A couple of weeks ago my good friend Graham Lavallin (https://soundcloud.com/lavallin) asked me if I would consider writing some lyrics and maybe doing the vocals, to some original pieces of music he had put together, all of which were dealing with human consciousness and metaphysical themes. One of these, ‘Lost Lake of Souls’ suggested to me a kind of Irish Folk meets Peter Gabriel feel, I was instantly smitten and my head filled with the ideas contained here almost before the song finished playing that first time. The next day I had most of the lyrics. Graham gave me some more suggestions, which I incorporated into the final song.

My instinct said that a powerful, passionate arrangement needed to carry an equally important subject. Graham had briefly mentioned to me his 97 year old mother who is in a care home and suffers the condition of dementia and I asked him if he felt alright about Alzheimer’s Disease (a form of dementia) as the theme of the song and if I changed the title to ‘Lake Of Lost Souls’. Sadly nowadays, almost everyone, including myself, knows or has known someone who has lost something of their identity and so much of their dignity to this terrible disease. I hope this song strikes a chord and it is intended with respect to be cathartic and therapeutic. 

As always I’m very grateful to Graham for his imagination, skill and patience but on this collaboration he enabled me to write something of a very personal nature. If you have time please show your appreciation on Graham's cloud, https://soundcloud.com/lavallin/lake-of-lost-souls-lavallin-mark-j-bennett 
We are both aware that this song demands much of the listener and we just hope that it may touch others in the same way that this song has moved both of us and hopefully draw attention to the plight of those affected.

Here are some links if you need more information.
http://www.alzscot.org/
http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Alzheimers-disease/Pages/Introduction.aspx

Vocal, Lyrics and Artwork – Me
All Music and Instrumentation - https://soundcloud.com/lavallin
Instrumentation: Fender Strat through Apogee Gio pedal board interface to access the onboard GarageBand amps & FX pedals for all electric guitars. Korg Kronos and Roland Jupiter 50 synths EWQL ‘Voices Of Passion’ layered backing vocals/choirs  Atmosphere loop
All recorded and mixed in GarageBand.
“Lake Of Lost Souls" ( © Lavallin/Bennett 2014 )
 
I mourned you this morning,
Though you’re not yet gone,
This hand I am holding,
Used to belong,
To the one closest to my heart,
Distant now, forever drifting
On the lake of lost souls

Comfort and peace,
Sweet release.

Between two worlds 
Now is time to let go
Is but a fleeting domain,
Your spirit will always be free.
Now is time to let go
Between two worlds

Comfort and peace…
Distant now, forever drifting
Comfort and peace…
On the lake of lost souls

Distant now, forever drifting
Comfort and peace…
On the lake of lost souls
Comfort and peace…

I mourned you this morning,
Though you’re not yet gone,
This hand I am holding,
Used to belong,
To the one closest to my heart


Lake Of Lost Souls (with Lavallin) Click for Info

So nice that my longtime collaborator friend @dough-factory has returned to SoundCloud after a break of a couple years! This is our first track working together since then and it came together in a really cool way. I was inspired by Ryan's electronic drums and bass to lay down some rhythm guitar as well as a few synth leads. Then he came up with some awesome lyrics/vocals that I think captures the vibe of this piece quite well.

Keep an eye out for more from us, we are thinking of pulling together a whole album or EP over the coming months.

Dive

W-Was that a gunshot?

this is the cover song for the Movie "the ninth gate"
one of my favorite movies in the "psychological thriller" genre 🎞️

Mix & Mastering by @bahram-dashtii 🙏

The Ninth Gate

Schalter Off

Frozen Brain

Todas as vezes que amei
Todas as cores que pintei
Todas as chances que busquei
Todas as causas que ganhei

E é só você que me importa
Nem o ar profundo me leva tão a fundo
E é só você que me importa
Sob esse sol nascem flores e amores
Um caminho

Todas as vezes que eu chorei
Todas as vezes que meus sonhos foram apenas vindos
Todas as letras que lhe dei
Todas as frases formadas, juntos

E é só você que me importa
Nem o ar profundo me leva tão a fundo
E é só você que me importa
Sob esse sol nascem flores e amores
Um caminho

Um Caminho

Giving and Taking (open invitation for a collaboration from IPG1) 
https://soundcloud.com/ipg1/giving-and-taking-vox-90-bpm
Paploviante: E-Bass, Music, Composing, Arrangement, Mix and Mastering
Lyrics IPG1:
Cloud Stepping (Chorus) Life is relative, 
to the one that’s living it Inside outlook, 
to giving and taking it 
Experience god’s works, all senses 
We were given just a little bit 
We couldn’t handle it all  the few we have 
can nearly fit the few 
we have can nearly fit
(Verse1) 
If we knew it all, and all, and all 
Then nothing would matter It’s all a puzzle to be solved 
We have always been the answer 
The plan of god without reward 
Evolves in different ways 
We are all awake in different dreams 
To let the devil play
(Verse2)
 Who amongst us hear the screams 
Of millions of lives lost,  and don’t look on it as savagery
 And wonder what’s the cost 
What’s the worth, and what’s the cost 
Are we listening or not 
Are we listening or not
(Chorus)
 Life is relative, to the one that’s living it Inside outlook, to giving and taking it Experience god’s works, all senses 
We were given just a little bit 
We couldn’t handle it all  the few we have 
can nearly fit the few we have can nearly fit

Giving And Taking IPG1 and Paploviante

Well hello… are we having fun yet as we travel around the sun? First off, I do not know how to play piano. Bear with me on this. I am just learning hand and finger placement on the keyboard. I did not use any of that to do this song. Ha. A friend just gave me an older electronic keyboard that he dug out from all the dusty junk in his shed. So I have been noodling about and learning a bit of music along the way. I am also testing glass, as a percussion instrument. I already broke my favorite glass slide. (Just get a drum set Dude!) Hahaha. I am also exploring my vocal range, as an advanced beginner, when it comes to singing. You’ll hear that on this track, as the song is in a higher register than I am used to singing in. The first vocal stanza is just me finding my voice. Hahahaha. (I guess I need to try some pre-singing.) The recorder works but isn’t in the key of the song, so I had to wing in, insofar as melodies. That is what I like about music, these little creative explorations that develop into ‘music’. I had about an hour or so to lay this down… Outside summer distractions have cut into my music time. Hope you are all well. Thanks for dropping by, Mark

First Keys

No Parachute

You are better off without me. 


Verse 1: 

I'll never forget that last day I kissed your cheek. I never imagined that from that afternoon on I'd never see you again.

Verse 2: 

Everything clouded over in my heart. You were a part of my life, and in your absence, everything was lost. I cried trying to understand why you were leaving. Until I understood that I deserved it.

Bridge: 

Now I see clearly. I respect your distance. I even confess that it's fare what happened.

Chorus: 

You're better off without me. Your friends tell me so. That your lips smile more and you look fuller. You're better off without me. I saw it in your photographs. Your eyes shine brighter, and you even look more beautiful. I only pray for you every day, convinced that I loved you very much, but I didn't understand the meaning. And now that you're gone, I faint from your absence, and in my loneliness, for all I've done wrong, I beg for mercy. 

Verse 3: 

I remember your words, your laughter, your silences. Everything that made me happy, now everything is uncertain. I wonder if you'll ever think of me, or if I'm dead to you.
 
I wonder if you'll ever think of me, if you'll remember my name... and my existence


Español 

Estás mejor sin mi. 

Verso 1: 

"Jamás olvidaré, ese último día que tu mejilla besé.
 Nunca imaginé, que desde esa tarde ya no te vería otra vez"

 Verso 2: 

"Todo se nubló en mi corazón, 
eras parte de mi vida 
y en tu ausencia 
todo se perdió. 

Lloraba intentando comprender por qué te ibas. 
Hasta que entendí, que eso me lo merecía"

 Puente: 

"Ahora veo claro, respeto tu distancia, incluso te confieso que fue justo lo que pasa"

Coro: 

 "Estás mejor sin mí, me lo dicen tus amigas, 
que sonríen más tus labios y te ves más rellenita 
 Estás mejor sin mí
lo vi en tus fotografías, 
tus ojos brillan más
 y se te ve hasta más bonita.

Yo sólo rezo por ti todos los días convencido, 
de que te quise mucho 
pero no supe el sentido. 
Y ahora que no estás, 
desfallezco por tu ausencia, 
y en mi soledad, 
por todo lo que hice mal, 
te pido clemencia.


Verso 3:

 "Recuerdo tus palabras, tus risas, tus silencios. 
Todo lo que me hacía feliz, 
ahora todo es incierto. 
Me pregunto si alguna vez pensarás en mí, o si para ti estoy muerto."

Coro: 

"Estás mejor sin mi, 
me lo dicen tus amigas, 
que sonríen más tus labios y te ves más rellenita. 

Estás mejor sin mi, 
lo vi en tus fotografías,
 tus ojos brillan más, 
y se te ve hasta más bonita.

 Yo sólo rezo por ti, 
 todos los días convencido, 
de que te quise mucho
 pero no supe el sentido. 
Y ahora que no estás, 
desfallezco por tu ausencia, 
y en mi soledad, 
por todo lo que hice mal, 
te pido clemencia.

Me pregunto si alguna vez pensarás en mí, si recordarás mi nombre...y mi existencia.. 

Letra: Miguel Ángel Botello

D'mendo Boteli. Todos los derechos reservados D'mendo Boteli ©1994 ©2020 ©2021 ©2022 ©2025



Estás mejor sin mi - D'mendo Boteli.mp3

Dear listener, Feel free to leave comments and I'll try to reply.

I've been making music for around 16 years now but because of the wonderfully generous community that is SC, I have learned so much in a short time. I look forward to learning even more by collaborating. 
I suppose my strengths are in lyric-writing and singing. I feel fortunate to have been able to work with some stunning compositions by some very talented SCers.

My very best to you, Mark

Some links to recent Continental Collision streaming sites, etc are available below:

Lake Of Lost Souls (with Lavallin) Click for Info

markjbennett