turns obscures or reveals who knows what? Eyes in the undergrowth are watching... We finish, not a million miles from where we started, but our lives are richer for the journey; a journey that is just beginning as we step out of our cages once more.

Lyrics

INTO THE WILDERNESS
How strange it is, how free it feels to feel alone, on my own.
How mind-spinningly, shallow-breathingly terrifying too.
How odd it is how tree roots grow around the telephone, my telephone.
And muffle the ringing and strangle the singing of those who call you, try to call you.
Eyes in the undergrowth are watching me,
But I’m watching them.

I’m not lost, I’m in the wilderness
I’m not lost, I’m in the wilderness
I’m not lost, I’m in the wilderness
Waiting for you.

A heartbeat is company,
However small the heart, so small a heart.
A stranger is no stranger than a friend.
Is it desperation that has brought me out into the dark, oh it’s so dark.
Is it desperation that’ll drive me back again, I go again.
Eyes in the undergrowth are watching me,
But I’m watching them.

I’m not lost, I’m in the wilderness
I’m not lost, I’m in the wilderness
I’m not lost, I’m in the wilderness
Waiting for you.

It’s a funny thing how monumental these moments feel,
We try to feel.
Though moments pass and we will all forget.
The lightning could strike me, my body could smite me,
But skin can heal, we try to heal.
Anything can be cured when there’s peace in the head,
Inside this head, oh.
Eyes in the undergrowth are watching me,
But I’m watching them.

I’m not lost, I’m in the wilderness
I’m not lost, I’m in the wilderness
I’m not lost, I’m in the wilderness
Waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting.
I’m not lost, I’m in the wilderness
I’m not lost, I’m in the wilderness
I’m not lost, I’m in the wilderness
Waiting for you.

© Eliza Delf 2022