Trancy, atmospheric breakbeat @ 128bpm
Mastered using Dolby for SoundCloud Creators (clear sky)

Signs

The Abandoned Library

℗© Copyright Ian Stokes. All Rights Reserved
Recorded, mixed and mastered in Logic.
Guitar played: Taylor 714CE in standard tuning 
Photography: Thanks go to Nigel and Libby Hume at Hume Photography.
Song Notes and Lyrics:
This song imagines one of those occasions when you by chance find yourself in a place where there is some great live music that somehow just seems right.....
Lyrics:
Somewhere in New York City
Or was it down in New Orleans 
Could have been in San Francisco
Or maybe it was all a dream
I was walking by an old blues bar-room 
When I heard somebody playing with some style
So I bought myself an ice cold beer
And listened for a while

Looked like he’d lived a whole life-time
Beard gone silver grey
The people in the place seemed spellbound
Happy just to hear him play
At home on stage under the spotlight 
Keeping time with his heel on the floor
I bought myself another beer
I stayed and Iistened some more 

He wore a fine silk waistcoat
Jacket on the back of his seat
Hat pulled down to his cheekbone
Boots tapping out that beat

He played until the bar-room closed
Right sound right time right place
He walked off into the night
With his old leather guitar case
Never knew his name
Don’t even know if he still plays
But I’ll picture that stage and hear that sound
For the rest…of my days

He wore a fine silk waistcoat
Jacket on the back of his seat
Hat pulled down to his cheekbone
Boots tapping out that beat

Fine Silk Waistcoat

I never felt more powerless than the day I met her

Swept Away

That day that we first met
From a time I can't forget
Babe you quickly took control
You reached deep into my soul

I was nothing very cool
Just your average silly fool
Wondered what you saw in me
Another hopeless charity?

Swept away

I felt it instantly
Some have called it destiny
I could see no one but you
In an instant I was through

You knocked me off my feet
So much power yet so sweet
Your love scrambled up my brain
I went happily insane

So swept away
Swept away
Nothing else to say
I am swept away

So sweetly swept away

A light with style and grace
And that classic lovely face
With your striking gentle smile
Stalking my heart all the while

You've a way I can't describe
So forgive this diatribe
This moment comes along one time
So historic yet sublime

I never had a chance
My whole world just went askance
You know exactly what you've done
Blotted out the Summer's sun

You have shredded my lost heart
Tore my past life all apart
Oh God please just let her see
That for her it's only me

So swept away
Swept away
Nothing left to say
I am swept away
Swept away
Swept away

Babe I love your way

I am swept away

So sweetly swept away

Swept Away

This track all started with the bass guitar and I built everything else around it. 
I wanted to keep the track as raw as possible with two guitars, bass and drums. 
I called it Serpentine because the bass is weaving and pulsing throughout the track.

Guitars used:
Yamaha Revstar Standard, P90's (left speaker)
Gibson Les Paul Studio (right speaker)
Fender Precision Bass (centre)

Plugins used:
Guitars - Neural DSP Mesa Boogie MKIIC+ Suite
Bass - Line 6 Helix Native 
Drums programmed using EZ Drummer 3 

Cover photo generated using an A.I image generator

Serpentine

If you like the song, please stream it on Spotify too!
https://open.spotify.com/track/6DdO4EH8bmHTDx8TNtE1TG

(Verse 1)
The battle cries out, a melody of steel
The air is thick with smoke, the scent of death you smell
A warrior's heart beats strong, a fire in his heart
He fights with fury, and for treasures to bring home

(Chorus)
Valhalla, a warrior's paradise, where heroes never die
A feast of mead and laughter, beneath a sky of gold and fire
They raise their horns, and sing out loud
Valhalla, a warrior's paradise, where legends never die

(Verse 2)
The battlefield is silent, the smoke begins to clear
The fallen lie in slumber, their spirits filled with joy
For they have earned their place, around the table in Odin's hall
Where warriors gather, and their stories will never die

(Chorus)
Valhalla, a warrior's paradise
A feast of mead and laughter, beneath a sky of gold and fire
They raise their horns, and sing out loud
Valhalla, a warrior's paradise, where legends never die

(SOLO)

(Chorus)
Valhalla, a warrior's paradise
A feast of mead and laughter, beneath a sky of gold and fire
They raise their horns, and sing out loud
Valhalla, a warrior's paradise, where legends never die


Valhalla, a warrior's paradise, where legends never die

LORRIDI

A Warrior’s Paradise

Dizzy's Song

George Gurdjieff profoundly impacted the mystical world through his development of the Fourth Way, a spiritual teaching that sought to integrate aspects of Eastern and Western traditions. Gurdjieff taught that people are not conscious of themselves and thus live their lives in a state of hypnotic "waking sleep", but that it is possible to awaken to a higher state of consciousness and serve our purpose as human beings. 

Emerging in the early 20th century, Gurdjieff introduced a unique approach to self-realization that emphasized the need for simultaneous development of the intellectual, emotional, and physical aspects of the self. His teachings, characterized by complex exercises, rhythmic movements, and a distinctive blend of Eastern mysticism and Western psychology, challenged conventional spiritual practices and invited a more holistic pursuit of personal growth.

 Gurdjieff's emphasis on self-observation and inner work, along with his influential writings such as "Beelzebub's Tales to His Grandson," left a lasting legacy that continues to inspire and provoke thought among seekers and scholars in the mystical and spiritual domains.

Fragments of the Absolute

Fragments Of The Absolute

Genre-fluid. 
DEBUT ALBUM RELEASED ON SEJA/CANDY BOMBER MUSIC: https://sejarecords.bandcamp.com/album/gig-economy
Formerly known as The Inconsistent Jukebox. I have been exclusively recording as m1nk with Erika Bach (lola demo) for the past 4 years and put the TIJ stuff on hold for a while. In between the next m1nk release we are both releasing solo material. Watch this space for previews of the new stuff.
New single out 31st October -  'SIng Me Something SInister'. Taken from the forthcoming debut solo album 'Gig Economy'. WATCH VIDEO HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4ZhwYgG6M8
You can also follow my current and future work with Erika Bach (as m1nk) here: https://soundcloud.com/m1nk and http://www.m1nk.com
https://sejarecords.bandcamp.com/album/m1nk-em-one-en-kay
I've had the very good fortune and honour to associate my own music here on SC with some truly astounding  and generous graphic & surrealist artists: Smiler Street Art (London) https://www.facebook.com/smilerstreetart/, Eric Lacombe (France) http://www.ericlacombe.com/home.php, Belgian surrealists Mothmeister https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/mothmeister. Please do look at their work, you won't be disappointed. Stay here and listen a while first though.
I'm also finding other amazing stuff here on Soundcloud that I would have never heard elsewhere, a few of them I've had the pleasure to collaborate with.: Heidi Harris, Konokunok, Narcisse Noyé, Dolll, Richard Devine, Joaquin Mendoza, Vasco Morais, Keldari Station, Musicaserj, & Cathrinta, Luciole Langevine, Renaud Deback, Lola Demo, Anda Volley, Ang Kerfoot, Dana Dau, Chris Pendergraft, Faerytale and many more. I could go on (and usually do). Check them out, you won't hear their like in many other places. 
Also look out for my playlists here on Soundcloud which feature other artists: 'Favourites From The Cloud', 'Soundscapes'  and 'The Siren, She Sings' (which also has a blog). You may even be in one of them.

Thanks to Isaac for my (full) name. Check out his eerie upload, https://soundcloud.com/aminimalvirus/inconsistent-jukebox. Genius. It crept up on me late one night (one of those tracks that you didn't select but came on in someone else's stream) and I genuinely thought I was going mental. When you hear it you'll see what I mean.
DOWNLOAD SINGLE HERE: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/bold-ego-fledgling-feat-ang-kerfoot-richard-brown-remix/id1165683158?app=itunes&i=1165683231
DOWNLOAD  MINI-ALBUM HERE: https://tij-official.bandcamp.com/album/useless-weapons
BUY DOUBLE SINGLE: itunes.apple.com/gb/album/likey-n…are/id1171468402
Keep breathing. Stay creative. Be original.