Hey friends - I reworked an old song from 2012, which I deleted by accident - it s a funny one:)

Afraid - Likewyse featuring Marianne Holland

sampled base song.m4a

My friend and close collaborator @rplanes offered me this great arrangement and the title and theme that he thought might make an interesting subject matter. Initially, I was scratching my head as the topic seemed too vast but then the ideas started to attach themselves to his melodies and I was hooked. Humans en masse appear to be taking wrong-turnings and making things worse rather than better. This is me letting off a little steam with Rod's help. Thanks for taking the time to listen.
Link to tracks on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/album/5pfvPjop9XCJPrVL9a60U0

Rodolfo Planes - Music composition, instrumentation, arrangement, production and mix.
Me - Vocals and lyrics
Photograph - Courtesy of Douglas Corrance

Reverse Entropy (by Rodolfo Planes and Mark J Bennett)
We drift from order to chaos,
Like it’s the norm.
Without a sense of pathos,
To see the storm.
Following your safe instinct,
Where it may go,
Or go where you are told.

We let others cloud our vision,
Like they know best.
What happened to our ambition
Never addressed.
Following your safe instinct,
Where it may go,
Before we get too old

You have the choice,
When you have the will,
And it’s backed with the,
Knowledge, and fulfilled by skill.
 
We fall for the theorists,
Like it’s gospel.
Go find yourself some realists,
Who’re less hostile.
Following your safe instinct,
Where it may go,
While you still have a hold.

We’ve been duped at every turn,
By those we trust.
Without alarm or concern,
Now we are bust.
Following your safe instinct,
Where it may go,
If you can still feel bold.

You have the choice,
When you have the will,
And it’s backed with the,
Knowledge and fulfilled by skill.

All our futures are in your hands
With all that it commands
Focus on how it now all stands
Before making your demands.

Reverse Entropy - Continental Collision (by Rodolfo Planes and Mark J Bennett) now on Spotify

A go at Pink Floyd's eternal favourite. Apologies to the afficionado's there is no guitar solo at the start; I tried one, but it didn't sound right.

Wish You Were Here (cover)

A fave from The Velvet Underground.

Music and lyrics composed by Lou Reed.
Performed by FRANK LLOYD.

Cover photo by †ॐ

After Hours

This is the right song for eating or fishing.
Seems safe for outdoor use.
Not tested on bicycles, bananas or crocodiles.
Please write your experiences in the comments to help other users!

Metamorphosae Funki

Windswept moorland - isolated beauty with derelict sanctuary for stopping by out of the worst.....
Trios of tenor saxes and flutes swirl around a solitary clarinet with beats and bass.

Pic. 'Filter Cottage' (on a fine day) Hallam Moor (NM)

WILD HAVEN

Chop Suey!

Cast of characters:

J.J. Terrell-- @j-j-terrell—JJ-- electric piano, synth, seed idea

Mistermark-- @user-432503709 -- Mark –  vocals, lyrics, mix, and production

Llanpsych-- @llanpsych -- Tez – guitar

TexMex Shaman– @texmex-shaman –Stephen–banjo, guitar, sitar, and final mastering

K2 and the Three [and the Four]--@k2andthe3, @k2-kara –Ken–drums, seed idea

Entheogenic Psychonaught (Josh Clary)– @josh-clary-1 –Josh – four-string fretless bass

Composition – The Eclectic Collective

This song started in probably the most effective way our group writes them. Ken had a spectacular drum beat that was unused in a previous project, so JJ composed and recorded with his magical keys a chord structure and arrangement. Once we had a beat and a chord structure, Josh came along and added his foundational bass. 

  Now that the rhythm section was complete and the chord structure was in place, Stephen added his unique melody line that you hear at the beginning and every other verse on his magic banjo. He also plays all the initial guitar until about the 1:40 mark, when Tez takes over. In addition, Stephen also laid down some really trippy sitar in the break section. Then it was time for Tez to add some spice to the mix with his fiery guitar solos, which you hear from about 1:40 on, eventually building up to a crescendo towards the end. 

  Once we had all the music down, we realized that we had a big gap in the bridge without much going on in it. So, Mark came through and recorded a cool poem he had written on his refigerator with word magnets more than a decade ago, captured with a picture, and added to for the this song. The poem is loosely based on the idea that our dreams exist in a digital environment/universe. The girl's voice you hear echoing him is his daughter, for whom he originally composed it, in her first appearance with the EC. 

  The song was now finished, except for Mark using his masterful production skills to trim and move a few things. After he made those adjustments on, he threw a mix on it. While we usually defer to Tez or Stephen for the mix, Mark did such a great job, we decided to keep his mix. Stephen did, however master and EQ it to make it a finished product. 

  This is a song written truly as a whole band effort, showcasing what the Eclectic Collective can do. I hope you enjoy listening to is as much as we enjoyed creating it.  

Original lyrics by Mistermark:  

The moon flickers on
and rises and dances
across a celestial stage
as dreamers paint the pixels of their mind 
like an infinite canvas 

Sleep away tiny egg
and leave a delicate thread 
of memory behind 
but never log out 
you are in the elaborate web
always

Dancing Moon - (Eclectic Collective)

Piano composition by Anibal Seminara 
Image by Many Souffan

Buy by Apple Music

El Ritmo De Su Continuidad

The Dog-Eared Book Of Life

It’s a common trait
But I play it close to the chest
I got a losers hand
But with it I’ll do my best

These yesterday looks
They’re now all I’ve got
That and a lottery heart
Were doomed from the start

It’s a dog-eared book
This book of life
It’s words of wisdom faded
In this book of life

It’s here and it’s now
I got it all figured out somehow
You don’t need none of those fancy things
All’s you need is what time will allow

I’ve been born to play a part
These things predetermined
Right there from the start
The lesson in service of the sermon

It’s a dog-eared book
This book of life
It’s words of wisdom faded
In this book of life

The Dog-Eared Book Of Life

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:

Reverse Entropy - Continental Collision (by Rodolfo Planes and Mark J Bennett) now on Spotify

markjbennett