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Like Never & Like Always

by True Life Trio

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    Design by Bob Ciano
    Illustration by Cody Blocker
    Photo by Anastasia Kuba

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    Design by Bob Ciano
    Illustration by Cody Blocker
    Photo by Anastasia Kuba

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1.
Iris 03:34
2.
“Seen Fleetingly, From a Train” Seen fleetingly, from a train: a foggy evening, strands of smoke hanging immobile over fields, the humid blackness of earth, the sun almost set—against its fading shield, far away, two dots: women in dark wraps coming back from church perhaps, perhaps one tells something to another, some common story, of sinful lives perhaps—her words distinct and simple but out of them one could create everything again. Keep it in memory, forever: the sun, ploughed earth, women, love, evening, those few words good for the beginning, keep it all— perhaps tomorrow we will be somewhere else, altogether.
3.
“An August Afternoon” An August afternoon. Even here is heard the rush of the glittering Raba. We look at the mountains, my mother and I. How clear the air is: every dark spruce on Mount Lubon is seen distinctly as if it grew in our garden. An astonishing phenomenon—it astonishes my mother and me. I am four and do not know what it means to be four. I am happy: I do not know what to be means or happiness. I know my mother sees and feels what I do. And I know that as always in the evening we will take a walk far, up to the woods, already before long.
4.
Oh mountains, my green mountains. It will never again be like it used to be. I shouldn’t have left mama; I shouldn’t have gone where I went. I shouldn’t have loved who I loved. It will never again be like it was last year. A wreath will never again blossom for me on the apple tree.
5.
Let’s go, my son, let’s go to our homeland. Let’s go to that valley and pick newly-sprouted khavrtsil. We pick and pick and that will save us. There the birds are singing with their beaks; the swallows are clapping with their wings. The stones, without us, are crying. Our father and mother are buried there. They are crying sweetly and calling for us with pained voices. How can we not go to our homeland? Let’s go, my son, let’s go to our homeland.
6.
“Amputated Homeland” in this town everyone is unhappy on this earth there is quiet before an explosion yes my love I’m leaving I am leaving across the earth of my homeland there everyone lives out the pleasure of not knowing the pleasure of losing of not being run over by a car of raising unhappy children of eating and not barng (sorry, vomiting) not once I am leaving my love my homeland is where I am love love love you made me happy you made me forget everything I will never forget that not once I’m leaving
7.
I lost my country. I cried and hurt. I feel helpless and long for things I can’t forget. I wish I could drink water and wash my eyes at the well in my yard once more. I lost my graves; I didn’t forget those I buried. I reminisce about my relatives and carry them in my little soul.
8.
“The Return” Suddenly the window will open and mother will call me it’s time to come home the wall will part and I shall enter heaven in my muddy boots I’ll sit at the table and churlishly answer their questions nothing’s the matter leave me alone. I’ll just sit there with my head in my hands. How can I tell them about this long and intricate road. Here in heaven mothers knit little green scarves flies buzz father nods by the stove after six days of work. No—I cannot tell them that men jump at other men’s throats.
9.
How I’d like to go to Irin-Pirinmountain, dear mother, to Todor’s field, so that my band of men may rest there by the cool water, in the deep shade. / Don’t go to fetch water, maiden, because it’s a long way off.There stands a tall tree with deep shade around it.
10.
What is it that Janina’s eyes haveseen? O Janina. It was on a Friday, at Five Wells, on the mountain pass. Zenel Çelo and a companion cut through the middle of the battalion and felled the wretched pasha.
11.
At Night 01:42
“At Night” I am going to leave the lamp on next to the cradle. I am going to rub a garlic clove over the child’s breast. I am going to put the broom behind the door. I am going to pray to God. To drive away the child’s crying, To drive away the bloodsucking buttery, The vampire moth - a choxana.
12.
Aprilios 04:43
13.
Who is clattering in the pantry? That is our Mary, searching for her mother. She wrings her hands in despair. “Mother, where did you go? Rise from your black grave and bless your daughter who goes to her wedding.“ “Daughter, I cannot rise. I am buried under three layers: wooden planks, yellow sand, and green grass. My daughter, you must go to your wedding alone.”
14.
You will remember that leaping stream where sweet aromas rose and trembled, and sometimes a bird, wearing water and slowness, its winter feathers. You will remember those gifts from the earth: indelible scents, gold clay, weeds in the thicket and crazy roots, magical thorns like swords. You'll remember the bouquet you picked, shadows and silent water, bouquet like a foam-covered stone. That time was like never, and like always. So we go there, where nothing is waiting; we nd everything waiting there.
15.
Love 03:37
Jovka of Kumanovo strolled up and down Idriz’s eld and lost her necklace. Ljatif-aga came through the field. “Don’t stroll around Idriz’s field, Jovka. I shall take you for my wife and make you my fair Muslim bride.” “I will not change my faith for you, Ljatif. I’m already in love with someone else—Kostadin.”
16.
Mother, Moon 02:39
17.
18.
Nani 01:13
Nani, nani, who is rocking you, mother’s beautiful one in the village? Nani, nani, mother’s daughter, may you grow up to be like the light of the moon, industrious like a bee, with a mouth that speaks sweetly and a light step. Nani, nani, sleep, O my soul, may you grow up to be like the light of the moon.
19.
Iris II 04:26

credits

released June 10, 2016

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True Life Trio Oakland, California

True Life Trio’s music is all about harmony. The fiery voices of these three women spin and interweave, traveling from Ukrainian village tunes, to Greek polyphony to Louisiana two-steps. Bulgaria to the Bayou. On paper, it’s an unlikely combination but in person, it feels just right. ... more

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