The Director Of Speech

New World

Dragonfly

Treasure Book

Treasure Book (Original Mix)

This one is Tuned a whole step down to D. There is very little gain for the guitars. Focus was working with EQ's to drive the overall sound. 

All parts writing, arranged, performed, programmed, recorded and mixed by me.

Stalking the Prey

As each November approaches I try to make my own little Remembrance-time tribute.  Seems more relevant as each year passes...

Following the huffing and puffing empire lunacy in the summer of 1914, the next four years would see 40 million casualties, half of them deaths and of those, half were civilian.  

40 million.

40 million tales of poignancy, pain, grief and human tragedy, through times that can often seem littered with coincidence, symmetries …. bookends and mirrors.

In the Military Cemetery of St Symphorien near Mons rests John Parr.  At only five foot three inches and several years under age he (amazingly) managed to enlist in 1912 - hoping to see the world, and get the advertised “two square meals” a day.  He was the first British Army casualty, killed in the battle of Mons aged just 17, his body left behind, fate unknown until much later in the conflict;  the army unable to answer his mother’s letters of enquiry about her “silent” son.

By pure coincidence, John lies just a few yards from the last British soldier to die in the great war.  George Ellison served for four long years including at the same first battle of Mons as John, and most of the famously grinding, attritional infantry battles of the conflict.  His working life bookended by military service, George had first enlisted in 1902, leaving the army in 1912, just as John joined, he became a coal miner, re-enlisting at the outbreak of war to dig mud not coal and fight from trenches he helped excavate.  George was killed just 90 minutes before the armistice took effect at 11:00 on the 11th day of the 11th month.  The futility of the conflict was cruelly illustrated by the fact that George’s war had started and ended at exactly the same place, Mons in Belgium.  They had literally gone nowhere.

As a postscript to progress since "the war to end all wars" the human race is currently reckoned to be engaged in 7 major wars, 15 significant ongoing conflicts and 21 “minor” conflicts (the latter defined as up to "only” 1000 deaths per year).  By way of another macabre bookend, the longest of these has been going on, unbelievably, since the year .... 1918.

As always, this simple ballad is offered as a live one mic one take effort - please excuse the fluffs and gaffes.
_______________________

Bookends and Mirrors

Sun turned cold ‘cross every sky in the summer of ‘14
The Good Lord shook his head, and he placed it in his hands
Braided declarations flying, whose like was never seen
Lunatics in feathers stockpiled lead, bagged their sand.
Slapstick Mephistopheles, unleashing of his flame
Spiral minds lobotomised in the waltz of the insane
Simple lives unknowing of the mud that would become
A mirror in the resting place of two Holy Mother’s sons.

Signed the line, five years young, fingers crossed behind his back
Chance to see the world, grab a future, two square meals.
At 17, John’s angels sung, first to fall in dawn’s attack
Abandoned and forgotten, deaf to all his ma’s appeals.
Never knew the miner, his bookend pal to be
Fighting down the line, many battles that he’d see
Full four years in trenches, George’s hell lived through them all
Cruelty was smiling wide at England’s last to fall.

In service time they travelled nowhere, nothing to achieve
Embracing 40 million weeping mothers left to grieve
The crime of puffing chest bravado beggared to believe
Hall of mirrors seeping others’ blood of the innocent naive.

Now John and George lie facing each to seek their mirrored peace
Raise my eyes and brim a tear for the lessons never learned
Pray God, don’t ever let them know man’s insanity but increased
The war to end all wars a mere sequel oft’ returned 
By comedies of leathered fools stuck on infinite repeat
Bemedalled and bejewelled, they prosecute their moral defeat
But here, on sallow turf twixt heroes, broken mirror in my broken hand
Met by my own broken eyes, I still fail to understand.
_________
Photo by Michael Yuan on Unsplash

Bookends and Mirrors

Written, Recorded, Composed and Produced by Dan

All Vocals by Dan 

Let It Go/Let It Die [Remastered]

- SIMPLY ROCK’N’ROLL -

Also on Youtube : https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSOrOgGz_T2VWu5nwCT41URBamXo056ZB

-Verse 1-
Each day, 6 PM, the job is done
You’re now released from the daily vile pain
Time for the night life you indeed have won
Time for the night life, time to refresh your brain

Looking in the mirror, little wink, pretty girl
That night’s gonna be wild, music will make you swirl

	Oooh, Rock’n’Roll, thrilling glow
	Oooh, let you go for a show
	Hair blowing free in the air
	Leave your soul fully bare

-Chorus 1-
		You simply kiss Rock’n’Roll
		You simply love Rock’n’Roll

-Verse 2-
Each week, on Friday, new week-end to come
You want some freedom, exhibit the chromes
Time for a wild life, with your friends you shine
Time for a wild life, time to share that good wine

Tight jean’s for your round butts, make-up for your bright eyes
Let your tits nicely rock, no wildness to disguise

	Oooh, motorcycles will roar
	Oooh, let you go for a ride
	Hair in the wind, you will glide
	You need to feel your pride

-Chorus 2-
		You simply ride Rock’n’Roll
		You simply live Rock’n’Roll

-Ending-
You simply kiss Rock’n’Roll
	You simply love Rock’n’Roll
		You simply ride Rock’n’Roll
			You simply live Rock’n’Roll

------------------------------------------
Title : Simply Rock'n'Roll
Music & words : Manu 
Vocals : Dan (courtesy appearance) 
Rhythm guitars : Manu 
Bass : Dan 
Virtual drums programming : Manu 
Virtual lead guitars programming : Manu
All rights reserved : ISWC T-325.373.085-3

Simply Rock'n'Roll

space projector

Thrashed! Demo

No survivors

Plucked Tension - Angular Strings Evolutions

I’ve been playing guitar for over 30 years. Feel free to connect. I love meeting new musicians especially with the possibility of collaborating.

Influences (Way too Many to List but here's a few) - 
Yngwie Malmsteen, Jason Becker; Joe Satriani; Steve Vai; Alexi Laiho; Marty Friedman; Al Dimeola Van Halen; Vinnie Moore; Mozart; Bach; Vivaldi; Paganini; Dream Theater; Rush; King Diamond; Misfits; Iron Maiden; Agalloch; Billy Ocean; Billy Joel; Elton John; Eric Johnson; Soundgarden; NIN; Tears for Fears......the list goes on and on…

Equipment (this is perpetually changing on any given day:
Guitars - 
2010 Ibanez RG3550MZ Galaxy White 
2010  Ibanez RG3550MZ Orange Metallic
2001 Ibanez J Custom
2015 Ibanez J. Custom RG8550mz
2008 Ibanez Xiphos (Cham Red)
2008 Ibanez Xiphos (Cham Blue)
2018 Ibanez Genesis RG570
2020 Ibanez Pia 
1991 Ibanez USA Custom
2020 Fender American Mod Shop Strat
1988 Japanese Strat
Takamine Classical
Fender Acoustic 
Martin GPCPA5

Amps - 
Fractal Axe Effects 3 Mark 2
Carvin Power Amp
Mesa 4x12 Cabinet
George Lynch Wah
Boss Chorus and Delay Pedals
Voodoo Labs Midi Controller
Logic X DAW

Stalking the Prey

Daniel McBride