Anam Hermit: words, voice, vocal recording
Jonathan Beckenstein: instrumental track, mix

I became obsessed with a certain Italian TV show, and the possibilities of Italian Hip Hop. Thanks to Anam for making a musical fantasy come true.
You can visit with him here: https://soundcloud.com/anamhermit
He is a fountain of creativity.

Calami La Lampo (with Anam Hermit)

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)

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)

This was made on the occasion of being unexpectedly called back to full time work after some years of delicious semi-retirement.

Why Must We Toil

Wheelwright: voice and lyrics, vocals recording and their sub-mix, song form editing. You can visit with him here: @wheelwright

Jonathan Beckenstein: initial music, all instruments, mix

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

There's a message
It says come back right now
And you looked like you'd seen a ghost
People talking
Then they're moving away
And you're questioning everything

Transatlantic
And the earth was shaking
Lost in transit
Lost in mid translation

Oh and the kingdom to come
Will be a kingdom of reason

Did I tell you
All the things we could see
When they held you up to the light
Drink some vodka and then
Walk out the door
You said this is better for everyone

[Chorus]

We like the meaningful songs
They send a meaningful signal

In the Hare Krishna restaurant in Soho
No one recognised you
Coz you didn't look much like the photo

On the inside
I said everyone's lost
And you said yeah but nobody really cares
Run the numbers
And learn to be smart
Now the world is turned upside down

[Chorus]

Image by Cash Macanaya unsplash.com/@cashmacanaya

bandcamp

Lost In Transit  (with Wheelwright)(Fictive Sisters)

A most warm thank you to Jörg for his wonderful tenor sax and flute contribution to this track.

You can visit him here: https://soundcloud.com/joerxworx

image by: Thorolf Jansson

My Tent Or Yours (featuring Joerxworx)

Four guitars on a deliciously depressive and sleep deprived winter's day. Neither entirely composed nor completely improvised, it is more a finger painting.

For Ray.

january

Wheelwright: voice, vocal melody and harmony, lyrics @wheelwright

Jonathan: initial music, instruments, mix

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

image by Lani Maynard

Crossing time-zones
Godforsaken deserts
Midnight in transit stations
The illusion of freedom
Written in blood written in stone

It's just an idea
It's just an idea

The twisted wreck
Of a helicopter gunship
A distant call to prayer
Sweet liquorice and bitter cigarettes

It's just an idea [...]

He carries her in his heart
She's all he had now all he has
White knuckles holding fast
His mother's photograph in a young man’s hands

Now everything is lost
Now everything is lost

They say half the future’s buried in the past
But the fallen will not weep for us
When it’s our time to choose

It's just an idea [...]

Sweet Licorice And Bitter Cigarettes (with Wheelwright)(Fictive Sisters)

V1

 DESTITUTE
 AND WITHOUT A CLUE

 DISSOLUTE
 WITH A BONE TO PICK

 ONCE IN A WHILE
 THE LOCK AND KEY

 OVERNIGHT
 DEBAUCHERY

V2

SCORPIO
DUPLICITY

MIND YOURSELVES
OR HE’LL HAVE YOU ALL

MOUTHFUL OF GUILE
AND FALSITY

RADIANT 
HYPOCRISY 

(TRANSITION / INSTRUMENTAL)

V3

AFTER ALL 
ARRIVING HERE

DIDN’T FALL
DIDN’T FUCK IT UP

ONCE IN A WHILE
EPIPHANY

GRATITUDE
AND HARMONY

Photograph is mine, and is the view from my room.

Many thanks to Amy Kaufman, Janine Levinson, Cheesemont Paisley-Paisley, Wheelwright, David Weiss, and Wodwo for their generosity and patient advice as I tried to sing my own song, a project that I found both thrilling and terrifying!

Gratitude And Harmony

Hello partner, your ride is here.
Just slide the empties off the seat and climb in.
Don’t sit on that spring, it’ll cut you.
No, the seatbelt’s broken, wipers, too.

Little man
On the lamb
Blues

Where’d you say you were going?
This car doesn’t go that way.
This is a ride to the Last Star.
Don’t hold on too tight, you’ll get yourself hurt.
Trust me, you are going to a better place.

Little man
Takes a stand
Blues

THE PILGRIM ACCEPTS THE BOWL
THE SHAMAN SAYS SWALLOW WHOLE

INDIGO
AFTERGLOW
ALL YOU KNOW
GONE…

You again. You sure?
OK, I’ll take you home.
Crack the window, it’ll help some.
And there’s a paper bag in the back somewhere.
Use it if you have to.

Superman
Wonderland
Blues

Superman 
Wonderland
Blues

Indigo
Afterglow
All you know
Gone...


Thanks to Fady, Janine Levinson, Cheesemont Paisley-Paisley and Wheelwright for their most helpful and useful consultation.

Superman Wonderland Blues

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

Jonathan: initial music, instruments, mix

This is humankind
This is humankind

You hear the word god
You hear the word profit
you hear the word bullet
and you find yourself exploding

And although it should be clear
You will make yourself a witness
And the dais is a pulpit
Oh! your reverence is showing

This is humankind
This is humankind

you hear the word them
you hear it from your prophets
you hear the word trigger
and you find yourself imploding

And although it’s antithetic
You will worship disagreement
At your church of unforgiveness
Oh! your reverence is showing

Do not fret your thumping heart
We are humankind
This is just the way things are
This is humankind

This is humankind

To know your opposition
Feels like a new narcotic
You rely on distribution
Your opinion is the tonic

And although it should be clear
You’ll forget that you were something
And the answers will be soothing
Aw your reverence is showing

This is humankind
This is humankind

You hear the word god
You hear the word profit
you hear the word bullet
and you find yourself exploding

And although it should be clear
You will make yourself a witness
And the dais is a pulpit
Oh! your reverence is showing

This is humankind
This is humankind

This is humankind
This is humankind
This is humankind
This is humankind

Humankind (with Janine Levinson)

Mark Duffield: voice, lyrics, vocal and harmony melodies  @markduffieldcollaboration

Jonathan Beckenstein: initial music, instruments, mix

There’s something in the words you say
That makes me want to be with you
There’s something in the way that you love
That makes me want to see it through

When you are sinking
You’re not thinking
(Oh, yay, Oh, yay, Oh, yay, Oh, Oh yay yay x2)

When something isn’t right
(something, isn’t wrong)
When something isn’t wrong
When it’s taking you over
(taking you over)
You’ve got to be smart
(got to be smart)
You’ve got to be bright 
(got to be bright)
(Or you’ll live your lie)
When you are sinking
You’re not thinking

Hustle up now,
Carry your eyes
Don’t walk, run
Something wicked this way comes

There’s something in the words you say
That makes me want to be with you
There’s something in the way that you love
That makes me want to see it through

When you are sinking
You’re not thinking
When you are sinking
You’re not thinking

Never change your mind
Never change your mind
Always change your mind
Always change your mind
Never change your mind
Never change your mind
You should always change your mind
Always change your mind
Always change your mind

Words You Say (with Mark Duffield)

AROUND IT COMES
IT COMES AGAIN
VICIOUS NIGHT
AND HURRICANE

YOU SHOULD HAVE KNOWN
YOU COULDN’T SEE
PRE-DESIGNED
THIS DESTINY

MY INSTAGRAM
AND TWITTER FEED
WILL NOT BLOCK
ATROCITY

A STROLL TO YESTERDAY
AND DON’T FORGET YOUR RAINCOAT

RECALL WHEN WE WERE SAFE
AND HISTORY WAS A GHOST

IT’S NOT TOO LATE
UNLEASH THE LIGHT
ONE MORE TIME
BEFORE THE NIGHT

Thanks to Janine Levinson, Wheelwright, Fady and Cheesemont for early listening, consultation, and support.

History

A slow jam on the occasion of the withdrawal of daylight savings time. Sometimes a guy just can't let go.

Three guitar tracks, sequentially improvised.

Ceasing Summer

IN A DOORWAY
IN THE SHADOWS
AS THE RAIN MUTES
THE NEON SIGNS


HANDS IN POCKETS
OF A SLICKER
MIDNIGHT STRAGGLERS
MEANDER BY

HOLLOW PROMISE
REMINISENCE
LIKE AN ARCING
ELECTRIC LINE

4:00 IN THE MORNIN’
SHE’S AT THE AFTERPARTY
NO ONE IS WARNIN’
SHE SHOULDN’T LEAVE ALONE, NO…

EVERLASTING
I DON’T THINK SO
EVERY BARGAIN
WILL BE BETRAYED

JESUS TOLD ME
I AM SPECIAL
CLOCK IS TICKING
IT’S JUDGEMENT DAY

FADE TO BLACK
SHE’S NOT COMING BACK

FADE TO BLACK
A FRESH MANIAC

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

Amour Noir

Sometimes it all goes slow. 

image: Aubree Henrick

solstice solitaire

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)

I was a bike messenger. It never leaves you. 

________________________________________________________________

40 quarters
in your pocket
strap your helmet
grab a lane
asphalt pinball
in the morning

rocket on
marathon

trucks and taxis
coming at you 
double dance move
get away
asphalt pinball
it’s a hustle

canvass bag
cargo tags

cop in bike lane
traffic ticket
time is wasting 
run away

open car door
broken window
glass on pavement 
shitty day

chain links clicking
through Manhattan
red light running
all the way
asphalt pinball
burning muscles

it’s the same
in the rain
_______________________________________________________________

photo by Max Bender via Unsplash.com

Thanks to Wheelwright for his sage suggestion to include backing vocals.

Asphalt Pinball

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

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

Janine: voice, vocal melody, lyrics https://soundcloud.com/janinelevinson
Jonathan: initial music, instruments, mix

image: Janine Levinson

Let me be your remedy
I promise not to fail you
Let me be the remedy
For everything that ails you
 
I promise I will be as good
As any other remedy would
With the added benefit of being me
 
Let me be the antidote
To all your poison apples
Take a bite it don’t taste right  
I promise I’ll be able 
To save you from yourself
Spit out the seeds!
 
And if you say that you wanna
I can give you something other
I can be your lover
Open up and tip it over
 
If you come with me  
We can be carefree
Open up and tip it over
Open up and tip over
 
If you say that you wanna
I can give you something other
I can be your lover
Open up and tip it over
 
If you come with me  
We can be carefree
Open up and tip it over
Open up and tip over
 
Let me be your remedy
I promise not to fail you
Let me be the remedy
For everything that ails you
 
I promise I will be as good
As any other remedy would
With the added benefit of being 
 
I promise I will be as good
As any other remedy would 
With the benefit of being 
 
I promise I will be as good
I promise I will be good
I will

With the Benefit of Being Me (with Janine Levinson)

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

Wheelwright: voice, lyrics, vocal melody, synthesizer, theremin sample @wheelwright

Beckenstein: initial music, guitars, bass, drum programming, mix

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

We stayed up very late then took the flight from Kyoto 
The blossom on the wind the artificial sky reminded us of something

Oh did you hear that a storm is coming 
Oh did you hear that we were making plans

That girl said she was you when you were in that noise art band
 But it was hard to tell if she was really real or just another ghost

The shadows on the wall 
The clinical blue light 
The trouble's hidden in my heart

I'm watching from above it's like we're in a TV show
 We're standing on a bridge the mountain in the distance like a Hokusai

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

image: Marlon Josué https://unsplash.com/@paladin_04 further processed by Wheelwright

Thanks to Fady for inspiration various.

We Were Making Plans (with Wheelwright) (Fictive Sisters)

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

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

Very much a collaboration.

Tante Meli supplied vocals and lyrics, vocal production, very good drum ideas, synth swells and sampled organ.

Faerytale played perfect cello and pan flute.

I brought guitars and bass, bass synth, sampled organ, digital percussion and drums. Then I attempted to mix it all.

It was fun.

Tante Meli and Faerytale. You know them, you love them. But if you don’t know them, go here: @faerytale and here: @tante-meli. You will love them.



source of image:
hqwallbase.com/images/big/the_gh…nd_me-1528321.jpg



Behind Me (featuring Tante Meli + Faerytale )

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



2-5-16 (Aunt Trudy is back)

live looping improvisation later re-composed and augmented in studio






Wait

I am honored and happy to have made this together with Fady.

Please visit him here: @fadysporz
His songs are treats, sweet and tart and oh, so deep.

Is this how it ends?
oh no.
no fireballs
no siren calls
just panic
and confusion.

Is this how it ends?
oh no
no meteor
no demon horde
just panic
isolation.

If you could only
see through my eyes.
and I could
see whats inside
your head and marvel that
there ain't much daylight between us.

Is this where we bend?
who knows.
No lessons learned
no cheeks are turned
just malice
and delusion.

Is this where we mend?
I hope!
no rich or poor.
no 'mine or yours'
just victim
after victim.

Victim After Victim (with Fady)

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, and Fictive Sisters, a transatlantic band with  the incomparable Wheelwright https://fictivesisters.bandcamp.com/album/immaculate-distraction.

Jonathan Beckenstein

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