Image from left to right: J.J. Terrell, Josh Clary Entheogenic Psychonaught, Ken Karasek of K2 and the Three
This playlist are my favorites of my favorites that I've heard over the last 3 months. They aren't necessarily new releases but just songs that I was blown away by.  The songs are in no particular order or rating.

J.J.'s Picks (a quarterly playlist) June 1, 2025

MTD Mixtape May 2025

May Friends

BEING A COLLECTIVE BEYOND LANDS AND LAKES

WE BENEFIT FROM POSTING ON SOUNDCLOUD THE MOST WHEN WE FOLLOW BACK, LISTEN AND LEAVE FEEDBACK

Who should we follow back? The Soundcloud users who don’t just follow us they actually listen and leave feedback, makes sense, right. So why does it make sense, because they are the ones actually supporting your music, they are the ones that raise your profile and feedback is FREE hype, it advertises your product, it tells new arrivals to your page that your music is worth listening to, that’s what I mean when I say we ALL benefit.
These platforms actually end up failing BECAUSE we don’t maximise their potential in this way, a follow serves no purpose if we don’t follow through, and if we don’t follow through others don’t follow through either, we all become wary of giving support because we know only a very small number will do the same for us.
So how does this affect these platform, activity slows down eventually grinding to a halt, once that happens platforms like Soundcloud could end up going out of business, eventually there will be no platforms left for us to FREELY post on, the day will arrive when the ONLY way to post our music is to PAY FOR THE PRIVILEGE, so you see being PROACTIVE not only benefits you and I it ensures the survival of platforms like Soundcloud; ok, so it doesn’t deliver in some of the ways we’d like it to, and including reaching an actual audience, but it’s a whole lot better than nothing at all!

SOUNDCLOUD WORKS BEST FOR US WHEN WE FOLLOW AND SUPPORT EACH OTHER

NOT A CHIMERA TO ENJOY NOODLES IN THE AFTERNOON

A FABULOUS REASON TO IMAGINE ENDS MEETING

Syntaleta --- But I've Got the Wings , Darren Sullivan --- Lovecraft's Sick Again (Acoustic Version)

Jonn Hart & LoveRance VS Still Fresh (Dramantic Remix)

i love that bass

I Love That Bass

Recorded before the war... A big thank you Houman Check out Houman on #SoundCloud
https://on.soundcloud.com/HHxiZ for mastering!

Close To The Rainbow

Use headphones for much better listening experience!

Kaltevat Marenkisillat

My first work recorded in Kharkiv during the war. They will never steal our peace of mind... My dear Dad was always with me when I was a child, but now we've been apart for over 2 years due to the war. My parents' home exists only in my memory. I wish all the children in Ukraine whose fathers have to defend the country peace and reunion of their families.
Remastering by Houman https://soundcloud.com/houmans. Please check his beautiful music.

Daddy's Lullaby

I’m waitin on a new style I’m waitin on a new day
Walkin a long the mile checkin out the play

I’m never goin out at night
Only out in the day
Never gonna ride assumption
That I’m gonna be ok
So I’d rather just have you know
It’s another shut in day
The flowers never grow
When you focus on decay
You never amount to much
When a shadow scares your touch
So smile at the crossroads
You talk shit way too much 

Everyone is a little bit frightened
Everyone is scared
Maybe you could help them out
But a shut in you don’t care.

Make your friends dine about
Try to dance and scream and shout 

I was waitin on that cow bell
I was waitin on the rain
Someone said they remembered me
And boy was I a pain
Before the lavish luxuries
And pleasantries defined
I got pistol whipped by 
Robbers
Just beggin for the time

Mother ran the tightest ship
Blessings in her way
I always had the politest things
Ready off to say

She never let him out at day
Never out at night
Lovecraft’s sick in bed again
Better turn off the bedroom light
Lovecraft’s sick in bed again
Better turn off the bedroom light
Lovecraft’s sick in bed again
Better turn off the bedroom light

We saw him in the window
We told him to come down
Waving at his friends
His mother always frowned
His mother always said
Lovecraft’s sick again
His mother always said
Lovecraft’s sick again
His mother always said
Lovecraft’s sick again

Lovecraft's Sick Again (Acoustic Version)

Gotta Run by Korima celebrates the joy of running - our evolved desire to run – and running legends.  Inspired by Christopher McDougall’s: Born To Run.  

Download at https://www.korima.net/listen

Shop

Gotta Run

King

Synesthesia is main motif for this song, first because of original lyrics, then as I felt like adding it more flavor with female vocals*, & finally when I recently watched some paintings about this matter**.

*Great vocal performance by https://soundcloud.com/maraoldfield is most notorious matter in this piece, where riffing parts toggle with bass-guided proggy ones.

**Due credits to https://soundcloud.com/wouwouandthewormling for ad hoc painting of the song’s artwork.

Letra  /  Lyrics:

QUIERO SABER SI HACE CALOR  /  I WANT TO KNOW IF IT IS HOT

En verano, insoportable,  /  In summer, unbearable,
todo está lleno de ruido.  /  everything is full of noise.
El invierno, silencioso,  /  The winter, silent,
que congela los sonidos.  /  which freezes the sounds.

No quisiera quedarme sorda  /  I don’t want to get deaf
sin saber cuándo hace frío.  /  not  knowing when it’s cold. 
No quisiera quedarme sorda  /  I don’t want to get deaf
para saber si hace frío.  /  so as to know if it’s cold.

Los días soleados  /  Sunny days
acompañan al estío  /  go along with the summer
y cuando llega el invierno  /  and when the winter comes
el cielo está oscurecido.  /  the sky is darkened.

No quisiera quedarme ciega  /  I don’t want to get blind
sin saber cuándo hace frío.  /  not  knowing when it’s cold.
No quisiera quedarme ciega  /  I don’t want to get blind
para saber si hace frío.  /  so as to know if it’s cold.

ER24CH04 ©1995 ®2015

Quiero saber si hace calor (Vocals by Mara​Oldfield)

Tribute to David Lynch
(1946 - 2025)

Surfers like Us ..... composition, all guitar parts and cover photo 

Many thanks for listening and any support! 😎

With a special dedication to my friend J.J. Terrell 🍀

Artur

Blue Highway

Gardenia Vanilla

Sun & Soul

===========================

Made in October 2024.
Published in March 2025

My first collaboration with OSC PROJECT is not published on my page and is only available on their Bandcamp space. This time I do publish it on mine.

Their uplifting electronic music allows for the construction of other sounds, which are the ones I finally added, because, in reality, this composition is more theirs than mine.

If you want to hear more uplifting music of this kind, visit the OSC PROJECT page, here:

https://soundcloud.com/akaoscproject78

Final edition:

DAW. Music Studio 2

Hardware. iPad 

Cover by pixabay (Author:Idarca)

In addition to the original composition:

3 Tracks native instruments MS2
5 Tracks instruments forum Xewton
1 track Arturia iProphet
3 Tracks Arturia iMini 

Mix. Yes…yes…yes…my car 🚘 

Thank you. See you next time.

Next….All i ever wanted (Rekha, Delaflor and myself)

Sun & Soul (Osc Project  & Midisound)

A love song 🤍
Watch the video here:
https://youtu.be/IwpSyv6-6nw

Download here:
https://scratchkelly.bandcamp.com/track/be-my-man

lyrics...
I met you in the dark
You were standing in the park
You smiled at me and took my hand
And I knew you'd understand

Be my man

Oh, oh, oh....

I want to kiss your lips
Feel your dancing fingertips
Craving your electric touch
You're the one I want so much

Be my man

Oh, oh, oh...

Be my man

Download

Be My Man

Saturnian Song

Version live à la Barraque auprès du feu ^^
youtu.be/fP69ovvmteU

Saturnian song - Live version video in description

Opening fanfare, dark, mysterious, epic, for an imagined Blade Runner or Dark City sequel.

Mon esprit bleu, Mère Lusine

BEEP Episode 30

👾 The Untold Gospel 👾
Mary of Methlehem is abducted and has a close encounter with an alien messiah-to-be. The result? The “immaculate” conception of lil baby Jesus… but make it extraterrestrial. Turns out the Christian God was an alien all along. 👽

The Methlehem Abduction

Slowly Past Loss

Close Encounters of the Thirst Kind is what happens when an alien funk cult intercepts Earth radio, hears LMLYP, and decides to respond. It’s slimy. It’s sweaty. It vibrates at a frequency only detectable by horny lifeforms.

Warning: May cause spontaneous orbit grinding and unexpected transmissions from Uranus.
Best enjoyed under strobe lights and mild psychosis. 🛸💦🐸

Close Encounters of the Thirst Kind (👽LMLYP )

Interlude 3

Original recording “Termite” by MJ @piyocfbio8b2
Additional sounds by Stixx @stixx2025
and Box Number Eleven
Image by Stixx

Heavy Sexy (featuring MJ and Stixx)

Self Belief

A crimson-lit midnight blue space, a low bed with chrome fabric coverlets,  a glass ceiling above exposing star-strafed night sky. It’s plastic melancholia infused with desire, a Lynch sort of vibe.

The Rooms of Mercy

Don't miss the MUSIC VIDEO: https://youtu.be/n_LKJ_0l83Q
with live footage of a Para Lia gig - and follow our Youtube channel! 
Thank you for your support!

Songwriting und Lyrics by René Methner / Recorded by Para Lia / Mix und Master by Lakesidestudio, Berlin

Para Lia:
René Methner - Gitarre, Vocal, Synth
Cindy Methner - Vocal
Michael Schlottke - Bass
Emanuel Mukow - Drums
Remo Ender - Gitarre
Dennis Grund - Mellotroneffekt-Gitarre

Cover art: RM, Foto by Heiko Portale

PSYCHALOVIC SONIC SONGS FOR LOVERS AND SURVIVORS

Follow Para Lia:
► Facebook: www.facebook.com/paraliamusic
► Instagram: www.instagram.com/paralia.music
► Tik Tok: www.tiktok.com/@paralia00
► YT-Kanal: www.youtube.com/c/paralia
► Website: para-lia.de/de/

with the cream of the jest
at the wheel we are blessed

with shrill and loud disputes
straight ahead the downwards route

in neverland

infantile speech for the dumb
for all the sheeps

we are underestimated rats
gold-givers for spoiled cats

in neverland

s.o.s. we lose contact with the cell
in the end we lose contact with ourselves
in neverland

Para Lia - Neverland

Please welcome to join Syntaleta community on www.patreon.com/syntaleta
Remastered by Houman (https://soundcloud.com/houmans)

But I've Got the Wings

I was happily surprised a couple  weeks ago with this one from my good friend Masa and my now new friend Khan.  I got the track and it had the super groovy synth bass and the percussion along with Khan’s magical vocal track.  I spent a few days filling in around it trying not to add too much but still wanting to paint the picture.  Masa and Khan are absolutely two of the kindest 
and most gracious souls out there.  I was honored they asked me to participate and am happy with how things landed.  Hope to create more with them in the future!


Title/  Sunday afternoon-ft Khan, Tot.&Tex Mex Shaman

words&vocals-Khan
(URL https://soundcloud.com/khan20233202)

drums, bass&keys-Tot.
(URL soundcloud.com/tot-beat )

guitar, effects  & final mix, mastered-tex Mex Shaman

Lyrics :
Sunday afternoon  

Sunny Paul went to the sea
Sunny posy laughing lady
People 
Asked him
How come you’re so happy?
I’ve no worries
Sunday afternoon
In the summer Sunday afternoon 
If you want to be stay happy 
Doubt your thought
Doubt your thought
Doubt your thought
Doubt your thought
You stay
 just be yourself
If you want to be stay happy 
You stay
 just be yourself


サニーポールは海へ行った
サニーポジーは笑い上戸のご婦人
みんなが聞く
なんでそんなに幸せなのさ
心配を持ってないんだ
日曜の午後
日曜の午後
夏の日の
君の考えを疑うんだ
君がしあわせでいたいなら
ただ自分自身でいるんだ

Sunday Afternoon - w/ Tot and Khan

In another time another place
We measure our progress through our disgrace
And danced in the halls knew who we were
Escaped the race and gave it away

Now we are set and running late
Hard to believe we lived so free
Bent in the way -the branch swings
Caught in the grace of the Byzantines

Mosaic of color helps escape
The beauty of art starts taking shape
Inspiring those from under its wing
this modern world is fleeting 
remembering days of creating
Byzantine dreams run through my head
Sometimes  I live there instead
 Beautiful locks of abstract gold
Perfect icons and frescos 

Living off the dreams of the Byzantines

Dreams of the Byzantines

This is a track from my album TALES OF A NOMAD, a collection of impressions from decades of living a nomadic life for professional reasons.

'78, The Woods, And The Lake

Cast of Characters:
Cgmaness – open.spotify.com/album/42qOeOxPcclsxwxlPynFfL – Chris – Gretch bass, Guild Pelora electric guitar, SoundStone on a Harley Benton electric guitar, vocals, composition, mix, and production
Mistermark-- @user-432503709 -- Mark – organ
Llanpsych–@llanpsych –Tez– Fender Stratocaster electric guitar
K2 and the Three [and the Four]--@k2andthe3, @k2-kara –Ken–drums
Entheogenic Psychonaught (Josh Clary)– @josh-clary-1 –Josh – Roland Phantom synth
TexMex Shaman– @texmex-shaman –Stephen– Gibson Les Paul custom electric guitar

This song began as a mostly fully fleshed out idea from Chris. He presented it to the rest of Eclectic Collective as a bass line with a rhythm guitar chugging the goove. Awesomely powerful groove, but pretty stripped down compared with the final version.

We did this in an odd order this time, for no particular reason. Probably because Chris' bass groove was so strong, Mark was able to first add his ripping organ throughout, inspired by Deep Purple. Tez, again surprisingly, was able to add the fiery solos at the end and the intro, even before the drums were up. Although, we didn't have to wait long for that, because Ken filled them in perfectly, as he always does. Once the structure and rhythm section was complete, Josh decided to add the synth solo in the middle, at the crescendo, which he really enjoyed doing. Stephen came last to the party, but replaced Chris' rudimentary rhythm guitar with a fierocious, but more riff oriented, and less chordy line throughout.

Once it was in the bag, Chris was the natural choice to mix it, since his productions are always top quality, and it was his song to begin with. During the production, he also decided to add the guitar, including the an e-bow like device called a SandStone that sounds a bit like a synth, and vocal tones to the middle and end. He also added the vocalizations you hear in those parts, as well.

This is an example of an Eclecitic Collective song started by Chris, whose music we adore and with whom are always excited to work. His music is all amazing; check out his page if you haven't already. He is also on Spotify, which is where you'll find his new album, which is amazing! We hope you enjoy listening to this song as much as we enjoyed creating it.

The Collective - (Eclectic Collective) song by CGManess

Valser

knotnoodle

contemporary insanity

Greetings Amigos! Finally back with a new one.
132 Bpm. Big energy & uplifting vibes on this.
Much more in the pot. Coming real soon.
Appreciate you listening, Feedback etc.
Big love. Uploaded on 30/05/2025.

Enjoy the process

Taken from my latest album release BESIDES - a compilation demos and unfinished instrumentals: https://wouwouandthewormling.bandcamp.com/album/besides

Chimera

© Liberty 2025, all rights reserved

Amor fati - "love of fate".
Venal ressentiment - A resentment rooted in a corrupt or self-serving motive, where the resentful individual may be motivated by greed or personal gain rather than a genuine sense of injustice. 

Fabulous Failure	

wage slave wage slave
To a protestant work ethic
Birthright destiny 
amore fati

The smart exec knows where the wages are low
Nothing personal now just business you know
Egalitarian principles oh what a bore
How much is enough just a little bit more

Rose coloured glasses
Kissing assess  
Believe your own hype
That’s a leadership type


Fabulous failure
Fabulous failure

Cannibal capitalism 
Pandemonium
Craving idols 
Patchouli dreaming

The smart exec knows where the wages are low
Nothing personal now just business you know
Egalitarian principles oh what a bore
How much is enough just a little bit more

Peccadilloes
Na’er-do-wells
Venal ressentiment


Fabulous failure
Fabulous failure
Fabulous failure

FabulousFailure

Collaboration
Check out AnandaTuk's music at: @user-11396379

For Some Strange Reason -With AnandaTuk

Special thanks to Ashesndreams for her acappella

Lyrics :
Baby no me pidas que me aparte
Yo ya te he buscado en todas partes
Solamente vengo a recordarte que estoy
Imaginandote
Una y otra vez
Que tu estas aqui conmigo
Acariciandome
No seas timido
Dejate querer
Que si dudas te prometo
Que vas a volver

No tengo miedo
Soy un kamikaze
Mi imaginacion se prende con lo que me haces
Diario yo te pienso
Te tengo en mis suenos
Eres el motor para escribir todos mis versos
No te voy a mentir te quiero todo pa mi

IMAGINANDOTE. 🎧.  feat  Ashesndreams


Texte Français et Google traduction

JOINDRE LES DEUX BOUTS

Fins de mois difficiles,
Les factures à régler.
Et les enfants fragiles
Qu’il faudra bien soigner.
Et ce loyer qui tombe
Trop lourd à chaque fois
Que faire dans un monde
Si on n'a pas un toit.

Puis il faut bien manger
Pas en faire des extras
Un plat ou une entrée
Sans sauter de repas.
C'est si facile à dire
Quand on y regarde bien
C'est sûr, il y a un pire
Beaucoup de nous ont faim.

A joindre les deux bouts
Quand on n'arrive pas,
Un sou est bien un sou,
Surtout quand on l’a pas.

On cherche et on ratisse
Dans ses tiroirs du fond
Ce jour qui rase gratis
Quand on n'a pas un rond.
On gratte toutes ses poches
Jusqu'à les déchirer
Tendre sa main c'est moche
Pour au mieux vivre.

En se privé de tout
Ce qu'on dit superflu
Il ne reste plus beaucoup
De moments détendus.
On se traîne, on vivote
Sans regarder au loin
L'intérieur se révolte
Espérant mieux demain.

A joindre les deux bouts...

Mais pourquoi travailler
On ne comprend pas bien
Que faire pour exister
Si ce n'est pour les siens.

A joindre les deux bouts
Quand on n'arrive pas,
Un sou est bien un sou,
Surtout quand on l’a pas.


MAKING ENDS MEET

Tough ends of the month,
Bills to pay.
And fragile children
Who will need to be cared for.
And that rent that comes in
Too heavy every time
What can you do in a world
If you don't have a roof over your head.

And you have to eat well
Not overdo it
A main course or a starter
Without skipping a meal.
It's so easy to say
When you look closely
It's sure, there's a worse situation
Many of us are hungry.

Making ends meet
When you can't make ends meet,
A penny is a penny,
Especially when you don't have it.

We search and we rake
In our back drawers
That day that shaves for free
When we don't have a penny.
We pick all our pockets
Until they tear
Reaching out is a shame
To live better.

By depriving ourselves of everything
What we say is superfluous
There aren't many
Relaxed moments left.
We drag ourselves along, we eke out a living
Without looking far ahead
Our inner self rebels
Hoping for better tomorrow.

To make ends meet...

But why work?
We don't really understand
What to do to exist
If not for our loved ones.

To make ends meet
When we can't make ends meet,
A penny is a penny,
Especially when we don't have it.

JOINDRE LES DEUX BOUTS

Little to say about this song; both lyrics and music (all organic but for programmed drums) were done very impulsively, so it may show my primal inspiration without reworks or additions. Hope you'll enjoy it!

Pic from: https://vincentmars.com/2013/11/20/the-sensual-paintings-of-fabian-perez/

Translated Lyrics:

YO PENSÉ (LA SEXTA VEZ) / I THOUGHT (THE SIXTH TIME)

Yo pensé: esa mujer no es peligrosa…
  (I thought: that woman is not dangerous …)
No esperé enamorarme como un idiota.
  (I did not expect to fall in love like an idiot.)
Me pregunté: ¿qué tiene en los ojos que tanto me tienta?
  (I wondered: what’s in her eyes which tempts me so much?)
y me acerqué para hablar con ella y verlos de cerca.
  (And I got closer to speak with her and watch them closely.)

Y si era la primera vez, ¿por qué no extrañaba hacerlo con ella?
  (And if it was the first time, why didn’t I feel strange doing it with her?)
Y si era la primera vez, ¿por qué parecía que era la sexta?
  (And if it was the first time, why did it seem to be the sixth one?)
Y si era la sexta vez, ¿por qué hubo preguntas después de la escena?
  (And if it was the sixth time, why were there questions after the scene?)

Y si fue la única vez, ¿por qué no puedo apartarla de mi cabeza?
  (And if it was the unique time, why cannot I take her out of my head?)

ER41FI08 97-17

Factor Integrante

Yo pensé (La sexta vez)

Five steps (each one with two parts) progressing along 3 minutes thru different styles: rock, psycho, pop, hard..., and finally back to the psychopoppy ones.

Letra / Lyrics:

No siempre he estado aquí (soy imperfecto) / I have not always been here (I am imperfect)

Cuando tengo frío, o tengo calor, / When I feel cold, or I feel hot,
cuando tropiezo, me quemo, o siento dolor… / when I stumble, I burn myself, or feel pain …

y  empiezo a pensar que no siempre he estado aquí, / and I start to think that I have not always been here,
y que todo en este mundo es ajeno a mí. / and that everything in this world is alien to me.

Pienso que este cuerpo / I think that this body
que me sirve para moverme / I use to move myself
no es todo lo perfecto que debiera. / is not as perfect as it had to.

Me siento extraño / I feel strange
donde tendría que estar a gusto, / where I should to be comfortable,
y me reconforto / and I feel better
cuando me relaciono bien con el mundo. / when I relate well to the world.

Empiezo a pensar en el tránsito; / I start to think about the passage;
que no siempre he estado ni estaré aquí; / that I have not always been nor will be here;
que mi vida es un entretenimiento / about my life being an entertainment
en el viaje a otro sitio. / along the trip to another place.

Y descubro lo profundo / And I discover the deepness
entre tanta superficialidad, / among so much superficialness,
si la meta de todo lo que hago / if the goal of everything I do
es comer y respirar, / is to eat and breathe,
¿qué clase de razón tengo en la cabeza? / what kind of reason do I have in my head?
¿qué soy yo dentro de este juego? / what am I within this game?

 descubro lo profundo / And I discover the deepness
entre tanta superficialidad, / among so much superficialness,
y me pongo a pensar, / and I start thinking,
y empiezo a pensar… / and I start to think …

y  empiezo a pensar que no siempre he estado aquí, / and I start to think that I have not always been here,
y que todo en este mundo es ajeno a mí. / and that everything in this world is alien to me.

Pienso que este cuerpo / I think that this body
que me sirve para moverme / I use to move myself
no es todo lo perfecto que debiera. / is not as perfect as it had to.

©1995 E-RUIZZO – ®2013 FRANCÉS RECORDS ;)

Image: "Rocky sprout", photo by Ruizzoidman

No siempre he estado aquí (Soy imperfecto)

My new album "Dreams of the Byzantines" is streaming June 13th, 2025. Please check out my new website darrencsullivan.com for videos and albums to purchase.

Thanks for the kindness and support.