the way you recorded the vocs they really have a cool haunting tone for this type of stripped down acoustic song...

Outstanding intimacy and bold expression of vulnerability through lyrics, voice and instrumentation. 💔

Produced, arranged, composed and performed by James Murphy - 'Byrdz'.

Lyrics - To Be Alone. (Forever Is Quite a Concept!)

You said I'd end up alone,
Unless I'm with you,
That's fine I love to be alone,
And this moment fits you,

Pretty savage of you,
You don't hold back,
Reminds me of someone I know,
And they've got my back,

Lines were drawn in the sand,
With no comebacks,
Maybe you didn't know it at the time,
But you made that a fact!

So it's to be forever alone,
Or to be with you,
Girl I don't know what I'm going to do or think,
I hope this will please you,

We crossed a line with each other,
Now we have the time to rediscover,
How we really feel we could uncover,
Make up your mind girl, we could please each other, this once!

We were there to comfort each other,
I hope this you can see,
You couldn't love anyone that much surely?
If you do then lucky me!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Artwork - Byrdz

(Good News) EP

To Be Alone. (Forever Is Quite a Concept!)

A little backstory is needed here.

A few years ago I hung up my old guitar for good, having finally lost patience with my own decades-long inability to do any serious practice.  Not long afterwards, one of those things that only ever happens to other people, happened to me, when the nice consultant explained that the source of the pain was a large tumour in my throat.

During the fun and games of treatment over the subsequent months I made a few deals with myself regarding how things would change if we came out of the other side alive and reasonably intact.  One of these was a commitment to getting my old guitar out again and working at it;  the quid pro quo being a new, decent guitar in the event that any signs of progress appeared.  I even held out the hope that I might start scribbling out a few songs again, not having done so for many, many years.

That I now have ever so slightly more than one decent guitar hanging on my wall is not a reflection of the degree of progress, just my tendency to re-interpret the rules of the game sometimes....

A few weeks back, the nice consultant explained that he didn't want me ever to darken his door again as he could see no need to continue the checkups.  For the best of reasons.  

No "All Clear"s in this game of course, just probability curves, a fact sadly demonstrated, also few weeks back, when a very brave lady who was not so fortunate as I, lost her own battle with cancer.  She was Dame Deborah James.  A teacher, who, in the words of her family, shared her experience of cancer to "raise awareness, break down barriers, challenge taboos and change the conversation around cancer.  Even in her most challenging moments, her determination to raise money and awareness was inspiring". 

This is one of the first songs I wrote after picking up the guitar again.  The lyrics are odd in places … that morphine, it lingers in the bloodstream you know.... :) and you may apply to them what metaphors you wish.

I decided to make the quiet, simple, one take, live version of “Genuflection” offered here as a small personal tribute to the bravery of Dame Deborah.  It is far from perfect, but not far from the heart.
_________________________________________________________________

Genuflection

As sensibility subsides, my spirit lies
In shattered fragments, scattered with the roses at my feet.
A plastic destiny confides what was never meant for real;
An unholy desecration that is scarcely incomplete.

A storm-tossed foreign sea, has driven me
To the reef, with smiling Lucifer’s contaminant collusion.
My bloodshot welling eyes offer thin disguise;
Translucent as the glass before my naked self-delusion.

A sleet-swept breeze hit my bright horizons.
I’m on my knees, black moon rising.
Sweet salvation, my long lost friend,
I’m on my knees,… again.

Fractured rainbows hold the storm, heaven-sent;
Kaleidoscopic essence of the life behind the deal.
Enraptured scarecrows take the form of a living testament
To the martyr’s psyche slowly being broken on the wheel.

Earth gathers dry husks as they fall, and Charon calls;
My antimony confidante, gasps breathless at the shore.
The coin I proffer him today secures my solitary way
To the shadow that’s imprisoned me so many times before.

A sleet-swept breeze hit my bright horizons.
I’m on my knees, black moon rising.
Sweet salvation, my long lost friend,
I’m on my knees,… again.

A sleet-swept breeze hit my bright horizons.
I’m on my knees, uncompromising.
Peace of mind? I left him way behind.
I’m on my knees,… again.

Genuflection

Quite Possibly

Piano solo version of traditional Christmas song.

In Notte Placida

Please use headphones for much better listening experience!

The spider who coughed only once

An old track I found on a disc.  This was a failed attempt to write a country list song.

B Movie Life

Beach Bunny

a track by Marco Lucchi reworked by *idematoa*

maggio 2023

idematoa & Marco Lucchi - ὁ γὰρ καιρὸς ἐγγύς

Blink Twice - Sinthetik

Welcome to part 2 of the "Water Planet Project". In this part we see glimpses of the paradise our planet was, on its journey up to the present.  As mankind begins to urbanize and industrialize, the pristine pictures of one of our most important natural resources begin to crack.      
For the best experience, see the visualization of our story which you can find here: www.youtube.com/user/wcifarout.  If time only permits listening to the soundtrack, you will still be able to hear the beauty in Peter's thoughtful words and singing, Ed's lovely electrics, Dan-DT's gorgeous synth arrangements, and my acoustic contribution to Seagull's beautiful song "Milk and Honey Time" that Peter wrote the lyrics for.  
Words are insufficient to express my gratitude to Seagull for his far-ranging vision that brought us all together, and his extraordinary expertise in production that made his vision a reality. 

First song - The Realm Of The Water Fairy by Dan-DT
Second song - Milk & Honey Time by Seagull, David, Ed & Peter
Third song - Whole by Dan-DT & Ed

All narrations, lyrics & vocals by Peter
Contributing vocalist. Clara Sorace

Here you will find the fantastic musicians I share this adventure with:
From Sweden- Seagull: @farout-music-studio
From England - Peter: soundcloud.com/user-264930040/tracks
From France - Dan-DT: @dan-t-3
From Canada - Ed Cunningham: @westtracksmusic

As Soundcloud for some reason does not allow more than 4000 characters, you will find the lyrics to the songs on Seagull's YouTube channel.
We wish you a pleasant musical and visual journey.

The Water Planet Project--Part 2

Wonder Winterland

(Best experienced through earphones) a Stolen Glow are an outfit from Co. Wexford, Ireland. The group consists of James Murphy - 'Byrdz' [pronounced 'Birds'] (E.S.S. & One For Sorrow), and Alan Davis (E.S.S.) As a studio band the pair worked on a Stolen Glow for over ten years, with James, carefully crafting a blend of home-made rock music, and Alan, carefully focusing on some music, but then cutting his teeth on video animation. Two E.P.'s emerged 2016's 'Just Far Enough Away' and 2019's 'Rough Mixes'. The outfit's  album 'Ten Track Recorder' saw the light of day in 2020, and then the mainly (drop D based guitar tuned) 12 track album '11 Items' was released in the year 2022. (Both of these albums can be found on this page.)  Also, there's a handmade animated music video courtesy of Alan, for their track 'In Space', which can be found here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohCHSqfdM-U  - And the pair returned to a tried and tested method that they developed in E.S.S. on their track 'This Day' of Alan supplying lyrics and James doing the rest... The video for that song is here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZ5EfuB-XDg - Thanks for listening and viewing everyone! Have fun! We hope you find something that tickles your fancy.  - Byrdz & Alan x Enjoy. https://www.instagram.com/jamesmurphybyrdz/ https://www.instagram.com/alan_j_davis/ If your looking for more recordings... They are here :- https://archive.org/details/@james_murphy201

To Be Alone. (Forever Is Quite a Concept!)

a Stolen Glow

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