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Only Grey Matter Boiling In My Head

by XTC, Elvis Costello, David Bowie

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about

Kicking-off the new year with a choice collaboration, the new single sees the San Francisco songwriter
teaming-up with XTC legend Colin Moulding, who provides the track with its wandering bassline and production
nous.

Hallmarked with the humour, wit and ambition you might expect from a meeting of Mickelson and Moulding’s
minds, “Only Grey Matter Boiling In My Head” offers a comical take on those moments of completely losing
your cool…. As Mickelson explains:

““Only Grey Matter Boiling In My Head” is a humorous song dealing with anger management issues. This theme
of self depreciation shows up in my lyrics from time to time. I am also extremely honoured that Colin Moulding
played bass. We had several chats about the song and he also offered some great production ideas.”
Introduced to Colin by his son Lee (who performs in Mickelson’s live band), the chance encounter seemed to
chime serendipitously with a new song Mickelson had been writing that bore the arch lyrical quips and off-kilter
arrangements not so dissimilar to XTC’s vintage output. Reaching out to Colin with the bare bones of the track,
he consequently added his own distinctive stylistics. Speaking about the how collaboration came to be Mickelson
adds:

“I'd just written “Only Grey Matter Boiling In My Head” and thought it would be a good fit as there are some
unusual twists and turns in the song and to my mind, reminded me of XTC. We recorded the basic tracks and
Lee sent it to Colin. I quickly received his bass track and was pretty blown away by it.”
Gifting the track with its notably tilting basslines, the additional grandiose piano lines and accomplished drum rolls
are courtesy of Mickelson’s UK-based live band, Jon Buckett and Lee Moulding respectively. Standing as the first
piece of recorded music they have laid-down with their frontman, the drums and piano were recorded at
Earthworm Recording Studio in Swindon, whilst Mickelson performed, produced, arranged, and mixed the rest
from his Bay Area studio.

lyrics

ONLY GREY MATTER BOILING IN MY HEAD
(Scott Mickelson)

My life is a slamming screen door
Your life is a window of opportunity
This is why I invite the argument
I was drowning in a sleepless dream
I was wrestling with my rescuer
I pulled him under so no now could breathe
In the court of public opinion
I am guilt of being the villain
But it’s only grey matter boiling in my head
Would you rather that I play dead instead
All the steam that billows
Could choke a superhero
I would rather play Russian roulette
Than to ever forgive or forget
Kiss me when I’m sleeping
You can kiss me when I’m dying
But the taste on my lips
Is like poison rolling in with the tide
I thought you’d want to know
That it’s only grey matter boiling in my head
Would you rather that I play dead instead
All the steam that billows
Could choke a superhero
There is clearly no room at my table
Even one more chair could be fatal
But it’s only grey matter boiling in my head
Would you rather that I play dead instead
All the steam that billows
Could choke a superhero
If I’m clouding up your sky
No umbrella could ever keep you dry.

credits

released January 10, 2023
Mickelson: vox/gtr/keys
Lee Moulding: drums/harms
Jon Buckett: keys
Colin Moulding (of XTC): bass

Produced/Engineered by Mickelson
Drums and keys recorded by Jon Buckett at Earthworm Studios

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about

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Mickelson San Francisco, California

Scott Mickelson is an artist/producer from San Francisco. His debut release FLICKERING was on the Grammy ballot for Best Folk Album and Best Roots Music Performance. His follow up A WONDROUS LIFE received great reviews and led to his first European tour in 2019. Mickelson appears in NPR Radio, Huffington Post, No Depression, Glide Magazine, Paste Magazine, PopMatters, Alternative Press Magazine... ... more

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