Testing the Waters

Gimme that Spoonful

Cool Tracks

A song I wrote for my beautiful friend Laurence to let him know how much I loved him.

Somethings

A song by Manky with Laurence Brewer on vocals.  Laurence wrote the lyrics to this song as a tribute to the cradle of the North West of England where he grew-up and where, sadly and far too soon, his ashes were scattered.

Thornton Cleveleys

Another Manky song with lyrics by Laurence, this one is about the emotion of writing to his birth mother. As well as singing Laurence plays lead guitar on this and came up with a beautiful guitar melody for it. 

Dear Patricia

Written, Performed, Recorded &amp; Produced by Barry James Streek.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDufETXVF7s

Download

In The Dark

It's been a pleasant challenge to craft Mark's adlibed voice.

Tried finger drumming... moments of 3/4, others 4/4... then I remembered Franco Battiato singing about 7/8 measures in Brittish folk, and... why not?

Similar doubts about the chords, I finally built a sliding harmony using groups of notes found along the vocal line.

Many laboratory hours after I got something friendly; time to jam brainlessly a pair of guitars which made some organic company to the voice.

Great temptation of singing with Mark, but I finished the vocal edition by building a final choir instead ;)

Hope you'll enjoy, and peace be with you all !!

Original vocal track: https://soundcloud.com/markjbennett/the-parting-glass-open-collaboration
Parting Glass project: https://soundcloud.com/markjbennett/sets/the-parting-glass-open

The Parting Glass (with Markjbennett)

The original version of the track that inspired Manilla Filters' (Richard Barron and Fergus Gracey)excellent reworking. The only track Loz played drums on; which he recorded in one take.

Written by Manky (Richard Barron, Laurence Brewer, Marc Cattini, Fergus Gracey and Iain Murdoch).

Low Boredom Threshold E.P.

Tentatively

Well, there is something I really love…..you know when the weather’s been extremely hot for so long….then it rains with a storm and thunder, the earth releases this incredible smell…love it. So after the storm I came up with this track. It is a bit psychedelic I guess. I just could see myself under the rain and it feels so good…..liberating…well…you know what I mean. Have an awesome summer. Love to all. Copyright protected ©

Passion Within

Thundering Horizon

Thundering Horizon ©

The full Drunken Monkey biography can be found HERE. The R.I.P. Remix Collection is the official farewell release from this beloved, prodigious producer and long-standing, well-respected SF Bay Area DJ. R.I.P. is the ultimate collection of Drunken Monkey remixes from the past 15 years and a compendium of material that originally appeared on other record labels or in some cases has never been released before. This album is also a telling representation of who he was as an artist stylistically and his place in the local music scene. Almost all these songs are collaborations with other local San Francisco artists who came to trust Drunken Monkey's consistently high quality production. Anyone working with him knew his versions would always be able to rock a dancefloor as well as add a few surprises and twists that would set the remix apart from anyone else.

While this is the death of a name, it is NOT the death the talent behind that name. This is the acknowledgement that a chapter has ended, a door has closed, and this can only foretell the inevitable rebirth into new creative persona's for the musical force that was Drunken Monkey. And so...A fond farewell to one nom-de-musique, making room for the next chapter to unfold, as well as a celebration of a life in music. For more than a quarter century, Drunken Monkey was a DJ, Producer, Remixer, Connoisseur, Taste-Maker, and Musical Adventurer!

The Monkey is Dead...Long live the Monkey!

Drunken Monkey - R.I.P. Remixes

Water She Dances (Drunken Monkey 6/8 Remix)

Time is running out

Orig. Composition / Live Guitar / Bass / Vox / Lyrics / Production : C.D.
Live Drum Performance : Scott Tumino
Lead Guitars :  Jacob Georgian
All Rights Reserved ~ E.O.S.
2020

Nostalgia

SIRENS

Rebelled
Why should I complain – Who’s gonna listen anyway – Help me through this pain – she said she would – but she’s gone everyday……
Battle off these demons - each a different kind of way – pour another whiskey – it seems to help me along the way
Where should I begin – when I tell you my life story – do I fabricate – and embellish on false glory’s there’s no friggen way – I’m gonna tell it straight – and just deal with the repercussions – admissions of my truths will set me free – but they’re sure to set me back…….
Chorus
Cause up till now – you’ve really gotten nowhere – A subtle change – and your chaos could be quelled – And you could fix it all – if you only could remember – just who it was – and the reason you Rebelled
So many faces slanted different ways, as if I’m a fool – My Christ he gave me clarity and I see right through – Humanity is cruel.. – Imagine for a second that you could never lie – that would change so many things – but would probably erase your life! 
Chorus
Cause up till now – you’ve really gotten nowhere – A subtle change – and your chaos could be quelled – And you could fix it all – if you only could remember – just who it was – and the reason you Rebelled!
Got a million friends – but not one who I can turn to –  slice of my darkness they’ll never see – I’ll keep him chained – with empty eyes – I set forth back on this journey – and though my load is huge – what I got left I’ll still give to you
Chorus
Cause up till now – you’ve really gotten nowhere – A subtle change – and your chaos could be quelled – And you could fix it all – if you only could remember – just who it was – and the reason you Rebelled!

Rebelled

Nato - Latuba

© ℗ Copyright Ian Stokes. All Rights Reserved 
Recorded and mixed using Logic. Mastered in Soundcloud.
Photography: Thanks go to Nigel and Libby Hume at Hume Photography.

Thank you so much for all your comments on this instrumental, which are greatly appreciated. People have expressed an interest in the various tunings I use on different songs so I thought I would add a few explanatory notes.
The guitar I play on this track is my Taylor 714CE - in DADGAD tuning (all tuned down a half step).

Springtime

a tune I made many years ago, repeat to not forget.

Better days

A fun collaboration of a song by Willie Dixon, made when my friend Tanya was in her last days of the 14 day quarantine in a hotel in Tasmania. She recorded some drums and finger cymbals on her phone and we stitched this blues classic together. 

A few additions are still needed when we get together in the home studio in person.

SPOONFUL  ft Tanya Catelli on drums & Chris O banjo

Yuri was born on the 17th of January 1979 in Thessaloniki, Greece. Music has always been a part of his life since childhood. He began studying the violin at the age of six. He took piano lessons and he is a self-taught drummer. The year of 2002 Yuri entered the world of producing electronic music. Influenced by many musical genres found his sound.  “Over the past few years I’ve just been working” he says, “trying to find that sound.”

Time is running out

Yuri Petridis