Troy embarks on a journey as he combs through recollections of his biological father who disappeared fifteen years ago.
While going through his missing father’s personal belongings, Troy found a bootleg cassette tape with the hand-scribbled name “Freddie Cesar” on it, and what appeared to be names of songs on the back. Although long since lost, the tape inspired Troy to set out to discover more about who Freddie Cesar was. Turns out there is very little known about the exceptional African-American funk musician, which then compelled Troy to recreate a memories-inspired album of Freddie’s music and stories. The Ghost of Freddie Cesar is the fourth instalment in Troy’s aspirational 10 10 10 Series (to release 10 albums in 10 genres in 10 years). Brought to life by the latest iteration of his band, ‘Troy Kingi & the Clutch’, this record – dedicated to memories, lost souls and 70s funk – is Troy’s most personal work to date. Join Troy as he re-interprets the 70s as a funk-filled landscape, reconstructing a past that no longer exists through this homage to both his father and Freddie Cesar.
"There is no doubt here that Kingi’s obsession with his Father’s music is an important link to his past and the ghost of Freddie Cesar has become more than just a muse for the music on this album. When it came to writing, Freddie was Troy Kingi’s guiding hand." - Ambient light Review, Tim Gruar
Track One: Shake That Skinny Ass
This is one my favourites on the album, 16th notes. I’m not sure if the original feel was exactly like this, but I wanted to take it in a Bill Withers ‘Use Me’ type direction. It feels to me like the song is about a woman, maybe Freddie met her at a club. Not a typical song topic I’d work on, but I suppose it is of the era. There is mention of the woman being from the city and asking would she move to the country.
My favourite line – ‘When the sun comes are you still gonna be yourself, I don’t want nobody else’ – which sounds to me that it was a drunken hook up and he’s hoping she still looks the same when he wakes up. What a cold, cold man.
(Also, you may notice some relationship between this and the title of my second album, obviously Freddie has kind of been there from the very beginning. As an inspiration, as a mentor – without me even knowing it.)
+ LYRICS - SHAKE THAT SKINNY ASS
VERSE ONE
In the city where they got no face (yeah)
I wanna rest my case upon the neon floor
I wanna know something now:
Can you match the moon to the morning light?
Cause when the sun come
Are you still gonna be yourself?
I don’t want nobody else
CHORUS
Shake that Skinny Ass
Somebody come move the tables
If you’re ready and able
Come boogie with me (Come boogie with me baby)
Get your body on the dance floor
Dance till your ass can’t dance no more
People say funk is a dinosaur
But I don’t care, I just wanna dance some more
VERSE TWO
Will this city girl move to the country?
To the land of milk and honey?
Ain’t nuthin' for you here but a suited puppeteer
Pushing you down the rat maze
When you gonna stand up to the man?
Break the chains free
I need to see ya let your feet loose lady
Cutting shapes in the rain and don’t you let nobody come and stop that train come on
CHORUS
VERSE THREE
Stop looking through cynical eyes
Cause what you see is hidden in disguise
Truth won’t be televised
They’re making us out to be punks
Ain’t nobody taking my funk
BRIDGE
I bring the party to the night parade
Where all the silly people masquerade
I spoon the powdered sugar, she pour the cream
Mix it up until we make a super light beam come on
CHORUS
Track Two: Is the Honeymoon Gone?
Sonically for me the best on the album. A real cohesive funk vibe and the horns man – Guy did a really good job. It sounds like a song straight out of the 70s. Again, sounds like it’s about a woman (surprise surprise). It has a nice twist where it sounds like the love he and this woman shared, no longer feels like it did in the very beginning. (Lyrics – ‘hold on to that youthful love, how long till we don’t give a stuff’ and ‘find 20 year old you to make love always be new’.)
+ LYRICS - Is The Honeymoon Gone?
VERSE ONE
Never met an energy quite like yours
Better than dopamines inside my momma’s top drawer
Egotricity pours from dark skies when I look into them eyes
I know where I stand, when I fall I always land
Solar Queen you’re my stick in quicksand
PRE-CHORUS
Hold on to that youthful love – How long till we don’t give a stuff?
CHORUS
Remember when embracing was motivation
And courting was as subtle as a big harpoon
This call could easily sound complacent
Imma wait outside your room under the winter moon
VERSE TWO
Wisdom is an anti-aphrodisiac
Cause once you learn you never come back
All the lovers who love after me
You can use me as a referee
Don’t be cynical, make it more than physical
With the right one she is biblical
PRE-CHORUS
Age has really worn me down
Can’t believe we used to be the talk of the town
Hold on to that youthful love – How long till we don’t give a stuff?
CHORUS
BRIDGE
Is the honeymoon honeymoon gone? (x2)
Find twenty-year-old you
And make love always be new
Track Three: Caught In The Rain
Nice stripped back vibe, again about a woman (not sure if this is the same woman through the previous songs, or if Freddie was some womanizing player). There is reference to drug use (the literal – ‘answers in the drugs’ and ‘used the last of heavens stardust lined up parallel / got my little baby honey hooked on caramel’). There is also mention of California in the chorus. Whether Freddie was there at the time, or said woman was from there – I’m not quite sure.
+ LYRICS - CAUGHT IN THE RAIN
VERSE ONE
‘Bout to disembark
This woman’s left her mark
Now I can’t see, the fruit from the trees (Lord)
Somebody gone and stepped me out for wanting to be free
Can anyone spare their tokens (now)? My muse is broken
Colour me, opal skies
I’m looking straight out to commotions that ain’t helping my hyperbole
PRE-CHORUS
These words ain’t worth the paper that they’re scribbled on
Dig deep for revelations – only need one
CHORUS
Ain’t nobody here to paint it for you
Ain’t nobody got no paint
‘Cause you left your love in California trying to run from the rain
Oh, babe ain’t no shame when you get caught in the rain
POST-CHORUS
You used the last of heavens stardust lined up parallel
Now my little baby honey’s hooked on caramel
Oh, babe ain’t no shame when you get caught in the rain
VERSE TWO
The answers in the drugs
Pulling the Philosophers rug
He gone keep on falling
Hallucinates installing
PRE-CHORUS
Now we looking at the sheep arrive rolling up on the train
Its twenty passed five, it’s my mistake
I’ve waited far too late baby
CHORUS & POST-CHORUS
BRIDGE
Ain’t no shame ain’t no shame
When you get caught in the rain
Ain’t no shame ain’t no shame ain’t no shame ain’t no shame babe
CHORUS
Track Four: Through My Venetians
This is one of the tunes that had a slightly different vibe to me (Freddie had these two quite distinctive sounds). This one along with a few others has quite a Meters type vibe to it.
There is mention of Vietnam in a few tracks (see Nam Must Stay). This one kind of feels like he’s come back from war and is kind of housebound; like maybe he got injured or just didn’t wanna go out, or maybe some PTSD thing. (‘Ain’t been the same since my tour of duty / clouds suffocate the sky / shadows be my place to hide’.)
I’m not exactly sure what the chorus is about, but the title – ‘Through my Venetians’– could be a literal take on how he is now viewing the world.
+ LYRICS - THROUGH MY VENETIANS
VERSE ONE
Ain’t been the same since my tour of duty
Clouds suffocate the sky
(Shadows be my place to hide)
Neighbours look at me like I’m a fruit cake
We just stay inside
(We don’t wanna backslide)
Peer though my venetians
Looking Good
Wish I could come out to meet you
PRE-CHORUS
Any step is a step forward
Ain’t no corner of my mind yet to be explored
One more win just to fall
I don’t wanna do this no more
CHORUS
If you keep busting up my letterbox
I won’t get my smiles from the girl in the south
I bite my tongue ‘cause momma said:
“If you ain’t got nuthin’ good to say then keep it in your mouth”
VERSE TWO
Taking time to reintegrate
When my emotions ain’t that great
Seems I am the jive one
(We are the jive ones)
Melody will serve you well
If you don’t mind show and tell
This is the answer
(This is the answer)
Stare through my venetians
Every cat’s getting fat
Might stay here in my room
PRE-CHORUS
CHORUS
Track Five: Chronophobic Disco
This one has so many parts to it, again I’m not exactly sure of the intro and outro vibes – whether they were a 3/4 beat. In saying that, those sections are my favourite part of the song, if not the album.
Real disco vibe, so I’m thinking it was written mid to late 70s (I could be wrong).
Thematically, quite simple – about not wasting your time. I had to google Chrono phobic and well, it’s not actually a word I don’t think, but Chronophobia is ‘a fear of time’. Real dope waiata.
+ LYRICS - CHRONOPHOBIC DISCO
VERSE ONE
Run oh run till your time is done
Yours is wearing thin waiting for a spark to kick in
I don’t know why everybody doesn’t find what feels good and hold it till they belly up (yeah)
PRE-CHORUS
Forget what you thought were the rules on how to spend your time
When you’ve finally got, baby, we’re all dead
CHORUS
The day it waits for no man
Procrastinating eyes
You need to check your wingspan
It might be undersized
VERSE TWO
How many years do you think you have?
Wake up and smell the air before the oxygen disappears
I don’t know why everybody doesn’t hate when there’s love?
Too many branches missing their doves
PRE-CHORUS
Forget what you thought were the rules stop living in the past
Ain’t gonna win nuthin’ when you’re coming last (when you’re coming last)
CHORUS
POST-CHORUS
The day it waits for no one
Not even CEOs
Stand up and grow some
Can’t reap what you don’t sow
OUTRO
Talking ad lib (Double end length fade out)
Track Six: First Take Strut
This one is the first true collaboration on the album, due mainly to it being so hard to decipher the lyrics. I used my time on film sets and as an actor to mould a lot of the sentiment in this song. I can say though, that the chorus is 100 % Freddie’s lyrics, so the "first take" thing is probably more about Freddie trying to capture his songs in one go, something I relate to wholeheartedly.
I wrote an outro that I was blessed to have Neko lend her voice to. This does feel like one of the best songs I’ve ever been a part of.
+ LYRICS - FIRST TAKE STRUT
VERSE ONE
A clear film over me makes a laminated nosebleed
And my ability to feel – a loneliness I keep close to my chest
Floating over the motel, nobody giving me more towels
Too much time to kill, pink script on the windowsill
I need to find a way to tear up
‘Cause you can tell if it’s made up
Lighting up the place illuminates your face
See through your flaws
CHORUS
You can hide everything but the eyes
experience gonna find ways to sell lies
Improvise your way out of a tight spot
No way you’re ever gonna get it on the first take
VERSE TWO
Everybody stand in line, giving digits like a valentine
You ain’t nothing but a number (nothing but a number), we ain’t getting younger
Since I stumbled into your line of work – I know I’m late to the fold, so I’ll do what I’m told
(I can’t say no)
Ain’t never been nobody’s hot stuff
Did I give too much or not enough?
Costume on the wall
Best bits left on the cutting room floor
CHORUS
OUTRO
This is a Façade
What you see is only the scars
Holding true to the authentic you
Fray at the seams
Perfect pictures ain’t what they seem
Tired eyes they can’t sleep they just scheme
There is a story to tell
Gather your people need new personnel
Cause a tall tale’s a hard one to sell
The blind leading the blind
In the end – you can’t hide from your mind
Flawed is how we are designed
Track Seven: Nam Must Stay
A vibe Straight out of Apocalypse Now, this song is a standalone, balls to the wall, Hendrix buzz. I think it's pretty damn dope.
Thematically, it has a lot of imagery from Vietnam. A lot of the language I had to google ('I hide from Mr Charlie / His moose was on a Harley' – translated as "hiding from the enemy", and a "moose" is what the soldiers would call mistresses they may have had that were from there, from Vietnam).
I’ve already had a chance to play this tune at a couple of big gigs, and I must say when I do, I feel fucken badass!!
+ LYRICS - NAM MUST STAY
INTRO
Civilisations disappear – war is a mandatory evil
One thing that is crystal clear – war is a mandatory evil
This dog tag ain’t a souvenir – war is a mandatory evil
One thing that is crystal clear – war is a mandatory evil
VERSE ONE
Wake up it’s your last day
We getting up out the jungle
Trip flare it’s your last play
Red bird gone keep you humble
Big Boys moving in
Gung-ho with the gun show
Rabbit in a deer skin
Trigger happy with the ammo (ammo ammo)
Nam must stay (ad lib)
VERSE TWO
I hide from Mr Charlie
His moose was on a Harley
Government tried to warm me
Snakes come in the morning
Nam must stay (ad lib)
BRIDGE
Yes, when I get home I don’t wanna be alone
It’s been three years with the flashback tears – don’t wanna be sad, I don’t wanna be A-lone whoa child
Let me come back to ya baby, let me come back (lead guitar)
VERSE THREE
Sunset through the palm trees as we move on down the river
Pop smoke 10 kliks behind me, wet tiger suit makes me shiver
Lay chilly in the long grass, get silly with the green dew
No matter how far I get from this place – Nam it won’t forget you
Nam must stay (ad lib)
OUTRO
(rehash intro)
Track Eight: Skylegs Jackson
This is one I feel really bad about. Because the song was essentially a whole lot of talking, I don’t think I took too much notice of the music that accompanied it. So, because of that, the music is entirely of my making. I used the main riff from my song ‘Pseudo Ego’ off Holy Colony Burning Acres, as a bed on which to lay the lyrics on. I am happy about that though, because this version is how the music was written originally (before making it into a reggae song). It’s in the same vein as the Meters vibe of ‘Through my Venetians’ and thematically, I’m pretty sure it’s talking about New Orleans (a big reason why I went to the Big Easy earlier this year was to just be somewhere that we kind of knew Freddie Cesar had been at some stage in his life). We went to a lot of places he’s talking about, Frenchman’s, DuMondes, saw the Mississippi River – the same River I’m hoping Freddie was looking at, getting inspiration to write his own music.
+ LYRICS - SKYLEGS JACKSON
VERSE ONE
Imma tell ya bout my neighbourhood
Imma sell you on the area
Let’s settle in fast like a steak to a Pitbull terrier
See she’s a peaceful bend down here on the great muddy where I’m from
Kids playing ball in the streets, witchdoctors reading fortunes and doing the voodoo, the smell of southern soul food hugging the city
And yes, my brothers (them brothers) hustling away into the dark hours of the night
Just another regular day – paperboy selling the same old news:
“You see Nixon is in the top house and our men still over at Nam
Flower power preaching love not war” yeah she was an ordinary day except for one thing – “What one thing Freddie?”
(laughs) “her”
There she stood eclipsing the sun, an angel’s silhouette
Her eyes deep and dangerous – them eyes was a mantrap
Blackberry lips – I remember thinking to myself: “I bet they’re sweeter than Du Monde Beignets”
We had seen her many times before – legs stretching to the heavens
They called her ‘SKYLEGS JACKSON’
With a street band playing up on the sidewalk she beckoned me to dance
I didn’t hesitate, I was mesmerised, hypnotised by her hips
They moved like a rattlesnake’s tail
And her feet bounced like she was avoiding hot coals
Mmm yes, we danced we danced we danced
The night came quickly – Full moon illuminating the sky
Crowds pour into the streets and now the Quarter becomes a Mardi Gras
Sight sound smell and taste – a sensory overload
All the while them eyes still deep, still dangerous
She moved close and I moved closer
And she took my hand
And she sent me to the promised land
Track Nine: Good Love
About a Woman. Again.
(But I do think it sounds like a struggle to find love, so it could be one of his earlier songs.)
+ LYRICS - GOOD LOVE
VERSE ONE
Know by my tone my heart’s accident prone
Attracted to pain and the cheapest champagne
PRE-CHORUS ONE
On and on and on
Stuck in this bad luck phenomenon
Losing parts of me
To this counterpart search jubilee
VERSE TWO
Remember my first? I think it was the worst
Took me an age to wash off this curse
PRE-CHORUS TWO
Nice men never win
She want the vocals not the mandolin
Nothing’s Guaranteed especially if your karma is clean
CHORUS
You know I’m fine being lonely (being lonely)
I’ve always been low key (I was always)
I’m keeping my own company
Cause good love ain’t free
You can find lust in a heartbeat (in a heartbeat)
You can hear words that I won’t repeat (I won’t say that word)
If you’re being played in a penthouse suite
Good love ain’t free (x2)
VERSE THREE
Come and they Go
Eb and they Flow
One thing’s for sure
I think I’ve hit my Plateau
PRE-CHORUS
Its only down from here
I’ll take any animalistic affair
But could I find the one if my heart was on and aware?
CHORUS
Good love ain’t free (x2)
PRE-CHORUS ONE
Track Ten: King Of The Powder
This one is a little harder to decipher. In my own little fantasy, it sounds like he’s talking about a childhood friend who grew up to be a big deal in the drug industry. Maybe Freddie himself dabbled in drug dealing at some stage (lyric – 'It’s snowing out on the streets / won’t let it in my house no more').
Such a dope riff. An integral part, that's intertwined throughout verses, choruses. I must say that I did write the outro riff. I know there was a riff in the original but can’t remember it exactly – I wish I had an iPhone back in 2007. Would have been voice memo’ing the hell out of that tape if I knew I would never see it again.
+ LYRICS - KING OF THE POWDER
INTRO (ALSO CHORUS)
He may look mean and good for nothing, least he got the goods
Non-conformer, he worked the corner… he did what he could
You wouldn’t believe he would up and leave… turn into the don
King of the Powder with all the power, the prodigal son
VERSE ONE
I must have left my diamonds on the plane
When all the work dried up they all went insane
My friend Picasso he don’t know he lay low till the Five-O ends
Can Mr Poppy pop his head out that depends?
PRE-CHORUS
Can you keep it from your brother? It’s bigger than family
Unless you like concrete feet
CHORUS
VERSE TWO
Several years have passed and now we meet again
Me with a Capri you with a Black Mercedes Benz
All the luxury won’t make a decent man
Left the fire only to return to this hot frying pan
PRE-CHORUS
It’s snowing out on the streets
Won’t let it in my house no more
Maybe when they got no soldiers in the war
CHORUS
OUTRO
King of the Powder take all the power, the prodigal son
King of the Powder with all the power… the ultimate con
King of the Powder lose all the power, God of Babylon
King of the Powder none of the power, witness protection
Track Nine: All Your Ships Have Sailed
First single off the album – first thing that comes to mind is its beautiful driving feel between the drums and the bass.
The song itself – I’m not exactly sure – could be a little bit drugs (gangster on the corner) and possibly women again, who knows? Great tune though. Again, I’ve had the privilege of playing this to a few crowds and it seems to go off.
+ LYRICS - ALL YOUR SHIPS HAVE SAILED
VERSE ONE
I know that windows closed but why you gotta draw bad memories
And baby what you propose, I might as well start eternity
Sitting in the dark baby it’s an art
Bringing up the two step on the boundary line
Gangster on the corner / what you order? I think a bit more
Cause you got three daughters who adore ya
Two sons who are both brawlers (let me call you)
All I wanna say is I’m inadequate, momma told me I would know when I should quit
CHORUS
Its fate to learn from our mistakes
Exhale cause all your ships have sailed
VERSE TWO
Done had a hard life, at a gunfight with a knife
I had to fight for every little thing
Was lucky I could sing and do it with a broken wing (My Lord)
Even though there’s a church every street, these kids got nothing to eat and success feels bittersweet
BRIDGE
No light could ever shine in the dark – this town full of sharks
Been this way since the beginning of time, born into crime
CHORUS
VERSE ONE
(Same as Verse One, with echoes)
Garden of Eden
VERSE ONE
Water cleanse my soul and bring me order
Tides come in to be my problem holder
And the sun spreads the news of the skies
That man will only have empty goodbyes
VERSE TWO
I walk deep beneath the giant’s arms
Into the dark where I felt no alarm
A natural mystic is the essence of the earth
We must open up, embrace the great unknown
CHORUS
We shall not fear when our bird sings from the Garden of Eden, spiritual healing
Blind eyes will turn when your skies burn, towers will fall down, he wears a broken crown
VERSE THREE
Grabbing to the roots beneath the stone
Mountains will forever hold our bones
No big boss man and his power paradigm
Could ever win ‘cause he can’t stop the time
CHORUS
BRIDGE
This blood in me
Had to fight for centuries to be free
I got no choice
I am the culmination of generations this is an ancient voice
I speak for my ancestors now
All the rights that you disallowed
The land that was taken away
Everything precious they confiscate
Now my people are conscious you see
Nothing else will slip to the sea
Indigenous we on the rise
We all have our eyes open wide
CHORUS
