With the full moon rising in the East and the sun ready to set in the West, you meet "the man at the crossroads". He has a wild look about him, and for some reason you can't look away as he locks eyes with you.
You're just about to ask for directions when he says:
"Do you prefer the direct route, or the scenic route? Either way you choose, you will pay me a toll. What do you say?"
You respond with silence, and judging from the response, he finds this disturbing.
"I'll give you a piece of my mind you won't forget!"
An eternity passes in an instant as two thoughts simultaneously enter your mind. There's something clearly "off" about this guy, but you were told in the town you just passed through that he knows his way around.
How does he know where you're going?
And it's almost as if he'd been waiting here for you...
You've always thought it best to stop and smell the roses, and you know you'd choose the scenic road. But while the advice would be welcome, there's no way you're going to pay some crazy "toll" - or take a piece of his mind, for that matter.
You exhale loudly as you try to collect your thoughts.
Then, in the manner of saying "let's see now", and to nobody in particular, you say:
"OK".
Suddenly there's a look in his eyes you hadn't seen before - a depth of pain & sorrow, combined with a self satisfied grin that's not at all the look of a helpful soul giving directions.
"The direct route is left, the scenic straight. Now you must pay".
You realize he thinks you've agreed to his terms... given the sign... putting your name on the line.
"I wasn't talking to you! I don't know who you think you are old man, but I haven't agreed to anything!".
Insanely, he says : "Say what you will, but you've already given me a great deal... The toll can wait, but in the end, you will pay!"
At this point you've had enough, and you continue on your way - straight through the crossroads. You're scared now, and as you walk on down the road, he yells with a tone of complete confidence: "you'll get yours"! Then the words that will haunt you: "It's all just a game!" They echo in your mind as the sound of his voice evaporates into silence.
This is the crux of "Between The Sun & Moon", a concept album about walking through the night towards the rising sun of a new day. As you journey through the darkness, you have the light of the full moon to guide your way, and you remember that moonlight is really the light of the sun, reflected.
The nine songs tell the stages of the passage: departure, the crossroads, the journey into darkness, false dawn, the search for companionship, three hurtful yet helpful muses, and sunrise:
1) The Eastbound Road (Departure)
2) I Wasn't Talkin' To You (The Crossroads)
3) Shaman (Into the Darkness)
4) Everything Is You (False Dawn)
5) Where Are You? (The Seeker)
6) The Worst Best Thing (Carmen)
7) Between The Sun & Moon (Tara)
8) Just Another Song (Louise)
9) She Comes Around (Sunrise - Penelope)
