A solo guitar piece that I added a piano and vocal improv over, written and recorded in ca. 10 minutes on the 14th November 2020, it has sat unused and almost forgotten for just over a year. So I finally got round to adding a lyric and recording a vocal track with minimal harmony parts, some of which is the original vox improv from last year.

In The Arms Of A Perfect Love

Written on June 23rd 2016 during the UK's referendum on EU membership while semi-watching a documentary about Friedrich Nietzsche, whose work inspired the lyric and title of the song.

Artwork adapted from 'Material' by Wojtek Siudmak
Used with very kind permission from the artist

Lyrics:
is the answer or reason
in my father's sperm
are the things i believe in
in my mother's egg

oh my sister
oh my brother
all my dreams are
all i live for


is the past and the future
in my dna
is my coming to being
the birth of tragedy

oh my father
oh my mother
all my reasons for living
all i'd die for



all the ways that i'm feeling
all my senses
all my hopes and my dreaming
all my fantasy

all my lovers
all emotion
all my fears for tomorrow
all i understand


all i choose to believe in
all my god knows
all i hope of achieving
all i follow

all my reason
all my sorrow
all i've come to know
birth of tragedy

Birth Of Tragedy

Piano improvisation by @peterkappus
Lyrics and vocals by @atlascedar

The lyric was inspired by my trip to New York City in September 2015, where I visited One World Trade Center shortly after the anniversary of my cousin Richard's passing, on the day after what would have been his 41st birthday. It was an overwhelmingly emotional experience for me - seeing Manhattan for the first time, standing in the rebuilt World Trade Center and remembering my cousin five years on since his passing. I had a single malt whisky in memory of Richard and a Hudson Baby Bourbon for the great city of New York.

I heard Peter's fantastic piano improvisation for the first time yesterday and immediately felt the need to compose a short lyric and vocal parts to go with it. For some reason the music instantly brought back memories of the day I spent in the new WTC, paying my respects to the victims of 9/11 and honouring the memory of my cousin. 

You can check out the original piano improv here: https://soundcloud.com/peterkappus/one-minute-piano-improvisation-sep-28-2014a

Lyric:

September
I can not hold back my tears anymore
I'll remember you
On this beautiful morning

As the tower came into view
Like a mirror in the blue
Reflecting only you


In memory of Richard

September (Peter Kappus & Atlas Cedar)

For Melissa, Mark & Edgar

Recorded 17th January 2017

i don't believe in faith
i don't believe in god
i believe in you
and the two of us

i don't believe in hate
i don't believe in hell
i believe that heaven 
is being in love with you...

living without a prayer
loving you

i believe in hope
and i believe in good
i believe in us
and i trust in you

i believe in love
and i believe in truth
all i know right now
my only truth is you

Living Without A Prayer

America wishes
America dreams
American Carnage
America screams 

America's leader
American Dream
American Carnage
The American Nightmare


Photography by Max Letek
https://unsplash.com/@blackprojection
Used under Creative Commons license

American Carnage

Written and recorded 4-5th June 2017
Photography by Ian Dooley
unsplash.com/@nativemello
Used under Creative Commons license 

Lyrics:
lover
i'll wait
cold blooded
in jail

i'm there

hard time
high bail
freedom
for sale

let's go
hightail
my gun
for sale

hard core
angel
your love's
my bail
let's go
hightail

Download Free or Buy

4Sale

'Alba' has a triple meaning - firstly, it's the Gaelic word for Scotland; secondly, it is apparently the name of a kind of love poem about secret lovers who must part company before they are discovered, and so that's what this song is about. Thirdly, it also happens to be the name of someone I used to work with in California, though I would hasten to add that this song is not about her!

The song started off life as a simple two-track improvisation called 'Our Love', and this version is as close to that original improv as I could make it. It's a two-track guitar piece, with one piece played in the chord of D on the 2nd fret, and the other is played in G on the 9th fret, with corresponding piano parts added.

I recorded the song previously and posted it here on SoundCloud as 'Orion', but I was never happy with how different it was to the stripped down 'acoustic' original, hence I set about re-recording it - about 2 years after I originally wrote it.

Lyrics:

alba
one night of heaven
until the dawn
alba
our love
is secret
so let it go on

alba
our love's 
forbidden
i'll lie
with you

our love
is sacred
so let it go on

our love
could last a life time
our love
was it ever enough
alba?

alba
we come together
in love once more
alba
i'll always love you
my sacred truth
alba

alba
our love's forever
i love you
but i can't face a lifetime
without you

Credits:
Written and performed by Atlas Cedar; recorded 26-27th June 2017
Artwork created from Creative Commons license photographs:
Main photo: freestocks.org (https://unsplash.com/photos/rNPfyRYqjHY)
Background: Kelly Sikkema (https://unsplash.com/photos/X7dy114KWs4)

For Megan

Alba

Inspired by my recent trip to Japan, the Gion district of Kyoto is one of the most amazing places I've ever had the chance to visit.

Photography by Sorasak at Unsplash.com
https://unsplash.com/@boontohhgraphy
Used under Creative Commons license

Lyrics:

sunlight failing
my heart is sailing

on the streets of gion
i met you

dream on
dreamer

my life's
clearer

on the streets of gion
i need someone  like you
in my life

Gion

The working title of this song was 'Libya' and I wrote it shortly after watching a harrowing documentary on the plight of migrants trapped there. The whole song only took about 8 hours to write, record and mix - compared to most of my other tracks these days, that's incredibly short - however it is always much, much easier to finish a song if I have a pre-conceived and clear idea of what the lyric and music is about, and in this case it was straightforward. Thanks for listening and please share if you like it!

Photography by Kylo
https://unsplash.com/@kylo8
Used under Creative Commons license

Lyric:

land
light
crossing
so that i might live
somewhere

drifting
blind
leaving
so that i might live
somewhere
clinging
so that we might live
anywhere

believe in
somewhere i might live
out there

dying
so that we might live
somewhere

Night Crossing

Stream: https://open.spotify.com/album/5XPxpD330QwOEOOfmRZzwe
Buy: https://atlascedar.bandcamp.com/album/fool-ep

A song about climate change and our effect on the planet, its climate and our future. Inspired by a Nature paper about 'the trillionth tonne' of CO2 emissions, this song had/has a working title of 'Sonoma' and was originally about grapes 'withering on the vine'... I didn't realise that 'withering on the vine' is an expression about doing nothing while a problem gets worse and worse, which fits in very well with the subject of climate change.

https://www.nature.com/articles/nature08019
http://trillionthtonne.org/

This song is the 'twin' song of 'Fool' - both songs were written within 48 hours of each other back in May, and both songs were recorded and published online within 24 hours of each other... in August. Both songs were written and played using a bouzouki as opposed to a guitar.

Photography by Hasan Almasi (@hasanalmasi)on Unsplash.com

Music and lyrics by Atlas Cedar (c) 2019
Original improv: 16th May 2019
Recording: 24th August 2019

wither on the vine
poisoning the wine

the futures on the line
running out of time

what have we done
can't blame it on the sun
the time will come

beyond the trillionth tonne
planets going to burn
facing everyone
the barrel of a gun

too late now
can't blame it on the sun
the time will come

what have we done
don't blame it on the sun
the time will come

Beyond The Billionth Tonne

🎧 Listen on Spotify

Beyond The Trillionth Tonne

Inspired by and dedicated to Freeholm Wilson

Written and recorded 25th October 2019
Remixed 27th October 2019

The first song to feature my new Yamaha LL16 12 string guitar as the main instrument, which enabled me to pay homage to one of my favourite SoundClouders, @freeholmwilson - this one is for you!

Double Rose

Thank you to our health service and key workers:
https://www.nhscharitiestogether.co.uk/

This song was originally written in November 2019, before I stopped playing due to severe pain in my left hand. 

Since then, the coronavirus pandemic has struck and I moved home to be closer to my family, with no access to my music for almost 5 months.

Ironically, this song was always about the theme of 'light from darkness', as I took a photo of a rainbow in a fountain near my home and considered the fact that rainbows are only visible when you face away from the Sun. 

Little did I know that this would become a fitting metaphor for the coronavirus pandemic, where the rainbow symbol has been adopted to show support for our neighbour, key workers and NHS staff.

This song is dedicated to all key and frontline workers during these difficult times...

P.S. The seven note chord intro is meant to be symbolic of a rainbow

Photography by Sebastián Navarro
https://unsplash.com/@nabxnav
https://www.instagram.com/nabxnavph/
Used under Creative Commons license

Lyrics:
I'm locked down
Life gone to ground
I've seen rain
Almost endlessly
I won't forget
Times that we shed
Endless tears
When hope faded away

Light shines now
Upon a broken town
Through the rain
The sun will rise again
From this day
I can feel the change
On darkened days
Lit in spectral ways

Rainbows come 
When you turn your back on the sun

Rainbows Come

Written and mostly recorded in a single day late last year, this song almost fell foul of the very defeatism that it is supposed to eschew... granted, the main reason for the length of the delay was beyond my control, but this recording is pretty much as it was the day the song was written. As such, there's plenty of rough edges and bum notes, but in an effort to retain the spontaneity of the original session I've left most of it as is. Hope you like it anyway!

Photography by David Marcu
https://unsplash.com/@davidmarcu
Used under Creative Commons license

Music and lyrics by Atlas Cedar (c) 2020

Lyrics:

How much is too much?
How much is not enough?
How late is too late?
How soon is soon enough?

Better wake up!
I've come too far to give up
Better wake up...
I've come to far to give up

Too soon for the end
Too late to start again
So hard to make a change
No way to stay the same

Better wake up!
I've come too far to give up
Gotta wake up
I've come too far to give up
Better wake up!
I've come too far to give up
Better wake up...
I've come too far to give up

I've Come Too Far To Give Up

Written and recorded 15/16th August 2020

My first post-lockdown 'one-weekend' song...

The lyric is based on my experience of visiting the Fushimi Inari shrine in Kyoto in 2018, a magical day that I will never forget.

Photography by Chantal Lim
unsplash.com/@chantallim
Used under Creative Commons license

Lyrics:
At the foot of the mountain
I contemplate the journey I'll make
To be enlightened
To be enlightened

I never doubted
That this would be the fate that I'd face
Gateway to Heaven
Now and forever

At the foot of the mountain
I find I'm in a dream-like state
Tranquil and silent
Into the silence

Foot Of The Mountain

This song was inspired by watching videos made by Mark Horvath (invisiblepeople.tv) who is raising awareness of issues relating to homelessness. Please check out his work and his Youtube channel and social media:

www.youtube.com/user/invisiblepeopletv
www.twitter.com/hardlynormal

The Tenderloin area of San Francisco has almost become synonymous with homelessness, poverty and destitution. Some who live or have lived on the streets of the district call it "the tender life", despite the harsh reality that it is anything but...

The current pandemic has taken a heavy toll on a vast number of the most vulnerable people in society, but sadly the economic devastation that the pandemic is causing is only likely to massively exacerbate the homelessness crisis, not just in the USA of course, but everywhere, not least as government measures to protect people from eviction come to an end.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/19/a-true-emergency-covid-19-pushes-homeless-crisis-in-san-franciscos-tenderloin-to-the-brink

Lyrics:
Help me
For I am on the street tonight
I'd help myself
But I just cannot seem to light...

...the darkness of the tender life
Is going to make you want to cry
Don't hide your eyes tonight

Tell myself
That everything will be alright
But I don't know
Where I will call my home tonight

The darkness of the tender life
Is going to make you want to cry
Don't hide your eyes tonight

Rescue me
I'm sick and tired of being alone
Sanctuary
I need some place I call my own

The darkness of the tender life
Is going to make you want to cry
Don't hide your eyes tonight

Written and recorded 22 & 23rd August 2020

Artwork adapted from a photograph on piqsels.com (royalty-free)
https://www.piqsels.com/en/public-domain-photo-oertq

Invisible People

The Tender Life

Update:

I just learned that James Horbett, whose music inspired this song, passed away last year after a courageous battle with cancer. 

His wonderful music, song craft and incredible talent will always remain an inspiration to me, but the world is a poorer place without him.

RIP James Horbett, 1987-2019

Based on a chord sequence from the song 'There's No Constant' by James Horbett, this was the first rhythm guitar song I wrote using my 12-string guitar.

Lyrically inspired by the song 'Wharf Rat' by Robert Hunter and Jerry Garcia, and (somewhat obviously) by the movie 'On The Waterfront'.

https://soundcloud.com/jameshorbett
https://www.dead.net/song/wharf-rat

Photograph by Yucel Moran
https://unsplash.com/@ymoran
https://www.instagram.com/yucel.moran
Used under Creative Commons license

Lyrics:
When I was young and I was strong
Back when I worked the Waterfront
I know I could have been someone
So long ago....

Once I was loving, I was loved
I never thought I'd have no-one
I know I could have been someone
Now I don't know...
And now I walk the Waterfront
What have you done?...

Some memories I can't forget
I know I'm not defeated yet...
I know I could have been someone
What have you done?
But now I'm on the Waterfront
What have you done to me?

On The Waterfront (Jim's Song)

Written and recorded 30th September, 2020

Artwork based on a photograph by Christian Sterk
https://unsplash.com/@christiansterk
Used under Creative Commons license

All my life
I've tried to hide
All my pain
Held inside

Teardrops well
Emotions rise
Fall like rain
From my eyes

Been so long
Since I cried
I'm set free
I've said goodbye

Fall Like Rain

Written and recorded 1st December 2020

This week I only just learned of the passing of one of my favourite musicians on Soundcloud, Jim Horbett. Jim originally went under the monicker 'Local Man' and posted many wonderful songs, some of which are available on Bandcamp, but some are (as far as I know) only available here on SC.

Jim joined the Seattle Colonels of Truth a few years ago, but it was with his pals Daniel Ullom and Forrest Marowitz that he formed the Rain City Ramblers, a stunning 3-piece playing a mixture of their own material and traditional American roots music, including some of Jim's own pieces that he debuted here, such as Holiday and Suburban Hellfire. 

Jim's music was a great source of inspiration and one of his last posts on SC was an experimental piece called 'There's No Constant', a haunting and brilliantly imaginative piece that I took as inspiration for one of my most recent songs, 'On The Waterfront'... indeed, the original working title of my tune was 'Jim's song'. Sadly, by the time I messaged Jim to let him know about the song, he had already tragically passed away from cancer, aged just 31.

RIP James, 1987-2019

Please check out his wonderful music here:

https://soundcloud.com/jameshorbett
https://raincityramblers.bandcamp.com/releases

Lyrics:
Jim was "Local Man"
A Rain City Rambler
Once a Colonel of Truth
Not long ago

Bluegrass fingerpicker
Buffalo troubadour
"Scuz King" magic maker
Not long ago

I'm torn by feelings of loss
I'm torn by feelings of love
Goodbye Ramblin' Man
We'll miss you oh so very much

That square neck resonator
On "Queen of Revelry"
Rang like strains of heaven
Not so long ago

Bad News (Blues) came calling
like Suburban Hellfire
Too long for the season
Not long ago...

I'm torn by feelings of loss
I'm torn by feelings of love
Goodbye Local Man
We'll miss you oh so very much

Local Man (Song For Jim Horbett)

A simple song/jam that got me out of a rut during a difficult time... not one of my best, but a personal favourite

Recorded 4th December 2020

You're out of time, baby
You're out of time
You're out of line, baby
You're out of line

And if you don't care,
I'm going to find you out
And if you don't know me by now...

You're out of time, baby,
You're out of time
You're out of line, baby
You're out of line

And if you don't care
I'd rather find out now
And if you're not fair
I won't be hanging 'round
And if you don't know
You're going to find out now
And if you don't know me by now...

Artwork based on a photograph by JP Lavery
Used under Creative Commons license at Unsplash.com
https://unsplash.com/@jpvalery

Out of time

Another one-night jam session, written and recorded 3rd July 2019

Photography by Patrick Tomasso
https://unsplash.com/@impatrickt
Used under Creative Commons license

Help me

Written some time in 2014, recorded December 2020...

Artwork based on a photograph by Warren Wong
https://unsplash.com/@wflwong
Used under Creative Commons license

I Can't Let You Go

Written and recorded 3rd January 2021

My first jam and recording session of the year... another song based on an improv with my bouzouki, which is the main rhythm instrument in this track.

After a difficult year, and a socially distanced Christmas and New Year, the only solace is knowing that we are doing what we can to keep each other safe.

Artwork based on a photo by Tim Mossholder
Used under Creative Commons license
https://unsplash.com/@timmossholder

Lyrics:

These darkened days
We've stayed away...

A small price to pay
To keep each other safe

No face to face
No meeting place

A small price to pay
To keep each other safe

We'll join again
Some glorious day

A small price to pay
To keep each other safe

Safe

Hi, I'm Chris and I am a research scientist by day and a songwriter in my spare time. I joined SC in 2013 and I mainly record acoustic guitar and vocal harmonies, but also like playing electric guitar, bass, keyboards and using drum loops.

My musical influences include Syd Barrett, Neil Young, Peter Gabriel and Paul Simon, and increasingly fellow SoundClouders; My favourite bands include Yes, Supertramp, Pink Floyd, Rush and Steely Dan, and I also listen a lot to The Beatles, Elton John, The Who, Van Morrison, Genesis, King Crimson,  Jethro Tull, Sparks, Stevie Wonder, The Grateful Dead to name but a few...

Anyway, please feel free to get in touch - I can make any tracks (in whole or in part) available if you want them for collaborative reasons, or if you just want them for your mp3 collection :)


Atlas Cedar

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