Ram Dass first went to India in 1967. He was still Dr. Richard Alpert, a prominent Harvard psychologist and psychedelic pioneer with Dr. Timothy Leary. He continued his psychedelic research until that fateful Eastern trip in 1967, when he traveled to India. In India, he met his guru, Neem Karoli Baba, affectionately known as Maharajji, who gave Ram Dass his name, which means “servant of God.” Everything changed then – his intense dharmic life started, and he became a pivotal influence on a culture that has reverberated with the words “Be Here Now” ever since. Ram Dass’ spirit has been a guiding light for three generations, carrying along millions on the journey, helping to free them from their bonds as he works through his own.

New album out NOW on Tzadik Records
Witch 'n' Monk (formerly Bitch 'n' Monk) is the twinning of Colombian rebel flutist Mauricio Velasierra and British anarchic soprano and guitarist Heidi Heidelberg. Bring together an unusual set of instruments; traditional Latin American flutes, unconventional vocals, electric guitar and bespoke electronics, they create a sound that is defiantly their own.

The essence of their collaboration is encapsulated in the name; dark and light, feminine and masculine, punk and Romantic, free-form and intricately composed. Exploring extremes and creating contrast is fundamental to their work and thus they tread upon the edges of genres.

Celebrated in the jazz and contemporary classical sphere and embrace by the DIY and underground music scenes they have played across the UK and Europe, at prestigious venues and festivals such the Royal Festival Hall (UK), La Cigale (FR), Bimhuis (NL), ParadoxTilburg (NL), Dunkers Kulturhus (SE), London Jazz Festival, Manchester Jazz Festival and Umea Jazz Festival. But they have also been found performing avant-garde film scores at communist Italian skateparts or among the thorn bushes in overgrown East London gardens.

"Ingenious...You’ll spend a while pondering how to classify them – prog folk? Operatic post-punk? Gothic reggae? – but they know how to write melodies." - The Guardian
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"Exquisite. A kaleidescope of musical forms" - Max Reinhardt, BBC Radio 3
 
"A poison apple sound of jazz, folk and classical [...] One bite of this will send you into a lovesick coma and give you an electrifying kiss of life all at once." - The Quietus

bit of fun innit ｡°

THE COLLECTIVE!:
https://soundcloud.com/closenitcollective

A few years ago, David Ditchfield had a freak accident in which he was dragged under a speeding train. As the surgeons fought to save him, he had a profound near-death experience (NDE) and journeyed to what he believes was the Afterlife. When he woke up in hospital, he had acquired astonishing new abilities which to this day, he still cannot explain. The first gift was an enhanced ability to paint. After his NDE, David felt compelled to produce dramatic and rich images of the things he saw in the Afterlife, paintings so vivid and real it was as though he had taken a HD camera with him to visually capture what most NDE'rs can only describe using words. Then, even more surprisingly, he started composing classical music. This new-found gift was all the more astonishing as David (a former punk/pop guitarist) has never received any training in classical music and never composed such music before his NDE. In fact, to this day, he cannot read or write a single note of musical notation. 
David's debut symphony 'The Divine Light' expresses what he felt during his NDE. The symphony was premiered at a sell-out concert and received a standing ovation from the audience. Since then, he has been commissioned to compose further classical works which have also been premiered at sell-out performances and has completed more than thirty paintings and a number of commissioned artworks

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Here you’ll find samples of Ableton, partner and Max for Live instruments.

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