In occasione dell'anniversario di nascita del Grande Maestro, un mio modestissimo tributo.

Vangelis Tribute.mp3

Mark says,
"Making music with Rodolfo is always exciting and often a challenge, although I know we both find it stimulating, as we always aim to reach high and this post is no exception. This new song, started its gestation almost a year ago, instantly showed a lot of promise and since has been through many stages of exploration and rounds of problem-solving. The painfully blunt lyrics were initially inspired by a friend's brutal relationship break-up, but the final result is much heavier. I hope you find it moving rather than disturbing, I was trying to match the mood of Rod's deeply dramatic music."

Rodolfo says,
"I think it's a fantastic song and you've done an amazing job on both the story and the vocals, especially those tough lines. When I was writing it, I just felt like a modern blues with a techno vibe was taking shape. The final sound was defined by the story and those really dramatic, emotional lyrics. You might want to make it clear that it's a fictional story to avoid giving our friends heart attacks."

We appreciate all of the kind support that the Soundcloud community has given our collaborations. Thanks for listening and sharing your thoughts, Mark and Rodolfo

Rodolfo Planes - Music composition, instrumentation, arrangement, production and mix https://soundcloud.com/rplanes
Me - Vocals and lyrics

Moments of stress,
How did you deal with the rest?
All that is left of you and me,
Is wrecked.
How can we expect,
To go on when there’s nothing at all left?
 
…Left in the lurch,
You should have done more research.
I was truly never a safe bet for you…
For you could have made,
A much better match than you did with me.
 
Open your eyes,
I promise you won’t be surprised,
It’s been there before you,
All along, all of the way…
…Way before you had sensed,
That we had got it all so wrong by then.
 
Moments of stress,
All such a mess,
It’s anyone’s guess,
How it all went so wrong?
Moments of stress,
No more nor less,
Need I express,
How it all went so wrong?

Moments Of Stress - Continental Collision (by Rodolfo Planes/Mark J Bennett)

Just for fun. 

I shared a rehearsal space in the basement of Westbeth Artist Housing (please see the photo) in the late 70’s. This music has to do with my dream-memory of the place.

The basement was labyrinthine. Until a few years ago, I still had recurring dreams of that environment. It was constructed of grey painted cinder block or some such stony material. There were many bands in many rooms down there, and as you walked the halls you’d hear all the musics leaking out from under steel doors in cacophony. Often you’d hear the band in the next cell right through your own stone wall as you were playing. That made it hard to record in there. We did it anyway. 

The sonic qualities of this recording remind me of those hallways as do some of the somewhat antiquated guitar moves. And by the way, I love antiquated guitar moves!

Westbeth Catacombs

GRIEVING HEART


Grieving heart – I took the part of a dog lost in the woods
Grieving heart – tethered to the bushes and crying out all I could
I shed the pain, sheltered the shame and moved from where I stoodTo where suffering is just a word, to fly is for the birds and what I understood
My grieving heart wasn’t doing me any good



Grieving heart – it’s time to start beating like you should
Grieving heart – pounded into submission by making it on foot
I took the blame, got rid of the chains that kept me from living right
I took stock of it all, stopped it from a fall and saw within my sight, my grieving heart said enough with this fight


Grieving heart, grieving heart, grieving heart, grieving heart


You’ve got a lot of nerve, to put me on that curve and take me so off course
Now I’m back with a plan, you’re not gonna stand in the way of my force
My grieving heart said to feel no remorse
Grieving heart, grieving heart, grieving heart, grieving heart

Grieving Heart

This song is a bit campy. The core of this thing is pure Isley Brothers' formula from the 70s -- they had these no nonsense, hard slamming funk songs that just went on forever (and you want them to). And there's also a healthy dose of 80s/90s slinky funk guilty pleasures like Grace Jones, Sade, & Seal.

is it finally living this feeling inside
I waited for hours with a slow burning fire
now is not the time to evade in the face of desire

but that's how it goes when you hold the control does it feel right
you're letting it go and I know that you know are you satisfied

the rules of the game are so easily changed
let's be honest about it lonely hearts will stray
I am still willing but your love is failing me every night

oh but that's how it goes when you're running the show  how you feel it
you're letting it go and I know that you know I can't steal it

out in the city new hearts align   
but tonight I am only alive for yours and mine

Control

Suffocated by my dreams terrorized by my life. Conversations in my mind creep through secret tunnels, stepping out into the light of open spaces. I feel the blood draining from my face, as I hear whispers of denial from pristine cages mingling with homeless mothers. Who loved the day and pray for another. The dying embers of freedom colors are fading into the blackest of nights. Walking through shadows that leave the mist of time, my fingers are holding fragment of what’s left of my life

Intrusive Thoughts

Cast of Characters:

Entheogenic Psychonaught (Josh Clary)– @josh-clary-1 –Josh – Warwick four string fretless bass, vocals, lyrics, and seed idea
K2 and the Three [and the Four]--@k2andthe3, @k2-kara –Ken–drums
TexMex Shaman– @texmex-shaman –Stephen– Tom Anderson custom T electric guitar
Mistermark-- @user-432503709 -- Mark – clavinet and VST sax     
J.J. Terrell-- @j-j-terrell—JJ-- Yamaha Genos 2 electric piano voice and lead organ
Llanpsych-- @llanpsych -- Tez – electric guitar, mix, and production
Eclectic Collective -- composition

This song started its life as one of a batch of bass lines Josh came up with around the New Year holiday. He recorded it to a rudimentary drum loop, which Ken replaced perfectly with his own beat. JJ was the next up, bringing his magical organ into the mix. He had to replace it, though, after discussions within the group about the overall form, particularly a suggestion from Stephen that led to the formation of the choruses. He joined the project next, adding his fuzzy, foundational guitar you hear underlying the entire song. Not to miss out on the guitaring, Tez came up with the ethereal guitar fills that float around in there. Mark came after Tez with his textural wah clavinet, also adding the wonderful sax solo you hear in the middle.
After it was done musically, Josh went back and wrote some lyrics and sang them, too.
Once it was in the can, we asked Tez to do the honors of mixing it for us, which he did in his always expert fashion.
This is a fine example of the Eclectic Collective coming together to create a heartfelt song. We hope you enjoy listening to it as much as we enjoyed creating it.

Original lyrics by Josh Clary:

Sometimes I think about
Things we used to talk about
Now I have to go without
Ever looking at your face x2

But I want you near me
Wish that you could hear me

What if we could ever reach
Out to the other each
But what would we say?
Is it just another routine day? x2

It makes my heart hurt bad
When I think of what I had
Now you’ve slipped away
Seems I saw you just the other day

Life can be really cruel
And I can be a fool
But I wish there were a way
I could hear what you would say

Loss (The Eclectic Collective)

“Apricity Serenade”  by Luke 

The word Apricity ..means  “the warmth of the sun in winter” first used in 1623
It’s been a long cold winter up here in Canada 🇨🇦 
one day the Sun came out inspiring me to write this piece

Keys & Piano & Synthesizer & Viola & Violin by Luke
Created & Composed & Produced by Luke
Music & Track & Album Photos by Luke
Photography & Ai photo by Luke
Beats by Luke©️
S c h ü ß m a n n©️

“Apricity Serenade” by Luke

Luster of Midday

Just a simple song for the lonely. Old fashioned human music for this modern age.

Lyrics:
I'm bringing you my honest confessional
I'm dying out here, don't you know?
I've been walking the internet at night
I don't know why I always fall for the tawdry
I always fall for the pills
I fall for your sweetest thrills
I'm dribbling down here at the end of the bar
Falling in
(falling in and out)
Falling in and out of love
I'm in the valley of the lonely
Don't look into the corona eye
You know that I always lie

I could be anything you need
I could be that book that you've been working on...
A paperback. Dog eared and worn...
A book you put up on the shelf...
A book you read that changes your sense of self...
I'm in the valley of the lonely
Don't look into the coronas' eye
The valley of the lonely...

The Valley Of The Lonely

The 1st EP of "past is the verse"

-Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/album/1pfIUzT0czYHLMemPkkXor

-Apple Music
https://music.apple.com/us/album/away-single/1703912682

-Amazon Music
https://music.amazon.co.jp/albums/B089FBMPZY

-bandcamp
https://pastverse.bandcamp.com/track/away

Away

Download

My band Nickel and Steel's debut album out now.  Preview a few tracks at Nickel and Steel's SoundCloud page:  https://soundcloud.com/nickelandsteel

Check the album out at the streaming services below:

Grieving Heart

Paul Stephanides