Screach - voice, lyrics, lead guitar during verses https://soundcloud.com/bobby-brady

Jonathan - lead guitar during bridge, initial music, instruments

Thanks Mike!

soul of the night (with Screach)

Five guitars.

A companion piece to: https://soundcloud.com/jonathan_beckenstein/billy-i-am-ruined

Billy I Am Ruined, Too

Janine Levinson - Voice, vocal melodies, lyrics @janinelevinson

Cheesemont Paisley-Paisley - drums and percussion @hypnopompetus drums recorded at the tension headache studio @tension-headache-studio

Jonathan Beckenstein - initial music, guitars, bass, organ, drums for bridge and guitar solo

ain't nobody got nothin' for me
and I got nothin' for no one
but what I got, I will give you for free
I haven’t got a something,
but I will give you some

what I got I will give you for free
maybe a little or a big part of me
I am mounted on the front of your wooden ship
and counting the stars

waiting for the stormclouds to come
waitin' for the lightning to burn
waiting for the ocean to swallow us all
and counting my possessions

poseidon, are you waiting
to give me what you’ve promised?
or only rumbling on the surface
poseidon I am counting

waiting for the snarl from below
waiting for the rift in the dirt
waiting for the earth to shake us loose
and counting her rotations

there ain't nobody got a ticket for me
there’s no use waitin' for the god of the sea
so where I go, I'm gonna get there for free
but I will let you come
I’m gonna let you come

Poseidon (with Janine Levinson & Cheesemont Paisley-Paisley)

Janine Levinson: Voice, lyrics, vocal melody and harmony https://soundcloud.com/janinelevinson

Jonathan Beckenstein: Initial music and all instruments

photo: David Levinson

I woke up kinda late
Brushed the dust off my fedora
Justice, she can never wait
Roll out of bed and shuffle through the door
Even secret agents get the blues

Another day, another dance
Another man to figure out
Coincidence or happenstance?
A criminal? A gadabout?
Even secret agents get the blues
Thinking of you

You did the crime
You do the time

Sorrow, it’s my favorite meal
Eat it up with eggs and coffee
Pictures in the big murder book
Of cold hard evidence you brought me

Even secret agents get the blues
Even secret agents get the blues

Even Secret Agents Get The Blues (with Janine Levinson)

Here’s a strange one. It was made as an assignment for a continuing education class such as I must periodically take to maintain my professional license, a license which has little to nothing to do with music. The radical A/B/A form of the piece as well as its brevity resulted from the nature of the assignment. What the hell any of this has got to do with the Tin Man also relates to the specifics of the class, and I won’t bore you with those. But making the music certainly made the class more fun than it might otherwise have been!

The Tin Man

Wheelwright: voice https://soundcloud.com/wheelwright
Beckenstein: music, lyrics, vocal melody, instruments

Fictive Sisters is a Trans-Atlantic online collaboration between Wheelwright and Jonathan Beckenstein.
________________________________________________________________

hibernating
the days grow dark
suffocating
so pull your boots on
walk out the door

frozen ridge line
and silver moon
distant tree line
the sleeping forest
is under snow

crystal flakes will crunch underfoot
icicles agleam
father winter will tread by your side
to the frosted stream

calculating
the solstice tide
enervating
procrastinating
walk out the door

frigid meadow
in moonlight glaze
dormant willow
is waiting naked
for your embrace

crystal flakes will crunch underfoot
icicles agleam
father winter will tread by your side
to the frosted stream
________________________________________________________________

Michael and I will be introducing two new songs in roughly a month, and at that time the Fictive Sisters album "Immaculate Distraction" will be available on Bandcamp. We will let you know when and provide a link. Thanks always for your listening!

image from Wikipedia

Father Winter (with Wheelwright)(Fictive Sisters)

Wheelwright: voice, vocal melody, lyrics @wheelwright
Beckenstein: initial music, instruments, mix

Fictive Sisters is a transatlantic collaboration between Wheelewright and Beckenstein. Our album Immaculate Distraction is available at Bandcamp: https://fictivesisters.bandcamp.com/album/immaculate-distraction

lyrics below
_______________________________________________________________________

Born in Belarus in 86 yeah
Worked in construction back on the farm then
Dressed as a bishop she did deals in St Peters now she
Drives a Bugatti through the streets of Lausanne

It's not the money that's what she said
Don't want to end up with a hole in the head
We'll rule the world with the power of love
Oh do you think so coz
I don’t think so

We took an Uber to the conference centre she said
They’ll act like animals to get what they want
Blood on the dance floor but you get what you pay for when you
Hang with the cool kids at the policy disco

It's not the money that's what they said
No one looks good with a hole in the head
We'll rule the world with the power of love
Oh do you think so

I can't stay in bed for ever
My real life will never start
Complications don't want to know
Happy ending I don't think so

Hybrid warfare
Grand synthesis
Do the practice
Get dog biscuits
Keep it simple
Keep it stupid
Makes us feel good
We’re gonna use it
______________________________________________________________________

Image credit (detail, processed): Girl with red hat unsplash.com/@girlwithredhat

bandcamp

It's Not The Money (Wheelwright)(Fictive Sisters)

Guitar quartet. Made during an unexpected bout of sobriety.

First Night Clean

PATERNITY


if you’re going down
down onto the sea
don’t leave without me


boarded up the house
threw away the keys
blown down to my knees


once we lived as a family
splendid circle of three


fifth of bourbon won’t
kill the memories
what you meant to me


memory of a family
partner, kiddo and me:
rocky beach and light house beam
counting rabbits in sunset dream


once we lived as a family
splendid circle of three


if you’re going down
down into the mud
don’t leave without me

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks to Janine Levinson, Wheelwright and David Weiss for early listening 
and encouragement.

Paternity

A song for Amy

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

northern hemisphere
coffee warming
you are with me dear
misty morning
the news is dreadful
again
i’ve got a headful
but then
you and your crimson nightgown
from way back when


southern hemisphere
1990
you were with me dear
we were briny
the tanks were empty
again
we went to fill them
and then
a drive to Saba cliffside
with our new friends


we have memories           (we go way back)
but we’re not done yet
come ride beside me        (while we still can)
again
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Thanks to Janine Levinson, Wheelwright, and Cheesemont Paisley-Paisley for early listening.

Love Song #1000

I went to the movies twice this summer, after not having been there since well before the pandemic. This music came out of that experience, as I was reminded of how much I love the cinema.

Roll The Credits

Janine: voice, words, vocal melody https://soundcloud.com/janinelevinson

Jonathan: initial music, instruments, mix

----------------------------------------------------------------------


on a frozen berm
in a carriage house
with a veil of gauze
on a frosted hearth
 
on a ledge of iron
in a blinding storm
on the peat and earth
of the winded moor
   
in the ink and lead
in the skin of men
in the final beats
of a trembling heart
 
it is quiet, shhh
oh but it is quiet 
 
it is quiet
oh it is quiet
 
on the rolling sea
in the folds of sails
in between the planks
on the salty rail
 
in the thorny vines
in the rumpled flowers
in a nest of crows
on a crumbling tower
 
in the swirl of smoke
from a dying fire
it is grey and green
and it is quiet
shhh

--------------------------------------------------------------------
image: Boudewijn Huysmans via Unslpash

It Is Quiet (with Janine Levinson)

This is dedicated to the inspiring acoustic guitar players:

David Dunham https://soundcloud.com/david-dunhamuser589535203

Nathaniel Ehrnman https://soundcloud.com/nathaniel-ehrnman

Jon Spilde https://soundcloud.com/user-788197225

Ian Stokes https://soundcloud.com/ianstokes-uk

Viv https://soundcloud.com/garddwrporffor

Sartori Guitar https://soundcloud.com/user-83791253-79179570

I know I am forgetting folks equally inspiring, and I apologize! So many of you are so good. If I had the facility on the instrument that you acoustic magicians do, this performance would not have the slight stiffness that it does at times.

Rain Delay

Slice of life.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

at the party
in your kaftan

hesitating never knowing what to say

sunday morning
ruffled pillows

what just happened, am i waking all alone
was i dreaming how come i can’t find my phone

heart is racing
head is spinning

my new boyfriend i don’t even know your name
be my boyfriend never thought i’d play this game
listen boyfriend you have left me overthrown
be my boyfriend you can even keep the phone

Boyfriend

Hey, what can I say? Sometimes it gets rough. But it's still good.

------------------------------------------------------------------

on a summer blanket
in the moonlight
with the beach stones stirring
after midnight

i am ready
and i dare

god you know you’re tired
may you rest now
many ways to try it
lay the load down

i am ready (good to go)
i am there (going)

hey hey hey who
checkout avenue

on tomorrow’s bastion
once immortal
now you sense the ending
as a portal

i am ready
honeybear
i’m not waiting 
i am there

i am ready (here’s my ride)
and i dare (good night)
we’re not waiting (good to go)
we are there

------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks to Jacques DiCroce, Janine Levinson, Cheesemont Paisely-Paisely, Wheelwright, and David Weiss for early listening, consultation and support.

image from Linus Nylund via Unsplash

Checkout Avenue

The Scorpio

comin’ over
to my place tonight
dressed in clover
whets my appetite

i want to know
the afterglow

slide on over
i’ll take it at the light
black bulldozer
tailin’ us tonight

i feel the flow
the undertow

cold turkey
no way
i’ll get there
someday

now it’s over
turnin’ out the light
bruised all over
exiting stage right

i feel the flow
the vertigo
and now you know
the scorpio

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks to Janine Levinson, Cheesemont Paisley-Paisley, and Wheelwright for consultations various.

Image by Hassan Sherif via Unsplash

The Scorpio

in a garden
she is gazing
at an apple

she is naked
doesn’t realize
and she wonders

in the sun
asking:

“Listen honey,
would you like some
just between us?”

perilous
picnic

she don’t worry 
she can take the heat
Mother Courage
ends up in the street

east of eden
she is toiling
for her children

fearless love
wisdom
mama’s love
wisdom

fearless love
wisdom
mama’s love
wisdom

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks to Janine Levinson, Cheesemont Paisely-Paisely, and Wheelwright for early listening, support, and ace suggestions.

image by Ray Shrewsberry via Unsplash

This music is loosely inspired by John Lurie's very engaging TV show, "Painting With John".

Image by Shoeb Khatib via Unsplash, re-cropped by me.

Why Am I Thinking These Things?

poor bastard it’s on your face
the permanent frown
we’ll give it the coup de grâce
the jolly smack down

in the morning… slip away
on the move… going

cracked windshield don’t block the way
to getting around
start picking the weed bouquet
we’re heading for town

in the morning… steal away
on the move… going

cat mother she wrings her hands
just leave us alone
she never did understand
a house ain’t a home

in the morning… slip away
on the move… going
california… get away
gonna move… going

last round up around this place
you dig up the bones
raise canvas for anyplace
the skull and crossbones
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks to Janine Levinson, Cheesemont Paisely-Paisely, David Weiss, and Wheelwright for early listening and massively good suggestions.

Image by Spencer Davis via Unsplash.

California Leaving

after school
runaways
was just the two of us
babe

leave our homes
leave our friends
see where the highway
ends

flying
trying

you never come around now

ever gone
here to stay
you live inside of me
Maeve

in my dream’s
shadow play
until tomorrow comes
stay

crying
trying

you never come around now

until tomorrow comes
stay
-------------------------------------------------------------------

thanks to Janine Levinson, Cheesemont Paisely-Paisely, Wheelwright and Wodwo for patient support and great ideas.

image by Alexander Grey via Unsplash

Evergone

Moon dogs, also known as paraselenae, are bright spots on either side of the moon, symbolizing for some, spiritual growth, enhanced intuition, and self-reflection. The phenomenon is a reminder to embrace change and personal transformation.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
once i was older
than i am today
I am floating     (outward bound)
half away                  


you want some answers
so do i
as we amble   (down this road) 
mystified

it’s just a moondog in the sky

time is a circle
each life a dream
let’s walk barefoot  (while we can)    
in the stream

on top of all the passion we bring
tomorrow doesn’t mean a thing

it’s just a twinkle in your eye

we’ll ride together
push it all the way
write the story   (write it down)  
burn the page

can’t protect now
going down

can’t deflect now
but don’t slow down

can’t take it with you
so just let go

kick it goodbye

--------------------------------------------------------------------

image by Sebastian Saarloos  via  space.com

Thanks to Janine Levinson, Cheesemont Paisely-Paisely, David Weiss and Wheelright and Wodwo for early listening and encouragement.

The Last Moondog

summer sunlight on the ground
i still see you fallen down

it happens every day (to the chosen) baby
the wounded find a way hey

every heartache, every fear
just a mistake brought us here

you have the secret knack (deep inside you) darling
the one that brings us back jack

into the weeds we’re going
spinning ‘round
but we’ll be back i know it
watch us now

hey honey don’t you know (don’t you know it) by now
you’ll never be alone, no

we’re grateful for today (we accept it) cherie
there is no other way hey

It Happens Every Day

Just for fun. 

I shared a rehearsal space in the basement of Westbeth Artist Housing (please see the photo) in the late 70’s. This music has to do with my dream-memory of the place.

The basement was labyrinthine. Until a few years ago, I still had recurring dreams of that environment. It was constructed of grey painted cinder block or some such stony material. There were many bands in many rooms down there, and as you walked the halls you’d hear all the musics leaking out from under steel doors in cacophony. Often you’d hear the band in the next cell right through your own stone wall as you were playing. That made it hard to record in there. We did it anyway. 

The sonic qualities of this recording remind me of those hallways as do some of the somewhat antiquated guitar moves. And by the way, I love antiquated guitar moves!

Westbeth Catacombs

rotten weather   rollin’ in

we’ll go walkin’ anyway

‘gainst the wind


get your go-bag ready
load the car up


did you hear it?  distant roar

keep your ear down to the ground

check the score


get your hard hat ready
fill those bottles up


i can’t remember
were you there?
your fingers running
through my hair


let them come now  let them try

beating down the beautiful

of our tribe


purple mountains raging
blackened skies 
constitution’s aging
battle cry 

high angels  hiding

my country  dying

(not too late)   (late)

let’s listen  let’s breathe 

(not too late)   (late)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks to Janine Levinson, Cheesemont Paisely-Paisely, and Wheelwright for early listening and feedback.

Rotten Weather

We're back.

Janine: voices, vocal melody and harmony, lyrics https://soundcloud.com/janinelevinson
Jonathan: initial music, instruments, mix
David Levinson: image

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nature has conspired to bring a basketful of obstacles 
Pesky interfering things, not the things she ought to bring 
They pile up in my way like spiky beaver dams 
They just accumulate like unbrushed tresses,

Well surprise surprise, they can be wonderful

An infantry of shoulds and bags of promises 
Have all transmogrified and curl like willow branches 
That crown around my head and vine around my feet 
And where the fire burned, they slurp the ashes

But surprise surprise, they're kinda beautiful
 it’s all so beautiful


Surprise surprise, it’s pretty beautiful
Nature is a wild thing with no philosophy 
And where the atoms turn is helter skelter 
So on the sides of trees forever lichen grows 
And mossy destiny is in their shelter

Surprise surprise, it’s all so beautiful


Surprise Surprise (with Janine Levinson)

i clean up the world
you fall in beside me
i’ll cover the Wuhan lab
you shore up the army

i follow the news
the news is disaster
i’ve given up on my booze
to wash the world faster

every morning
every hour

stop at the top of mountains
soul care repair

it happens this way
to each generation
the entropy cabaret
and reason’s cessation

every morning
wake up to the truth
every hour
plenty more to do

stop at the top of mountains
rest there fresh air 

every morning
wake up to the truth
every hour plenty more to do

stop at the top of mountains 
pure prayer up there

Tikkun

at the disco
goin’ all the way
with a speedball
on an empty day

i wonder if i stopped my cryin’
i wonder if i stopped now

crooked halo
all you’ve got today
your dependents
better back away

i wonder if i stopped my cryin’
i wonder who i’d be now

in the moonlight
goin’ all the way
to the river
gonna watch for day

i wonder if i stop my crying’
i wonder what i’d see now

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks to Cheesemont Paisely-Paisely, Jacques DiCroce, Janine Levinson, David Weiss, and Wheelwright for encouragement and the fine tooth comb.

Pity Party

Real time, live looped solo guitar improvisation. Gretsch guitar, pedal board, amplifier, one mic to one track.



2-5-16 (Aunt Trudy is back)

Janine wrote this lovely song some time ago (lyrics below). Recently she sent it to me to produce, which was a great gift to me. I believe many of you already know Janine's work. If not, please visit her here: @janinelevinson It will be a gift for you, too.

Janine: song, voice, electric piano (Janine Levinson 2017)
Jonathan: guitars, bass, drum programming, synth, organ, balalaika sample, mix.

LOVE IS WHERE YOU FIND IT

Love is where you find it 
But never where you're looking
You give up expectations 
And then you feel it sneaking up behind you 
Looking for you

Love is all around us
But never where we've sent it
It's certain to surprise us 
If we let down our defenses -It’s a mystery 
Who will it be?

The sky is blue because that's how we see it
The world is round because we all believe it
The ground is warm - we know because we feel it
But love is manifested when we're no longer looking to receive it

Love is a surrender to an unexpected vision
It’s not what you were thinking 
And sometimes it requires a decision 
Just to give in

The future can’t be known; we don't control it
We find the road the moment we don't own it
We get the love when we don't try to force it 
And it's so unexpected,
We may not recognize it when we see it

It marches to its own drum
Like the tide, it goes and comes
Strips us of our pride and then
Comes back flooding in again

Love is where you find it 
But never where you're looking
You give up expectations
And then you feel it sneaking up
Behind you
Looking for you -for LOVE

art: Janine Levinson

Love Is Where You Find It (Janine Levinson)

live looping improvisation later re-composed and augmented in studio






Wait

Words,Vocal Melody, Singing and Sampled Cello: Wheelwright 
Initial Music, Guitars, Bass: Jonathan Beckenstein
Drums: Cheesemont Paisley-Paisley @hypnopompetus

Fictive Sisters is a transatlantic collaboration of Wheelwright and Beckenstein. Our album Immaculate Distraction is available at: https://fictivesisters.bandcamp.com/album/immaculate-distraction

You can visit Wheelwright's page here; https://soundcloud.com/wheelwright
You'll be glad you did. He is a true songsmith.

We All Know How It Ends  (Wheelwright+Beckenstein)(Fictive Sisters)

A laboratory with an open bar and floating altar. Come on in! 

Here are various solo and collaborative projects - songs, soundscapes, live looped solo guitar improvisations. 

This project used to be called "imaginary friends", but it became too real for that name, as did many of you.

I hope you enjoy something you find here. Do feel free to be in touch, you never know what might happen.  

I also invite you to attend @hypnopompetus, a duo project with the illustrious Cheesemont Paisley-Paisley https://soundcloud.com/sel-sync, and Fictive Sisters, a transatlantic band with  the incomparable Wheelwright https://fictivesisters.bandcamp.com/album/immaculate-distraction.

Jonathan Beckenstein

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