We had met for a jam session without plan and purpose during the last sunny Saturday afternoon last year. By the time of this recording, we hadn't known that soon we would want to go for pee break, that the studio door is self closing, that the key was left in the studio, and that we would end up with nothing but the clothes on ourselves, one face mask and a bit of cash, and that we would spend the rest of the day waiting in front of some pub until it would open because there were rumors that some Tim working there has another key.

Andrè Gärtner, bass
Martin Söhnlein, drums https://soundcloud.com/martin-s-1
FL, piano

Cover art by Katarzyna Von Kopytko (obviously she made jokes of my scribbling inabilities).

Fun fact 18 days after publishing: Martin just showed up at our place this morning, he had lost his keys, wallet, phone etc. again. I served him a glass of water.

The Band Without Keys

Clouds

Follows on from my earlier track "Passion for the Beyond", though a little jazzier. Brass sounds from a VST (MIDI-triggered) instrument. Image: Gencraft.

Beyond Passion

The latest from Texas Tea, "Expansive Expedition".  This one has one of the coolest intros from Terry.  Kicks out with a bouncy whistley groove and moves into some ambient psychedelic western kinda thing.  Enjoy!

Now has a vidya!!

https://youtu.be/jDT7VFeIIPo?si=bCnGow-68n_pL4aq

Expansive Expedition -w/ Tea R. Sea

Vocals and Lyrics by IPG1
https://soundcloud.com/ipg1

Produced by Cosmic Keanu



Modern Times

Verse 1

Am I playing the wrong game —- where losing’s a crime
Time’s just not the same—-and there’s no one here to blame
In these modern times——where machines reigns supreme
breaking all the chains——-to fulfill my dreams
————And that’s a solid —because—- yeah—— I’m back————-
Metaphors and rhymes——-my weapons on this track
Modulating -from the underground ——one culture one voice
And we’re —-wired in like teeth—-like we—-ever—-had a choice

Chorus

Modern times---- a difficult maze
Where screens captivate —— the Information Age
And—-We're all connected——yet we’re—also——-alone
Lost in a sea of pixels----hearts ———-—cold as stone
Modern times————Modern times ——-Modern times

Verse 2

Smartphones--at our side—-our constant companions
That double-edged sword—-has become ——-part of the norm
buzzing Notifications——like a relentless swarm
Distracting —us ——-from moments —-another task ——to perform
Just another monster ———taking physical form

**Chorus**

Bridge

Artificial intelligence--- a marvel and a threat
Replacing human minds--- leaving us —-deep in debt
Algorithms —-determine our fate—without regret—-
Like marionettes ———or puppets on a strings
Manipulating our thoughts——damn—we are feeding these things

Verse 3

Social media——-a stage ——for the soul to bare
Beneath the surface——lies ——and deceptions —-are clear
We curate our lives——-like a perfect facade
our true selves———pushed aside ——in total disregard

**Chorus**

Outro

In this digital age---we must find our way
Embracing the power——with a huge price to pay
There’s a balance for the screens —-in real life
With the key to our future——a new vision insight

Modern Times (IPG1 & Cosmic Keanu)

As a child growing up in Liverpool during the eighties, I witnessed first hand the struggles people had to endure because of the government’s neglect of our city. The government got away with neglecting its children, whilst Yosser and no doubt many like him had theirs taken away.

Yosser Hughes, the fictional character from Alan Bleasdale's incredible television series 'Boys from the Blackstuff', depicted a single father unable to find work whilst trying to look after his three children. 

The perception of Yosser back then, and probably still now is that he was a crazy, weak, and dangerous person. The reality though, is that Yosser’s behaviour was fuelled by many factors, not just povery, lack of work, and a broken relationship that we witness on screen.

Mental health awareness was zilch back then and most men today like Yosser find it impossible to talk about their struggles in life. This is largely due to the stigma of being perceived as weak. The only person he felt that he could open up to was a priest behind a veiled confessional box, who seemingly offered no help, support or guidance.

There will have been many traumatic events in Yossers life, all as a result of a cycle of poverty and lack of support and understanding that was generationally passed down. 

Yosser struggled on with his failing mental health, but clearly his love remained for his children. He kept looking for work, feeding his children, doing the best he could with what little he had. He like many was unfortunately doomed to succeed, and yet if he had been given help and support he could have brought his children up and been there for them. His wife, like Yosser just another casualty of the continuing cycle of victims, and sadly their children next.

Anyone struggling with their mental health should break free from the societal  stigma and speak to someone. You’re only human and can’t carry that weight alone. You are not alone and It’s ok to be vulnerable, it’s what makes us human. Just please ask someone for help!

Additionally, If you know someone who may be struggling with things, ask them if they want to talk, lend your ear, normalize their worries or concerns, and encourage them to seek help and support.

Thanks to Liverpool artist Mikey Gannon, for letting me use his artwork: http://ko-fi.com/mikeygannon

Yosser hughes

Yosser Hughes

Der Frühling ist da, und reizt alle Sinne & Gemüter!
"Gezwitscher" means "Twitter". Of course the german word is much better than the english, it contains almost twice as much consonants.

Gezwitscher

Sandy Eggos

06/10/2024

Gratitude w/Daniele Turani

Dark Ritual (2017) Anthology CD4 Track 08

guitar op.1 nº3

Keeping on fiddling while Rome is burning. Some of my therapists say that music is sublimation which is a good thing.

Profile pic by Antonino Muscarello :-)

The Band Without Keys

Florian Lüthi