Old Times Favorites

Faerytale and Monolisk - Whistling Bird

Here is the second of recent klezmer clarinet recordings. This one is a dance that neatly describes the hustle and bustle of the 7.40 evening rush hour in Odessa, Ukraine.

davemckeown.co.uk

7.40, Trad. arr. Dave McKeown

I recorded two contrasting klezmer tunes recently and that was all I planned to do, but my good friend in Chile, Francisco, sent me an intriguing track he had made, mixing my Long Live the Nigun with a drone, a rabbi, and a beautiful Jewish cello melody. This track produced all sorts of gorgeous accidental sounds, but to do full justice to the melody and Francisco's idea I decided to record a brand new clarinet part to fit. 

The clarinet you hear on this track was the very first take, and is completely unedited. Things don't usually come that easily! Listening back I got a strong feeling for Gustav Meyrink's powerful novel, The Golem, a hallucinatory depiction of the Ghetto in Prague, full of flickering shadows and dark alleys. If you ever visit Prague, read it before you go. So I added the bells of St Vitus' Cathedral in Prague…impossible to describe how physical an experience it is to stand in the square and listen to these bells in full swing…almost frightening.

In the meantime, I can thoroughly recommend Francisco's page, https://soundcloud.com/ttaattoo
He is a master of combining samples in meaningful and wonderfully creative ways and his gentle spirit shines through everything he does.

The Golem's Lullaby, Dave McKeown, with TTAATTOO (Francisco Casas Errazuriz)

from the album "2 Days & a Year"
hope you enjoy...

silhouette

World Gone Bad - Words & Music: Pravinand Maharaj

I was born downtown on a bed of rats
From a dirty faced kid to a mean ol’ cat
Mama said son you look just like your dad
It’s hard being good in a world gone bad

Don’t wanna go where I don’t want to be
Don’t want to say what I don’t really mean
What a lowdown rotten life I had
It’s hard being good in a world gone bad

Gonna pull up my boots
Pick up my cane
Put on my hat
Get on the road again
Hit that trail before the break of dawn
You can wait all you want but baby I’ll be gone

Some get their kicks in the back of a hearse
Some drink blood just to quench their thirst
Me I’m on the edge going mad
It’s hard being good in a world gone bad 


World Gone Bad

I am so grateful to have the opportunity to work with Edie on one of her "Songs of the Day" I asked if she would mind if I arranged and produced this lovely song, and she graciously agreed. 
Edie Brickell: https://soundcloud.com/ediebrickell Words/Music and Vocals
Derek Cornett: Arrangement/Instruments/Production/Music

Make It Good (collaboration with Edie Brickell)

"The Glory Years" is track 1 from There's More To Life. Download There's More To Life: apple.co/1J5Pbn2

Inspired by the fear of growing older before your time.

Written and performed by Dylan Owen
Produced by Skinny Atlas
Backing vocals by Alaska Sun
Guitar by Animal Flag
Engineered by Jason Moss
Mixed by Jason Moss
Mastered by Chris Gehringer at Sterling Sound
Artwork by Julia Carusillo

www.facebook.com/dylanowenmusic
www.twitter.com/dylanowenmusic
www.dylanowenmusic.com
www.youtube.com/dylanowenmusic


SPOTIFY

The Glory Years

The reason why I don't post songs on Soundcloud anymore is that Eefje and I released our first CD (recorded in a studio with several other musicians). Our CD, Evrin 'Be Still' was released in April and is now available on iTunes or as a CD on our website www.evrinmusic.nl , but we shot a video, live and acoustic (just the two of us) of Dust and Cigarette Ashes and I wanted to share that one here.

You can find the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3o8QU4UdYw

Dust And Cigarette Ashes Live Video Link Included

World type groove/instrumental created entirely in Reason 6. Artwork by: Saskia van Schagen (daughter of https://soundcloud.com/bastiaan-kooman)

Miles at the End

Words and voice: Hannah Duncan (@hanjan)
Woodwinds: Dave McKeown (@dave-mckeown)
Vocal: Emma Shanley (@emma-shanley)
Music and mix: Bas Kooman

Sometimes

A sad woman asked me
“Can this be changed?”
and hoped I would have
a key in my pocket
to fit the lock of her
despair.

The lonely man asked
“What shall I do?”
as we both sat,
with his chain ankle ghost,
that manacled
freedom.

Sometimes,
we keep our souls
in a locked box
on the window sill
and fear death’s fingers
if it rattles.

Sometimes,
we seek to hear only
clattering dialogue of thought,
clanking down the
one way tracks to
contention.

And sometimes
the truth is hidden in cell-seeds
trapped in shoulder stories,
or the anxious rope tale
of your skipping
stomach.

“What does your body say?”
I want to ask.
The answers
will hold their
breath and wait
for you.

But only in that
rejected, split off
holder, in the
soft sacred
fruiting
body bowl

Will you ever feel
the right question to ask.
The question that
tells you, finally:
it is time
to harvest.

SOMETIMES (with DAVE, HANNAH and EMMA)

this song'rocket science' is really nothing more than the philosophy according to mary cigarettes...
i was thinking how stepping out of the comfort zone,and loosing the plot,both have one thing in common...they both give us a story to tell,when we come back from the other side....
i hope you like the song...the words and vocal melody are written and sang by myself,while the heavenly guitar part is written and played by little mickey fingers.


rocket science

Here is a collaboration with a lovely old friend Liz Monument. Liz and I both studied music at Bretton Hall in Yorkshire a few years ago. Those of you who have had the chance to do something like that will know that the friendships you make there go beyond the social...you share creativity with your classmates and for me, I always keep a cozy seat in my heart for anyone with whom I make good music. Back then, Liz was a fantastic classical guitarist, but since then she has widened her range to encompass many more styles and stringed instruments....including the sparkling harp that features here alongside the guitar. A couple of years ago we renewed friendship via facebook and this year we're making music again via soundcloud. Please listen to more of Liz's beautiful playing at http://soundcloud.com/lizmonument

Here I play the Uillean Pipes and Low Whistle. I absolutely adore the pipes, but they also frustrate me as I don't think I'm physically cut out to play them to the standard I'd like to. But now and then I give them a day out. If by any chance you like the sound here, please do me the favour of going to youtube and checking out what REAL pipers can do, like Paddy Keenan, Cillian Vallely and Davy Spillane.

Liz's harp provides a perfect setting here for Louis MacNeice's amazing poem The Strand. The harp's chords lap like waves on the poet's beach. I have a strong identification with this poem; my father was also a Northern Irish clergyman who “kept something in him solitary and wild”. The last quality time I spent with my father was a wordless walk on such an Irish strand. The image attached to the song is a washed out old slide I took that very winter afternoon....'white Tintoretto clouds' behind Slieve Donard, towering above the beach at Newcastle, County Down. All that's missing is the 'square black figure' beyond the viewfinder to the left. 

The Strand

by Louis MacNeice

White Tintoretto clouds beneath my naked feet,
This mirror of wet sand imputes a lasting mood
To island truancies; my steps repeat

Someone’s who now has left such strands for good
Carrying his boots and paddling like a child,
A square black figure whom the horizon understood -

My father. Who for all his responsibly compiled
Account books of a devout, precise routine
Kept something in him solitary and wild,

So loved the Western sea and no tree’s green
Fulfilled him like these contours of Slievemore
Menaun and Croghaun and the bogs between.

Sixty-odd years behind him and twelve before,
Eyeing the flange of steel in the turning belt of brine
It was sixteen years ago he walked this shore

And the mirror caught his shape which catches mine
But then as now the floor-mop of the foam
Blotted the bright reflections - and no sign

Remains of face or feet when visitors have gone home.

The Strand, Dave McKeown with Liz Monument

I lent my double bass to a good friend and it was returned in pieces. Somewhat shaken by the experience I borrowed another  bass to complete this song. 

The aggression in the delivery was infinitely preferable to venting it on such a good friend. Accidents happen.

It didn’t look good, you know what I mean?
A man in a hat in a black limousine
Window was down, asked for a light
What are the chances of things going right?

I reach for my zippo, games as close as I dare
My hand was shaking, sure I was scared
He drew on his doobie, he gave a rye smile
Jacksons or Franklins I’ll let you decide

I empty my pockets onto hat’s hood
I only had chump change, so it didn’t look good
Short on payola, lacking the guac
He pulled out his piece and I sat in the back

The girl in the front seat, she didn’t say much
And neither would you if he had his hand on your crouch
I looked out the window you wanna know why?
That’s what you do if you don’t want to die

He was so hard boiled
He was so hard boiled
So hard boiled tough as a nut
Hard in the middle

I had premonitions, not good I confess
Me full of lead, her cut up in her dress
I dialled from my pocket, cops picked up quick
Hat said that’a so rude, she thought what a dick!
 
He was so hard boiled
He was so hard boiled
So hard boiled tough as a nut
Hard in the middle
But what’s that oozing out?

So Hard Boiled

Bass by http://soundcloud.com/e-c-van-beethoven

Buy this track

I'm a Loose Caboose

I've been having a bit of fun writing and recording some music over the last few days and I got a bit carried away with this one. The band is made up of flute, clarinet, alto sax and bass clarinet. It's a combo that seems to work quite well for me, lots of colours on the palette to work with. Don't ask me what key it's in, it's mostly constructed with augmented harmony around the note of Eb concert. 

Honey, Who Put the Toothpaste in the Microwave? Dave McKeown

England, Oh My England Parts I & II 
or 
The New National Anthem (Henry IV The Real Parts I & II) 

YouTube: http://youtu.be/MvICQjYKRfA

Part I

OK man, you hear me, yeh?  
Don't let 'em tell you anything man 
 Anything! 
 All you've gotta do is look for Christ's sake 
 It's madness  
Don't believe a word 
 I'm not paranoid man!
Stick with me!  
Yeah…  Yeah, I'll get you out of this
Do you wanna know what really happened? 
 You know at first you don't notice…  
But it affected everybody
Hey that's mine! Put it back!  
If you want something, ask. 
 That's how this started…

(New National Anthem)

I'm f*cking lost...
All you've gotta do is look for Christ's sake 
 It's madness  
Don't believe a word 
 I'm not paranoid man!

(New National Anthem)

You know at first you don't notice…  
But it affected everybody
If you want something, ask.  
That's how this started…

Part II

You gotta forget all that
All that’s gone man

Floating
High above the cities
Shines a lonely ray of truth

And screaming
High above the cities
Sings a lonely photobooth 
(Gone in a flash)

Face up
It's only you that matters
Or have you lost that with your youth?

(Solo, New National Anthem)

You gotta forget all that
All that’s gone man
I’m f*cking lost!
  It's only you that matters
  That’s how this started
You gotta forget all that
All that’s gone man…


© 2013 Phil McWalter


"And not a man of them brings other news  than they have learn'd of me: from Rumour's tongues  they bring smooth comforts false, worse than  true wrongs."   
Henry IV Part II  William Shakespeare

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_United_Kingdom_bank_rescue_package

"Some commentators noted that, although under the capitalist model inefficient private commercial enterprises should be allowed to go bust, the banks were "too big to fail". Not a single bank chief or chairman went to prison in the UK or in the US.[7]"

Broadcast in a US prog rock radio programme (now available as a podcast) http://www.progzilla.com/progressive-tracks-show-202-dark-light/

Mains Hum

England, Oh My England (Parts I & II)

iTunes&all good stores

England, Oh My England Parts I & II

A three violin and viola arrangement of Oshe Shalom written by Luis Villalobos and performed by the Villalobos Brothers.

Oshe Shalom String Arrangement

For you I am an old dad
Whereas for others I was young
And though I may be twice the wiser
I’m not nearly half the fun
My back aches 
I’m not in great shape
I won’t be climbing any trees
Unless they replace both my knees

She said, “Let’s have a baby”
I said, “sure, that sounds like fun
But even though you are much younger
I’m nearly forty-one”
“You’ll do great,”
She said, “I can’t wait
To see our baby on your knee
Or maybe two or three.”

My heart is shaped like a silhouette 
Of a face I haven’t laid eyes on yet
Forgive me for I know
That one day I must go 
We all pay what we owe
Then we go home, home, home

I used to be less civil
Just ask your brother’s mom
A chip upon my shoulder
Now I’m older and it’s gone
I dream small
If I dream at all
I’ll leave the dreaming up to you
I’ll just dream your dreams come true

I won’t be there when you grow old
With a family and a home all of your own
Just remember what I said
And of the life that I lead –
Don’t get lost in your head
When you’re alone 

For you I am a slow dad
Whereas for others I was fast
I used to dream about my future
Now I fret about my past
I don’t understand 
Why you like this band
There is no melody
And the words don’t speak to me

I'm an old dad
I'm an old dad
Rock 'n' roll dad
But I still
I still love
I love you

Old Dad

It's a piece about encounters and rare moments of inner peace and serenity 
from the album "2 Days & a Year"

Rare Moments

Skin and Bones  Words and Music: Pravinand Maharaj

Skin and bones
Heat and snow
Dark and white
Rest and flow
It’s the wider truth
A big fat wider truth

Leave and run
Be my guest
All the guns
Haven’t fired yet
It’s the wider truth
A big fat wider truth

There’s a hole on the mountain
There’s a tower in the fountain
There’s a bridge over Hades
By the Quarry-side
It’s the wider truth
A big fat wider truth

Meet the damned
Damn the beast
Half the man
I’ll always be
It’s the wider truth
A big fat wider truth

Cover pic by Julia Rohwedder on deviantART. 

Skin and Bones

Songs in English on https://soundcloud.com/seb-mankoo