About "Dark Matter" - by Fula (1999)

track Listing
1.Dark Matter 2.Vanity-the great cover up 3.Girl In the Window 4.Nothing
5.A New Advance 6.River One-part two 7.Banner of Shadows
8.Where Did We Go Wrong? 9.River One-part one 10.Cynthia
11.Behind Cold Eyes 12.Insanity 13.Everything 14.Nothing More

Fula recorded their first CD 'Dark Matter' in the summer of 1999 with then singer Zoë Stafford, and released it on 15 August 1999. Since then, the CD has been well received by fans and critics alike, and spent several months in the Classic Rock Society's Top 10 of monthly sales.

About the Tracks

1. Dark Matter
Greg's dtx drum loop and Rob's creepy organ was not the obvious 'opener', but as days went by, both band and critics realised its impact and so it was to be. Originally conceived in the summer of 1998, it hung around for months with the song almost complete but with a troublesome midsection chord sequence. It wasn't finished until Zoë joined the group and immediately shook it by the throat, 'fixed' the melody and added a few more words in the right place.

2. Vanity
Originally called 'Vanity & Insanity', Rob recorded the 4 chord pattern in December 1995 and added the 'fairground' middle section later that month. This was inspired by one-time Manchester outfit Some Strange Quarters, who had accommodated Rob for a few months of recording and touring in 1993. The lyrics were co-written by Rob and original Fula front-woman Nadeen Plant, and used to feature a Madonnaesque rap in the 'fairground' section. This was hastily dropped after Nadeen's departure from the band in 1997. Zoë's vocal received its unusual 'treatment' by accident while whizzing through various guitar effects on the 8-track.

3. Girl in the Window
This song was composed in the spring of 1999 by all band members. The lyrics were taken from a poem by Deborah Stafford (Zoë's sister and occasional backing singer) of the same name. This song has been picked out by many radio stations as an ideal single.

4. Nothing
This song - entirely composed by Rob - was written at about the same time as Vanity. The freezing temperatures in Rob's Blackpool flat at the time are probably reflected in the bleakness of the lyrics.

5. A New Advance
Again written in 1999, this song is always a favourite at Fula live shows. A little known fact is that the ferry serving the Scottish island of Foula is called 'The New Advance'.

6. River One - Part 2
This song was written during the actual recording of the Dark Matter album, and was originally penned as the album's opener.

7. Banner of Shadows
This song was originally recorded by Rob under the pseudonym Dr. Volospion way back in 1987, then titled 'And She Dances'. It also appeared in abbreviated form on Fula's first album 'Beyond the Merrygolight' released in 1995.

8. Where Did We Go Wrong?
This was one of the first Fula songs written. Originally intended as a minimalistic backdrop, it has been constantly added to, and added to some more.

9. River One - Part 1
This originally featured the legendary Tommy Dorsey's wife in conversation with her husband talking about how they used to perform their gospel songs to bemused white American church goers and how they would pass the hat round after each sermon. As this had nothing to do with the topic of the song (drowning!) it was quickly wiped from the finished recording.

10. Cynthia
This again was on the original Fula album. In live performances, this song has been known to go on for around 12 minutes!

11. Behind Cold Eyes
Conceived in 1992, Rob wrote this mega-ballad on a borrowed Fender Rhodes piano. The lyrics were rewritten for the Merrygolight and in 1998 the end section was added on to increase the drama for live performances.

12. Insanity
Its working title was 'The Mad One' for reasons that become apparent when you listen to it! After much umming and aaring, it was given the name 'Insanity', a name which has relevance to the lyrics, the style of the music, and also ties it to 'Vanity'. The song was composed in 1999 originally as three separate songs. The offbeat verse and the semi-chorus were found to be in the same key.

13. Everything
This first appeared in demo form in 1997 titled 'The Lion Tamer' (?) but was changed to Everything to fit in with the trilogy of Nothing, Something and Anything.

14. Nothing More
Intended as a ghost track hidden away ten minutes after the finale, it was brought forward as a gem too good to miss. Nothing More is actually Nothing with the piano and vocal taken away. Nothing more than that!

© Rob Gould. All Rights Reserved.