The word unitopia means living together as one in a place of ideal perfection especially in law, government and social conditions.
Unitopia are one of Australian´s most exciting progressive rock bands. Based in Adelaide, they began their successful career in 2005 with the release of the CD More than a dream. They say that their music is dedicated to a hurting world and they truly believe that world peace and the love of all mankind are attained goals.
Unitopia is a musical adventure comprising the vocal and song writing skills of Mark Trueack, the production, song writing, keyboard & vocal skills of Sean Timms, the guitar & vocal prowess of Matt Williams, the bass and vocal talents of Shireen Khemlani, the combined drum / percussion batteries of Monty Ruggiero and Tim Irrgang and the remarkable multi-instrumentalism of Mike Stewart.
Unitopia endeavors to draw from the heart and soul of the listener, thought provoking topics such as environmental awareness, political and social upheaval, media misrepresentation, the hectic pace of life and human relationships in a positive and uplifting light. Using a progressive rock framework as a basis for Sean and Mark’s compositions, the pair quickly established a great writing rapport, extending the style to include elements of world, classical, heavy rock and dance.
Unitopia endeavors to draw from the heart and soul of the listener, thought provoking topics such as environmental awareness, political and social upheaval, media misrepresentation, the hectic pace of life and human relationships in a positive and uplifting light. Using a progressive rock framework as a basis for Sean and Mark’s compositions, the pair quickly established a great writing rapport, extending the style to include elements of world, classical, heavy rock and dance.
Unitopia began when a mutual friend introduced Mark Trueack and Sean Timms after realizing the two had similar musical tastes. In late 1996, the duo began work on a track which was to become "Take Good Care" and a songwriting partnership developed that led to the band's debut album More Than a Dream, which included contributions from conductor/arranger Timothy Sexton and the Adelaide Art Orchestra, Pat Schirippa, Constantine Delo, Bradley Polain and Ian 'Polly' Politis.
Two of their songs that I like very much (among others) are Tesla and Nothing lasts forever:
1 - “Tesla” takes its name from Nikola Tesla, the Croatian inventor who is credited with inventing “Artificial Intelligence”. A very complex man who had trouble relating to people, preferring the company of pigeons. Tela´s history can be mirrored in modern life, with the diminishing of human contact in a world of unlimited wonder and technological advancements. Obsessively compulsive, reclusive and self-alienating, he shut himself off from the rest of the world at times, but was also widely known for his showmanship, presenting his innovations and demonstrations almost like a magician.
Here is the lyrics:
“Like a flash of lightning, in an instant the truth was revealed.” (Nikola Tesla – 1856-1943)
Born at the stroke of midnight
Darkness was filling the skies
Thunder and lightning
The cry of a child
The birth of a mind that would rise
Son of a man of faith he’d find
Blessed with enquiring mind
Troubled and tested
Obsessive, compulsive
Numbers divided by three of a kind
Oh how I loved her
Nothing else mattered
She was my purpose in life
Clear was her message
The light from her eyes
Colorful beams of light
Baubles and jewels, repulsive and crude
Fear of the others unclean
Childhood remembered
Balanced and centered
Order from chaos precisely pursued
Oh how I loved her
Nothing else mattered
She was my purpose in life
Clear was her message
The light from her eyes
Colourful beams of light
Alternating currents and radio waves
Father of the art of Telautomatics
Unusual signals, abnormal life
The ranting and raving of a brilliant fanatic
Machinery driven by a power obtained
From any point in the universe
Fluorescent light globes and cosmic rays
Now let me present to you ‘The Egg of Columbus’
Like a beggar clothed in purple, that people take for king
Are all the theories and formulae, the downward spiraling
Fascinates and dazzles, causing all to go blind
With underlying errors, but a trick of the mind
Confusing metaphysics with pursuit of the truth
Clawing at the rubble for the fountain of youth
Alternating, compensating, re-create the soul
Madman, revolutionary, all parts of the whole
We are, we are…all parts of the whole, all parts of the whole
Showmanship and magic tricks, conjuring the dream
Unending thirst for knowledge carries us downstream
Alienating, complicating, with no self control
All for one and none for all, all parts of the whole
We are, we are…all parts of the whole, all parts of the whole
Oh how I loved her
Nothing else mattered
She was my purpose in life
Clear was her message
The light from her eyes
Colorful beams of light
Where’s the ghost in the machine?
Where’s the life blood for the dream?
Have we missed the opportunity to live forever?
In the next ten thousand years
Will we sow and reap with tears?
Does it matter that we reach each new endeavour?
Born at the stroke of midnight
Darkness was filling the skies
Thunder and lightning
The cry of a child
The birth of a mind that would rise
Son of a man of faith he’d find
Blessed with enquiring mind
Troubled and tested
Obsessive, compulsive
Numbers divided by three of a kind
Oh how I loved her
Nothing else mattered
She was my purpose in life
Clear was her message
The light from her eyes
Colorful beams of light
Baubles and jewels, repulsive and crude
Fear of the others unclean
Childhood remembered
Balanced and centered
Order from chaos precisely pursued
Oh how I loved her
Nothing else mattered
She was my purpose in life
Clear was her message
The light from her eyes
Colourful beams of light
Alternating currents and radio waves
Father of the art of Telautomatics
Unusual signals, abnormal life
The ranting and raving of a brilliant fanatic
Machinery driven by a power obtained
From any point in the universe
Fluorescent light globes and cosmic rays
Now let me present to you ‘The Egg of Columbus’
Like a beggar clothed in purple, that people take for king
Are all the theories and formulae, the downward spiraling
Fascinates and dazzles, causing all to go blind
With underlying errors, but a trick of the mind
Confusing metaphysics with pursuit of the truth
Clawing at the rubble for the fountain of youth
Alternating, compensating, re-create the soul
Madman, revolutionary, all parts of the whole
We are, we are…all parts of the whole, all parts of the whole
Showmanship and magic tricks, conjuring the dream
Unending thirst for knowledge carries us downstream
Alienating, complicating, with no self control
All for one and none for all, all parts of the whole
We are, we are…all parts of the whole, all parts of the whole
Oh how I loved her
Nothing else mattered
She was my purpose in life
Clear was her message
The light from her eyes
Colorful beams of light
Where’s the ghost in the machine?
Where’s the life blood for the dream?
Have we missed the opportunity to live forever?
In the next ten thousand years
Will we sow and reap with tears?
Does it matter that we reach each new endeavour?
2 - “Nothing lasts forever” is Unitopia´s tribute to “the boys from Liverpool” (The Beatles). It is a song that asks the question: “Were things better before all of this wonderful technology and progress came along?”
And here is the lyrics:
We’re really making up for the dark ages
In today’s enlightened times
Everything running at the speed of light
No time for close contact…no time.
Five hundred years with barely a thought
Labeled a heretic, burned at the stake
Constant derision, judgment and fear
How far have we really come? What difference does it make?
Maybe the boys from Liverpool had it right
When they said ‘Come Together’
But even the fool on a hill could plainly see
That nothing…nothing lasts forever
Avatars won’t hide the scars deep inside
They’re just a cry from the heart
Gentle tears and countless years are wasted…wasted…wasted.
When your life is falling apart
Maybe the boys from Liverpool had it right
When they said ‘Come Together’
But even the fool on a hill could plainly see
That nothing…nothing lasts forever
Nothing…nothing lasts forever
In today’s enlightened times
Everything running at the speed of light
No time for close contact…no time.
Five hundred years with barely a thought
Labeled a heretic, burned at the stake
Constant derision, judgment and fear
How far have we really come? What difference does it make?
Maybe the boys from Liverpool had it right
When they said ‘Come Together’
But even the fool on a hill could plainly see
That nothing…nothing lasts forever
Avatars won’t hide the scars deep inside
They’re just a cry from the heart
Gentle tears and countless years are wasted…wasted…wasted.
When your life is falling apart
Maybe the boys from Liverpool had it right
When they said ‘Come Together’
But even the fool on a hill could plainly see
That nothing…nothing lasts forever
Nothing…nothing lasts forever
