Beautiful. Ethereal. Soothing and relaxing. Wonderful vocals and lyrics. An excellent collaboration. Hats off !

oh - this is wonderful... great insteumental and vocals.)

love the vocals very much in this/ writing is so impressive/ this song is breathing

excellent song...so intense..beautiful vocal:)

Wow completely blown away by this one Mark. I love the melody - so meloncholic and works perfectly with the lyrics. So deep and intense.

Crystal clear guitar sound. Fine singing too. Love the sparseness of the music.

Great lyrics, love to read the story how you came up with the song. In our family the mother of my sister in law died of alzheimer, too two weeks ago. Thank you so much for coming up with that important topic

Some music I have been fortunate enough to collaborate with Graham Lavallin on (http://soundcloud.com/lavallin). Also with the great musical talent of Sean Lasaril on two of the songs (https://soundcloud.com/cinder-man). Hope you enjoy hearing them again or for the first time. Mark

Collaborations with Lavallin (& Lasaril)

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

This 'mini rock opera' as it seems to have become, started out as an instrumental, which I wrote for a good friend who had just suffered a tragic loss, that of his only son. My good friend Mark Bennett had listened to the instrumental and been very affected by the sentiment expressed and asked me if I would consider revisiting the track again, which I readily agreed to. His initial idea was to pen just a couple of lines of lyrics and approach fellow SoundClouder Marianne Holland, to possibly do some vocals. I'd collaborated with Marianne on several projects before and very much enjoyed working with her and I really love her vocal style and admire her incredible range, so she was a natural choice for this track.
From this initial idea from Mark and several e-mails of further ideas for this track from Mark, I had the idea to put together The Great War Centenary Suite ... now complete ... it seems very fitting that the same track that started it all should be the one to complete the project it gave birth to in the first place.

I am greatly indebted to both Mark, for his vision, his lyrics, vocals and his boundless enthusiasm and Marianne for her wonderful soaring vocals and backing vocals as ever, but also for her additional instrumentation and input and I am enormously grateful to my good friend Lee Lucas for kindly offering to put together a YouTube vid to accompany this track which is brilliant and at such short notice as well ... big thanks Lee mate!! ;-)

The YouTube link for the video is:  http://youtu.be/7X98olTPtfM

It is my proud pleasure to be able to upload this final track for this centenary suite for this special Remembrance Day weekend and as always I thank you so much for listening:))

MarkJBennett ~ Vocals, Lyrics, Artwork   soundcloud.com/markjbennett
Marianne Holland ~ Vocals, Backing Vocals, Electric Bass Guitar, Synth Violin
Lee Lucas ~ Video Production   soundcloud.com/lee-lucas 
Graham Lavallin ~ Original Instrumental, Arrangement & Production

Original Instrumentation: Korg Kronos synth, Mellotron Tape Violins & Drums & Percussions
                                          Roland Jupiter 50 synth 'Trumpeteer'
                                          Fender Strat electric guitar improvisations     

'Lament For The Fallen' ~ Lavallin * Bennett © 2014

Intro: Just two lines of Harry Patch, the last 'Fighting Tommy', reading an extract from the Laurence Binyon Remembrance Day poem at the Menin Gate, Ypres on 29/07/2009. Harry prefaced his full reading of the poem by first saying:  'Let us remember, those who fell, on both sides of the line' ...

Harry Patch: 
                    When the sun goes down, and in the morning,
                    We will remember them ... (We will remember them)

Soldier:
                     I made a promise
                     That I'd always be yours
                     I've only ever been yours ...

                     Through it all
                     You'll always remain

Sweetheart:
                     You'll always remain
                      Just a boy

Soldier/Sweetheart:
                     
                      In my heart ...

Sweetheart:
                      Just a boy, in my heart
                      I made a promise
                      That I'd always be yours
                      I've only ever been yours
                     ( You're just a boy, in my heart)
                      Just a boy, in my heart ... in my heart ...

                      Just a boy, ....
                      Just a boy, ....
                      Just a boy, ....                   fadeout ....

Songwriters: Graham Lavallin & MarkJBennett © 2014

Lament For The Fallen ~ (Lavallin) Feat. MarkJBennett & Marianne Holland

This Great War 1914~18 Centenary Suite was written with the intention of being one continuous piece of music, and with wonderful  contributions from my good friends and fellow SoundClouders MarkJBennett and Marianne Holland, I feel it should be presented as such.
I am proud to be uploading this full version on this special Remembrance Sunday as it is meant to be listened to, in reflective mood, as it was produced in that manner also.
I'm making this piece available as a free download in it's entirety to be listened to in the way I intended and I thank you all for listening :))There is also a Free Download with artwork available on my Bandcamp page at this link: https://lavallin.bandcamp.com/album/the-great-war-1914-18-centenary-suite-lavallin-feat-mark-j-bennett-and-marianne-holland  or by clicking on the tab under the track here on SoundCloud ;-)
*Full descriptions of each track may be found in the playlist version here on my page and the track list is as below:

The Great War 1914 ~18  Centenary Suite: (LAVALLIN)
feat. Mark J. Bennett & Marianne Holland    © 2014

  (i)  Oh To Be In England ... (Instrumental)
 (ii)  Cold Wind In Sarajevo  (Instrumental)
 (iii) The Lamps Are Going Out All Over Europe ...
          The Ballad Of Harry Patch (feat. Mark J. Bennett)
 (iv) The Angel Of Mons Suite (Instrumental)
                    * Waiting In The Wings * Over The Top
                    * Against The Odds * The Angel Apparition
                    * March Of St. George
  (v)  Lament For The Fallen (feat. Mark J. Bennett &  Marianne Holland)

Thanks so much for listening :))

Free Download

The Great War 1914~18 Centenary Suite ~ (Lavallin) feat. Mark J.Bennett & Marianne Holland

An unforgettable classic from King Crimson at the end of a classic era.
The closing piece from their album 'Red' (1974) which is normally 12 minutes and 15 seconds long with an extended instrumental section, fusing jazz and rock in a complex arrangement. However, you may be pleased that we are offering the abridged version here. I hope we have made a respectful tribute to a landmark song in King Crimson's back catalogue. Thanks to Graham for believing that we could even try this one let alone hope to pull it off.

Mark Bennett - Artwork and Vocals 
https://soundcloud.com/lavallin - Guitars and all instrumentation and production 
Instrumentation: 
Fender Strat guitar through Apogee Gio pedal board interface to access the onboard GarageBand amps and FX for the 'Robert Fripp style' parts which in this instance was the 'Stadium Solo' sound. Also Fender Strat guitar through BossME70 pedalboard and Magic Stomp pedal with one of Charlie Hall's 'Echoes Of The Past' delays.
EWQL '72 Rickenbacker bass guitar, drums and percussion, viola and cello, and Bari sax
AMG Mellotron strings and Alto sax

The title and the refrain comes from a line in 'Under Milk Wood' by Dylan Thomas (1914-1953).

Starless by King Crimson

Sundown dazzling day
Gold through my eyes
But my eyes, turned within, only see
Starless and Bible black

Old friend charity
Cruel twisted smile
And the smile signals emptiness for me
Starless and Bible black

Ice blue silver sky
Fades into grey
To a grey hope that, oh, yearns to be
Starless and Bible black

Music by William Bruford, David Cross, Robert Fripp and John Wetton. Lyrics by John Wetton and Richard Palmer-James. 
Copyright: Universal Music Publishing Mgb Ltd., E.G. Music Ltd., Topographic Music Inc.


Starless (King Crimson Tribute) with Lavallin

This is part of Graham Lavallin's album 'The Healing Hands Of Time' that I have been fortunate enough to be able to contribute to. Collaborating with my good friend Graham on subject matter I have little knowledge of was always going to be a challenge, however with his guidance and patience between us we have managed to make something that neither of us on our own could have achieved. A true collaboration, although most of the lyrical content is Graham's, I did add some rhymes. The meaning of this song is something that Graham will be able to throw more light on than I ever could, so please check out his cloud for more info https://soundcloud.com/lavallin/procession-of-souls-lavallin-bennett . 

When I first heard this piece, I thought of it moving in a certain direction, but with every communication between Graham and myself this took on a life of its own.

Thanks for taking the time to listen. Best wishes, Mark

Lyrics and Vocals - Mark Bennett and Graham Lavallin
Artwork - Graham Lavallin
Music, all instrumentation and mix - Graham Lavallin
Instrumentation
Korg Kronos Synth (main arrangement and drums)
EWQL Voices Of Passion (additional vocal element)
EWQL Anvils, Tubular Bells and various percussion

All recorded and mixed in GarageBand

'Procession (Of Souls)' (© Lavallin/Bennett 2014)

Drawn to the source,	
Moving in time in myriad line
Procession of Souls

All is light,
No darkness here and nothing to fear
Just wonder ...

Feel the force,
Go with the flow, to where I don't know
Procession of Souls

Streaming Souls
Converge as one, a swirling white cone	
Just drifting ...

Feel the pull
Away from convention, kind of ascension
To those I hold dear

I'm coming home,
Coming alive,
All is well,
All is peace, oh such peace

Reaching to me,
Catch the tail of their kite, my spirit takes flight,
Just soars...

A homing urge (one last surge)
As if upstream drawn, feels like being reborn 
We are home... I am home

I feel such peace, 
Never want to leave here again
I am home ... I am home ...
I am home ... I am home ...
I am Home ...

Songwriters: Graham Lavallin and Mark J. Bennett (© Lavallin/Bennett 2014)

Procession (with Lavallin)

'Moving On' originally started out as a short instrumental piece written as a possible theme for a drama series, similar to that of the same title recently shown on TV ... later, I was planning to end the 'The Healing Hands Of Time' album in progress with this instrumental ... it has since been Mastered by my good friend Patric Farrell aka the FisherKing and will appear at the end of the album as a bonus track.
My good friend Mark J.Bennett @markjbennett , whose vocals are featured on that album, suggested adding some lyrics and vocals and making it an uplifting song to end the album. I extended the arrangement and Mark sent me a guide vocal and lyrics which seemed to me to give the song a Robert Wyatt feel and the lyrics put me in mind of my son's situation, being in hospital for coming up for a year now. I added more lyrics and sang the main vocal with him in mind, though the lyric is pretty universal really.
Mark has been the main driving force behind making this instrumental track into a fully fledged song and I am greatly indebted to him for all his input and inspiration as always ... he is a joy to work with ... I'm no singer and probably would not have attempted to do this song had he not persuasively steered me, in this direction. Sadly he is out of time on his account again and cannot post this latest collaboration on his page, but I have no doubt he will be replying to any comments directed his way and as always I thank you for listening and all comments are greatly appreciated :))

Mark J.Bennett ~ Lyrics, Vocals & Inspiration
Graham Lavallin ~ Music, Arrangement, Vocals/Lyrics & Production

'Moving On' ~ Lavallin * Bennett © 2015

Instrumental Intro:

What do you say,
when life don't go your way?
What do you need, when nothing you do ever succeeds?

Keep calm,
Away from harm,
Be strong,
Moving on ...

When you feel down,
and there's no-one around,
who would help you feel,
that life is meaningful and real

Keep calm,
Away from harm,
Be strong,
Moving on, 
Moving on, Moving on ...

We all get tired,
disillusioned, uninspired.
We all need a lift,
from someone who really has that gift.

Keep calm,
Away from harm,
Be strong,
Moving on ...

What do you say,
when things don't go your way?
What do you need,
when nothing you do ever succeeds?

Keep calm,
Away from harm,
Be strong,
Moving on, Moving on,
Moving on ...

Instrumental break:

Just keep moving on ... you see ... you see ...
Hold your head up high,
Keep moving ... you'll get there you see ...
Just moving on ...
... away from harm,
Be strong,
Moving on

Instrumental break:

Keep calm,
Away from harm,
Be strong,
Moving on ...

Instrumental Outro:



Moving On ~ Lavallin * Bennett

(Intro)
Gotta cut it up, gotta cut it up—-yeah!
Just because, just because
Gotta cut it up, gotta cut it up—-yeah!
Just because, just because

(Chorus)
Play my beats loud, rock and move the crowd 
Just because, just because
make it real, keep it real, underground feel
Just because, just because


Just because, just because

Just because, just because

(Verse1)
Sometimes, cold as ice, twice is nice
Gotta cut it up, added some flavor to the slice—
Honed and crafted, chop and dice
Fire and heat,— free—-, no price
Gotta cut it up, added flavor to the slice
Price been paid, rampage and raid
Just because, just because
Since back in the day, yo I got it made
flat tops and fades
Now I’m rockin braids,
Basement, rooftop, outdoors more
Just because, just because

(Verse2)
So here I am again, memory
Like finding a long lost friend
A focused pattern, that never seems to really end
That loops and repeats, 
Over and over again
Over and over again,

Time passes, old and new trends,
It’s simply not an option, so how can I pretend?
Just enough rope, to run to the end
Before the same Pattern, pulls me back again
before the same pattern, pulls me back again
pulls me back again

(Chorus)

(Verse3)
If the world feels heavy, let the music lift, 
To ease every burden, let the rhythms shift
party through the night, no worries relief
hip-hop strength, brings a melody of peace

Just Because

Ray (https://soundcloud.com/user-364196783-552705040) and I went back to the well, and came back with this.

You Oughta See

Blackout Jam (joerxworx flute remix)

My Story

A piano piece inspired by "Tales From the Loop" by Philip Glass and Paul Leonard-Morgan.

Debating whether to add a beat and other elements or leave it raw. Thoughts?

A Secret of Sleep

J’AI RÊVÉ DE VOUS
VOUS M’AVEZ RÊVÉE
ET PUIS ON S’EST RÉVEILLÉS

WAS I IN YOUR DREAMS LAST NIGHT
YOU WERE IN MINE SO I FIGURED I MIGHT
COS WE ALL DREAM OF EACH OTHER
YES WE ALL DREAM OF ONE ANOTHER
ALL WILL BE FINE LAST NIGHT YOU WERE MINE

I’LL BE IN YOUR DREAMS TONIGHT
YES I’LL BE AROUND SOMEWHERE AFTER MIDNIGHT
COS WE ALL DREAM OF EACH OTHER
YES WE ALL DREAM OF ONE ANOTHER
AND OUT OF SIGHT AT NIGHT WE REUNITE

WE ALL DREAM OF EACH OTHER
YES WE ALL DREAM OF ONE ANOTHER
AND BY THE LIGHT OF THE MOON SHINING BRIGHT
TONIGHT YOU WILL BE MINE

WE WERE FRIENDS WE WERE FRIENDS

DREAMS (Lyrics) + Barbara Browning vocals

Cast of Characters: 

Entheogenic Psychonaught (Josh Clary)– @josh-clary-1 –Josh – Warwick fretless four-string bass, Paul Reed Smith semi hollow body electric Guitar 
K2 and the Three [and the Four]--@k2andthe3, @k2-kara –Ken -- drums
J.J. Terrell– @j-j-terrell – organ, Love Triangle ( ha!)
TexMex Shaman– @texmex-shaman –Stephen — production, mix, and mastering

This song, in case you're not familiar, was written by Medeski, Martin, and Wood with guitarist John Scofield, and performed by them on an album eponymously named A Go Go. Josh has always been a huge fan of both MMW and J.S., and has always wanted to play more of their music, as he used to cover a couple of their songs in one of his main old bands. 
  Josh laid down the bass and after going back an forth a couple of times with Ken and his thrilling drums, they established the rhythm section. Soon after, Josh added his jazzy guitar, as well. We needed someone to play John Medeski's part, too, of course. So, we asked JJ if he'd do the honors, which he did in grand fashion. 
  Once it was all laid down, we needed a good mix, and no one is gooder than Stephen, so we asked him to mix it for us, which he did in his always pro manner. 
  This was a lot of fun to record, and we hope that comes through. This is a stripped down Eclectic Collective collab, where most of what we're all doing is improv. We hope you enjoy listening to it as much as we enjoyed making it.

A Go Go( loose interpretation of a Medeski, Martin and Wood song)-Eclectic Collective

Magma Flow

A special Thank You to Brandy Nicole Hammock for letting us use her beautiful poem, 'Oh Savannah, I Long for You'. 
Instrumental, Production by Oussama Arichi
Vocals, Mix, Production by Nadia Selvaggi
Trumpet by Francisco Grillo
Lyrics by Brandy Nicole Hammock: https://medium.com/@telleroftalesinbooks/a-poem-about-savannah-georgia-f4cbc67898ab

O Savannah by Oussama Arichi & Nadia Selvaggi w/ Francisco Grillo

big bubbles...no troubles :-)
remembering ellis ...beggs and howard...really good times for me

Buoyant Density

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

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