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Black Box Recorder – The English Motorway System

June 11, 2018 Peter Kimpton
The Facts of Life album artwork

The Facts of Life album artwork

After James Carr's Dark Street and Van Morrison's Bright Road, let's now travel down the darkly humorous musical highway of the English trio, first from their second album The Facts of Life (2000). Comprised of Luke Haines from The Auteurs, John Moore formerly of The Jesus and Mary Chain and Sarah Nixey, all of whom have produced many solo projects, the band specialises in ironic, often nostalgic electronic pop with wry, cutting lyrics sung or spoken by Nixey's breathy, sensual, but deadpan voice. Their first recorded song on the first album, England Made Me, was Girl Singing in The Wreckage, more of an acoustic guitar number, which ultimately perhaps led to this song. The English Motorway System, having an element of Kraftwerk's Autobahn, in fact somewhat parodies it, being all about losing your concentration on the road, has a bleak, strange beauty, and was originally conceived as a hymn. The band has now released a (near) complete studio and live box set, with the typically wonderful title Life Is Unfair.

The English motorway system is beautiful and strange
It's been there forever, it's never going to change
It eliminates all diversions, it eliminates all emotions
(All you got to do to stay alive is drive)

There are things we need to talk about
There are things I cannot do without

If you think the journey's over
Let me know, don't make me wait

(Driving with no aim or intention)
On the English motorway

The English motorway system can be quite hypnotising
You achieve a Zen like state, as someone else's driving
It becomes detached observing, colours and straight lights
Distant town and exit signs
(Do you really want to break up?)

There are things we need to talk about
There are things I cannot do without

Is this the end of the rainbow?
Am I just colour-blind?

(Leave the north, visit friend's at south)
On the English motorway

The English motorway system, is an accident waiting to happen
On the black ice, a lorry jack knives, on there's freezing fog in November
And you wonder if there's someone who really does decide
I thought I saw you in a distance
(Do you really want to break up?)

There are things we need to talk about
There are things I cannot do without

When you think the journey's over
Let me know
Don't make me wait

(Driving with no aim or intention)
On the English motorway

The English motorway system is beautiful and strange
The English motorway system is beautiful and strange
The English motorway system is beautiful and strange
The English motorway system is beautiful and strange.

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In 2000, electronica, pop Tags songs, song of the day, Black Box Recorder, Luke Haines, The Auteurs, John Moore, Jesus & Mary Chain, Sarah Nixey, roads, Kraftwerk, pop
← The Auteurs – Lenny ValentinoVan Morrison – Bright Side Of The Road →

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