This is My Song:

Robert Wyatt once mentioned that he preferred short, mini albums. Wim said he never wanted to live a long life. Kobus spoke about wanting the shortest relationship ever (we once looked up Shortest Marriage in the Guinness Book of Records). We think, giving the attention span of the ultra-short Instagram reel moments, for music between 20 to 25 minutes for an album is ideal. Wim argued that life should not go beyond forty. I uselessly argued with him about this; still, he didn't even reach forty. Kobus had (if you can even call it that) relationships that lasted less than half a day (also his ideal for a marriage). And what to say about David? The Fever took him away from us in 2021. Quite soon Ellende will be nothing but dust in the wind.

This is My Song was intended to be a tribute to Kobus it turned out that as we lost David it became an epitaph for both of them. Three out of the four songs were recorded on the 29th and 30th of November 2023 in Lodewikus’ living room in Cape Town. This is My Song was recorded in May 2021 over the span of a few online sessions and features a final appearance of Dave on guitar and Mellotron.

When you are in your twenties you think thirty is old, but once you are in your fifties and another of your best friends dies you think that fifty is far too young. We wanted to capture the absurdity of our personal relationship with growing older, losing friends and the fear of being left alone. The music probably does not express anything absurd. During those intense two days, we just played and recorded a moment of which we had spoken of earlier, we played the various parts almost spontaneously together in one room, and we hope that something from these sentimental feelings would transfer to anyone listening.

Track titles:

A1: While you were smiling,

A2: Postcard from Table Paradise

B1: To all the Girls

B2: This is my Song.

Ellende was:

Martinus Antonius: Synth, Tape, Mix;

Rafael Irisarri: Mastering;

John John: Guitar, Piano, Recording;

Dave Mbambi: Synth, Mellotron (on This is my Song)

Lodewikus Pretorius: Piano, Rhodes MKI en MKII;

Robbie van Rensberg: Artwork.

Catalogue #: Smeerlap 009.

Format: C20 Cassette Tape, limited to 30.