Machine Unseen's second album contains more deeply personal music from In-Xtric-8's own life and regarding his relationships and feelings for family and friends.  Containing songs initially written in high school to songs written later in life and more recently with reflections during and after COVID-19..

In-Xtric-8

Thanks to Bill for the drum and percussion tracks...

Lyrics

There’s a grace in accepting our past
Shading reality through rose-tinted glass
Reframe dreams, re-envision success,
A lifetime of memories, some good, some a little less.

We’ve had challenges along our way.
Detours that led us here today…
Would never have dreamed to pray for this…
We found in our struggles a share of bliss…

Though deep wilderness we travel through
You make ever after so easy to do…
You make ever after oh so easy to do…

This man so flawed and moody.
In imperfection you showed him beauty, 
Imperfect, yet never settling for less,
as you tease playfully at his seriousness…

Now I hold my tongue a little more…
So that for your waves I can be your shore…
be your comfort as we grow old…
to have the hand you reach out to hold.

Tender impulses somehow grew.
You make ever after so easy to do…
Our years together, how they flew.
You make ever after so easy to do…
You make ever after oh so easy to do

Interlude 

Our years together, how they flew.
You make ever after so easy to do
If we lived 1000 lifetimes through
I'd still do ever after… so happily with you,
I'd still do ever after… so happily with you,

You Make Ever After Easy with Bill Concello - drums & percussion

Thanks, Bill for the drum parts!

lyrics

V1
Confident and full of  pride,
Honest feelings once denied
With no one in whom to confide.
Acquainted with life’s darker side 

Surviving such a long wild ride
Moments that  he could have died. 
So tough to swim against the tide 
But no denying that he tried 

C1
Just had to learn the hard way…
From willful boy to stubborn man…
Barely surviving day-to-day
Hoping life still had a plan…for him.


V2
Knowing love’s unlucky side
She learned to take these things in stride
Protective of the fire inside,
But unprepared when hearts collide

They met, she sensed his wounded pride
Feelings intense, his tongue was tied
A gaze from which he couldn’t hide 
Walls fell down and tears were cried

C2
Their love grew the hard way…
Messy, yes, but always true
Step-by-step and day-by-day
Both needing to see this through…

C3
They found love the hard way.
Retaught each other how to dance
with grace and gratitude.  They
were one another’s chance... to learn

to love the hard way…

The Hard Way

The Hard Way - featuring Bill Concello (drums)

Thanks to Bill Concello for writing and recording the drum and percussion track!

Lyrics:

How to grieve what had never been?
Written long ago… father, not friend,
without resolution in the end.  Why? 

Perhaps primitive, never eye to eye.  
maybe I to him, an animal, shelterless,
to be taken in, weak and helpless.

But to never grow up, be like Peter Pan
Soul of a boy in the skin of a man.
Irreverent child.  Never worldly or wise,
But no longer willing to wear his disguise
Off to heaven he flies!

brief interlude 

Nervous smile, awkward laugh, outta there!
Pumped ’til the burn was too much to bear.
Felt like flying, the wind in his hair,

Now older, still taken in easily
could ne’er comprehend inhumanity
they say he still lives in a fantasy

…to never grow up, Like Peter Pan
Soul of a boy in the skin of a man.
Irreverent, child.  Never worldly or wise,
But no longer willing to wear their disguise
Off to heaven he flies!
Off to heaven he flies!
to heaven he flies!
..he flies...  flies!
....he flies!
......he flies!
........he flies!

Taken In - Featuring Bill Concello (Drums)

Many thanks to Bill Concello for the drum and percussion parts.


Lyrics:
  
Seven huddle in a one room shed, tattered clothing, no toilet…bed.  
to sleep and keep the children fed, all other options limited.

Chorus:  
Swords to borders, war’s been won.
Give up the fight before it’s begun!
We’ll have thousands, they’ll have none…

Dirt road in a dust bowl town.  Fossilized fingers scratch the ground…
Burying treasures, recently found.  Palms outstretched without a sound. 

Chorus:  
Swords to borders, war’s been won.
Give up the fight before it’s begun!
We’ll have thousands, they’ll have none.

Swords to borders, war’s been won…

Bridge:
Imagination aspiration, revelation inspiration
Innovation adaptation, cooperation orchestration
Reputation vindication, collaboration invitation
Third-world nation transformation. Population celebration!

Hot sands blowing sting their faces,… a journey walked for generations.
A million footsteps leave no traces, but imprinted on their hearts, was patience…

Outro and fade out:  
Nations
Swords to borders, war’s been won.
Patience
Swords to borders, war’s been won.
Nations
Swords to borders, war’s been won.
Patience

Swords to Borders

Swords To Borders - featuring Bill Concello (drums)

Many thanks as always to Bill for the great drum track.  Thanks also on this song to Kohei for the jazzy feelings.


About lost years and holding on to hope even in old age

Lyrics:  

I thought my ship had sailed…, never again to ride your seas…
to sleep in a blanket of stars, or to taste your salty breeze…

Crossed mountains and meadows, yearning to feel your sand between my toes…
At sunrise tomorrow morn, where she blows, no one knows…

Watching and riding the waves, a last chance for this ship to come in..
Then it’ll be smooth sailing for us my maritime friend…
  it’ll be smooth sailing my friend…

Docked my boat on the harbor.   I’m on the beach combing for shells.
Hull may be taking on water, …but I can still catch the wind in my sails.

Remember how we faced the deep fearlessly, braving the storm in our primes…
Won’t you come out and sail with me, once more for the sake of old times?

Watching and riding the waves, a last chance for this ship to come in..
Then it’ll be smooth sailing for us my maritime friend…
  it’ll be smooth sailing my friend…
    smooth sailing
      smooth sailing
        smooth sailing

Old Mariner's Song - (Bill Concello - drums, Kohei Kanayama - jazz harmonies)

We are a family of musicians collaborating with others in Tokyo, London and the US to create our debut album, "Evidence of Soul," stories of love, friendship, and learning to survive in this world.

In-Xtric-8