Page 8 - July 2021

INSPIRATION, EVOCATION, AND
PERSPIRATION (THE STORY OF GOTHIC LULLABY)
By Rob Atkins
Wash Away The Years was the first independently- produced album released by my daughter, Helena Mace. It contains ten tracks, nine of them written by Helena (two with the assistance of a musician friend, Dave Clark). The remaining song, Moon Goddess, was the ‘b’ side of a disc recorded by a band named ‘Neon Rainbow’ in 1975 on the now defunct Peacock label at a studio of the same name on the Isle of Wight. (This was the Island made famous in the previous decade as the venue of three early rock festivals).
The ‘a’ side, a somewhat bland country rocker entitled ‘Steppin’ ‘n’ Stridin’ was hurriedly and carelessly put together shortly before the recording session -I know this for a fact because I was the guy who wrote it!
I also wrote Moon Goddess, but a great deal more thought and attention was put into the composition of this song. Whereas Steppin’ ‘n’ Stridin’ was written in barely an hour (there are some who would question how it had taken me that long) the melody of Moon Goddess gradually came into my head over the course of a few days, seemingly of its own volition. I cannot remember who it was that said ‘songs are not written, they float in the air waiting for someone to catch them’, but I do recall Tom Paxton quoting the adage. I am fully aware that some people will find this statement highly fanciful -if not utter whimsy. Nevertheless, that is how the tune seemed to come to me.
Although I consider myself primarily a poet, rather than a musician and songwriter, I find melodies to be inspirational, and lyrics ‘perspire-ational’. I am constantly dogged by ‘hole in the elbow’syndrome. That is I know in my head exactly the atmosphere and imagery I want to describe, but it tends to leak out of my arm the moment I try to capture it on paper.
In writing Moon Goddess I vied to put across the essence of the poetic muse of ancient mythology.
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She haunts the waking thoughts and dreams of the ‘seeker’, drifting away, and fading from view each time he or she attempts to grasp her.
The song is an allegory of the trials and frustrations of song writing -and every other aesthetic art. It tells of the toil, sweat, and tantalising visions that taunt the artist seeking creative fulfilment.
In swirling mist of sleeping bliss your presence clouds my mem’ry.
I’ve felt your cool embrace at midnight help me to the dawn.
I’ve danced in gilded shadows with you -stroked your hair so softly’
Then daylight’s stain forms in the east, and suddenly you’re gone.
Once written, the arrangement of the song -influenced by the folk rock style of bands such as the British ‘Lindisfarne’ and the American ‘Byrds’, jangled along at a ‘feel-good’ pace. It’s status of ‘flip side was a bone of contention within the line- up of ‘Neon Rainbow’, however -keyboard player, Dave Bushell (aka ‘Bush’), and drummer, Trev Young, favoured Steppin’ ‘n’ Stridin’ as ‘a’ side, while lead guitarist, Ray Hunt, who had contributed an immaculate intro for the number, pushed for Moon Goddess. As bass player and vocalist, as well as composer of both tracks, the casting vote was down to me. Eventually, I opted for Steppin’ ‘n’ Stridin’, if only for the reason that (as Bush and Trev insisted) it was the better one to dance to.
Whether or not this was the right decision I am unable to say. Both sides were aired on local radio, but it was Moon Goddess that found a slot on the BBC’s prestigious Rosko’s Round Table, hosted by top US deejay, Emperor Rosko. I didn’t catch the show, but was told it was reviewed by singer/ songwriters, Barry Blue and Gilbert O’Sullivan,