For all your explosive drum and mechanical organ needs, industrial strength!

Cover art was done using an effect called slit-scan or time displacement, using software I wrote.

Purchase track at https://disconnectica.bandcamp.com/track/deviate

In this 14th version I've tweaked the stutters I added last time and added an extra one, and added some punctuated drop-outs in a few places

Lyrics:

It's a train wreck
It's a car crash
Don't stop to look
Go around

Stormy weather overhead
Pull my tether over the edge
Best you clear a path
Deviate

Building on fire
Comes crashing down
Nothing to see here
Move along

Avert your eyes
Avert your eyes
Avert your eyes
Avert your eyes
Avert your eyes
Avert your eyes

Deviate [version 14 - OLD]

Take my hand
Let’s fly away from here
Maybe move to Hawaii 
You can be happy and free

I know (I know)
That life can be hard 
But I can see you’re a shining star
Don’t let them blow this out 
Right now

There’s no doubt that
I can’t live without you here
Holding tighter to me
Until we cross the sea.

Think about   
All of our love that brings you  hope
This hard life of us and now
Breathe in and breathe out

I see (I see)
That you just wanna run away from here 
Find new places, new persons to see
A new you to be

There’s no doubt that
I can’t live without you here
Holding tighter to me
Until we cross the sea.

Oh
Until we cross the sea.
Just hold tighter to me…

Until We Cross The Sea

A deep combo of trombone, bass and drums is driving us forward like a semi-trailer rolling slowly through a candy-floss store. Mischievous indulgence awaits in this playful but potent brew, with a sinister Cookie Monster meets serial killer vibe. A guilty pleasure beckons. Sit back and have yourself a treat!

The lush hypnotic video has us staring down the bell of an infinite spiralling trombone, as various treats swirl inexorably inward towards the glutinous crooner.

https://youtu.be/dH8VJI0PdgQ

Lyrics:

Gonna have myself a treat
Gonna have myself a treat
Gonna have myself a treat
Gonna have myself a treat
Gonna spend my play money
Have myself a treat

I been a good boy
I done as I was told
Have myself a treat

Gonna have myself a treat
Gonna have myself a treat

I been a good boy
I bit my tongue
Have myself a treat

Gonna take what's mine
Gonna have myself a treat
Gonna take what I earnt
Gonna have myself a treat

I done my time
And I don't mean jail
Have myself a treat

I been a good boy
I done as I was told
Have myself a treat

I paid my dues
And I don't mean money

Treat

Treat [version 8, official release!]

Genre: All of the above?

They Might Be Giants meets Mr Bungle meets Primus meets System of a Down.  Banjo meets thrash metal meets lounge meets crazy circus waltz, all in 2 and a half minutes.  Buckle up and enjoy the ride as you descend into madness!

This one was inspired by a podcast challenge to write a song with the title "Why Do You Cry?".

Lyrics:

Why do you cry
Why do you cry
Why do you cry
Why do you cry

WHY
Why do you not want to answer me
DO
Do you want to keep it to yourself?
YOU
You must tell me you must tell me why you
CRY

Tears rolling down your face
Catch them in a jar
Sell them all on eBay
To the highest bidder
To make you happy
That's what I think

Why do you cry
Why do you cry
Why do you cry
Why do you cry

WHY
Why do you not want to answer me
DO
Do you want to keep it to yourself?
YOU
You must tell me you must tell me why you
CRY
WHY
Why do you not want to answer me
DO
Do you want to keep it to yourself?
YOU
You must tell me you must tell me why you
CRY
 
Tears rolling down your face
Soak them up with paper
Flush them far away
Where they can join the others
In the sewer
Where they can congregate
Pondering their fate
Abandoned and discarded not knowing where you are
That's what I think

Why do you cry
Why do you cry
Why do you cry
Why do you cry

Your tears don't know where you are anymore [repeat]
Why do you cry why do you cry why do you cry? [repeat]

Why Do You Cry [demo 12]

Reaching

Dark, cryptic, epic tale of denial and dysfunctional relationships... and sombreros.  Listeners heard shades of David Bowie, Pink Floyd, Beatles and David Byrne (Talking Heads).

The cover art contains lots of references to lyrics in the song.

Purchase track at https://disconnectica.bandcamp.com/track/the-shape-of-pears?action=buy

This version is the official release.

Please share if you like it.  Thanks.

Lyrics:

She keeps her love in a shoe
High upon a shelf
(Sombrero)
And when she's not all there
I go and help myself

She wouldn't recognise me
If I was inside out
(Sombrero)
You shouldn't trust anyone's tea
Just coz they're short and stout

It makes me cry
It makes me try
Not to cry

A workout for your mind
Defence against attack
But I can jump the fence
and run around your track

There's something wrong
I tell myself there's
Nothing wrong

Shhhhh

She confides in me
About the shape of pears
(Sombrero)
But when there's no one home
I sit in all the chairs

She came to stay
She floats away
Stay... away 

She keeps her mind wrapped up
Underneath the bed
(Sombrero)
But no matter how you try
You can't untoast your bread

Lock it in
Block it out
Block it in

(Sombrero)

Clear blue sky, clear blue sky, clear blue sky
Clear blue sky, clear blue sky, clear blue sky
No photo... so it didn't happen
No photo... so it didn't happen
(Sombrero)
It's a river in Egypt... just a river in Egypt
No photo... so it didn't happen
Clear blue sky, clear blue sky, clear blue sky
Clear blue sky, clear blue sky, clear blue sky

The Shape of Pears

The Shape of Pears [version 11, official release!]

Electric guitar-driven rock song attacking racism, sexism and homophobia. Inspired somewhat by The White Stripes.

Purchase track at https://disconnectica.bandcamp.com/track/white-noise

Official release!

Lyrics:

Lowest common denominator

Well I'm white like you
But it doesn't mean what I wanna
do is denigrate people of colour
And I'm straight like you
But it doesn't mean what I wanna
do is judge people just for being themselves
And we're both men
But it doesn't mean that then
I wanna hear your thoughts about women in power
And we're the same age
But it doesn't mean I wanna hear you
Reminiscing all about the good old days
When men were men
And women were women
And whistling at the skirts
Would get your boys swimmin'
And they might owe you something
If you hold open doors
When women knew their place
But man I gotta tell ya
Someone really oughta to put you back in yours

I don't need to be your target to be offended by your claim
I don't need to be in your line of sight to be angered by your aim
And just because I look like you
Doesn't mean what I want to do is
Pick up a bow and arrow and
Join in your stupid game

Lowest common denominator

Background noise
Background noise
We're the background boys
Making background noise

White noise
Straight talkin'
Toxic masculinity

We're not gonna bond over what you think of women
We're not gonna bond over homophobia
We're not gonna bond over melanin deficiency
We're not gonna bond over ideology

We are not gonna bond over religion
We are not gonna bond over politics
We are not gonna bond over derision
We are not gonna bond just cos we both have dicks

What we have in common is not other people's differences

I hope I don't ever see the world in the way you do
I hope no one ever sees in me the things I see in you

Yeah I'm white like you
But it doesn't mean what I wanna
do is judge people based on where they were born
...or where their parents were born
...or where their great great great great great grandparents were born
Yeah I know you probably don't accept that it's true
But your ancestors are from Africa too
And we're both men
But it doesn't mean that then
I wanna split rights into his and hers
And we're the same age
But it doesn't mean I wanna hear you
Reminiscing all about the good old days
When men were men
And women were women
And there's a different box you put
Her or him in
And I don't want to join you in the
Boys club
Don't make assumptions
About our common ground
Over a friendly drink when we're down at the pub

I don't need to be your target to be offended by your claim
I don't need to be in your line of sight to be angered by your aim
And just because I look like you
Doesn't mean what I want to do is
Pick up a bow and arrow and
Join in your stupid game

I don't need to be your target to be offended by your claim
I don't need to be in your line of sight to be angered by your aim
And just because I look like you
Doesn't mean what I want to do is
Pick up a bow and arrow and
Join in your stupid game

You sexist racist homophobic misogynistic ...

You can take the boy out of the country
But you can't take the country out of the boy

You got nothing to say
And you say it loud!

Lowest common denominator

Eclectic Dystopia

White Noise

White Noise [version 11, OLD]

A Christmas song with a difference. Sure, it sounds like Christmas. There's harp, bells, and beautiful operatic vocals by Naomi Summers. It even has Santa in the title. But the lyrics never mention Christmas. Instead they're about being on hold, waiting to leave a complaint for some faceless but ever-so-polite corporation, and hoping your message will reach someone who matters. Hopeful messages sent into the void. Letters to Santa, if you will.

Lyrics:

Your call is so important to us
Now your call has progressed in the queue
Please hold on and wait a little longer
We'll be speaking with you very soon  

We appreciate your feedback
I'll put that in the system right away
Do you have any other comments?
Do you have anything else to say?
 
Thank you for your contribution
You've helped us to create a better world
Send your thoughts off into the ether
And hope that someday somewhere they'll be heard

They travel through the air
They travel into space
They travel under water
Through fibre optic cable

All around the world
Right across the nation
Leave no leaf unturned
To find their destination

In the end they conclude their journey
Safe and sound with no more need to roam
Warm and cozy deep inside an archive
Settle in and make yourselves at home

Letters to Santa (feat. Naomi Summers)

Letters to Santa (feat. Naomi Summers) [official release!]

Cleaned radio-friendly version of my electric guitar-driven rock song attacking racism, sexism and homophobia. Inspired somewhat by The White Stripes.

Purchase track at https://disconnectica.bandcamp.com/track/white-noise-clean

Lyrics:

Lowest common denominator

Well I'm white like you
But it doesn't mean what I wanna
do is denigrate people of colour
And I'm straight like you
But it doesn't mean what I wanna
do is judge people just for being themselves
And we're both men
But it doesn't mean that then
I wanna hear your thoughts about women in power
And we're the same age
But it doesn't mean I wanna hear you
Reminiscing all about the good old days
When men were men
And women were women
And whistling at the skirts
Would get your boys swimmin'
And they might owe you something
If you hold open doors
When women knew their place
But man I gotta tell ya
Someone really oughta to put you back in yours

I don't need to be your target to be offended by your claim
I don't need to be in your line of sight to be angered by your aim
And just because I look like you
Doesn't mean what I want to do is
Pick up a bow and arrow and
Join in your stupid game

Lowest common denominator

Background noise
Background noise
We're the background boys
Making background noise

White noise
Straight talkin'
Toxic masculinity

We're not gonna bond over what you think of women
We're not gonna bond over homophobia
We're not gonna bond over melanin deficiency
We're not gonna bond over ideology

We are not gonna bond over religion
We are not gonna bond over politics
We are not gonna bond over derision
We are not gonna bond just cos we both have ...

What we have in common is not other people's differences

I hope I don't ever see the world in the way you do
I hope no one ever sees in me the things I see in you

Yeah I'm white like you
But it doesn't mean what I wanna
do is judge people based on where they were born
...or where their parents were born
...or where their great great great great great grandparents were born
Yeah I know you probably don't accept that it's true
But your ancestors are from Africa too
And we're both men
But it doesn't mean that then
I wanna split rights into his and hers
And we're the same age
But it doesn't mean I wanna hear you
Reminiscing all about the good old days
When men were men
And women were women
And there's a different box you put
Her or him in
And I don't want to join you in the
Boys club
Don't make assumptions
About our common ground
Over a friendly drink when we're down at the pub

I don't need to be your target to be offended by your claim
I don't need to be in your line of sight to be angered by your aim
And just because I look like you
Doesn't mean what I want to do is
Pick up a bow and arrow and
Join in your stupid game

I don't need to be your target to be offended by your claim
I don't need to be in your line of sight to be angered by your aim
And just because I look like you
Doesn't mean what I want to do is
Pick up a bow and arrow and
Join in your stupid game

You sexist racist homophobic misogynistic ...

You can take the boy out of the country
But you can't take the country out of the boy

You got nothing to say
And you say it loud!

Lowest common denominator

White Noise [cleaned version, official release]

Explicit version of my electric guitar-driven rock song attacking racism, sexism and homophobia. Inspired somewhat by The White Stripes.

Purchase track at https://disconnectica.bandcamp.com/track/white-noise

Lyrics:

Lowest common denominator

Well I'm white like you
But it doesn't mean what I wanna
do is denigrate people of colour
And I'm straight like you
But it doesn't mean what I wanna
do is judge people just for being themselves
And we're both men
But it doesn't mean that then
I wanna hear your thoughts about women in power
And we're the same age
But it doesn't mean I wanna hear you
Reminiscing all about the good old days
When men were men
And women were women
And whistling at the skirts
Would get your boys swimmin'
And they might owe you something
If you hold open doors
When women knew their place
But man I gotta tell ya
Someone really oughta to put you back in yours

I don't need to be your target to be offended by your claim
I don't need to be in your line of sight to be angered by your aim
And just because I look like you
Doesn't mean what I want to do is
Pick up a bow and arrow and
Join in your stupid game

Lowest common denominator

Background noise
Background noise
We're the background boys
Making background noise

White noise
Straight talkin'
Toxic masculinity

We're not gonna bond over what you think of women
We're not gonna bond over homophobia
We're not gonna bond over melanin deficiency
We're not gonna bond over ideology

We are not gonna bond over religion
We are not gonna bond over politics
We are not gonna bond over derision
We are not gonna bond just cos we both have dicks

What we have in common is not other people's differences

I hope I don't ever see the world in the way you do
I hope no one ever sees in me the things I see in you

Yeah I'm white like you
But it doesn't mean what I wanna
do is judge people based on where they were born
...or where their parents were born
...or where their great great great great great grandparents were born
Yeah I know you probably don't accept that it's true
But your ancestors are from Africa too
And we're both men
But it doesn't mean that then
I wanna split rights into his and hers
And we're the same age
But it doesn't mean I wanna hear you
Reminiscing all about the good old days
When men were men
And women were women
And there's a different box you put
Her or him in
And I don't want to join you in the
Boys club
Don't make assumptions
About our common ground
Over a friendly drink when we're down at the pub

I don't need to be your target to be offended by your claim
I don't need to be in your line of sight to be angered by your aim
And just because I look like you
Doesn't mean what I want to do is
Pick up a bow and arrow and
Join in your stupid game

I don't need to be your target to be offended by your claim
I don't need to be in your line of sight to be angered by your aim
And just because I look like you
Doesn't mean what I want to do is
Pick up a bow and arrow and
Join in your stupid game

You sexist racist homophobic misogynistic ...

You can take the boy out of the country
But you can't take the country out of the boy

You got nothing to say
And you say it loud!

Lowest common denominator

White Noise [version 12, official release]

Not a song you want to hear on your birthday! Kindest Regards is an alt-rock, art rock, prog rock, bat-shit crazy experiment in two halves, with an unconventional song structure and uncommon time signatures.

“Bonkers” - Johnny Normal, Big Satsuma Radio (UK)

The first half is psychobilly post-punk chaos, with a cacophonous chorus assulting our senses.

The second half is a complete departure. Baroque pop reminiscent of ELO or Beatles, with lush strings and richer harmonics.

“I haven't heard anything like it and I really like it... I think that it is a compositional success and I think that the production and mixing of it in general is nothing short of virtuosic. You've done an amazing job” - Other Joe (audio engineer & artist) - feedback at Playback

“Wow, it's a crazy song... It's so refined... It's like being at a circus show but every act is so perfectly choreographed together. So many things going on there, but each one feels really developed and in conversation with the next, even though it's constantly going in unpredictable directions... It's cooked to perfection... Uncritiquable... Faultless” - Anuraag (DJ) - feedback at Playback

The song structure was partly inspired by Frank Black's Los Angeles. Both tracks have a heavy abbrasive first half, and a more mellow harmonic second half.

Fun fact: that's Disconnectica's hand in the cover art, along with his cat!

Purchase track at https://disconnectica.bandcamp.com/track/kindest-regards

Lyrics:

I got you nothing for your birthday
I got you nothing for your birthday
I got you nothing for your birthday
I hope you don't enjoy your special day

No no no I didn't forget
No I wasn't stuck for something to get
No I was not feeling unwell
But if you are you can go to hell

I won't be getting you a birthday card
I won't be sending you my kindest regards
I hope you don't get any birthday cake
But if you do I hope you get a stom...ache

I got you nothing for your birthday
I got you nothing for your birthday
I got you nothing for your birthday
I hope you don't enjoy your special day

Happy birthday Mr Disconnectica

I heard a rumour on a vine of grapes
I heard a rumour made of nebulous shapes
I heard a rumour about you
I heard a rumour, I presume that it's true

Brrr brrr, brrr, brrr
Brrr brrr, brrr brrr
Please leave a message after the tone
I just called to let you know...

I got you nothing for your birthday
Ha ha ha ha ha ha nyah nyah nyah

It's a bad year to have a birthday
It's a bad year to have a birthday

Oh well, another year
Where does time go, I've got no idea
Oh well, another year
Where does time go, I've got no idea
Oh well, another year
Where does time go, I've got no idea

All dust swept under the rug
All dust swept under the rug
All dust swept under the rug

Kindest Regards

Kindest Regards [version 4, official release]

Welcome from Melbourne, Australia!  I recommend going to my playlists, as the track list is a bit of a mess.  I'm mostly focusing now on alternative rock/pop vocal tracks, but have a wide variety of genres.

Influences include Radiohead, The Beatles, Mike Oldfield, Silverchair, Pink Floyd, Grimes, White Stripes, Blur, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Throwing Muses, The Breeders, R.E.M., EMF, Talking Heads, David Byrne, David Bowie, Philip Glass, The Clouds, Beck, Queen, Godley & Creme, They Might Be Giants, Scott Joplin, and somehow the Coen Brothers!

Deviate [version 14 - OLD]

Disconnectica

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