Collaborations with a number of great fellow Soundcloud artists

Global Collaborations

Another of fellow Dorset based poet CJ Harrington's pieces set to music

Check out his soundcloud https://soundcloud.com/c-j_harrington and website https://gate.sc/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcjharrington.co.uk%2F&token=19a002-1-1615131688735

THE RAVEN
The dark bird caws an aching creak, jarring
high in the branches of my twisted hazel

Light drips thickly - like warm blood or hot metal -
from the anvil angles of its beak, cuts short
breeze, divides still water, and settles
deep in the silence of the little pond beneath

It is not the tawdry light of the mind
where still limbs, still torso, still breath pull close -
become justified - where truth is vulnerable to age

Nor is it the light of secret gardens, of mists
unsettling and godless clarity eclipsing everything

An illusive bat mapping shady new worlds
by shriek and wail.  The old owl's careful murders
These fears swoop in the cool of night

But this raven comes with the light.  Hopping and strutting
Gently tip tap tapping.  Its black glint encumbering
ornamental cherry trees, beach and oaks with ease

And it brings the white-hot light of fear.  The clarity of danger
The fat weight of doubt that lingers near
The crack in peace.  The spark of both death and change

The Raven (featuring the Poetry of CJ Harrington)

Sophie is a really talented singer (and songwriter) from Yeovil, UK, and a good friend.  She contacted me the other day and said "fancy having a crack at Pulp's underwear?".  And I did.  And here it is.

Check out Sophie's page - https://soundcloud.com/sophiejoanne-2

Underwear (Pulp Cover with Sophie Joanne)

Lynda Faye asked if I would like to have a go at reworking a piece she wrote some time back and had never properly finished.  I may have a few chords wrong here and there and applied a bit of artistic licence, but here is the final piece.


Tortured & Tainted.
by Lynda Faye

She  had faces and hair,
Bodies to wear, just like the preacher man said.
Live in it , you must, from the fear through the lust,
You're stuck in this shell, til you're dead!.

Her soul slightly tainted, tortured and taunted,
This was never the life she had planned.
She wanted children, ..and a house in the country,
But she always , found the wrong  man.

From pillar to post, more lucky than most;
She fought her  way through the crowd.
Sometimes you can hear it, 
When she died,  her spirit...is crying  alone, out loud.

She had faces to wear,
Pretty dresses to wear, just like the preacher man said.
Live in it, you must, from the fear to the lust,
You're stuck in this shell, til you're dead!

Copyrighted 1999 by LyndaFaye

Tortured and Tainted(Rendition of a song by Lynda Faye)

Brian Butts - Guitar, Drums, Bass, Keyboards, Production https://soundcloud.com/brian-butts-565934842
Marc Freak - Vocals, Lyrics/Melody

BOXED IN
Maybe I'm paranoid or just dumb
I'm trying to work out where I'm from and why
And do I even have a name?
Feels like I'm boxed in once again
Its time to fly

CHORUS
Feeling less able and slightly unstable each day
Caught like a fly in a web and I can't fly away
Feeling less able and slightly unstable each day
I think I'm boxed in and not feeling a thing
Life is grey

The jokes I'm cracking with a straight face
I'm told there's a time and a place to go
I'm picture perfect picture this
I've always been so hit and miss
Oh no!

CHORUS

Boxed In (Brian Butts and Marc Freak)

Song created & played by The Boilerman & Marc Freak
Marc created & sings: all vocals
Eric created and plays: all drums, bass, lead & rythm guitar, ambient, atmo instruments

Big thanks to The Boilerman Eric for all the hard work on this!!  Check out his page https://soundcloud.com/boilerman-615719656

SMALL
Sunlight slowly tainting my skin
Too right I should have known
Listen I don't know where to begin
This life is one that I've blown

Darkness oh be still there my friend
Who knows what's instore
Hold tight as we skip to the end
I guess I'd have liked some more

CHORUS
I'm passing away the waning sunlight
I'm passing a chance at it all
Its fruitless to fight a certain darkness
I'm small

Sunlight where the tunnel may lead
I think I've a view
Glistens like some shiny new treat
I'll be there just with you

Counting - its a waste of my time
This I can't control
Thank you its been mostly sublime
Now I'll sink back in my hole

CHORUS

Small (The Boilerman and Marc Freak)

Song created & played by The Boilerman & Marc Freak
Marc created & sings: all vocals
Eric created and plays: all drums, bass, lead & rhythm guitar, ambient, atmo instruments

Check out the Boilerman's page -https://soundcloud.com/boilerman-615719656

BYE BYE
I have been cleaner
I have been second to none
I've hardly seen her
But I was forced to run
Not even saying bye bye
And no look eye to eye
Not even saying bye bye
I'm looking to hide from you

CHORUS
When you're living in a small town there's a limit what you do
When you're living in a small town there's a chance some won't approve
When you're living in a small town and you don't know why you never thought to move

I am ecstatic
I've gone beyond a joke
I scored a hat-trick
Of the unfortunate folk
And now I'm saying bye bye
Find an excuse and then fly
Now I'm saying bye bye
And looking to hide from you

CHORUS

Could you believe it?
I over compensate
This is no bragging bit
I get through such a rate
No chance I'm saying bye bye
I'm too ensconced in your thigh
No chance I'm saying bye bye
I'm spending my time with you

CHORUS

Bye Bye (The Boilerman and Marc Freak)

Thanks to Brian Butts (https://soundcloud.com/brian-butts-565934842) for inviting me to create some vocals and lyrics for this.  Nice beefy sound!!

Brian Butts - Guitar, Drums, Bass, Keyboards, Master Mix
Marc Freak - Vocals, Lyrics

BARBED WIRE
And so the barbed wire it tore through my jaw
More spiked than the barbed words you swore
I felt my throat cut and my blood start to spurt
And it was ruining the named clothes that I wore

CHORUS
Seen it coming
I look for a sweetness but girl you are bereft
I'm tangled and trapped in the barbed wire you left
We only pretended we got on just fine
You said I'd no guts but these guts are all mine

And so the blood pours for the weakest of cause
I only ever hinted my thoughts
And every time that I move it cuts another groove
You always seemed to want to know warts n all
So as I slowly choke I wonder which of us spoke
I'd have torn you down with whats in my mind
I'm like a scarecrow from which the maggots do grow
The blood I fear is making me blind
Now there's a final breath and its all I've got left
I'm hanging onto it whilst I can
I scared the crows away but alas you still stayed
I'm a shadow of the man that I am

CHORUS

Barbed Wire (Brian Butts feat. Marc Freak)

Brian Butts - Guitar, Drums, Bass, Keyboards, Master Mix
Marc Freak - Vocals, Lyrics 

Check out Brian's page here - https://soundcloud.com/brian-butts-565934842

SPRINGBOARD
With a jump I felt higher
With a springboard I fly
And our palms both reached far out
Into you arms until we pass out

CHORUS
You kind of hold me in a trance
I never really ever really ever had much a chance
I took a firm yet drunken stance
I never really ever really ever had much a chance
You had me with a single glance
I never really ever really ever had much a chance
Lets raise a glass and have a dance

Floating high dreaming higher
Whilst my heart is on fire
Looking down on the doubters
That know nothing about us

CHORUS

With a jump I felt higher
With a springboard I fly
I don't care about perception
This is my true redemption

CHORUS

Springboard (Brian Butts feat. Marc Freak)

Brian Butts - Guitars, Drums, Bass, Keyboards, Master Mix @https://soundcloud.com/brian-butts-565934842
Marc Freak - Vocals, Lyrics 
The Windscale Blues Experiment - Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Saxophone Arrangement. @windscaleblues

HAPPENSTANCE
Two minds that find themselves in one
Flick a coin - its the same since time begun
I recall adventures on a page
It took.... well infact it took an age

CHORUS
It was a fluke, a happenstance
I dreamt but dreams can fade
Spending my years in lovestruck trance
Elaborate

A look - and I've seen that glance before
You never guessed but it slayed me to the floor

CHORUS

Who'd have guessed that we'd meet here at this time
I confess this coincidence is all mine
All mine

Happenstance (Brian Butts feat. Marc Freak And The Windscale Blues Experiment)

A lofi indie rock punk duet with Sophie Joanne https://soundcloud.com/sophiejoanne-2

FIRST TIME I SET MY EYES ON YOU
Him: "First time I set my eyes on you
Every fantasy I'd ever dreamed suddenly seemed far more true
I hope you weren't put off by my numb grin
But I was dumbstruck and couldn't remember who I was or where I'd been"

Her "First time I set my eyes on you
I was frightened and near set my whole damn pack of dogs on you
And first impressions tend to last
Did you not take the hint when watching as I ran away so fast"

CHORUS
Past life, fast life, fading away
If the shoe fits its not my shoe
Past life, fast life turning the air kind of blue

Him: "First time I set my eyes on you
I guess I kinda knew that it was all far too good to be true
My mouth spluttered out some words
But they all just merged together into indecipherable turds"

Her: "First time I set my eyes on you
It was such unpleasant viewing that I very nearly spewed
Stop sitting there! Please just move along
You're not the kind of lover that I sing about in song"

CHORUS

First Time I Set My Eyes On You (Marc Freak and Sophie Joanne)

Real pleasure to work with Jon Lock https://soundcloud.com/jon-lock-5 on this one.  Well to be fair, he did all the hard work, I just came up with the melody, voice and words.

PERFECT DREAM
Jumping out of the frying pan into the fire
Like a drug bust with a visible wire
But its worth it for the time that we spend
And I pray they don't end

All I crawled through has the skin busy itching
And my internet is permanently glitching
But I cannot bare the time we're apart
Its a trial of the heart

CHORUS
Is this just a perfect dream that's coming true?
I want to spend the whole of my brief life with you

When you're standing in darkness and a glimpse of light shines through
When you're lit up like a beacon
And although you are freaking I'm loving this dream come true
With you

And the time I have left grows ever shorter
I am drowning in invisible water
Its a failure on my part I can't swim
And the prospects look grim

There's a torch that ever shines in the distance
Hold my hands up - show no signs of resistance
I'm a prisoner of love
I don't mind in fact I'm pleased to do time

CHORUS

When you're standing in darkness and a glimpse of light shines through
When you're lit up like a beacon
And everyone's peeking
I'm loving this dream come true

Perfect Dream (Jon Lock feat Marc Freak)

Collaboration with CJ Harrington.  His lofi music and track title, my words and melody.  Lots of hiss, and I kind of think it suits it :p
https://soundcloud.com/c-j_harrington 

I got a grip
I thought I learnt
Held you dear but still got burnt
A bitter time
A bitter pill
I hunger for you still

CHORUS
It ain't my kind of love
I'm raw and damaged
An angel from above
Too hard to manage
It ain't my kind of love
But still I'm famished

It was a blip
An error of thought
And thankfully time was short
Devil  within
Angel outside
Contain the hunger
Oh hell I tried

CHORUS

Ain’t My Kind of Love (with CJ Harrington)

Brian Butts - Guitar, Drums, Bass, Keyboard, Master Mix https://soundcloud.com/brian-butts-565934842
Marc Freak - Vocals, Lyrics

DOWNFORCE
When the pressure subsides
As our worlds collide
And we can both confide
Our secrets learnt

As the downforce hits
And our giggling fits
Have us both in bits
Smiling but burnt

Stability maintained
As the downforce gained
Is the pressure just feigned
Or duly earnt?

CHORUS
And the pressures building up from inside
Yet I'm feeling more stable
And the pressures building up will subside

And the downforce felt
But neither want out
So we scream and shout
The pressure on

CHORUS

(Force felt / face melt / no doubt)

Downforce (Brian Butts feat. Marc Freak)

It has been an absolute pleasure to work on this track with It! Her vocals are great and also add a really cool humour to the piece. I had a good chuckle when writing the lyrics and she absolutely took it all to another level. Check out her page @samantha-hubbs (also she has a different mix of the track there. The Doomsday Party mix). I also swiped the graphic off of her :D

EMPRESS
Him: I know who you've met and where you've been
Most beautiful sight I've ever seen
I cannot keep my eyes off you
Each bit that wiggles, each thing you do

Her: Those boggling eyes just creep me out
They seem to follow me about
X-ray to my underwear
You're always here, you're always there

CHORUS
Both: Sweet something you're my empress
Say something I'm trying to impress / undress

Him: I treasure something that I found
An apple core you threw on the ground
Did you find the flowers I left at your door?
I sent one cock pic but no more

Her: Your feeble attempts at poetry
Do not have any effect on me
That poor excuse you call a face
Has features all in the wrong place

CHORUS

Empress (Marc Freak ft It!)

I added the vocal melody and lyrics to this, in a collaboration with Mahan 💀 Mahan who wrote and recorded the music. Check out his Soundcloud page at @mahan-mahan

I'M FIRED
Guess I'm fired up (Simply I don't care)

Matter of life choice
A choice of mine
I speak with one voice
But twice of the time
Who am I saving?
A stitch up to unwind
Pass the ammunition the retributions mine

No innocent victims
No innocence at all
Just contradictions
All deserve to fall
Who is this speaking?
The voices in my head
Telling me do one thing that I may regret

I'm Fired (Mahan 💀 Mahan feat Marc Freak)

Its nearly Halloween, so it is apt to put this out now.  For a second time I have worked with the very exciting and great artist that is "It!" for this track "Domesticated Vampires".  Check out her page here - https://soundcloud.com/samantha-hubbs and maybe check out also our previous collaboration Empress https://soundcloud.com/marcfreak/empress-marc-freak-ft-it 

DOMESTICATED VAMPIRES
Hell its light outside and it is hell in here
Pass a pint of blood, I want a pint of beer
We're hanging upside down, I'm hanging inside out
You're just a poor excuse, something you'd know about

Another victim to share, another fight to unfold
You're frustratingly hot, and you're regrettably cold
The bite marks on your neck just prove that you are mine
I'm looking for something better half of the time

CHORUS
We're working crazy from 9 to 5
Wearing dark shades to keep us alive
Domesticated vampires, husband and wife
And we can bite it!!
It's good to pass the time

If we are looking real cross its the fault of the church
There's no longer visitors so its longer to search
I'm playing "I spy with my little eye"
You're every fang to me and that I can't deny

Lets push the coffins close and form a double bed
Your dinners getting warm and its already half bled
I had an ugly dream you gave a garlic kiss
The life we lead together is just hit and miss

CHORUS

Domesticated Vampires (featuring It!)

Once again, a great pleasure to work with IT! ( https://soundcloud.com/samantha-hubbs ) some more.  She has added such another (sultry) dimension to this (and I love it).  Its like Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin have been embraced by a bondage clad Depeche Mode.  Hope you enjoy listening to it as much as we enjoyed recording it.

DOWN ON MY KNEES
[I know what you want to do
Let me play with you
You can look but you can't touch it
You must obey, you must submit
Bad boy, do as I say
I want you to crawl my way]

I'm lost in these echoing corridors
I'm caught in this maze
Searching out for someone to save me
So I don't rot in this place
Repeat / refresh
I hear the voice again

CHORUS
I'm down on my knees to pray
To give all my life away
I'm aware of my place
A punch in the face
Mistress I will do all that you say

I have no direction or ambition
And that's why I serve
All my life is a contradiction
I've been a slave since birth
Do this / do that
I hear the voice again
And I like it

CHORUS

[Such slender, so divine
Surrender, now you're mine]

CHORUS

Down On My Knees (featuring IT!)

So the other day Morgan Hain said she had this chord sequence and sent it over for me to have a play about with, to write a melody for it and turn it into a song.  Which I duly did (I love little challenges like that, and it was a really nice chord sequence)and this is the output.  So I've included her guitar bit at the intro and outro of the song.  Go check out Morgan's page, she is a really talented player - https://soundcloud.com/itsmorganhain 

THESE LONG NIGHTS
I'm scared of people
I'm scared of heights
I'm scared of being alone these long nights
I'm like a dart board
Riddled with holes
And subject to many aggressive hard throws

CHORUS
Can you look into my mind?
I'm a broken shell
She who search is sure to find a ne'er do well
Mind the scratch ignore the scar or turn off the lights
Join me these long nights

I'm scared of failure
I've failed too much
I'm slow to anger and fun to touch
But touch with peril
For once engaged
I'm a pure please as the best wines are aged

CHORUS

These Long Nights (with Morgan Hain)

I'm so grateful that Ramone offered her voice for this number.  It is a piano based ballad about a vitriolic songwriter who is nearing the end of his days and his partner who just wants him to write her something nice before he passes.

Ramone has a beautiful voice, and I've been listening to her songs at https://soundcloud.com/ra_mo_ne for a while now.  Go visit her page and have a listen :)

IF THIS IS THE LAST SONG I WRITE
HIM: If this is the last song I write
I'd like it to be one without spite
Something I'm not accustomed to
And reflects unfairly on you

But as my fingers strike chords
All my intentions are ignored
And the bitterness stored in my head
Is sprayed out of the page
Like a beast freed from cage
"Oh how hurt and betrayed" is what's said
If it's that bad a life
I should take a razor or knife
So loved ones taste the strife instead
What a pitiful groan - just leave me all alone

HER: If these are the last words you pen
Before you print them please count to ten
A ballad or soft lullaby
Would be worthy to remember you by

So in these cold lonely night as reality bites
And depression hits heights I've not known
There are words I can clutch
And though that is not much
It's far better to touch than that tome
Full of hate, hurt and lies
And the people despised
In the songs I'm surprised I was shown
Fake feelings overblown, don't leave me all alone

HIM: I did not know how you felt and though my heart is does melt
My romantic words smelt fake and foul
HER: It need not be Shakespeare - Just words that loud and clear
State your love, not the fear that you growl
BOTH: Oh how happy we are, yippie de la-de-da
But the feelings are marred by the sound
Of the pending last line oh please more time to shine

HIM: Give me time to write one song more
So I can capture all we've explored

If This Is The Last Song I Write (featuring Ramone)

CJ Harrington is a Dorset based poet and author that I have known for a number of years.  We have discussed putting a couple of his poems to music, and this is the first one completed.  Chris' words, my music.  It includes his reading of the poem scattered between the melody.

You can check out Chris' site for more of his poems and stories. https://cjharrington.co.uk 

REMINDER
I need to feel the wind sometimes
How it could uproot me
Snap
And splinter me
Disperse me, shape me, slowly
Wear me down or take me

A breeze is never enough

I need to be reminded
I need to feel how things are sculpted
I need to touch it to believe it

To run my fingertips along edges
And press or slap my palm on surfaces
To know the form and how it works the light

A look is never enough

We need to be connected
We need to feel each other

Reminder (feat the poetry of CJ Harrington)

Prolific musician, author, photographer and oddity.  With influences ranging from the lofi pop of Guided by Voices, the gothic melodrama of Nick Cave, the glam of Bowie and the nakedness of Iggy Pop - this is Marc Freak.  Former frontman of Freak Circus and Dead Joe.  An experiment in DIY and lofi.  The odd bum note here, the even odder bum note there.  But with art do we care?