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Spilling Light

by Prairie Clamor

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  • Cassette + Digital Album

    Pro Digital Bin High-Speed, Super Ferro music grade tape. Clear with yellow leader, single hit one-sided pad print. Includes paqüet of rubble/dust sourced from (a pothole on) AYD MILL ROAD, the superlative thoroughfare in Saint Paul, MN. **This item is NOT a floppy disc**

    Includes unlimited streaming of Spilling Light via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    "Car-Ready" CD with art by Peter Bjorndal in a minimal "enviropak" sleeve. Each CD is shipped with a paqüet of pothole crumbles/fragments collected from Saint Paul, MN's legendary and immortal AYD MILL ROAD.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Spilling Light via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 3 days
    edition of 50 

      $10 USD or more 

     

  • Full Digital Discography

    Get all 9 Prairie Clamor releases available on Bandcamp.

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of True Songs, Spilling Light, Next 7 Exits, William Bjorndal Meets Prairie Clamor Eastside, Earth, Pressure, Balance, 125,000 Memes in Under 35 Minutes OST, Prelude to Peaceful, The Mischief EP, and 1 more. , and , .

    Purchasable with gift card

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1.
I’ll change my name and my whole way of life I’ll change my name and my whole way of life I’ll change my name and my whole way of life On the day I meet'cha THERE'S NO THERE'S NO EXIT THERE'S NO THERE'S NO EXIT
2.
Relief 04:26
I’m gonna get me home today, but where's my home? Can't say. So like a cloud I'll drift and sway. That said, what’s left to do but sing? uh uh oh I need relief Some might fly away, but I got terns (jays) and shrikes each may So all that spilt light’s gonna stay while me and the squirrels we sing uh uh oh I need relief I need relief
3.
62 Blue 04:34
Racing through another day of life Racing through spilling all manner of light Denim blue and nametag clipped in place Crosstown blues, petrol drips out my face (Lost on highway 62, crosstown blues deep inside you) Cuz you know I’m overdue, I’m running up a fine on this I really need… one time… To take a break. oh, I never take a break. I need to– Lost on highway 62, crosstown blues deep inside you Crepuscular cries as day fades into night Bend and quake while skeeters buzz and bite Cuz we’re all overdue, they gave up writing fines for this We all need (but we don’t know how) To take a break. Oh, we never take a break. We need to– Take a break. Oh, just one break. Before we break– We need to… take a break We need to... ohhh give us a break We need just one break Just one break then… Then keep runnin' on Keep movin’ on Keep marchin’ on Keep plowin’ on Keep bursting on Keep flowing on Keep pulsing on Keep feeling on Keep zooming on Keep growing on Keep oozing on Keep smiling on Keep walking on Keep climbing on Keep biking on Keep living on Keep sharing on Keep caring on Keep shining on Keep runnin' on Keep movin’ on Keep marchin’ on Keep plowin' on
4.
I long for horizon and space where my mind can roam I biked past those dry grey barns to the place I once called my home But I live above a laundromat I live above a laundromat Fort Road Laundromat But above this laundromat… And so the laundromat What about this laundromat? Call upon the laundromat Straight above the laundromat I feel my cells pulse and pull me down without a laundry load My feet crumble through the floor Boards break apart and split apart with joy Returning to the earth Returning now Returning to the earth Returning now Just like the laundromat This body just won’t last Excel the laundromat Transcend the laundromat I feel so much better now I feel so much better now I feel so much better now I feel so Returning to the earth Returning now Returning to the earth Returning now Something must come first It was the grass between the cracks that led the way that led the way Down on the sidewalk It was the grass between the cracks that led the way that led the way that led the way
5.
Wading through the highways Cruising down the byways Chuggin’ down the interstate You’ll need an earthy jolt, a pickmeup, a cuppa java java sweet café Exit on the right and coast into the carpark Decelerate respectfully Rummage in the glovebox and exit to the sidewalk as the angel of the highway sings these words: Look no further MNDoT’s got you Slow your roll GreenView’s saved you Iron a buck and feed it into a Rest Stop Coffee Machine Make a swell selection The paper cup’ll drop down Behold as the coffee sprays Smell the sweet concoction and wonder what contraption lies inside that sweet machine Cuz sometime down highway Sometime down the byways On a patch of the interstate You’ll need an earthy jolt, a pickmeup, a cuppa java java sweet café So look no further MNDoT’s got you slow your roll GreenView’s saved you Iron a buck and feed it into a Rest Stop Coffee Machine Something must come first It was the grass between the cracks that led the way that led the way Coffee Must Come First it was the cup between the seats between the seats between the seats Spilled on the dashboard It seeps between the dash into the cracks and through the floor and down Onto the concrete It fed the grass between the cracks between the cracks between the cracks between the cracks
6.
Flash Flood 04:00
In a flash flood under an old oak tree grab ahold of the trunk, snag that bark, there’s space to flee–in In the flash flood But this is a flash flood of an ancient sea this ain’t dobbins creek, there’s no space to flee Miles across the earth Miles across the earth Every inch of the earth Every inch of the earth Under flash flood If you lose your mind, i’ll lose mine too If you lose your mind, i’ll lose mine too Who’s lost thier mind, is it me or you? Reaching out for your mind, i’ll hold onto you If you lose your mind, i’ll lose mine too If you lose your mind, i’ll lose mine too Who’s lost their mind, is it me or you? Who could keep their mind in this flood of untruth There’s nowherewherewherewhere to run.
7.
Elma 03:47
Elma Elma I seek a clean soul I seek a clean soul Elma Elma I’ll just drop it all and answer your call But Elma Not just a getaway Elma A place I can stay until the end - Elma, Elma, Elma, Iowa. Elma, Elma, Elma, Iowa. Elma Elma So quick pass the years It will have been years But Elma Can one really get away? When Elma I don’t know... How far these fields go (Elma) The holes in the landscape, they we know what they know (Elma) My blood, my brain, and some kind of youth (Elma) Bloom beyond, yet life waits for you in Elma Elma Elma, Elma, Elma, Iowa. Elma, Elma, Elma, Iowa. Elma, Elma, Elma, Iowa. Elma, Elma, Elma, Iowa.
8.
So many people live in this world and they hear the same sound So many people live in this world and they hear the same sound… ohh. ohh. So many people live in this world and they hear the same sound So many people live in this world and they hear the same sound From a pop music savior Pop music savior Not just one, it’s not me The sound’s your savior The sound’s your savior Inside you, not so deep oh oh oh ohhhhh So everyone living in the world who hears this sound (ohh) Everyone living in the world who hears this sound From a pop music savior Pop music savior Not just one, it’s not me The sound’s your savior The sound’s your savior Inside you, not so deep oh oh oh ohhhhh Cuz there’s only, only one There’s only one voice inside you oh oh oh ohhhh There’s only one world So let the music carry you Let the music carry you...
9.
Living a life without hurting anything Doesn’t seem easy to me If you’re alive, well then you’ve gotta eat It’s not so easy to filter feed Peanut butter, peanut butter Living a life without breathing fresh air don’t seem appealing to me But every day I drive, I spill a little more hypocrisy, i’m indiscreet So here I am with my hand in the peanut butter jar I won’t hide my face or my peanut butter jar Living a life without hurting anyone You can’t, but you’re still spilling light From every perfect pore and each perfect scrape Bring light to an indifferent face So here we are with our hands in the peanut butter jar Here we are with our hands in the peanut butter jar So how, how could I ever call it by some other name How, how could I ever call it by any other name It’s not ignorance Ignorance Nor cognizance It’s something more…. Something a little more hard to define... Peanut butter, peanut butter...
10.
Oops! I ate my lunch before 11am Oops! I ate my lunch before 11am travel miles, travel miles and miles travel miles Oops! I left my phone chargin’ at home Oops! I left my phone chargin’ at home travel miles, travel miles and miles travel for miles this isn’t the time to just think about this isn’t the time to just talk about this isn’t the time to just think about this isn’t the time– whatever you’ve been thinking bout all that you been missing or running away from the truth phenology finds a new way of thinking you can forge your way and you’ll never stop missing imaginary missions and single paid sessions (resolving[solving]host) phenology finds a space where you can feel every single moment in the non-imaginary world world a single single world, not natural or constructed, every realm blended and swirled phenology feeds a need that we bleed in our bones based bonemeal brushed on a bagel don’t wait don’t wait for life don’t wait, don’t wait don’t wait don’t wait for life don’t wait I feel I feel I feel everything the breath in everything, yeah there’s breathing in everything, yeah feel breathing everything i wanna feel everything breathing in everything i feel breathing, I feel I feel I feel this plastic chair injection molded plastic chair rain-stained plastic chair every inch of this plastic chair feel the breath in this plastic chair feel breath in plastic chairs every single plastic chair rain-stained plastic chair lay me down in a plastic chair set me down in a plastic chair rain-stained plastic chair lay me in down in that plastic chair cuz i feel i feel set me down a plastic chair lay me down a plastic chair rain-stained plastic chair injection-molded plastic chair set me down a plastic chair feel the breath a plastic chair every inch of that plastic chair let me feel that plastic chair whatever you’ve been thinking bout all that you been missing or running away from the truth phenology finds a new way of thinking you can forge your way and you’ll never stop missing imaginary missions and single paid sessions (resolving[solving]host) phenology finds a space where you can feel every single moment in the non-imaginary world world a single single world, not natural or constructed, every realm blended and swirled phenology feeds a need that we bleed in our bones based bonemeal brushed on a bagel don’t wait (don’t wait) don’t wait for life (don’t wait) don’t wait, don’t wait don’t wait (don’t wait) don’t wait for life don’t wait (don’t wait) don’t don’t wait don’t wait
11.
Humus 04:17
Salt lagoon, long sidewalk Imagined camera frame zooms out CD skips, time’s passed It’s been been mere months since and you feel alone... but you’re not alone. cuz in your head in this case of bone there’s Xeric thoughts in your brain Xeric thoughts that crave fog sleet and rain Xeric thoughts are like caves Xeric thoughts like an endless endless maze To sing of soil sans hubris Sand and clay, yeah, and humus! Lives must end to feed new ones Step back and feel Think you’ll be alone? You won’t be alone. cuz in your flesh in your flesh right now there’s Mesic thoughts in your brain Mesic thoughts pulse straight through your brain Mesic thoughts every day Mesic thoughts still you find that you’re astray (Every day’s exposed angle has body For which the truthful incursion lies sure within in the trivia And the motion which you invoke till valid indebts its personality for substance to the touch around your head Guarding substance beloved) in every mind and every brain in every mind and brain there’s– Hydric thoughts in your brain Hydric thoughts pulse straight through your brain Hydric thoughts every day Hydric thoughts and they’ll wake you from this haze Face the thoughts in your brain Face the thoughts that pulse straight through your brain Face the thoughts every day Face the thoughts cuz we’ll be humus one day We’ll be humus one day We’ll be humus one day We’ll be humus one day We’ll be humus one day
12.
Hold On! 03:43
Broken toenails show through your sandals Perkins might close but that’s unconfirmed Chalky gravel dust coats my shoelaces This podiatric pair sings our concerns na na na So please hold on For the town we knew has shed itself from us Hold On! August is the month our aster love blooms Petals drop away as the days shorten In the pistil’s place will grow an apple that falls on scarred, scarred ground so... Hold On! for the earth we knew has shed itself from us Hold On! the despair feel is real but not the end Hold On! (Hold On!n) let us morn for the earth but feel its love for us Hold On! (Hold On!n) our damaged home still cradles so much life Hold On! (Hold On!) Hold On! (Hold On!) Hold On! (Hold On!) Hold On!
13.
Zipper Merge 05:40
I thought I was impervious but no one’s impervious from the car you’ll never own from the car you’ll never own from the car you’ll disown I thought i was virtuous but no one’s so virtuous from the things you’ll never know from the things you’ll never know from the things you’ll never know reaching to roll down the window of the 1999 chevrolet s10, just then on your right knee you feel an itch, you feel an itch. The coachbusesque fabric you spilled naked fruit juice on back in 2007 (crusty crusty, crunchy) spilling over your leg, dripping down to your feet, your left foot hits the floor. There’s no clutch, there’s no clutch, there’s no clutch. Smooth pleather gearshift R to D1 R to D1 R to D1 as you merge as you merge as you merge. ohhh ohohhhwhoaa Inching through I’m inching through on highway 62 Inching through I’m inching through to do the zipper merge Zipper merge Do the zipper merge, I do the zipper merge Shine straight through Off the bridge deck sign Straight through you gotta shine Inching through I’m inching through to do the zipper merge Zipper merge Do the zipper merge, please do the zipper merge Zipper merge Do the zipper merge, please do the zipper–
14.
Last year there was corn But now, it’s only giant ragweed now How did we get here today? I know I’m not always honest about the pain It’s just the idea of you idea of you ahh ah Idea of you Idea or two ahh ah Remember how the car’s lights How they played upon the snow And this, oh this, the sum of so many nights Compressed in the question that you posed “How did we get here today?” One day I’ll be honest, I’ll find a way I’ve an idea or two Idea or two ah ahhh Of the idea of you Idea of you ah ahhh so, Golden Alexander, you’ll find a place to grow Golden Alexander…
15.
Out farther than I’d ever gone No more cornfields no unmowed lawns I’d, I’d lost it. I lost it. I’d… I’d lost… The luxury of a wave The luxury of a… wave. Luxury of a wave Luxury of a… Out farther than we’d ever gone Concrete gave way, arms limp like sand I’d, I’d lost it. I lost it. but you raise you hand… and waved. The luxury of a wave The luxury of a wave. Luxury of a wave Luxury of a… a a a a a a a a a a a a Don’t fear don’t fear that wave Don’t fear don’t fear that wave Don’t fear don’t fear that wave Don’t fear don’t fear that– Don’t fear don’t fear that wave Don’t fear don’t fear that wave Don’t fear don’t fear that wave Don’t fear don’t fear that–
16.
The End? 05:00
How to behave? At the end of the world How to behave? At the death of the world How to behave? At the edge of the world How do you behave? At the death of the world well, Turns out the clichés were right the whole time It turns out the clichés where right the whole time It’s ever so clear We’re ever so near Just.. Dance at the edge of the world. (it’s not the end...)
17.
When the light goes away, when the light goes away Does it spill? or do you just let it pour? Does it spill? or do you just let it pour? Well, it seems a lack of light is here to stay So spill your light, flip night into dawn Let the prairie overtake the lawn Keep spilling light Keep spilling light...

about

17 songs seeking optimism without ignorance, hope and humor despite despair. Drawing on disparate styles across the pop cannon, Spilling Light builds an expansive sonic landscape whilst remaining intimate and earnest. Selected song topics: ecological collapse, ecological resilience, Minnesota State Highway 62, plastic chairs, death, concrete, honesty, absurdity, actual joy, actual reality.

Let the prairie overtake the lawn.
Keep spilling light.

"Luxury Of The Wave" Official Video: youtu.be/OfZe_r8ov9g
"Humus" Official Video:: youtu.be/tbPUcAMX758
"62 Blue" Official Video: youtu.be/Ebeq4jTVmL0
"Pop Music Savior" Official Video: youtu.be/CZaHH2tKvJc
"Grass Between The Cracks I & II" Club Penguin Music Video: youtu.be/r9zC14nE4U4

credits

released March 27, 2020

This album was created (mostly) above a laundromat in Saint Paul, MN from one winter to another winter, by:

✵Will Bjorndal - Drums, Cymbals, Piano, Singing, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Digital Synthesizers, Analog Synthesizers, Mandolin, Autoharp, Electric Bass, Samples, Field Recordings, Accordion, Melodica, Banjo, Casiotone, Drum Machines, Timpani, Congas, Claves, Bongos, Maracas, Shaker, Scraper Thingy, Ratchet, Go-Go Bells, Vibraslap, Radio Interference, Chanting, Unidentifiable Noises, Songwriting, Engineering, Production, Mixing, Mastering, Word Processing

✵Peter Bjorndal - Production and Electric Guitar on “Pop Music Savior”, Electric Bass and Production on “Luxury of the Wave,” Album Art & Design

✵Taylor Sharp reads an excerpt from his poem "Ode To Humanity" on "Humus."

T H A N K S
...Judy, Lee, Peter, & Chester Bjorndal for unfaltering familial support and encouragement
...Q, Erik, Chris, Jesse, Ana, Emily & Shaun, Anthony, Shelly & Dan, and everyone else who helped us out during the Clamoring Across America Tour
...Cheryl Berglund for access to the percussion studio
...Peter, Gary, Taylor, for sonic suggestions
...Chris, Ali, and all the Neighborhood Naturalists for inspiration and flexibility
...to the creators, thinkers, do-ers. Especially Anne Herbert, Liz Harris, Robin Wall Kimmerer, Matthew Friedberger, Julia Holter, Brian Doyle, Hussalonia, Jlin, Andrew W.K., Phil Elverum, Shyboy Tim & Shelley, Sun Ra, John Maus, Cathy Song, Maher Shalal Hash Baz, CRYING, Lucinda Williams, Charlie Parr, Daniel Bachman, Nanilo, Éliane Radigue, Jonathan Richman, Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, Martin Dosh, and so many more...
...to you. I put a heckuva lot of myself into this album; it's like a horcrux, but in a really good way. Any amount of your time means so so so so so much. Please let me know what you think!
-Will Bjorndal (email: will [at] prairieclam.org)

~ ~ ~

FPM00015 in the Friendly Puppy Music catalog - friendlypuppymusic.com

prairieclam.org

Retroreflected sunlight from concrete bridge deck signage. Half-frozen corn fields that would delight at the scrunch of your feet in late march. Stale coffee steams in a paper cup. Ancient breath in the injection-molded plastic chair. Luxury, inconvenience, reality. Peanut butter straight from the jar. Despite The Gravity, light pours in every direction from you always.

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about

Prairie Clamor Minneapolis, Minnesota

Prairie Clamor an ever-evolving pop music project helmed by Will Bjorndal, living on Dakota land in Minneapolis, MN.

Will is happy to inform you that he has visited both the highest AND second-highest natural points in Iowa.

email:
will [at] prairieclam.org
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I also make music for kids! Whoa! willsingssongs.bandcamp.com
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Trash/Noise/Etc: radarange.bandcamp.com
... more

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