"I was, uh / lost in the jungle / this land I'd seen / Mescal for my nerves / cover from the thieves / someone's painting the silhouettes / cooking chunks of trees / stood older than God / forgot on our knees..."
The quiet before the storm, the sadness before the resolve of "Cover From The Thieves" by Are We Hunting, the artful moniker of Northern California based singer-songwriter Ryan Ayala, feels so moving and feels like a dime store novel you cut yourself on while reading on a train. The opening lines (that I hope I got right) start,
"I was uh / lost in the jungle / this land I'd seen / Mescal for my nerves / cover from the thieves / someone's painting the silhouettes / cooking chunks of trees / stood older than God / forgot on our knees / an there she was..."
And , the "uh" early on, maybe a cast off from improvising poetry or, a planned (or unplanned) pause to jump or bridge a vocal melody caught my ear early on. That stutter quite stunningly feels like a literary punctuation and thus, had me literally feeling this song like the aforementioned dime store novel. The melancholia embedded in Ayala's mournful sustain and kind of seemingly dulled busker punk sadness, nonetheless has massive power in a gut punch sort of way. When the song builds and gets big though, it literally lifts you off your feet in a hopeful way, granted maybe in the kind of crushed hope way that you might feel walking away from a funeral but hopeful just the same. Still, "Cover From The Thieves" is one of those songs that sticks with you like a Lou Reed manifesto. Brilliant.
LINER NOTES (bracketed):
[An alluring sample of their upcoming album "Impersonations" of suffering and true love (produced by former Pogues member and theater composer David Coulter), due to be released later this year, "Cover From The Thieves" is a refreshing take on the wider folk-rock sound, featuring an inviting and complex guitar sound, calming drum beats, vintage instrumentation, dark vocals, and captivating lyrics.
When discussing the track in further detail exclusively with Glide Magazine, Ryan Ayala (the poetic artist behind the Are We Hunting musical moniker) writes: "The song is about my wife Erin. She is my cover from the thieves. thieves of joy and boyishness. being loved, loving her-- she's my cover form the thieves."]
When discussing the track in further detail exclusively with Glide Magazine, Ryan Ayala (the poetic artist behind the Are We Hunting musical moniker) writes: "The song is about my wife Erin. She is my cover from the thieves. thieves of joy and boyishness. being loved, loving her-- she's my cover form the thieves."]
I love that "Cover From The Thieves" is really a love song of sorts and I look forward to delving into Ayala's upcoming album "Impersonations".
-Robb Donker Curtius
THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM
https://www.instagram.com/arewehunting/
https://x.com/AWehunting
https://www.arewehunting.com/
https://arewehutning.bandcamp.com/
https://soundcloud.com/arewehunting
Are We Hunting is the moniker of Northern California based songwriter, Ryan Ayala. While his intensely personal song writing can be described as melancholic, the sound is both cinematic and anthemic. Perhaps the most alluring aspect of Are We Hunting is the rare ability to craft narrative driven music that is still rooted in hooks and melody.
Are We Hunting has drawn influence from a handful of big names in the industry, such as Bob Dylan, Modest Mouse, Lou Reed, and Tom Waits. He’s been able to take pieces of everything and create a sound that’s familiar while remaining fresh and exciting.
Are We Hunting, singer songwriter Ryan Ayala, Northern California based, folk, folk indie, indie rock, alt rock, alt folk, diaristic songs, "Cover From The Thieves", upcoming album "Impersonations",
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