Posted on November 8, 2008 - by Halina Rifai

Burning Codes

About three years ago I was introduced by a good friend to a man named Paul Archer. I had first come across his music with one of the best live acts that I have seen – The Ghears. I became hooked, not only because the music was jaw dropping but it was something that I rarely come by. The passion and vigour that Paul and his band had when it came to their music was not something I had seen in a long time.

A while later I got introduced to the new project – Burning Codes. This was the beginning of my thought process changing, my passions increasing and my realisation that I didn’t care about the commercial aspect of music, the image, nothing. It was about human soul, spirit and communication.

This evening I came home to the Burning Codes album, people like myself that have somewhat shared the journey in the birth of this album and experienced the sheer determination and prolific being of Paul Archer, it is without a doubt one of the memorable times that you are so very proud of another human and friend. I can only imagine how the people that have been with him throughout his life feel.

Burning Codes the album contains songs that I have previously written about but I want you to read these words and take them in.

“For All Time” is the blossoming of one’s heart, the opening to the album and a sonnet that will set the scene for this incredible journey. The choir of voices that open the door to another world of peace and a plateau of illumination. A call to the end of trouble and a monumental insight into why we should all take our humanity as a blessing and be grateful for each day.

Paul Archer

“Go” is the gathering of steam and the lightness of voice in an almost staccato style which creates a choral epiphany. “Breaking The Mould” the lyrics says it all, take what you have, don’t be scared of how you feel, express yourself and project your feelings and thoughts in the way they were intended.

“All You’re Feeling” is so very catchy I feel myself singing it now from the beginning and smiling thinking of the good times ahead. I feel somewhat cushioned and safe when I listen to this, as if a parent is casting its watchful gaze and letting me know I am progressing in the right direction. ‘All You’re Feeling’, yes all these feelings are indeed mumbling yet this song makes those feelings stand proud and corrected.

“Light Is Coming”, there is a period just before Christmas that your insides become a bit tingly and excited about the prospect about spending time with your family and just the general build up, you can’t quite describe that feeling it is just sheer excitement. This helps create that feeling and in some way you can’t actually describe it but there is a simplicity that Archer has. It is a vastly comforting effect that reduces the shuffling of everyday life and makes you feel as if you are sitting beside a Canadian lake breathing in the freezing cold pine air.

“Cloak and Dagger”, this is the most confrontational song I have ever heard in terms of B.C. There is almost a crying to the song that pleads to the listener, but at the same time stands strong with a steely murmuring. Even with the angelic choir vocals you still hear the strength in message and know that Codes have crowned their stance.

“David”. I start with a full stop because I really don’t know how to begin this. When you listen to certain songs you can feel the love that the composer has expressed. It transcends and your eyes well because you know exactly what the artist intended. ‘We’re Alright’even the whispering of this vocal amplifies the safety you are meant to feel. If this song is for you, whoever you are. I as a listener know you are going to be OK.

“Sharer”, “This Is What You Wanted All Your Life, This Is Your Time To Feel Alive”. Completion is the sentiment clearly. Goals reached, pressure released. The underlying pressure of lyric released somewhat by the tingling upper octave guitar. The familiar choral release of tranquillity and the calmness that it creates. My pet hate when I write about music is to try to define what people intend when they actually write. As mentioned in the David Holmes write up we as humans (I use this term with importance) are supposed to, well I believe, define what we think about music and lyrics and take them to our own experiences. That is the love that stems; we can build our own beliefs and experiences on these and build foundations for the homes of our feelings.

“Circles”, the confusion in the chorus makes me identify with my inner self. Back and forth. The irony of music and lyrics is that someone can describe how you feel better than you can sometimes. There is turmoil in this song, one that I, a troubled individual can relate to. ‘We Lost Touch’, what I adore most about songs is that they can express a regret that as people we cannot. People often ask if we regret anything and you obviously answer 9 times out of 10 no. This is true; we cannot express regret as we do not want to falter another human, no matter what the relationship. The music around this has a tooing-and-froing that I can correlate with this. No regrets about what has happened, just regrets about feelings surrounding.

“See The Colours”, natural calm… I think that is the only way I can describe it. A rainbow of calm. Rarely does one come across a vocal that creates such ignorance. I use this word as I myself am ignorant, I am ignorant to the serene openness and worry free microcosm this song creates. Naivety in my eyes plays a huge part in the lyrics and music of Paul Archer, I by no means translate this in a derogatory way, and I admire it. There is a message that takes you back to the time when you were almost old enough to feel that life was worth living and the preciousness of each semibreve of breath was something that you could trade for wealth.

“Searcher”, what are you looking for? I am recumbent in my listening of this. It is the only real way I have of experiencing this to its full potential. Lie back on a park slant, stare up at the clear sky and pin point the constellations as your soundtrack. You and your loved one have found a song to join you in this, a point at which you understand one another. The understanding of this in terms of musicality and vocal translate to feeling in a way that we translate to breathing. It is just natural.

“Whirlwind”. This is a song that is so close to my heart that a hand encompasses it. The first time I heard this I was winded. The strings initially are so profound that you find it hard to progress. ‘We’re Beyond This, We’re Together’. Yes, yes we all are. This song is a masterpiece; it is a soundtrack to hearts and minds and interprets so many people’s feelings. I remember playing this on BBC Radio 6 and on playback thinking, will people actually appreciate this as much as I? This closes a lifetime of feelings on an album that I deem perfection. Perfection in the sense that someone has taken their very soul and interpreted it in music.

The album is a macrocosm of kindness. If understood it will touch you in a way that you will remember and carry with you for the rest of your life. It taps into what you feel and erases all doubt, negativity and abandonment. In this album you have hope, friendship and respect.

Waiting for our sight:

• What Will Replace MTV? (15)
• Our last year of independent? (7)
• Indie O’Clock: Tiny Tide and Nothing Meets All (7)
• Funny Little Bunny (6)
• Christmas Indie Ep from Japan (6)