cover for mother night

nuit — mother night

(2000)

This is nuit's one and only album. It was a lovely experiment, but it never went anywhere. I consider this the best album Leigh Ann and Elton ever made, but audiences weren't interested in what we were doing, and personality conflicts broke up the band. So it goes.

The band:

The album was recorded in various basements and living rooms around the San Francisco Bay Area, and was produced and mastered by Mark Pistel in San Francisco.

Out of the House of Sleep

Instrumental tune by Elton and Dave Ernst, a prologue to the rest of the album.

Dave Ernst: guitar;

Dance!

Elton's song about how transient life is, and our duty to enjoy it while we have it.

Brian Hill: sitar; Eric Bart: sitar

The Summoning

Elton claimed he wrote this song for Caitlin, who was at the time his personal sky goddess (her picture adorns the cover of the album). That wasn't exactly true, but it made a good story for those who aren't ready to hear the other explanation.

Just the Sky

The inspiration and title for this song is from Paul Simon's song The Rhythm of the Saints: "Some say the sky is just the sky". It diverged from the point of that song.

Nobody There

Our friend Pat McGregor sums up most of Elton's songwriting by the single word "alienation". This song is a very clear explication of how true that is.

In Paradise

There is a myth about the Library in Alexandria, that it was burned because it contained heretical documents. This song takes that myth as its starting place.

... Unto Whom I Send This Kiss

Brian Hill: sitar; Eric Bart: sitar. Symon Michael: saxophone.

Mother Night

Leigh Ann, I love you. Wherever you went, I hope you remember us and smile.

Brian Hill: guitar; Symon Michael: saxophone.

Burning Hearts

lyrics

The Reader's Digest Condensed Book of the Law, Chapter II.

Whisper

lyrics

Let's be honest: songs don't get much bleaker than this. If they do, Elton probably wrote them. Just sayin'. This is Goth with a brand new razor blade.

Look At Me

Elton, Leigh Ann, and Emerson all contributed to the words for this. Elton had the original idea and the first verse; Leigh Ann and Emerson sprang the second verse on him at a demo session, to replace Elton's attempt at one (which, frankly, stank), thereby transforming the whole song into a thing of beauty.

The Crown

"Success is your proof; courage is your armour; go on, go on, in my strength; & ye shall turn not back for any!"

Brittany Haas: violin; Natalie Haas: cello.

Reflected in a Bowl of Sky

The primary rhythm for this song is provided by three electric saws and a pneumatic tire hose.

Dave Ernst: electric guitar; Symon Michael: saxophone.

November Song

This is the end of all the songs man sings.

Mike Sugar: upright bass