“Epoch,” or – by the full name, “Epoch – Song for a Lover (of Long Ago)” is the culmination of some unfinished business.
That business is now being taken care of by the band DeYarmond Edison, originally from Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Also, a box set, because DeYarmond Edison has actually been around for a while, and it’s time to introduce them to a new generation.
“Epoch” was first on an unreleased 2006, 5-track, album by the 6-member band, originally formed by Justin Vernon. The band is named after Justin Vernon’s 2 middle names. Remember MySpace? The school board I worked for back then encouraged everyone to sign up for a MySpace page. Turns out, the platform still exists. So, if you ever had a MySpace page, or if you sign up for one now, you can actually get four of those five tracks downloaded for free.
The point is, this band has a history, which I obviously was unfamiliar with. Check out their Wikipedia page for more info. What sticks out for me, is that they reunited in 2016 to record a cover of The Grateful Dead’s “Black Muddy River” – with Bruce Hornsby – for a compilation benefiting the Red Hot Organization, which supports relief work concerning HIV/AIDS.
That’s right, Bruce Hornsby.
And if you don’t know who Bruce Hornsby is, well, you best remedy that.
Okay, in terms of the song itself – it’s the kind of song that should be the last one played before the bar closes, especially if you’re in the bar because you’re feeling kind of low, and you’ve got nowhere in particular to be. That’s because, “Epoch” will probably match your mood, and when it does, you might feel like somebody out there feels like you do. At least it’s something.
“Epoch” begins with a dobro, being played very well. I love the sound of the dobro, and therefore am pretty convinced that you should love it too, but obviously that’s a bit of overreach on my part.
Discogs says that the band is “Rock, Folk, World, and Country,” but I find the Wikipedia page’s description more apt. “The band’s style is a blend of folk and Americana sounds with more modern atmospheric and electronic elements.”
The “atmospheric” elements really work for “Epoch.” The background, behind the dobro, works with the metaphor of hearing things underwater, and also for the context of chatter/noise in a bar, difficult to discern.
There’s a bit of blending and wordplay with metaphor, in the lyrics, between the “wavelength” of music, and waves of the sea.
Head ain’t reading things right
… malfunction blinking light
But buddy, metaphors aside, I’m pretty sure you’re in a bar, it’s late, and you’ve maybe downed a few more than a couple.
And your bones start to wake
And your face picks you late
But before you fade away
You’re sweeping for a taste
You know it’s time to go. One more, though. Then, you get a cab.
Finally, you get home.
And the hall starts to creak
And the walls start to leak
So you remember your week
It’s more than a dream
Essentially, you’re feeling pretty miserable. The song says it better than you can, definitely at this point, anyway. Take comfort from that, and get to sleep. It’s gonna take a while to get over this. You can do it.
