Running - ST

Tracks

		Track Name	Length
	1	She	04:35
	2	In Your Eyes	03:15
	3	Prairie Gold	04:05
	4	Red Train	03:42
	5	The Holy Grace	03:57
	6	Quiet Walker	03:26
	7	All the Rage	03:21
	8	The Country Tune	03:51
	9	Testament (Still You Could be Mine)	03:38
	10	On the Shore	02:11

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Information/Write-up

Exclusively featured on Citizenfreak, The Running is the debut and only album by Vancouver-based band The Running, led by the visionary Sacha Spindler. Released in 1991, the album is a testament to Spindler’s passion for songwriting, engineering, and production, showcasing his innovative approach to creating atmospheric and emotionally resonant music.

As one of the earliest independent CD's to emerge from Canada’s West Coast, The Running captures the spirit of Vancouver’s thriving indie scene of the early 1990s and remains a rare gem in Canadian music history.

Top Tracks
The album delivers a cohesive listening experience, but tracks 1 through 5 and 9 are particular standouts, exemplifying The Running’s blend of ambient textures, introspective lyrics, and rich production:

“She”: A haunting and emotionally charged piece, “She” blends poetic lyrics with intricate arrangements. Co-written by Sacha Spindler, Dave Morello, and Dan Yaremko, the track features Larry Anschell on bass and Martin Simpson on guitar, with dynamic interplay that enhances its introspective narrative. Lyrics like “Your silence was the key to my onward of your passion” resonate with haunting intensity, while the layered production makes it one of the album’s most memorable tracks.

“Prairie Gold”: This nostalgic track captures Spindler’s connection to his Alberta roots, reflecting on his upbringing in Calgary and the vast beauty of the prairies. Lyrics like “We lived a prairie youth, / We lived beneath the big sky” evoke memories of a simpler time, while the warm tones and shimmering ambiance reflect Spindler’s love for his homeland. This deeply personal song symbolizes the blending of his prairie past with his creative future, a journey that shaped the themes and sound of the album.

“The Holy Grace”: A dynamic and rhythmically driven track, “The Holy Grace” reflects the restless energy of city life with poetic lines like: “City streets at night, light the glow, / Produce the wave for after hours.” The combination of driving guitars, ambient textures, and introspective lyrics creates a track that is both energizing and reflective.

“Testament”: Written spontaneously during the recording sessions, “Testament” is a profound highlight of the album. Its evocative lyrics - “A perfect painted picture, / A seed before my eyes” - and lush, layered instrumentation showcase Spindler’s ability to create immersive sonic landscapes. For Spindler, it’s the track where his vision aligned most perfectly with execution, making it a deeply personal and standout piece on the record.

“On the Shore”: Closing the album, this meditative track immerses listeners in lush soundscapes, elevated by George Legere’s keyboard programming and Spindler’s atmospheric production techniques.

Production and Vision
At the heart of The Running is Sacha Spindler’s multifaceted role as songwriter, producer, and performer. Operating under the pseudonym Epidimus Mole, Spindler played bass, keyboards, and piano on most tracks, channeling his influences - Brian Eno, Pink Floyd, Genesis, and Alan Parsons - into a sound that feels both experimental and timeless.

Born in Calgary, Spindler’s journey into music began early, with influences from his prairie upbringing fueling his creativity. After moving to Vancouver at 21, Spindler immersed himself in the city’s vibrant music scene, enrolling at Capilano Music College and eventually building his own recording studio. These life experiences shaped the emotional and sonic landscapes of The Running.

The album was recorded at Profile Studios in Vancouver, with Spindler employing innovative production techniques such as reverse tracking, tape loops, mic’d hallway reverb, and layered pre-reverb compression to create expansive ambient soundscapes. These methods, inspired by pioneers like Eno and Alan Parsons, give the album its distinctive depth and texture.

The collaborative nature of the project is also evident in the contributions from a talented ensemble:

Dave Morello: Drums, vocals, and co-production, providing rhythmic and creative support throughout the album.
Martin Simpson, Ted Connolly, and Larry Anschell: Additional guitars and bass parts that enhance the arrangements.
Linda Sakal: Background vocals that add warmth and richness to the vocal layers.
George Legere and Andrew Jons: Keyboards and programming that elevate tracks like “On the Shore” and “Testament.”

Legacy and Exclusivity
Released at a time when Vancouver’s indie music scene was flourishing, The Running stands as a rare achievement of the era. Its exclusivity on Citizen Freak preserves its legacy, offering listeners a chance to experience a pivotal moment in Canadian independent music. As Spindler has noted, this album represents a creative odyssey, weaving together everything he had learned as a songwriter, producer, and engineer.

In Spindler’s own words, rediscovering The Running decades later has been an emotional experience, leading to reconnections with the musicians who made it possible and late-night listening sessions to appreciate its depth. Its inclusion in the Museum of Canadian Music's Top 1000 Albums of All Time cements its significance as an essential piece of Canada’s musical history.

Final Thoughts
The Running is more than an album - it’s an immersive journey into the mind of a deeply creative artist. With standout tracks like “She,” “Prairie Gold,” “The Holy Grace,” and “Testament,” the album showcases Sacha Spindler’s passion for pushing the boundaries of songwriting and production. The seamless blend of ambient textures, introspective lyrics, and innovative techniques creates a work that feels both timeless and deeply personal.

Exclusively available on Citizenfreak, The Running is a hidden gem that deserves recognition as a vital piece of Canada’s rich musical legacy. Whether you’re a fan of ambient rock, progressive music, or simply enjoy uncovering rare treasures, this album is a must-listen for its creativity, innovation, and timeless appeal.
-Robert Williston

Sacha Spindler: lead vocals, electric & acoustic guitars, background vocals
Epidimus Mole (Sacha Spindler): bass, keyboards, piano
Dave Morello: drums, vocals

Additional musicians:
Ted Connolly: bass on 'The Country Tune' and 'Quiet Walker'
Larry Anschell: bass on 'She'
Andrew Jons: keyboards on 'Still You Could be Mine'
Martin Simpson: guitar on 'She', 'The Country Tune' and 'Testament'
Linda Sakal: background vocals
George Legere: keyboard programming on 'On the Shore'

All music and lyrics written by Sacha Spindler, except 'She' by Sacha Spindler, Dave Morello, and and Dan Yaremko
Produced by Sacha Spindler
Engineered by Daniel J. Judra and Sacha Spindler
Additional engineering by Jason Mauza on 'She' by Larry Anschell & Turtle Mobile Recording
Special Engineering on "She" by Larry Anschell & Turtle Mobile Recording Tricks on "Testament" by Steve Waines; assistants: Jason Mauza, Dave Morello & Brian Else
Recorded and mixed at Profile Studios, Vancouver, British Columbia
Mastered and assembled by Jason Mauza
All songs mixed by Sacha Spindler, except 'On the Shore' mixed by Sacha Spindler and Daniel J. Judra, assisted by Dave Morello, Brian Else, and Jason Mauza

Artwork and design by Bill Frymire

Lyrics:

SHE
Your silence was the key to my onward of your passion,
The sullen glow of your ebb will flow to my tomorrow.
If I could hear your cry in the wind,
I'd hold you down to it.
Your passion is the glow,
A glory of faded misery overcame through this statement of time.
I'll give you a tomorrow.
The gaze of fortune, I see, are she,
She’s the one, the alligator.
She’s the one in the right place, right time,
Right mind, a lady.
She’s the one that makes me feel, makes me feel.

Come alive, pretty mama,
I'm gonna feel your runnin' low, runnin' low,
Feel that lovin', feel that lady,
Feelin' like she’s a comin' down, runnin' down, runnin' low.

PRAIRIE GOLD
The children played in parks,
The air was fresh in my hometown.
We lived a prairie youth,
We lived beneath the big sky.

In a sea of wheat, at once we all knew,
That when the call would come, we'd gather.
Leaves in piles beneath the trees,
A time and place I'll always know,
This homeland, the prairie gold.

IN YOUR EYES
In your eyes,
I've seen shades in blue of my past lives.
In your eyes,
The winter past shines in desire.

In your eyes,
The little things I do tread through your signs.
In your eyes,
A colored green that lights my wildest dreams.

RED TRAIN
The river’s edge slid quiet low to dawn.
The spring-born foliage appeared in its old town.
A Southern belle she played on rails,
With those who pushed her fantasy.

Gunfire summons, red train is comin’.
A new arrival from silence in the air.
Cool Southern might, stripped of all the light,
Red train is comin' to town.

THE HOLY GRACE
City streets at night, light the glow.
Produce the wave for after hours.
You've got to take what you can give,
Look behind and never forget that you're open game.

QUIET WALKER
Did you know you're a quiet walker?
You follow, a midnight stalker.
You take your boots off in the rain,
And did you know you had forgotten,
To lock your doors up tight?

ALL THE RAGE
Come pull the clouds in, don't rescind your ecstasy.
It was a shameful night.
Put yourself down, put yourself down hard on me.

THE COUNTRY TUNE
Did you see the sunlight shining in the night?
Did you see the moonlight give the afterglow of life?
Well, I have seen it.
Well, I say there’s something deep inside these lines,
Going to reach out into the crashing times, into the night.

TESTAMENT (STILL YOU COULD BE MINE)
A perfect painted picture,
A seed before my eyes.
A loving time I've longed for all my life,
Your mystic signs defy me.

ON THE SHORE
You run into the child of my soul,
You call me home and I’ll turn my queried ways.
And you said you could be all in time,
But you go on like you’ve done it all yourself.

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