Nigel, this is fantastic. Very nice writing and singing, lush arrangement and instrumentation. Almost anthemic, as it crescendos towards the ending. Then the ending is quiet, peaceful. First-rate, my friend, outstanding work!

Songs I have played at the legendary Stallards Open Mic hosted by Terry Shepperd

Stallards Open Mic

Angry Man

https://open.spotify.com/track/6ZqzH5qSUIeWQWTJJY9ppr?si=bceddb7ffcc9470d 

[rough translation]
RITUAL
I preserve the little ritual,
so you can return anytime.

Every day, when evening falls,
I prepare the table: an extra plate,

cutlery, your own chair, a candle, a glass,
as if you just were delayed.

I hear (how could I think that what
makes me who I am, was gone forever?)

I hear, as if the house still existed,
the gravel, the latch, the dog barking,

and you come in at the moment
I light the lamp, arrange the flowers.

I just hope I can stay calm
and without looking up from my silent routine

find the words, as if it were self-evident:
sit down, help yourself, you were expected.

[Dutch poem]
RITUEEL
Ik houd het kleine ritueel in ere,
opdat je elk moment terug kunt keren.

Iedere dag, wanneer het avond wordt,
maak ik de tafel klaar: een extra bord,

bestek, je eigen stoel, een kaars, een glas,
alsof je enkel opgehouden was.

Ik hoor (hoe kon ik denken dat hetgeen
waardoor ik ben, voor altijd was verdwenen ?),

ik hoor, alsof de woning nog bestond,
het grind, de klink, het aanslaan van de hond,

en je komt binnen op het ogenblik
dat ik de lamp ontsteek, de bloemen schik.

Ik hoop alleen dat ik dan rustig blijf
en haast niet opziend van mijn stil bedrijf

de woorden vind, als was het vanzelfsprekend:
Schuif aan; tast toe: er is op je gerekend.


Poem: Jean Pierre Rawie
Music & mix: Bas Kooman
Master: White Sea Studio (2022.06.27)

RITUEEL (mastered)

A Love Like This’ is an unmastered track that explores the tension of staying in a relationship that feels imperfect, yet familiar. The song reflects on the idea of settling for something that isn't quite what we imagined but somehow becomes the version of love we endure. With lyrics like 'Maybe once in a lifetime, we might find something close to bliss,' this track dives deep into the complexities of love, sacrifice, and accepting the status quo. This version is still a work in progress, but I wanted to share a sneak peek with you. Huge thanks to Calum Hayes for his brilliant production work. Let me know what you think, and stay tuned for the finished version!

A Love Like This (Unmastered)

Based on the poem by C. David Hay "I'll still be loving you"
Forever Love

I'll Still Be Loving You

You Must Be Joking

Jacksonville

Tread, where angels would not even dare,
Against the tides and through air, down winding streets that lead no where
(And I don’t have no cares)

Small, steps that lead to big strides,
Proceed over hillsides , 
With no destination you can never arrive
(And then you tell me that)

Time won’t stand still
So lets not wait any longer
back to Jacksonville
My yearning grows forever stronger 

Scared, turned up totally unprepared, 
blissfully un-aware,
of the what, when, how and the where
(And I don’t have no cares)

Lines, on the Map could never guide, me to what I was to find, when I first set my eyes on you
(And I knew what to do)

Need some sleeping pills
Because I don’t sleep any longer
But due to Jacksonville 
My heart burns a little warmer

Jacksonville

And, Scene

Too Late - Alt Version

Lumen Festival

Oldish song, sang it on FromeFM at the weekend, decided to do a quick'n'dirty lo-fi recording of it.

Boolean Rhapsody - Nigel Mines

Home To Me - Nigel Mines

This song is inspired by the Stop the Traffik charity, working to try to stop people trafficking and help the victims of this activity across the world.
http://www.stopthetraffik.org/default.aspx

Slow Blinking Light (Stopping Distance)

Is 75 feet enough?
Is 75 feet enough?
75 feet at 30 miles an hour
Is a thousand feet enough?
A thousand feet enough?
A thousand feet of train track
A thousand feet to impact
It’s coming through the tunnel and it’s not goanna stop

Enough is enough
If we don’t stop now, how we ever goanna stop?

Does anybody care?
Is anybody there?
They promised me the world then tied me to a chair

It’s 30 dollars and up
30 dollars and up
30 for a daughter
30 for a son
They're waiting in the car with the engine started up

Enough is enough
If we don’t stop now, how we ever goanna stop?

Enough is enough
Enough is enough
Enough is enough
When there’s nowhere to hide
And there’s nowhere to run
And that slow blinking light is my only sun

Is 75 feet enough?
Is 75 feet enough?
75 feet at 30 miles an hour
Is a thousand feet enough?
A thousand feet enough?
A thousand feet of train track
A thousand feet to impact
It’s coming through the tunnel and it’s not goanna stop


Stopping Distance (Slow Blinking Light) **DEMO**  - Nigel Mines

Wisdom Trees (Burn Down)

I was talking to a man with a wisdom seed
He planted it and let it grow
He’s been living in the tree for all his life
He said there’s nothing that he doesn’t know
I asked him to explain about my pain
And was it ever gonna go
He said he had a plan then he took my hand
He said he’d show me everything that he knows

From the top of the tree everything that you could see was very beautiful
And living in the tree were the birds and bees and everything was very peaceful
And no-one was in pain, no-one was afraid and everything was good
But as he surveyed everything that he’d made
Little did he know that one day they would…

Burn down, burn down, burn down that wisdom tree, they would
Burn down, burn down, burn down that wisdom tree

I asked him what his secret was and he began to sing
Then the angels came and they did the same, proclaiming that their god is king
I asked him why the other trees were singing a different song
He said that god would bring them to their knees ‘cos they were wrong and he would…

Burn down, burn down, burn down their wisdom trees, he would
Burn down, burn down, burn down their wisdom trees

I asked him if he could give me something to satisfy my need
He said that I should worship now the god of avarice and greed
I climbed down from his tree, I said “I haven’t learned a thing
Except that I would rather burn down here in hell than up there in your fucking tree and I’ll…

Burn down, burn down, burn down your wisdom trees, I will
Burn down, burn down, burn down your wisdom trees

Wisdom is the truth, wisdom is a lie
Wisdom for the stupid, wisdom for the wise
Wisdom for the weak, wisdom for the strong
Wisdom for the right and wisdom for the wrong
Wisdom is the goal, wisdom is the prize
Watch it disappear before your very eyes
Wisdom for the nutter, wisdom for the sane
Wisdom in the gutter running down the drain


Wisdom Trees

For the benefit of anyone who follows me but not the talented Literate Wolves, here is a copy of the recent collaboration between him and me. For the version uploaded by LW himself, with comments etc, see here:
http://soundcloud.com/literate_wolves/love-song-for-a-dying-planet-green-blue-nigel-mines-pawed-at-by-literate-wolves
Based on an original song by me (also available for your listening pleasure on here under my name), the much improved version herewith features suitably dark and mysterious noises and voices provided by the LW. Please leave feedback and constructive criticism, as this is a work in progress and we would value any input for improvements

Love Song For A Dying Planet (Green & Blue) - with Literate Wolves

When the Moon stares at Jupiter - Photo/Nightpost

Whispers in the Dark

Singer/Songwriter based near Bath, UK.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Looking for opportunities to play live, and collaborators/fellow musicians who want to join me on my journey&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;If you like what you hear then become a fan and tell the world!

Angry Man

Nigel Mines

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