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Direction Of Travel

by She Makes War

supported by
Christopher Rollason
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Christopher Rollason Discovered She makes war from the Songwriter's suite podcast. Been listening for weeks daily on Spotify at work, so had to buy th cd.

Beautifully sung, catchy and melodic. At the moment, this is looking like my favourite album of 2016 Favorite track: Stargazing.
steveinsocal
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steveinsocal "...came across She Makes War via her song "Paper Thin" (I'm a huge Muses / Breeders / Belly fan) and so checked-out this album... Which turns out to be the fascinating mix of the brooding and dark with more nuanced acoustic numbers where Laura's fragile vocals are to the fore..."

reclaimingthecolonies-onestateatatime.blogspot.com

Favorite track: Paper Thin (featuring Tanya Donelly).
muschiosauro
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muschiosauro Highly captivating mix of pop and alt rock with more than a touch of melancholy. Charming and intense. Favorite track: In Cold Blood.
Jon Clay
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Jon Clay I love it because its the truth. Favorite track: Please Don't.
Simone Silvestroni (Minutes to Midnight)
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Simone Silvestroni (Minutes to Midnight) I absolutely love it, it's been spinning all day long since I got the CD. Favorite track: Paper Thin (featuring Tanya Donelly).
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  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Direction Of Travel on CD wrapped in a gorgeous 6-panel bundle of artwork (by Alex Bertram-Powell), portrait (by Dina Karklina) and travel photography (by She Makes War) PLUS an 8 page lyric booklet.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Direction Of Travel via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 3 days
    Purchasable with gift card

      £10 GBP or more 

     

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      £6 GBP  or more

     

  • Full Digital Discography

    Get all 36 She Makes War releases available on Bandcamp and save 20%.

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Little Battles 10th Anniversary Demos and Rarities (19 tracks!), Disarm 10th Anniversary Demos & Rarities, Little Battles - Instrumentals, Disarm:15 - Instrumentals, Disarm - Instrumentals, Brace For Impact - Instrumentals, Direction Of Travel - Instrumentals, Supersub Club #4 January 2020, and 28 more. , and , .

    Purchasable with gift card

      £74 GBP or more (20% OFF)

     

  • Test press - limited edition of 5 only!
    Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    Absolutely pristine test copy. Black vinyl in white sleeve with plastic covering. Hand numbered and signed, PLUS leave me a note if you'd like me to personalise it and/or decorate the sleeve.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Direction Of Travel via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

    Sold Out

  • "Onwards" A5 Compass Notebook (ruled)

    A beautifully printed A5 notebook for all your hopes, plans, dreams and schemes. Onwards!

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  • Last five! Live At Thekla CD / DVD Set

    12 track live CD and accompanying DVD recorded at Thekla, Bristol at the "Direction Of Travel" album launch gig on 26th March 2016. Immediate digital download of the audio.

    Set List:

    1. Cold Shoulder
    2. Alone
    3. In Cold Blood
    4. Delete
    5. 5000 Miles
    6. Slow Puncture
    7. Please Don't
    8. Paper Thin
    9. I Am
    10. In This Boat
    11. Drown Me Out
    12. The Best

    Performed by:

    Laura Kidd - vocals, guitar, bass, ukulele and loops,
    Jay Chakravorty - bass guitar, keyboards, Martino - lead guitar,
    Sarah Proudfoot - backing vocals, guitar, ukulele, Dan Whitfield - drums

    Live recording by Stef Hambrook.

    Mixed and mastered by Jay Chakravorty.

    Photo by Donna Coombs. Artwork by Laura Kidd.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Direction Of Travel via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ... more

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  • Limited Edition STARGAZER Tee - last unisex SMALL
    T-Shirt/Apparel

    For those of us who are looking at the stars.

    Gildan Heavy t-shirts are made from 100% cotton, and are a 185gsm weight.

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  • Last 2! Limited edition vinyl - transparent aquamarine
    Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    Brand new for 2019 - it's "Direction Of Travel" on vinyl for the very first time!

    Super strictly limited run of 100 Stargazer Gold (numbered and signed) NOW SOLD OUT and 200 transparent Drowner Aquamarine (first 50 numbered and signed).

    Includes unlimited streaming of Direction Of Travel via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

    Sold Out

1.
Drown Me Out 03:45
We’re not safe here now, I have burned the lighthouse down You’re not good for me Diving dreams to sea, but the rocks have stopped me They’re not friendly Would you fall asleep so I can’t reach you? Would you turn away so I can’t touch you? Forfeit myself - drown me, drown me out Sick of silence - drown me, drown me out I’m not sorry - drown me, drown me out Kisses smother me - drown me out Darkness take me soon Water suck me under - it’s my escape from you Would you fall asleep so I can’t reach you Would you turn away so I can’t touch you Forfeit myself - drown me, drown me out Sick of silence - drown me, drown me out I’m not sorry - drown me, drown me out Kisses smother me So you’re throwing a rope Cos your victim is overboard But I’m looking for something wonderful To keep me in this lifeboat Would you fall asleep so I can’t reach you Would you turn away so I can’t touch you Forfeit myself - drown me, drown me out I’m not sorry - drown me, drown me out Sadness suffocate - drown me, drown me out Sick of silence, sick of myself Drown me out
2.
I’m waiting in line He’s taking his fucking time I’m not doing all right I did some crying on my friend last night You know I’m not stupid So why don’t you tell me what you’ve done? You say you’re a good man So come on and prove it with action I’m not going to kiss your cold shoulder again I’m waiting to find out who you think you are And what’s going on in your head What’s coming for me? Ex-girlfriend or STD? Don’t call me baby I know he shouldn’t mean this much to me You know I’m not stupid So why don’t you tell me what you’ve done? You say you’re a good man So come on and prove it with action I’m not going to kiss your cold shoulder again I’m waiting to find out who you think you are And what’s going on in your head You know I’m not stupid So why don’t you tell me what you’ve done? You say you’re a good man So come on and end what you’ve begun I’m not going to kiss your cold shoulder again I’m dying to find out who you think you are And what’s going on in your head
3.
Shocked quiet In deep I shudder while you sleep You’re not making sense Are you finished with me yet I truly meant to be decent In cold blood I wouldn’t have In cold blood I wouldn’t have My heart’s not cold cos it beats for you But I can’t stand to be this monster In cold blood I wouldn’t My dear absentee This won’t end well for me You’re happy with them So I stand alone again Still he kissed me So carefully Mouth tight with deceit In cold blood I wouldn’t have In cold blood I wouldn’t have My heart’s not cold cos it beats for you But I can’t stand to be this monster In cold blood I wouldn’t In cold blood I wouldn’t have In cold blood I wouldn’t My heart’s not cold cos it beats for you But there’s no happy ever after In cold blood I wouldn’t
4.
Alone 03:53
All my days My spirit is willing my flesh is weak Unsteady on my feet Don’t take care of me We’re all always, always all alone We’re all always, always all alone All my days My delicate suffering’s mine to keep When I’m empty come - fill me We throw insults the world throws stones We’re all always, always all alone We’re all always, always all alone Oh - don’t you remember? We were born from dust Oh - and we’ll go back there But we’ve got each other first We’re all always, always all alone We’re all always, always all alone
5.
Please Don't 04:55
If your motor unravels Then we’ll mend the machine If the world disappoints you Then we’ll make a new dream Please don’t leave me yet We’re all aching, full of regret We’re all walking wounds Brains and bodies are bruised So please don’t leave me yet If your thoughts overwhelm you Then I’ll make it all right If you’re scared of the shadows Then I’ll stay through the night Please don’t leave me yet We’re all aching, full of regret We’re all walking wounds Brains and bodies are bruised Let me take care of you Please don’t leave me yet Please don’t leave me yet We’re all walking wounds Brains and bodies are bruised Still I’ll take care of you Promise me you’ll stay here While I travel in your footsteps around the world Cos someday I’ll grow a new heart for you to hold That means you’re not allowed to go Please don’t leave me yet
6.
I’m in the wars - I blame the bad weather A flood of tears, I drift without a shelter Reduce my world to things that I have worked for I lick my wounds and wonder if I can mend the year Awake No sleep til I make Black dreams dissipate Ooh I crashed down, I burned out along the way I’m a sunny day with threat of thunder, threat of rain Ooh I crashed down, I came round to devastate Anyway I let my skin grow paper thin And that’s okay I heal myself with friends and conversation Some time alone, a sober celebration I was told I feel things too much But I know it hurts to be touched Ooh I crashed down, I burned out along the way I’m a sunny day with threat of thunder, threat of rain Ooh I crashed down, I came round to devastate Anyway I let my skin grow paper thin And that’s okay Cos I see stars And I smell roses (on good days) All this is ours Let’s do amazing things with good hearts Ooh I crashed down, I burned out along the way I’m a sunny day with threat of thunder, threat of rain Ooh I crashed down, I came round to devastate Anyway I let my skin grow paper thin, paper thin I’m a sunny day with threat of thunder, threat of rain I’m in the wars, I blame the bad weather
7.
Stargazing 04:32
Now every morning when I wake I roll around and list the reasons my heart aches You never felt like a mistake But you’re less than a friend, less than a friend Less than a friend, less than a friend We went stargazing You thought I was amazing You said we had time You don’t know you lie Now you’re a stranger I guess I never knew you You widened my sky But now my heart’s run dry Done with disaster, that’s all I don’t believe that I’ll survive this man sized storm I don’t believe anybody any more Cos you’re less than a friend, less than a friend Less than a friend, less than a friend Less than a friend, less than a friend We went stargazing You thought I was amazing You said we had time You don’t know you lie Now you’re a stranger I guess I never knew you You widened my sky But now my heart’s run dry We went stargazing You thought I was amazing You said we had time You let your body lie Now you’re a stranger I guess I never knew you You widened my sky Now just let it die Let it die Now just let it die
8.
Slow down sunshine Don’t let the truth cloud your mind Electricity is fading quietly Blood flow Eat me whole Leave me cold Stake my life All my expensive time Is yours to play with as you like My heart will shake and shiver Ohhhhhhhh Slow down sunshine Too many ventricles to untie We’re vampires it’s true But you’ll find another host to suck you Blood flow Eat me whole Leave me cold Stake my life All my expensive time Is yours to play with as you like My heart will shake and shiver Ohhhhhhhh Slow love, leave me cold Crush my body, drink my blood Stake my life All my expensive time Is yours to play with as you like My heart will shake my heart will Stake my life All my expensive time Is yours to play with as you like My heart will shake my heart will shake Ohhhhhhhh
9.
5000 Miles 04:48
5000 miles spent at sea Braving the world wild and free Guardian swallow watch over me 5000 miles, 5000 goodbyes 5000 miles, 5000 miles, 5000 miles 5000 goodbyes The river broke reality The parts of my anatomy Enjoy the swim, survive the frost Not all who wander will get lost Summer days are stalling, stalling Frozen fingers calling, calling 5000 miles spent at sea Braving the world wild and free Guardian swallow watch over me 5000 miles, 5000 goodbyes Throw messages in to the sea We look for love, for loyalty A waste of ink, my bag stays packed All the bottles come right back Oh summer days are stalling, stalling Frozen fingers calling, calling 5000 miles spent at sea Braving the world wild and free Guardian swallow watch over me 5000 miles, 5000 goodbyes
10.
I followed you too far Gold arrows in my heart I’m sure you don’t listen Leave go - this shattered piece lies bleeding on my sleeve Now you ask me if I won’t come back So give me a sign I can decline Darling it’s time to be unkind There’s too much to take We have to break Darling it’s time to be unkind At least we both admit These words I have to spit You don’t say anything So now we call defeat I sleep in other sheets You’re so happy now I don’t come back So give me a sign I can decline Darling it’s time to be unkind There’s too much to take We have to break Darling it’s time to be unkind I asked you to listen You told me you would You promised that all of my plans and my dreams would happen with you I told you I’d wait But not forever Now your long silence proves you a liar So give me a sign I can decline Darling it’s time to be unkind There’s too much to take We have to break Darling it’s time to be unkind
11.
To fall but not to break To follow but not to take It’s too late I’m delicate To be brave to protect my heart Working out what I can discard It’s too late To hesitate When all of these bad dreams have gone And all of my darkness is overcome Nothing will keep me from Turning to you I’m undone but you want me now Before I sink to the bottom Before I’m lost to you Before I fall It’s too late Don’t hesitate When all of these bad dreams have gone And all of my darkness is overcome Nothing will keep me from It won’t be forever Cos I don’t want to live without your love When all of these bad dreams have gone And all of my darkness is overcome Nothing will keep me from you It won’t be forever Cos I don’t want to live without your love
12.
The Best 04:20
Sweetheart Drink up Be all you dreamed of Goodbye is not bad There’s more than what we had Sweetheart You’re not mine And that is just fine Don’t call, don’t write I won’t be ready to reply I wish you the best But there’s nothing left For me Goodnight sweet friend There’s nothing to fear I’ll keep a piece Our memories used to be so sweet I wish you the best But there’s nothing left For me I wish you the best Forever and ever and ever and ever And ever and ever the best I wish you the best But there’s nothing left I wish you the best Forever and ever and ever and ever And ever and ever the best Sweetheart Drink up Be all you dreamed of

about

My third album Direction Of Travel was made in the cold months straddling 2014 and 2015 in Bristol, Brighton and London.

It felt like a long time coming. Between releasing “Little Battles” in 2012 I’d moved cities, lived in six different houses, loved a little and lost a lot. Right before I went in to the studio in December 2014 I tested my mettle with a 35 date tour, consisting of three weeks adventuring around Germany on my own, travelling by train, and three weeks supporting The Levellers in Germany, The Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark and all around the UK.

I survived to tell the tales contained within these songs, and now it’s time for them to find their own direction of travel. Thank you so much for listening.

credits

released April 8, 2016

DIRECTION OF TRAVEL

Produced by Laura Kidd.
Mixed by Dan Austin.
Engineered by TJ Allen at Station 7, J&J Studios and Planet 245, Bristol. Additional engineering by Matthew Twaites at Metway Studio, Brighton and Laura Kidd at Knowle Rocks, Bristol.

Mastered by Dick Beetham at 360 Mastering, Hastings.
Artwork and design by Alex Bertram-Powell.

All songs and music by Laura Kidd.

THANKS

Special thanks to everyone who helped make this album by pledging, especially David Callier, Antony Hoskins, Ralf Synowzik, Paul Beauchamp, Jordan Hicks, Jan Zimmermann, Wayne Hemingway, John Bell, Andrew Shield, Dietmar Bloech, Richard Bennett, Gerd Schoenewolf, Matthew Powell, Willie Smith, Jan Zimmermann, Steve Watts, Timothy Masters, James Smith, Matthew Falconer, Jon Vile, Robert Penfold, Kevin Tanswell, Nick Ash, Douglas Young, Simon Dawes, Gareth Jones, Dan Borsos, Daniel Underhill, Chris Pixie, Martin Cockrill, Cathy Griffiths, Matt Farmer, Marc Poljak, Andy White, Jennie Findlay, Hype Less, Tim Ellis, Michael Kalman, Peter Kent, Jonathan Leonard, James Hill, Nicholas Manktelow, Keith Kerwin, Dávid Kovács, Chris Gregory, Adam Hill, Michael Ray, Daniel O’Brien, Santiago Seoane Portela and Michael East. We did it! THANK YOU!

Thanks also to:
Carol and Ray Kidd, Tim Bailey, Mat Martin, Gemma Hill, Till Brosch, Jay Chakravorty, Lobelia Lawson, Cat Munro, Dina Karklina and John Moolenschot, Mishkin Fitzgerald, Count Bass D, Martin Hommel, Kim Boekbinder, Andrew Skeet, Rick Lennox, Giles Stanley, Ben and Katie McLees, Gordon Biggins, Polly Polglase, Peter Bradwell, William Reid, Chris Peabody and all at The state51 Conspiracy, Miles Hunt and Erica Nockalls, Tanya Donelly, Mark Chadwick, Jez Cunningham, Charlie Heather, Matt Savage, Steve Boakes and all at Levellers HQ, Ami Amp, Niko Mar, Joe Harris, Chris Nicholls, Joan Patrick, Milly McGregor, Minnie Birch, Viv Albertine, Neil Walsh, Marc Burrows, Laura Williams, Sammy Maine, Jo Hepworth, Zac Peters, David and Laura Farrow, Duke Special, Jonny Clark, New Model Army and the family, Thea Gilmore and Nigel Stonier, Chris Barrett, Isabel Monteiro, Otti Albietz, Tina Matthews and Dickie Beetham, Justin Pritchard, The Penelopes, Neil Codling, Neil Gaiman, Jim Barr, Mig Schillace, David McDonald and Adrian Utley. Big love also to my excellent nephews Jack, Zuko and Oliver.

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She Makes War Nottingham, UK

Check out my new music project Penfriend at penfriendrocks.bandcamp.com

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She Makes War was the solo project of Bristol based multi-instrumentalist producer and visual artist Laura Kidd.

Blending urgent indie rock with melancholy torch songs, SMW released 4 and a bit albums between 2010 and 2019.
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