All the dreams you put on me
Hide beneath your modesty
Too late to trust
We all turn to dust
“Ashes to ashes, dust to dust” is a phrase from the Anglican Book of Common Prayer burial service. It echoes the words from Genesis 3:19, signifying the transient nature of the human condition. The phrase implies that humans are made from dust, and to dust they will return upon death, highlighting the cycle of life and death and the belief in the physical body’s return to the earth after life has ended. It’s often used to acknowledge the inevitability of death and the belief in a humble human origin and end – the perfect subject matter for longtime post-punk collaborators Shawn Foree (Digital Leather) and Bobby Hussy (Wristwatch, The Hussy and Whippets) performing together as TIT.
“Dust is a long long time coming,” muses Hussy. “We recorded a demo of this about 8 years ago and played it in Omaha at the classic watering hole O’Leaver’s around that time. That’s back when we were a four piece featuring Todd Fink from The Faint on synth, Noah Kohll from Surf Curse and Color Green on drums, Shawn Foree on synth and vocals, and myself on guitar, synth and vocals. We’ve since re-tracked it entirely and it finally came to life properly.”
The song, channeling Thomas Dolby, Legendary Pink Dots, Soft Cell, Suicide, and The Soft Moon alike, is a darkly infectious gem. The lyrics express a narrative of betrayal and the inevitability of decay, highlighting themes of insincerity, desire, and the ultimate futility of these emotions. The repetition of “We all turn to dust” underscores the transient nature of life and relationships, suggesting that despite the intensity of feelings and the impact of others’ actions, everything eventually fades away.
Listen to “Dust” below:
The debut LP from TIT, ten years in development, showcases the dynamic exchange of deep vocals between its leading members, underscored by darkwave electronics and intricate synthesizers. The album also boasts a notable collaboration with Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes, who brings his distinctive voice to the industrial rock track “MGBF.” TIT initially emerged on the scene with a four-track EP in 2013, jointly released by Volar Records and FDH Records.
TIT’s self-titled debut LP is out on April 5, 2024.
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