Alexander Search - A Day of Sun

/EN//

Alexander Search is an English-speaking band originating from South Africa but currently based in Europe – more specifically, in Portugal, "a seaside garden paradise" in the words of the country's greatest poet, Fernando Pessoa. Their music is a mix of several influences: indie-pop, electronic music and rock. Most of the lyrics have been written by Alexander Search, a member of the band who tragically died at a young age – but who also managed to earn the respect of his peers as "the greatest conquerer of the beauty of words".
Augustus Search is the band's composer, musical director, pianist and synthesizer player. Benjamin Cymbra is an extraordinary singer whose voice carries the spirit of rock'n'roll from the past, and the anxieties and hopes of the present. The future "is the possibility of everything", Pessoa also used to say.
Sgt. William Byng is in charge of live electronics and computers. Marvel K. plays an edgy and spacey guitar. And Mr. Tagus, a former jazz drummer, still finds the greatest riches in the music and groove of Africa.
Alexander Search is a daring and impatient band, always, always looking for quintessence. They have never found it. This album is the story of yet another failed attempt.


//PT//

Alexander Search é uma banda de língua inglesa que cresceu na África do Sul, mas que está radicada na Europa, mais concretamente Portugal, "paraíso à beira mar plantado" como dizia o seu maior poeta, Fernando Pessoa. A sua música mistura influências da indie-pop, música electrónica e rock. As letras foram escritas maioritariamente por Alexander Search, membro da banda que morreu tragicamente ainda jovem, mas que granjeia o respeito e admiração dos seus pares como "the greatest conquerer of the beauty of words", o maior conquistador da beleza das palavras.
Augustus Search é o compositor de serviço da banda, toca piano e sintetizadores e faz a direcção musical. Benjamin Cymbra é um cantor extraordinário e traz na sua voz a garra rock n'roll do passado e as angústias e esperanças do presente. O futuro "é a possibilidade de tudo", dizia também Pessoa.
Sgt. William Byng comanda a vertente computacional e electrónica. Marvel K. tem uma guitarrada cortante e espacial. E Mr. Tagus, ex-baterista de jazz, ainda tem na música e 'groove' de África uma das suas maiores riquezas.
Alexander Search é uma banda que gosta de ousar, impaciente, à procura, sempre à procura, da quintessência. Nunca o conseguiu. Este é o disco de mais uma tentativa falhada.

Benjamin Cymbra - Voice
Augustus Search - Keyboards and Piano
Sgt. William Byng - Electronics
Mr. Tagus - Drums
Marvell K. - Electric Guitar

Follow Alexander Search:
https://www.facebook.com/alexandersearchband
Instagram: @alexandersearchband

Directed by Joel da Palma (www.dapalmafilms.com)
Music video by Alexander Search. (C) 2017
Music by Augustus Search.
Distributed by Sony Music Entertainment Portugal

A DAY OF SUN

I love the things that children love
Yet with a comprehension deep
That lifts my pining soul above
Those in which life as yet doth sleep.

All things that simple are and bright,
Unnoticed unto keen‑worn wit,
With a child's natural delight
That makes me proudly weep at it.

I love the heavens with a joy
That makes me wonder at my soul,
It is a pleasure nought can cloy,
A thrilling I cannot control.

So stretched out here let me lie
Before the sun that soaks me up,
And let me gloriously die
Drinking too deep of living's cup;

Be swallowed of the sun and spread
Over the infinite expanse,
Dissolved, like a drop of dew dead
Lost in a super‑normal trance;

And in a strange way undefined
Lose in the one and living Whole
The limit that I call my mind,
The bounded thing I call my soul.

Alexander Search