Out of the Box July 2022
"Set co-ordinates for Planet B... nymphets sighted!!"

Space Persuasion

STUMP AND A STONE

I come walking down Magoon Road
on my head is a heavy load,
on my back is what I own
been to the market heading back home.

One legged man standing up drunk
fell over sittin' on a stump
crazy man dancing on a stone
call me over on my way back home.

Stump and a stone
Stump and a stone
Stump and a stone
call me over on my way back home.

Jesus lizard in the burying ground tree
preparing a place there for me
uncle Joe's hat and a case of rum
open a bottle and pour us some.

Stump and a stone
Stump and a stone
Stump and a stone
call me over on my way back home.

Look for me on these dusty streets
it's just my shadow you gonna meet.
You may be right, I may be wrong
but it don't really matter 'cause I'm already gone.
don't really matter 'cause I'm already gone.

Said goodbye under the wisdom tree
that's the last they saw of me
drove a golden Cadillac 
drove away and didn't come back
drove away and didn't come back.

Stump and a stone
Stump and a stone
Stump and a stone
call me over on my way back home.
call me over on my way back home.

Stump and a Stone

This experimental composition attempts to fuse together synthetic timbres with piano. It centres around the interplay between these forces, locked into an approximation of sonata form. Tension is produced almost entirely by timbral forces rather than harmonic sequences. Part of a set of two compositions ("Progression" is part 1) composed for my MRes portfolio.
More information on my website at music.vl.ax/integration

Integration

Lovesong to the baseline

Baseline  to Shortville

A Small Holiday.wav

Shirley Barr is a lovely singer, composer and songwriter that I have had the honor of collaborating with. She wrote a beautiful text and sang it to one of my songs. Here is the result. ;)

Big and warm thanks Shirley for a very nice work and for your positive and cheerful attitude and help to lift this little piece of music. ;)

Listen to more of her lovely music and lyrics here: https://soundcloud.com/shirley_barr

Free From The Old - Seagull & Shirley Barr

This is a song by one of my favorite bands that, believe it or not, Chris suggested we do. I really feel like we're kindred musical spirits. His playing on this and his voice are excellent as always. He's on acoustic guitar and the high vocals on this one. He also mixed, produced, and arranged the song. You'll hear me on the bass, synth, slide, mandolin, and auxiliary guitar, as well as singing the two low parts. We decided to do a string of covers back in the summer. If you've taken the time to read this, then please throw out some suggestions in the comments for our next one (or the one after that). 
#gratefuldeadcover

Friend of the Devil by the Grateful Dead  (with cgmaness)

Schema - Reason ft Hegendaan

This is a story song. I called the two characters Max and Lilly for ease of reference when I was writing it. Best with headphones! 
V1- The smutty comment by Max is an old phrase some retired soldiers used to use in a depot I worked at in the late 1980’s. It made me laugh as a young man so thought I’d use it now. 
V2- my grandparents lived in a village near Stonehenge and I was also born there. Always wanted to include it in a song. 
Lilly’s dream is a recurrent day dream I used to have as a kid in the back of the car on family trips to the West Country. I always imagined the spirits of Ancient Britons watching the cars and the modern world and warning us about change…as you do!! Their world was rocked by the Roman invasion so they would know a lot about change!
V3 - I’m that age where we are losing friends and family. The hospital scene is something I’ve seen a lot of recently and so put Lilly into that setting. 
Hope you enjoy the song. 
James

Lyrics- It was like that then

Her shin had started bleeding, it wasn’t deep but really hurt
She’d tripped on his old cricket bat, his socks and dirty shirt
He was laughing from the bedclothes saying “don’t drip blood on my bed”
He was drinking in her nakedness and said ‘the hungry must be fed!’
She hopped across the bedroom, laughing as she fell
Into his arms and gently kissed him, and soon she could tell
Than another Sunday morning would be spent there in their bed
Loving without end, it was like that then

Jackdaws chatted in sunshine as they walked towards the stones
They saw some tourists in the distance, but in the field they were alone
They laid a blanket by a hedgerow, and lay there holding hands
Listening to the insects, they drank some wine and made their plans
And Air Force jets flew overhead, as she gently held him tight
And they stayed there undetected as the day turned into night
And a barn owl left its hiding place and swooped down on its prey
Loving without end, it was like that then

And she sensed the magic seep
From sarsen stones as sleep wrapped itself around her in the night
And she dreamt she saw a chariot, with warriors, swords and shields
Saying
“Live life to the full, grasp it hard, yes hold it tight
Savour and devour it, because nothing ever lasts
Don’t take things for granted, change comes hard and fast
Remember how it was, remember how it was”

She lay still in the bed, and looked out of the window,
It was too warm in the ward, she watched the falling sleet and snow
The kids had sent a card and it was on the bed beside her
She looked down at herself, at the gown, the tubes and cannula
She thought about the hard years, the arguments and debts
The everyday monotony, the things they said and should forget
And he woke up in the chair, and knew that he was losing her
Now and then, loving without end

“Don’t take things for granted, change comes hard and fast
Remember how it was, remember how it was”

(Loving) Loving without end, it was like that then
(Loving) loving without end, it was like that then
(Build a foundation), loving without end, it was like that then
(Build a foundation) loving without end, it was like that then

James Whiteman, Copyright 2021/22

It was like that then

Out of the Box December 2022
Featured voice Hannah Fry, Professor of Mathematics
“The Secret Genius Of Modern Life” BBC Television

The Secret Genius Of Modern Life #1

https://t.me/k4t0x1
https://t.me/k4t0x1
https://t.me/k4t0x1

в правой руке нож мы играем осторожно
напишу барыге ночью, хочу видеть его срочно
мы покурим на могиле, ведь твой трэп похоронили
суки просят мое имя, я умру красивым 


разбираю  между строк
залипаю в потолок
на моем ремне бумага
за нее убили плагга
я считал любовь за правду
все кончалось горькой правдой


на моей мобиле пару номеров
звони на любой беру звонок ночью не днем
слушал демо перед сном и сломал его об стол
когда постучат в двери я притворюсь мертвецом 

когда вы меня роняли то забыли спрятать лицо
я так и остался подлецом, но для своих мудрецом
достал из кармана нож, и теперь ебу гонцов
пару раз и пару фраз хватило я останусь одинок

не нужна эта любовь, это боль лишь для двоих
я закинул то что помогает через силу полюбить
ледяная цепь на сердце я взял тебя на прицел

Schema - Reason ft Hegendaan

Gath Studio