Hastang of Yesteryears

This is part 4 of an 11-part series. Guile takes a whimsical journey down memory lane, retracing the bumpy pseudo-pathways that led to the final version of Hastang’s current tracks.

• Another song from the Squirrel Talk days with haunting lyrics written by Yan. Mark came up with a vocal melody using an E minor and D chord progression. Working from there, I came up with the rest of the chord changes, including the interlude riff which was inspired by Adam Jones. We had trouble with the bridge part though. Thankfully, Tessa came up with an aching rendition and tadaaah — When Misery Speaks — the earliest song we completed that’s included in the album.
• That legend where I worked out the chords while rolling on Yan and Mark’s un-vacuumed carpet is true, unfortunately. I still got the soiled white tee shirt to prove it.

When Misery Speaks
Lyrics by Julie Ann Yan Redoble
Music and Arrangement by Hastang

When Misery speaks, her voice is hollow and cold
When Misery speaks, her voice is hollow and cold
It reverberates like a single tear dropping
It echoes like footfalls leaving, fading
It hisses like the last flicker dying

Listen, I hear Misery speak
She’s snared me in a paralysis of her own design
She’s imprisoned me in the darkness of my mind
I cover my ears with sheets of hope
I block her out with Dream’s dark cloak
…But still, I hear Misery speak

When Misery speaks, her voice is hoarse and low
When Misery speaks, her voice is hoarse and low
It pierces with a savage, primitive chanting
It shatters like splinters of a spirit breaking
It plunges like a blunt blade in one lethal blow

Listen, I hear Misery sing.
Hear the pulsing of distant drums,
The strumming of ancient guitars
She sings her discord to the stars
She sings. She sings.
She sings to me.

Listen…

Hastang is a Cebu-based, female-fronted indie band. This is a time capsule, a documentation of their growing pains as individuals and as a band. To get to know the new Hastang, please visit Hastang's new website.
©2008 Hastang.com | Read articles written by Hastang