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Restless Soles

by Fergus Maximus

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  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

    You also get the bonus track 'Love Is A Metaphor', a joyous, rowdy pop/rock tune featuring surprise band vocals from the Restless Horns.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $11.99 AUD  or more

     

  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    An actual thing to hold in your hand and put on your shelf and play in your car. Or your stereo. Or in your computer if it still has a CD tray. Featuring a whole bunch of studio photos and cartoons Ferg's friend Rhys Hewett.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Restless Soles via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 3 days
    edition of 400 
    Purchasable with gift card

      $25 AUD or more 

     

  • Full Digital Discography

    Get all 4 Fergus Maximus releases available on Bandcamp and save 35%.

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Restless Soles, One Gaslit Night (EP), Songs & Stories (Special Edition LP), and Songs & Stories (EP). , and , .

    Purchasable with gift card

      $26.64 AUD or more (35% OFF)

     

1.
Stay 04:42
This is the first line of a song about you It’s kinda simple But it’s the best that I can do I don’t want you This is the second part of a song about you Don’t have much to say But I suppose there should be two Hope you hear it On your radio Hope you hear it Wish I knew Wish I knew the right words The right words to say I don’t want you Don’t want you to go Please stay This is another verse of a song about you Probably can’t get much worse But I’ll see what I can do Hope you’re listening To your radio Hope you’re listening Wish I knew Wish I knew the right words The right words to say I don’t want you I don’t want you to go Oh no Please stay Guitar Wish I knew Wish I knew the right words The right words to say I don’t want you Don’t want you to go Oh no, no, no, no, no, no Wish I knew I wish I knew the right words The right words, The right words to say I don’t want you Don’t want you to go Oh no Oh no no no Oh no Please stay
2.
Accumulator 04:03
She’s my little sister Look after her real good Just like I promised our Mama I promised that I would She’s always movin’ I guess she got restless soles But every time it seems When we pack up her dreams There’s more stuff than there was before Accumulator She got so much stuff Accumulator But it ain’t not never enough She got purple sneakers She’s had since she was ten An’ a whole wardrobe full o’ glamourzines That she’ll never read again Sixteen stinkin’ candles And a box full of broken phones An’ that old teddy bear With the fuzzy hair Uncle Ron brought her back from Rome Accumulator She got so much stuff Accumulator But it ain’t not never enough Accumulator She got that bug real bad Can’t have everything she wants But she wants everything she’s had She got every letter every boyfriend wrote Every birthday card, every sweet love note Tickets to every show that she ever saw And that old blue dress that Mama wore Accumulator She got so much stuff Accumulator But it ain’t not never enough Accumulator She got that bug real bad Can’t have everything she wants But she wants everything she’s had Accumulator Way down deep in her soul One day all that stuff might just Collapse into a black hole
3.
Myself Again 03:40
Got something in her shoe but she can’t stop Too much for her to do and it’s so hard Trying to remember All the details of the emails That she should’ve sent but hasn’t written Presentation’s due at ten but it’s not done And it won’t be done by then so she joked Or maybe she was serious She’ll just wing it likes she always does And hope nobody’s concentrating But as she left her desk that day Sure they heard her say I’ve got a feeling that it’s time to be myself again I’ve got a feeling that it’s time to be myself again I’ve got a feeling that it’s time to be myself again Be my Be myself again Do do do do do do Da da Do do do do do do They seemed to be all right but bonds can chafe Maybe they just didn’t fight in a public place But she was always yearning ’til the moment when she wandered off On restless legs that wouldn’t settle And as she closed the door that day Sure he heard her say I’ve got a feeling that it’s time to be myself again I’ve got a feeling that it’s time to be myself again I’ve got a feeling that it’s time to be myself again Be my Be myself again By my Time to be by myself again Do do do do do do Da da Do do do do do do She wasn’t ever really sure Exactly what she’s looking for Who knows what she’ll find? Yeah I’ve got a feeling that it’s time to be myself again I’ve got a feeling that it’s time to be myself again I’ve got a feeling that it’s time to be myself again I’ve got a feeling I’ve got a feeling She got something in her shoe but she can’t stop Got something in her shoe but she can’t stop Got something in her shoe but she can’t stop Got something in her shoe but she can’t stop Do do do do do do Da da Do do do do do do
4.
Shelley 04:05
Shelley wasn’t there again today So once again he didn’t get to say, “I’m sorry” But then just maybe he wouldn’t anyway Gathers all his hopes up off the floor Underestimated how much more she wanted And took for granted she’d never choose the door Would I lie to you? Would I ever tell you less than half the truth? Do you really think I could? Well, yes Yes I guess you would Sharing his own company again Doesn’t make for scintillating conversation A situation that possibly explains Why Robbie’s sitting outside in the rain Staring at the window of the plain white building Where Shelley’s sleeping or should be anyway Would I lie to you? Would I ever tell you less than half the truth? Do you really think I could? Well, yes Yes I guess you Would you ever accept part of the blame? Would you ever expect me to do the same? Shelley finds him snoring on the lawn Running late for work but now she’s torn: He’s stalking But maybe talking could still avoid a war Leaves a scribbled note there on his chest Hurries off and hopes it’s for the best “6:30 and this time I’ll be … I promise I’ll be there” Would I lie to you? Would I ever tell you less than half the truth? Do you really think I could? Well, yes Would I lie to you? Would I ever tell you less than half the truth? Do you really think I could? Well, yes Yes I guess you would History says you should So yes, I guess you Shelley wasn’t there again She wasn’t there again Shelley wasn’t there again today Shelley wasn’t there again She wasn’t there again Shelley wasn’t there again today
5.
Regrettown 04:16
Coming back to Regrettown Might not have been my smartest move The lonely pine on Mackenzie Drive Whispers sense memories of you But the Want Ads were so enticing And I missed Saint Tony’s beer Settling back into Regrettown I can see your house from here I can see your house from here Shouldn’t be too surprised How little things have changed It’s only been a dozen years Since I went away All the same familiar faces Trapped in the same old fears Cobwebs grow in Regrettown I can see your house from here I can see your house from here The place we hooked up Has burned down The one where we disengaged Still goin’ strong And I find I’m kinda glad It’s not the other way around ’Cos even the waffles in Frankie’s Diner Don’t taste like home Getting out of Regrettown Take Frankie’s menu as a souvenir Glancing back in the mirror I can see your house from here I can see your house disappear
6.
My Heart 04:55
Effigy’s just one of many places I’ve been burned I left my love there somewhere But it never was returned My heart was on my sleeve When she took me to the cleaners They even got the stain out With some shots of Mr Meanor’s* But that’s all right It’s okay ’Cos I didn’t really need it anyway That’s all right It’s okay ’Cos I never really used it anyway My heart My heart Once upon another time Back when I had my shirt She rolled my heart in honey Then she stomped it in the dirt I asked her why she treated me So good and then so bad She smiled and said That it was just this hobby that she had Well, that’s all right It’s okay ’Cos I didn’t really need it anyway That’s all right It’s okay ’Cos I never really used it anyway My heart My heart My heart My heart My heart My heart My heart My heart Every now and sometimes When I think I’d like it back My memory repeats for me Her signature attack She’d throw down the gauntlet And when I bent to retrieve it Her knee would meet my mouth Encouraging my teeth to leave it Well, that’s all right It’s okay ’Cos I didn’t really need them anyway That’s all right It’s okay ’Cos I never really used them anyway My heart My heart My heart My heart My heart My heart My heart My heart Sax * Mr Meanor’s Patent Tonic and Stain Remover
7.
It’s all wrong And I tell you Disassociation’s got me reeling It’s all wrong As we go through The motions of emotions without feeling Maybe you’re hurt How would I know? ’cos you’re not really here And I don’t know where you’ve gone It’s all wrong It seems now My company’s become unappealing It’s all wrong Yeah, I’ve seen how In intimate embrace you watch the ceiling Maybe I’ll stay Maybe I’ll go Well would you really care? Would you notice that I’d gone? ’Cos it’s all wrong It’s all wrong Running late For dinner at your parents’ place I’m pacing in the passage While you’re fixing up your face When I see the reflection Of my bitter self-obsession In the mess of your mascara ... It’s all right It’s ok Honey, I don’t know just how we got here It’s all wrong But I want to Find a way to navigate this nightmare ’Cos it’s all ...
8.
T-Shirt 03:35
She wants me to throw out my favourite t-shirt “How many favourite t-shirts can one man have?” That’s like asking me to lose my memory Looks at me like I’m an alien Well, yes The concert was 11 years ago Yes The fabric has developed some extra holes But it’s part of me Don’t want to forget Part of me Not ready to part with yet She wants me to throw out my favourite boots The ones I wore When we walked across the Golden Gate Bridge But these boots have climbed mountains They rode elephants and camels And a bicycle in China Shakes her head And mumbles something about men Well, yes The only climbing they do now Is up a ladder changing light globes Yes The only walking they do now Is ’round the yard When I can’t avoid the mowing any more Yes The soles are all worn Stitching’s undone And they’ve got multi-coloured stains From when we painted Painted ’round the back But they’re part of me Don’t want to forget Part of me Not ready to part with yet But they’re part of me Don’t want to forget Part of me Not ready to part with yet Well, I’m not, I’m not ready I’m not, I’m not ready I’m not, I’m not ready I’m not, I’m not ready I’m not, I’m not ready I’m not, I’m not ready I’m not, I’m not ready to part with
9.
Derek 03:25
Keep getting phone calls and letters People knocking at my door Can you pass on a message? Tell him that we called? His pile of bills spills onto the floor But all that I can tell them is Derek doesn’t live here any more We haven’t spoken in ages He left late last year No idea where he’s staying Somewhere else but here I think that Jenny got a postcard from Nepal But Derek doesn’t live here … Haven’t seen him for months And I don’t know where he’s gone But the rest of his stuff Is clogging up the hall And I wish that he’d come back again ’cos Mr Mittens is costing me a fortune On the weekend in the city I met his mother in the mall She said, “I think that you knew Derek” Then I saw her face just fall Didn’t talk about the details Guess the memory’s too raw But Derek doesn’t live here ... He doesn’t live here ... Derek doesn’t live here any more ... (Mr Mittens misses you but he’s gonna be ok ...)
10.
Tom practiced his speech All the way from town Saddlesore, sweat and dust Made mud on his brow But the hardest part Was still ahead Told Sal he signed up She didn’t yell, she didn’t cry He heard the seconds pass The resignation in her sigh She turned toward the window … Go if you want to Go where you need to be Don’t let me stop you Don’t let me get in your way Sal proved an able captain And kept the farm afloat ’Til, months after the armistice, Tom disembarked the boat But that frightening, bloody movie Kept playing in his head She tried to soothe the nightmares But he always pushed away And years of fraying tempers tore One Wednesday after tea Her suitcase by the doorway … Go if you want to Go where you need to be Don’t let me stop you Don’t let me ... Fifty years together and apart Though love is not a science Maybe practice can perfect This darkest of the arts A white room with a window Looking out on spindly trees Tom shrank into a nest Of wires and machines With Sal on sentry duty Beside his bed She held his pale hand That used to be so strong That twirled her ’round the dancefloor Caressed her longing skin She kissed his cheek and whispered … Go if you want to Go where you need to be Don’t let me stop you Don’t let me ... Go if you want to Go where you need to be Don’t let me stop you Don’t let me get in your way Don’t let me get in your way
11.
Hold the ones you love Tell ’em while you can ’Cos you never know just when You won’t have that chance again I’ve been working late, working late Like I always do I’m not gonna make, gonna make Your basketball game tonight I hope it goes well Circles spiraling, spiraling Circles red and blue Light the motorway, motorway Like a carnival carousel It doesn’t seem real Hold the ones you love Tell ’em while you can ’Cos you never know just when You won’t have that chance again Voices telling me, telling me It’ll be okay Drifting further and further and Further away … Guitar Hold the ones you love Tell ’em while you can ’Cos you never know just when
12.
Please, Stay 02:43
This is the first line of a song about you It’s kinda simple But it’s the best that I can do I don’t want you This is the second part of a song about you Don’t have much to say But I suppose there should be two Hope you hear it On your radio Hope you hear it Wish I knew Wish I knew the right words The right words to say I don’t want you Don’t want you to go Please stay This is another verse of a song about you Probably can’t get much worse But I’ll see what I can do Hope you’re listening To your radio Hope you’re listening Wish I knew Wish I knew the right words The right words The right words to say I don’t want you I don’t want you to go Oh no Oh no no no Please stay

about

An anthology of short stories about people with itchy feet and the road in their eyes; about love, loss and memory and the things we hold on to.

To suggest this album has been a long time coming would be an affront to the art of understatement.

Fergus Maximus started performing under that name in 2010 in what was effectively a re-imagining of his old band, Stumbletrip, as a three-piece: Ferg on vocals, sax and percussion, Jamie Harrison on bass and their old drummer, Kym Perry, on guitar. By 2013, they had a quiver of songs road-tested and ready and Ferg approached Steve Pederson (Junior, Max Savage, Rustflower et al.) about producing an album.

On Tuesday, 5 November 2013, Ferg, Jamie, Kym and Steve met engineer/drummer Jarrad Payne at Kilophone Studio (hidden in an old office building off a laneway in the Adelaide CBD) and recorded eight quick and dirty demos in a couple of hours. They had a few, very valuable, pre-production sessions with Steve in early 2014 and then, for all kinds of reasons, the wheels fell off. Life happened.

Ferg eventually started performing solo (after 20 years as a frontman with other people doing all the work), played some festivals and released a couple of live EPs: Songs & Stories (recorded accidentally in 2014) and One Gaslit Night (recorded intentionally with Kym and Jamie in 2015). Those stories are told elsewhere.

Fast forward to December 2017, when Ferg sat, staring at the 2013 Album folder in his Dropbox. In all that time the album had failed to spontaneously record itself, so he decided he needed a new strategy.

He booked some time at Wizard Tone Studios, the wonderful new space that Jarrad Payne now shares with James Brown and Adam Page. Months of planning, some frantic rehearsal and then Ferg, Kym and Jamie spent a weekend laying down rhythm tracks, with Jarrad playing drums, Ferg’s brother Mark Simeon Ferguson playing organ and Ian Lehmann playing more guitars (because you always need more guitars). James Brown engineered the sessions. Sadly, Steve wasn’t available so Ferg took over production duties. Half the songs from that Kilophone demo session made the final tracklist along with twice that many old and new. Sometimes they wrestled with the songs. Pruning. Re-shaping. Honing. Refining. At other times the atmosphere in the room was electric as they simply revelled in the joy of making music together.

More sessions. Some recorded by Jarrad, some by James. Vocals, extra guitar parts, the Restless Horns (with fantastic charts arranged by Ian’s brother Glyn Lehmann to keep it in the extended family), piano
recorded at Mark’s place (because his is staggeringly beautiful) and finally backing vocals with the incredible Gail Page and Ferg’s remarkable daughter Rachel. The brilliant Julian Ferraretto arranged, played and recorded all the strings in his secret bunker somewhere in Adelaide. Hours of mixing by James and Jarrad. Mastering by Pete Maher in London. CDs made in Melbourne.

And now this thing you can hold finally listen to (and even hold in your hands, should you be so inclined), full of tales of ordinary humans, broken but still breathing, voiced in what Mr Morrison calls the “inarticulate speech of the heart”. Yes. Nicely put, sir. Nicely put.

credits

released July 14, 2018

Dramatis personae

Electric guitars: Kym Perry (including the solos in Stay and Hold The Ones You Love) and Ian Lehmann (thanks to Daniel Lee for lending us the Rickenbacker for T-Shirt)

Acoustic guitars: Kym Perry (thanks to Steve Pederson for lending us the De Gruchy and Gibson) except for Hold The Ones You Love on which Fergus Maximus played Kym’s Maton (like a thug, as usual)

Bass: Jamie Harrison

Piano and organs: Mark Simeon Ferguson

Backing vocals: Gail Page (Accumulator, Regrettown, My Heart), Rachel Ferguson (Myself Again, Hold The Ones You Love), the Restless Horns, Alex Taylor, Rob Chenoweth, Jason McMahon and Alex Musolino (surprise band vocal on Love Is A Metaphor) and Fergus Maximus (all of the above)

Horn arrangements: Glyn Lehmann

Restless Horns: Alex Taylor (trombone), Rob Chenoweth (trumpet), Jason McMahon (tenor sax), Alex Musolino (alto sax)

String arrangements and all violins, violas and cellos: Julian Ferraretto

Various: Fergus Maximus wrote and sang the songs, played alto sax on Myself Again and Derek, the solo on My Heart, tambourine on Myself Again and produced the album (after several months of pre-production with Steve Pederson way back in 2014!), then later designed and laid out the artwork for the CD

Recording, edits and mixing: James Brown and Jarrad Payne at Wizard Tone Studios, Adelaide except Shelley and Where You Need to Be recorded by Jarrad in MFerg’s Music Room, Adelaide

Mastering: Pete Maher at Topfloor Productions, London

All songs by Fergus Maximus except:
Stay by A Ferguson/Pederson/Perry/MS Ferguson
Myself Again by Ferguson/Pederson/Perry/Harrison/Lehmann/Payne
My Heart by Ferguson/Harrison/Perry
T-Shirt by Ferguson/Shillabeer/Pederson/Perry/Harrison/Lehmann/Payne
Derek by Ferguson/Perry/Pederson
Where You Need to Be by A Ferguson/MS Ferguson

Photos: Fergus Maximus, Kym Perry, James Brown, Rachel Ferguson and John Baker

Cartoons: Rhys Hewett

Ferg says:
Grateful thanks to my fellow duffer Andrea for all these years of laughter and adventures, wine, cheese and chocolate and to Lizzie, Rach & Sam for being more than 37 kinds of wonderful

Thanks also to the inimitable Ronnie Taheny for providing sage advice and minor panic defusion

Fergus Maximus is proudly sponsored by Mr. Meanor’s Patent Tonic & Stain Remover.

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Fergus Maximus Adelaide, Australia

Fergus Maximus is that guy with his headphones on long after the playlist has finished, completely oblivious because there’s always music in his head anyway. Ferg's unapologetic pop songs encompass all the important things: love, loss, mistakes, surprises and people’s astonishing capacity to miscommunicate. In these songs and stories you'll find some extraordinary snapshots from an ordinary life. ... more

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