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We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Also, He Made the Stars​.​.​.

by DLDown

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  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    DLDown's 2nd album, complete with 12-page booklet, packaged in a beautifully designed limited edition digipak. Also includes immediate download of the digital album as detailed below.


    A QUICK WORD ABOUR HOW THIS VARIABLE PRICING THING WORKS: You can choose how much you want to pay for this music.
    • I like this because the important thing about music is the enjoyment of it, not the money.
    • I like this because it takes the wind out of the Music-Is-An-Industry sails.
    • I like this because it means you can have my music even if you haven't got any spare spending capacity just now.
    • I like this because I don't know how to price my music either.


    I know the whole "ascribing worth to something" thing makes some people uncomfortable, so if you need a suggestion to get you started, how about £5 for an album, or 50p per track. Or alternatively, you could download it for free and give it a few listens, then if you decide you really like it, you can come back and donate something later. Or buy a copy for a friend. Or help me by sharing it with your friends or writing a review. Or just enjoy it for free.


    If you're dithering, DOWNLOAD IT FOR FREE NOW, and worry about all this another day!


    (The £1 minimum on CD orders goes towards the cost of a jiffy bag and stamp.) Thank you for supporting independent music.
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  • Streaming + Download

    Immediate download of 14-track album in your choice of 320k mp3, FLAC, or just about any other format you could possibly desire.

    Includes pdf version of the CD booklet, with lyrics, liner notes and album artwork.
    Purchasable with gift card

      name your price

     

1.
Planetarium 00:54
2.
Thursday in the garden and the hour is close at hand Frightened friends beside him though they can't yet understand And he loves them How he loves them Even though they just can't keep their weary eyes open And so he's alone So alone And over and over the tears from his eyes overflow Enemies conspiring send an army for one man Traitor's kiss confiding: "he's the one, lads - take him down" But he loves them Still he loves them So he goes Though they won't let their blinded eyes open And so, as he knows, blood will flow And over and over his captors will rain down the blows Darkness overwhelmed him; no, he didn't last that long It seemed that all was over; the mourners wailed their song But he loves us Yes, he loves us This we know For he told us to keep our eyes open And so there's so much to tell you So much has happened since all I've just told you took place Only three days ago
3.
Economology 04:54
Who is my neighbour? - you're so far away It's hard to admit it - I'd never say it to your face I'll kill for my convenience, it's not your fault you're in my way Your life for my lifestyle - that seems a perfect trade But what if this isn't mine to give? And what if this isn't mine to spend? And what if this isn't mine to withhold from someone who needs it more? The Earth is the Lord's and everything in it When did that cease to be true? The Earth is the Lord's and everything in it All that I have comes from you When do trees have higher value? - when they're standing or when they're felled: A habitat for creatures or a set of flat-pack shelves Filled with mementoes of tragic islands now sleeping under waves Raised to anger by jets we rode there But what if this isn't yours to take? And what if this isn't yours to keep? And what if this isn't yours to use for your comforts and your war? And we plumb the depths of oceans And we blow the tops off mountains A smash and grab raid on the hands of the provider We hold the world to ransom shouting "stand and deliver!" The Earth is the Lord's and everything in it When did that cease to be true? The Earth is the Lord's and everything in it All that I have comes from you The Earth is the Lord's and everything in it It's good to know where you kneel The Earth is the Lord's and everything in it How long till you return, restore and renew? I'm buying into the commonly held notion That all is mine to cherish or destroy This ownership delusion has a stubborn grip on me Can I be made to realign my thinking? How can I bend my will into a shape more pleasing And loosen my stranglehold?
4.
Romans 7 03:45
Hold tight to the prison bars Is it they or I which hold the other captive? Rest my head on the metal cold Stare out into the passing world, so free and unconcerned It's our little secret, just you and me And I'd keep it alone if I could But you are the one who made everything You know me through and through And it's a part of me that I don't like to think of as me And it's a part of me I don't want you to see Yes I'm sure you'd agree it looks pleasant from the outside "You'll enjoy it, just make yourself at home" But it's a hollow attraction; just unsatisfaction And an unfulfilled promise of change ("I'll do better next time...") And it's a part of me that I don't like to think of as me And it's a part of me I don't want you to see I know that I don't want to be here But again it's a moment too late I keep coming back here against my will I think my body has a mind of its own I know that I don't want to be here And the escape route is glaringly clear You broke down the door and you smashed down the walls Freedom's but a step away, but I still like it here And it's a part of me that I don't like to think of as me And it's a part of me I don't want you to see And you want all of me to be all that you made me to be For you made all of me to bring you glory
5.
Missing 03:55
How did we end up alone together again? All the rest have just melted away, stranding you here with me The others think it's obvious, but I still can't be sure Why you stay till the very last minute, or choose the longer route home And if you're liking my company even half as much as I love yours Then it can only be a good thing to share a little more Walking with you, adjusting my steps to your shorter stride Perhaps not so comfy, but this doesn't feel like a compromise Fingertip to fingertip - lost for words But a squeeze of the hand and a sidelong glance say "delighted to be with you" And who'd have thought such a simple thing could keep you from holding the smile in? It's terrible to miss you, but so sweet to be missed What is it that you see in me that makes me worth the risk? Terrible to miss you, but wonderful to be missed... And do you think it's strange that I miss you when I saw you just yesterday?
6.
Icarus 06:23
Flying high on wings of pride Looping and soaring across the sky Freedom of my own design Who needs a Father's advice? Lazy gliding across the blue Always knew I could do without you Closer to the sun for a better view Maybe to Heaven I can break through Seen too late, the edges curl Feathers scorch and knots unfurl Softening wax and trembling fear A desperate swoop for cooler air Flapping, drowning, frozen heart Dreams, ambitions fall apart Vertigo and effort spent Icarus starts his long descent I'm falling! Spiralling down In my fear I am drowning My arrogance is taking its toll Oh God, if you're there Would you hear me and spare me Reach out and break my fall I'm falling Forsaking my crown This world drags me down This sin will be the death of us all But by grace arranged My wrongs are exchanged For a parachute that I could never earn I'm falling... Into your arms again Was lost, now I'm found And now I'm Heaven-bound
7.
Staring blankly at these pages: Am I really blind? Or just tired? I get the meaning but I can't comprehend How this applies to my life I must have read these words a hundred times by now But inspiration still eludes My notes stare smugly back at me: "you'll have got it now - if you've really tried" Can you reach me? I'm well meaning But easily turned aside My prayers ricochet off the ceiling Motivation dies Place my distractions carefully out of reach But the clock's tick magnifies to fill my mind Counting down the seconds 'til I can get on with my life Can you hear me? Well I wish I wanted you more than I do now I want to learn to learn to love you better But I can't see how or where to begin I want to want to know you more than I do now But left to my own devices... I'll take the distraction anytime So save me from this apathy - set my heart ablaze Let the wonders of your story once again amaze Well I wish I wanted you more than I do now I want to learn to learn to love you better But I can't see how or where to begin I want to want to know you more than I do now But left to my own devices... I'll take the distraction anytime
8.
I've done it again I've added another stone to the burden on your back Your perfect reputation, I have dragged it through the dirt Yet there's nothing I can do that will reduce the love you show me When I turn back to you, you come running to meet me You've been watching and counting the moments Till you saw me come back into view And when I ask you to tell me how much you love me Smiling you stretch out your arms to embrace me And without a word welcome me home I'm doing it again I'm trying to strike a bargain with the one who's in control You know my every thought and you see my every deed But there's nothing I can do to make you love me more Than you already do
9.
Hide & Seek 03:49
Forsaken, empty I miss you even though you're here Feeling friendless in your presence And your silence is telling me more than your words Downcast with this vagueness Surely there's a meaning underneath? But like a child playing hide and seek It's not the hiding that's the purpose of the game Secret in the dark Trembling in anticipation for you But the joy is in the finding And I've hidden far too well My spirit's burning low And I feel so far from you Far from you Far from you Softly, treading lightly Just edging my way back to you When maybe, on your mercy I should fling myself, all of me I don't know when it happened But I've lost sight of you somewhere along the way And while sorry is the hardest word Resentment is a lonely place to be My spirit's burning low And I feel so far from you Far from you Far from you now My spirit's burning low But nevertheless still burning And I'll hold on And hope you'll find me somehow My spirit's burning low And I feel so far from you Far from you Far from you
10.
Found You 02:48
I found you That's what I'm longing for That's what I'm longing for, to hear you say Straining to hear your footfalls Waiting to hear your voice calling "found you"
11.
Starmaker 02:57
If you have the time Perhaps you'd linger on 'Cause there's someone I'd like you to meet A friend of mine I'm sure you'll get on fine For he holds A special place in my heart I'm afraid He won't improve your image In these times He's not one to be seen with I have to say He has something of a habit Of hanging out With just the wrong kind of crowd I don't always find him easy to talk to But he's always there to listen when I do We often disagree, but the wrong one's always me And he'll be the first to make the reconciling move He's somewhat enigmatic Questions remain I can't see where he's going But I know he knows the way So if you have the time I just know he'd love to meet you After all, your name is written on his hands I mean to say You'll meet him anyway Sooner or later And by the way, he made the stars
12.
Are you listening? Pay attention, I'm talking to you I need your assistance this time The path branches twenty identical ways And it seems someone's stolen the signs I planned my route carefully before I began But my map doesn't match the terrain Too many choices are weighing on me And I still can't decide on my aim And I'm longing to trust you But I just can't let go I need you, I need you Much more than I show Come and see: In fragile petals Solomon's finery displayed Transient riches which brighten then fade Straining my eyes to see you in this But foresight's much harder than hind Maybe it's natural to feel insecure When I'm held in invisible hands You know that I trust you But it's hard to let go I need you, I need to Relinquish control Come and see: Cold weary sparrow is tossed in the gale His trajectory traced on the air is planned in detail Deep down I know you have my best interests at heart And the power to see all my dreams through Help me remember, when it feels like you're gone That you gave, you give, and you'll give again And I'm longing to trust you But I just can't let go I need you, I need you Much more than I show You know that I trust you But it's hard to let go I need you, I need to Relinquish control
13.
When I turn back to you, you come running to meet me You've been watching and counting the moments Till you saw me come back into view And when I ask you to tell me how much you love me Smiling you stretch out your arms to embrace me And without a word welcome me home
14.
Good Night 01:38

about

"DLDown's style is a bit hard to pin down. Its unique, experimental, familiar, confident and a bunch of other things. Jo plays and layers in multiple instruments as well as vocals to create a sound that is fresh and deeply woven. Annoyingly it is also full of incredibly catchy tunes that will stick with you long after they should (for the sake of your sanity). [...] For much of the last year DLDown has been silent but its good to see it back again and the break only seems to have improved the material and its presentation. The words on the songs are edgier, more challenging, the presentation of the CD album slicker and Jo, both on track and live on stage, comes over as just that little bit more seasoned and confident. If you have the time (or even if you don't) download/purchase/buy/sell your kidneys and get a hold of a copy of AHMTS - a perfect trade."
Gavin Merrifield, New Life From Old (full review at www.jesusandthescientist.co.uk/2009/11/also-he-made-stars-album-review.html )

"DLDown make a thoughtful, complex noise and there is much to admire here. Wilson is not averse lyrically to tackling deep issues such as God's sovereignty over creation in the light of current global environmental concerns ("Economology"), intimate wrestling over the choice to stay in sin rather than take the 'escape route' offered by grace through faith ("Romans 7"), and the frustrations of an unfulfilling devotional life ("Left To My Own Devices"). A particular musical and thematic high water mark is "Icarus", which deftly adapts the famous Greek myth about an impetuous youth who ignores a wise father's advice and flies too close to the sun, using it as a metaphor for our own rebellion against our heavenly Father... The production values are superior throughout, more than adequately showcasing Wilson's talents... a very strong album with much to recommend it."
Paddy Hudspith, Cross Rhythms (full review at www.crossrhythms.co.uk/products/DLDown/Also_He_Made_The_Stars/86713/ )

"Your lyrics are exceptional... your understanding of our desire for the perfection we can never deliver is extraordinary. It is wonderful to hear these songs live, and I'll treasure your albums on my iPod. Thank you for delivering such thought-provoking songs with such lovely melodies."

"I've never seen anyone use all their acoustic guitar to quite the full effect that Jo does."
Grace Note Showers (AHMTS launch gig review at gracenoteshowers.blogspot.com/2009/11/also-he-made-stars.html )

"...your lyrics are always very thoughtful and obviously your style refreshingly different. Liking the crazier synths this time as well..."

credits

released October 24, 2009

℗ 2009 DLDown. All rights reserved. Any unauthorised broadcasting, public performance, copying or re-recording will constitute an infringement of copyright. That said, feel free to ask...

All sounds by Jo Wilson except:
Tim Buick: alto sax on The Turning Song; soprano sax on You Come Running
Fiona Earl: alto sax on Lilies & Sparrows
Lorna Maciver: backing vocals on Economology and Hide & Seek; vocals on Amazing Grace section of You Come Running
Iain McIntyre: backing vocals on Economology and Romans 7
Jack Wilson: backing vocals on Economology and Romans 7

All artwork by Jo Wilson except:
booklet front page: photograph of Scorpius constellation courtesy of and © Stéphane Guisard (www.astrosurf.com/sguisard)
booklet back page: inverted detail of ‘Light in the Heavens’ painted by Peter Gray

Also, He Made the Stars... was recorded, adjusted, mixed, mastered, and endlessly mucked about with by Jo Wilson at various times between September 2007 and September 2009. Particular thanks to Hugh Beauchamp for mixing and mastering assistance, and for teaching me about compressors, buses and various twiddly knobs in Logic.

Thanks to: all the contributors mentioned above; Peter Moles for use of his saxophones; Sam & Claire Wilson for use of Sam’s bass and for proof-listening feedback; Karl Martin for inadvertently pointing out the album title; Jenny for all her love and support and for letting me spend so much time on this project; the Starmaker for letting me be his friend.

Check out www.dldown.co.uk for news, gig info and free live show downloads.

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