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)

Five guitars.

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

Billy I Am Ruined, Too

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)

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 [...]

bandcamp

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

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)

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)

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

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)

Life As It Is

smoke on the mountain
storm coming in
toxic fountain
there’s smoke on the mountain

ominous x-ray
the hangman at dawn
clotted airways
societal decay

breathe
don’t fight it
ooo
life as it is

4 in the morning
you’re tossing again
habit forming
it’s 4 in the morning

now looking backward
the bill of regret
soul is fractured
eclipse manufactured

wait
don’t fear it
ooo
life as it is

brothers and sisters gather ‘round
and all of you who are both or neither
gather ‘round and hear
bring your sorrow
bring your fear
and know that all pain
comes from saying no

stop
accept it
ooo
life as it is

all at the same time
this heaven and hell
dark and divine
it’s all at the same time

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

Thanks to Rupert Spira for the concept, "all pain comes from saying no".

Thanks to Janine Levinson, Cheesemont Paisely-Paisely, David Weiss, and Wheelwright for early consultation, encouragement, and critique.

Image by Dan Ross via Unsplash.

Life As It Is

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

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 )

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

Mark Duffield: voice, vocal melody, lyrics https://soundcloud.com/markduffieldcollaboration
Jonathan Beckenstein: initial music, instruments, mixing
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Across the bay
Many many many miles away
See a crescent moon
Reflected in a field of poppies bloomed

Take a step into this vision, soon
Grab a flower and throw it at the moon

(YOU)
Don’t ask me how you’re gonna get there soon
(Don’t ask me, don’t ask me, do)
(YOU)
You might as well throw a flower at the moon

Throw a flower, a flower, at the moon
Throw a flower, a flower, at the moon

Save our wrecks
Oh then, say the best
Get it off your chest
Just another shipwreck

Another shipwreck
Get it off your chest
Another shipwreck
Get it off your chest
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
image: Bart Ros via Unsplash

Poppies (with Mark Duffield)

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

live looping improvisation later re-composed and augmented in studio






Wait

Mark Duffield: all vocals, vocal melodies and lyrics.
Jonathan Beckenstein: music, guitars, bass, drum programming

Please visit Mark here: https://soundcloud.com/markduffieldcollaboration

or here: https://soundcloud.com/eltel-music23

There’s a map upon your face
Says join the human race
Often whispered sweetly

There’s a hunger in your eyes
Tells your stomach not to lie
Often whispered sweetly

Pooh pooh pooh pooh!

Is it magical?
Not so physical 
Metaphysical
Not invisible
Not divisible
Nothing risible 
Shoot the animal, Officer Dibble

Pooh pooh pooh pooh!

Often whispered sweetly

They rely on the ways of a gun 
Keep it simple
Keep it pithy
They rely on the ways of a gun

Something in your eye
That’s tugging at your heart
Something in your mind
That’s tugging at your heart
Something in your eye
Is tugging at your heart

Pooh pooh pooh pooh

Officer Dibble..

Officer Dibble (with Mark Duffield)

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.

Popular tracks by Jonathan Beckenstein