We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Alien Telephone

by Jen Cloher

/
  • Streaming + Download

    Includes high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more. Paying supporters also get unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app.
    Purchasable with gift card

      name your price

     

about

We originally recorded Alien Telephone for my latest album but decided to hold it back. I love how it turned out but I couldn't find a place where it felt right on the record.

The album artwork is a painting I did when I was 4 and deep into the possibilities of outer space. This is just one panel of the painting, it's actually huge! My childhood masterpiece, lols.

I love offering songs to my audience as thanks for the years you have supported my music. Pay what you want or take it as a gift by entering 0.00 into the payment field.

I'm on tour this May, June and July in Australia, the UK, Europe and Aotearoa, NZ just click on the shows panel to the right or head to www.jencloher.com/shows

lyrics

Alien Telephone

You didn’t speak for the first 4 years
Your parent’s thought there was something wrong
And when you did you preferred to read
You read everything, everything
you could read
A sensitive harmonica with a broken heart
Reading has become an abandoned art
Whatever happened to letter writing
A postcard in the mail
Is there anything more exciting?

You didn’t fit in at your new school
No-one knew what to do
So you hid out on your own
In the art department
With Mrs Malone
On the days you couldn’t face
You went to your Nan’s
Taming the Wisteria with your little hands
Then you sat together
Watching midday movies
Golden Years of Hollywood
A bowl of chips and gravy

Do you remember coming home
To a flashing light
On the ansaphone?
Held your breath
Prayed it was him
But it was just your Aunty
Down in Hamilton
Mixtape cut together from the radio
Press pause before the DJ spoke
Every song a case for how much you needed
To be understood
By someone who’d never see you.

credits

released April 18, 2023
Guitar and Vocals Jen Cloher
Drums Jen Sholakis
Bass Anika Ostendorf
Guitar and Harmonica Tom Healy

Engineered by Tom Healy in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland), Anika, Ostendorf & Nick Huggins on Wadawurrung land in Point Lonsdale.

Produced by Tom Healy, Anika Ostendorf, Jen Sholakis and Jen Cloher.

Mixed by Tom Healy.

Mastered by Lachlan Carrick.

Written by Jen Cloher.

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Jen Cloher Melbourne, Australia

Jen Cloher (Ngāpuhi & Ngāti Kahu) is a songwriter and performer living on unceded Wurundjeri land in Naarm Melbourne.

Cloher’s taut, terse brand of rock is charged with the static tension only an outsider can possess. Admirers have naturally gravitated towards Cloher’s incisive, generous songwriting. Over the course of five albums, they have become one of this continents most revered songwriters.
... more

shows

contact / help

Contact Jen Cloher

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this track or account

If you like Jen Cloher, you may also like: