While re-visiting the apartment of her childhood, spent in Soviet Belarus, Los Angeles-based artist and our (no) borders open call finalist Yelena Zhelezov talks to people who experienced a border change, either in name or territory. What is it like to live in the shadow of a disappeared country, a missing definition? What happens to the sense of place and belonging? Are there déjà vus? What remains?

Sound editing by Zlatna Nedeva
Music by Ben Wheeler

Born in Ghostland Vol.4—Ana Iwataki

(Music: Frank De Louw. Words: Erik Geelhoed)

The call of the ocean: deep, dark and wild
Rockpool magic, I was a child

Now I gather up seashells, stare into the void
Winds whip the weathervane, blow me home

I'm going back

Yes, I'm in awe of the ocean, deep, dark and cold
Waves pound to smithereens all I'll ever hold

I'm going back
I can't take no more
I leave my heart to rot

Fenna Geelhoed: Vocals
Frank de Louw: Lead Guitar, Vocals
Erik Geelhoed: Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Drums
Wouter de Kievit: Double Bass

Recorded in 2017, Amsterdam, Castricum, Falmouth, Haarlem

The Call of the Ocean - Few (Falmouth 2017)

I wrote this for an amdram panto of the same name - it was not used in the end. Here is it sund at the Bath (UK) Song Writing Circle in the Royal Oak pub. Looyd Evans on guitar, Ray Campball on mandolin

Beauty and the Beast Live Demo

Lyrics / Chords

Waiting for the War 

Am                        G
Battened down, heavy door
Am                              G
Don’t get out much any more
Am                      G
Keep the radio running hot
Em                       Am 
Plays the news, It’s all we got

Fmaj7                          Em
Waiting for the war
Fmaj7                          E
Waiting for the war
Am                              G
Under heavy skies and raging shore 
F                                         E
Waiting for the war
Am                                    G
Don’t know the season, anymore  
Em                          Fmaj7
Waiting for the war

Am                        G
Battened down, heavy door
Am                              G
Don’t get out much any more
Am                      G
Keep the fire burning hot
Am                          
Hear the howling wind
Em                             
The breath of those who sinned

Fmaj7                         Em
Waiting for the war
Fmaj7                       E
Waiting for the war
Am                              G
Under heavy skies and raging shore 
Fmaj7                E
Waiting for the war
Am                                   G
Don’t know the season, anymore  
Em                               Fmaj7
Waiting for the war
Em                               Fmaj7
Waiting for the war

 Am        G
To end, To end,
Em         Fmaj7 
To end, to end 
Fmaj7  x3   

single strum Am end

(image Light Garden AI)



Waiting For The War (rough demo)

Teasel Girl

Recorded by Pete Judge. "Early morning, May 29th 2020".

Holford Combe, Quantock, Somerset, UK

Goose And Common

Storm Warning: Seabirds Inland. This short song starts with the old weather lore that the sight of seabirds inland, often settled in fields, indicates there are storms out at sea. The question arises; will this be a more common sight as we face more frequent and wilder storms due to climate change?

Storm Warning: Seabirds Inland

Goodbye Little Bird

One can't help being eternally grateful for the opportunity to meet, befriend and improvise a bit o Shpongle/Rodrigo y Gabriela fingerstyle with a wonderfully beautiful musically talented winged peanut addict with fabulous skills and person(parrot)ality - BzB x - Bless thee the fabulous Godin A6 and its "unplugged" natural sounds...

Parrot George's Plucking Pal Pirates

Frosty, cold winters are central to British culture and Christmas time, but climate change has our turned winters grey and wet and cold, for now at least. But, on occasions, Jack Frost returns. This is a celebration of that. Thanks to ~Smallfry for the lovely version.

Sir Jack Frost.  Arranged and performed by irene.smallfry #Smallfry

Folky songs about sadnesses and joys, creating semi-mythic landscapes/narratives, redolent with emotions and 'issues' - environment/place, love, wonderment. 

We need some decent eco-protest songs to  lament  the undoing of our beautiful home biosphere and other injustices.  I am always keen on synergies, collaborations, tangents, chances:- so get in touch. I am Professor of Environmental Humanities at Bath Spa University UK in my 'day world'.   All stuff on here are very rough 'working documents', sometimes put up to share for joint working etc. Fair copies of songs are on Bandcamp site. See link. I am also programmer for Priston Festival.  http://www.priston.org.uk/festival/ and sort of part of the wonderful Bristol based Fantasy Orchestra https://www.fantasyorchestra.org/

Waiting For The War (rough demo)

TodayIamCalled

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