Because the Spotlight itself only has 5 positions, this playlist is used as "honorable mentions" - Tracks are not exactly ranked, but higher up this list means I recommend you listen to first.

I do update this list regularly - this includes track orders.

Spotlight Alumni (recommended listens!)

Finished this track today;

I don't know what happened while writing the lyrics, the track became a dirge, but here they are:


Take me out to the sea
into the waves my memory
Take me into your sails
may fortune bring you fairest winds

Hold out until the dawn
let the night pass just one more time
Wish on a fallen star
may sunlight bring serenity

Take me up to the beach
watch the sand get washed away
We will be always there
right where we first joined our hands

---
mix v1.0

❤️ @Bandcamp

Eternity

edit: this now has a video https://youtu.be/V9NKpMOOLNQ

Got a new toy, had to play with it,
but also wanted to build something of a song, because repertoire;
and I was inspired by many things I have listened to over the past weeks.

I have to come to the point of happy uplifting music yet, so you will have to do with this:


It's a song about some dark places a mind can be in... The protagonist may not be of this world, in fact. Or he never fit in...


lyrics

look for me in the shadows
look for me in the rain
cannot find in the mirror
cannot run down the drain

hold it up for a cover
give me something to taste
I need to see you tomorrow
everything else is a waste

looking out of the window
shattered worlds made out of glass
here I am set out to wander
if we only had something to last

I get it
I loved it
and wanted too much


mix v3.0

Unrequited

I am currently remixing all the tracks of the 'The Dwelling' album I made in 2017/2018, because of new insights in mastering and mixing and new equipment and tools to aid in that. 

This is 'Atticboy'. The original version dates from 2008 I believe, and I recorded this version in 2017, and remixed it today.

Other entries in this remix spree are Long Shot and Until the Light - the latter only being available on BandCamp (why though? https://alicedeeper.bandcamp.com/track/until-the-light-2021-remix ?)

In the time of my former band UMF, this was a live favorite - usually played at the start of the second set to jumpstart the audience after the break.


lyrics:

yeah I thought that I got away from all the rules of a sorry game
now I'm locked to another chain - spinning down seems the only way
I won't do what the bugger say - feeding life on a hungry plate
shorting out for a better way - I got a taste for the bitter rain!

I got pain, in my brain;
a screw loose, this is not my day!
I got it hanging bad again.
and everytime, is all the same,
I wanna get out but I don't know where to stay,
if everytime I refuse to play,
slumping down into the grey,
seeking comfort is not the way.

Find you a lovin' or find you a hell,
the best way of discovering is s*** I can't tell!

A truce, that's for you.
Too loose, that's for you.
Can't choose, that's for you.
To lose, that's for you.
No way back to you,
run away far from you.
Too late - answer you!
no regret,
all of you.

Atticboy (2021 remix)

As part of the remix/rework spree I'm on - this one was up next
did some things to the drum track because it bothered me, and now it doesn't. It's got a drummy style thing about it now.

lyrics:

all the devils and the beasts now have gathered for the feast
behold the naked human meat - surely they won't eat the least
but the angel's left outside though this hell is opened wide
to her mercy long has died, escape the darkness she has tried
now she sees her dying moon - see her dancing in the gloom
through the mist and through this room
watch the angel's flower bloom

where the streets are shades, where the demon waits
the angel turns out to be strong, she embraces the angel song
and the calling from afar, see the rationale at war
feelings that were, feelings that are - bound together in a star

she is here for you to see, she is here for you to be
she holds the love that we all seek beneath the black, beneath the bleak

she is breaking through the glass - follow the footprints on the grass
float with the smoke through the sky - a-where the angel hides
and right here, up above, she's still crying out for love
she is sick of all the lies, she is sick not knowing why

and no, I can't believe - all the visions I receive
but the truth it must be real, I taught the angel to feel

here it is and here's it plain, now the angel's not the same
she knows now that she can see, I taught the angel to feel

the angel - feel

Angel (reborn again)

2023-08-23 about time I got this public :)

album on Bandcamp

Blazing Away (2021 remix)

Track consisting of 1 bass, 1 guitar, 1 drum and heavily processed vocals, this is arguably a bit of an album filler. Started out jamming and it turned into this, didn't really go ahead and polish it (like, making the drums more interesting, and so)

I remixed it in a functional/minimal style this year to be included on the Overland album, and now making it public here on the Cloud as well to bridge the time until I can actively work on new material again.

I like the lyrics, mostly:

grinding out the foresight
moon is up and fullbright
feeding back on the insight
burning taste of the mind

final words are spoken
prayers of dead and omen
giving hell a token
of passing by, unbroken

save for skies on fire
narrowing the wire
slowly fade the choir
angels too expire

Angels Too Expire (2021 remix)

This atmospheric and reflective piece is a spiritual successor to Under A Darker Spell (also on my profile).

It was already on Spotify and Bandcamp and such, but had not set it to Public on Soundcloud. Well, it's here now :)

https://open.spotify.com/track/2hxjecqCOU11VFWRWVrK4m


lyrics:

She wears a dress of purple and black
She moves way through and she dreams she's back
To the place where she could shine like gold
Now her diamond eye - she makes freeze and fold

Till she looks upon another stranger here
Who carries lights and tastes the silver fear
Draws an inch closer as the haze sets in
She feeds back the fire to the chain within

Until the light, until the light

She's a hungry thing but she's a captive instead
Could not be locked away, could not unscrew her head
She's a naked sweet but the spring's times ead
Fulfill unlock the clear path onto the endless bed!

Until the light, until the light

Until The Light (2021 remix)

An all fresh and new experimental bit, even though it's technically a new take on a pre-millenial song of mine. Here's the video that we are pretty stoked about: https://youtu.be/NODyGroE2D4

it's kind of an atmospheric piece.

lyrics:

give me love to kill the hate
give me hate to kill the lie
won't you dare to change your sides
turn the darkness into light

when it's fierce and then it comes
change will twist and turn it on
find a mind - declining heart
push and pull until it's gone

this I know is mine
the song of six to nine
we could but spill the wine
run further down the line

here, now, mine, so fine

can you hear the death bell ring?
can you feel the scorpion sting?

here, now, mine, so fine

Love Hate Lie

In memory of my dear friend Lebo, also drummer of the live band Laybow, here's another track of what turned out to be her final music session.

This is a live session played on nov. 5th 2021.  Lebo passed away on dec. 22nd 2021.

Though we may enjoy her energy embedded in her legacy and memories and in many different other ways, we will never get to interact with her directly again. And that will be missed tremendously. But she WILL be celebrated, this is not a question. 

The picture is her giving a 'goodnight kiss' as a funny pic to the bass player's son, a couple of years ago. This photo brings a smile to my face as it's full of joyful vibes.

me: guitar and voice
PP: bass
Lebo: drums

Polaroid (live 2021-11-05)

For the occasion, I reworked this thing a little. It's a track from the archives but I always enjoy this one for the energy. Nothing too serious though :)

lyrics:

ah hear the phone rings
time for a night out
fragile hearts await to break like glass on
classy smiles and
aerosol touch of plastic warmth
enthusiastic spasms of a lovelife on the thresh
of lifting off

she paints her face down with red and sticky glue
wrapped around her eyes it looks like
wings of butterflies
look at all the flesh displayed
all this ecstasy unveiled
"run away with me," her body screams,
"you will be pleased to please, please me"

she's a happy valentine
such a happy valentine

kisses, hugs and funny talk
electrifies the air
look at her attention span,
"what with who and why and where?"
a gazillion pretty friends to give her
all the love she needs
in the centre of the universe she says:
"it's just ol' silly little
ME"

it's a happy valentine
such a happy valentine

Happy Valentine redux

Encountering persona for linguistic reprogramming...

BandCamp link

Progress

Toying with the Maschine+ again, loads of fun!

The Exalted

A very early track, in complete remake. There is an earlier remake on my profile too and a remix of that remake, but I never uploaded the original.

"redux" as in, rethunk and cut out some redundant verses.

closing track of the "Fall" EP
https://open.spotify.com/album/4UTItNTWHhAL0ASu6cm8rB

lyrics:

Manyman the missionary
his holy cross in hand
holding up his sacred book
he is fighting for his land

He passes the threshold of his thoughts
darkness conquering his mind
this confusion has only brought
a glance upon the other side

Manyman and his smiling mask
answering his divine task
could he conquer all that's ill?
Manyman's a man of will

and the missionary stumbles
and he's grabbing for a hold
all the words that once had built him
now make him choke upon his throat

Manyman projects away
cannot stand the light of day
reflects upon this failing grace
put Manyman back in his place

Manyman the world is open
Manyman it's there for you
do you know it's all you hoped for
there is nothing you can't do

Fall

over here ✨

Manyman (redux)

Fall sessions demanded to do remakes of a bunch of tracks that just ask for it.. again.

lyrics:

all the devils and the beasts now have gathered for the feast
behold the naked human meat - surely they won't eat the least
but the angel's left outside though this hell is opened wide
to her mercy long has died, escape the darkness she has tried
now she sees her dying moon - see her dancing in the gloom
through the mist and through this room
watch the angel's flower bloom

where the streets are shades, where the demon waits
the angel turns out to be strong, she embraces the angel song
and the calling from afar, see the rationale at war
feelings that were, feelings that are - bound together in a star

she is here for you to see, she is here for you to be
she holds the love that we all seek beneath the black, beneath the bleak

she is breaking through the glass - follow the footprints on the grass
float with the smoke through the sky - a-where the angel hides
and right here, up above, she's still crying out for love
she is sick of all the lies, she is sick not knowing why

and no, I can't believe - all the visions I receive
but the truth it must be real, I taught the angel to feel

here it is and here's it plain, now the angel's not the same
she knows now that she can see, I taught the angel to feel

the angel - feel

The Fall EP @BandCamp

Angel (fall session)

mix version 2, this might be adjusted

Sacrifice
All the time
Never lie
Head up high

Visions unfolding
Pathways reopen
Neural control
Break through the wall

Demonized
Inner child
Let it out
For a while

Passions rekindled
Never it dwindled
Spiraling flight
Transformative light

✴️ free download here

Bear No More

Lebo - drums
P. P. - bass, backing vocals
Tom: guitars, vocals

Laybow - Chaotic Disorder

A new entry for the Myth Wave collection.

now has a video: https://youtu.be/OgFfGesONrA

check out the entire collection here:
https://alicedeeper.bandcamp.com/album/myth-wave-the-ever-growing-collection

edit: I realize that Dead Can Dance have a track with the exact same name. This is not a cover, though - DCD is an absolute inspiration and I can only recommend checking out their work to the fullest.

Myth Wave here

Dance Of The Bacchantes

I had this tune in my head for quite a while, and now I finally recorded it. It's always fun to take new approaches to the recording process. It's certainly not as clean and polished as it could be, but there is another version in the works with the Laybow-legacy studio project. 

lyrics:

look, it's the sun that's coming back to shine
even the rain has never felt this fine

and the trees turn back to green
all the colours that you haven't seen for a long time
this past time, fading
to make place for a new day
a new scent is calling
and I will be falling in love again

look, there's a new bird in the sky
circling upward like it never got that high before

and the flowers in the street
so many faces new to meet
all our paths that intertwine
like the bees back to the hive
build another piece of life
like the bird that got so high
it's the only way to fly

always in springtime
a new scent is calling
I will surely be falling
in love again

v2; some vocal corrections

A Song For Springtime

Another one for the Myth Wave collection. I got me some African djembes on the local flea market today, completely unplanned and by surprise, and some African shakers too, and my housekeeper had brought me a souvenir from her hometown earlier this week - a mouth harp. So I went ahead and recorded some music today.

It turned a bit darkly, as I filled in the openness with a ghostly synth, so I named the track after the illusive greek goddess of night - Nyx.

The Myth Wave collection can be found here: https://alicedeeper.bandcamp.com/album/myth-wave-the-ever-growing-collection (for free)

Myth wave collection

Children of Nyx

Another track for the Laybow legacies demo, finally ready for release:

Tom - guitars, vocals
Peter Paul - bass
Lebo - drums

Alan Watts samples

Laybow - Decry

Also finally ready for release: the next "legacy" Laybow recording.

Enjoy!

Tom - voice, guitars
Peter Paul - bass guitar, backing voice
Lebo - drums

Laybow - Down Below

Yet another track finished from the Laybow legacy.

Tom - voice, guitars
Peter Paul - bass
Lebo - drums

Laybow - Favorite Game

Selene

Lebo: drums
Peter Paul: bass, backing vocals
Tom: vocals, guitars

finally finished mixing this (or is it truly finished yet?)
This will be included on the legacy vinyl we intend to release.

Laybow - Bug

This was the first track of the demo sessions that we mixed, and as such turned out very different from the later efforts. So we decided to re-do it, and properly this time around.

Lebo - drums
PP - bass
Tom - vocals, guitars

Laybow - Polaroid (2024 mix)

An instrumental rock ditty that we enjoyed playing a lot.

Lebo - drums
PP - bass
Tom - guitars

Laybow - AC Cheesy

A song about the shifting of seasons... and life

gothic wave version is here: https://soundcloud.com/puppetxeno/welcome-the-fall-goth-fashion

original music and lyrics,
AI vocal performer "Cassandra Rekkt"

lyrics:

Welcome the fall
The falling leaves
The wind is blowing
All the dreams away

We welcome the fade
Wish it was over soon
Wrapped up in shadows
Under the harvest moon

Days are getting colder
Crimson skies above
Seasons turning over
Changing what we love

The colors burn bright
Then they drift away
Trees stand naked
In the cold of day

Life keeps on spinning
Round and round again
Cycles never ending
Gotta face the end

Days are getting colder
Crimson skies above
Seasons turning over
Changing what we love

BandCamp

Welcome The Fall (the fade version)

A song about shifting seasons, and life;

The typical goth version of https://soundcloud.com/puppetxeno/welcome-the-fall-the-fade-version

original music and lyrics;
AI vocal performer "Cassandra Rekkt"

lyrics:

Welcome the fall
The falling leaves
The wind is blowing
All the dreams away

We welcome the fade
Wish it was over soon
Wrapped up in shadows
Under the harvest moon

Days are getting colder
Crimson skies above
Seasons turning over
Changing what we love

The colors burn bright
Then they drift away
Trees stand naked
In the cold of day

Life keeps on spinning
Round and round again
Cycles never ending
Gotta face the end

Days are getting colder
Crimson skies above
Seasons turning over
Changing what we love

Welcome The Fall (Goth fashion)

Reworked version of "Glitchout", 

lyrics:

Were you someone, I have to be asking
grew up serene, away from the struggle
and strife now presented that never did touch you
but words of deception that make you believe
that the world was on fire, injustice abound
right at your doorstep to take all your freedom?
but just close your eyes, there was never a real threat
other than the ones of split tongues and venom!

wired up, side on break the violence
fired up, ride on, hear the silence

tell me again who you were once ago
when the future was open and dreams were allowed
think of exactly who told you the difference
between cats and dogs and the hits that were misses?

the tales that were spun on a landfill of gaps:
all cognitive bias we need to unlearn!
projection, reflections, deflections, the point is
we all want our freedom and peace with the world

wired up, side on break the violence
fired up, ride on, hear the silence

Glitchout (wokey wokey version)

Experimental rework of early track "Patterns"

"all these patterns in my head, so much as if they never end
I see flashing in my head through the patterns green, black and red"

Patterns (trace and cut version)

O boy has life become a hectic mess, squeezing in moments to create music seems to become more difficult by the day. But: sometimes things can get done, so here we are!

also, video: https://youtu.be/oXXYIJsPLuA?si=LWkD9HFfspzw08YA

Work Up, Wake Up

re-imagining of Iced/Mantra in neo-classical celtic style
the original is here: https://on.soundcloud.com/Fu7WQ9GS6dw4nILnaB

This is one for my funeral.


lyrics:

Even when the rain comes down
Even with the skies torn open
I will still be here tomorrow

Even when things falling down
Or when every heart is broken
I will still remain tomorrow

I'll be there for your best side
Hurtling up the open wide
Nothing here was meant to mourn for

Though your life was blown away
And the right words you couldn't say
You did never pass unnoticed

Though the skies keep falling down
and reality lies underground
there is so much yet to learn for now
its the thunder, its the same
too much trouble, too much pain
at least all this is taken all away

When The Rain Comes Down

When The Rain Comes Down (aka Iced/Mantra) (Wyche version)

lyrics:

Hey, what, for the love of
Get the light in your mind on
look around, where you're at,
this is your world
that's all it said

come on now,
is there a little love to give
isn't there a little thing to share
just a moment if you dare
and don't let yourself be robbed
don't let it bleed away
this is your world
not fade away

and how often do you dream
that the moment was turned
just a bit askew
and you would have felt anew?


check here

Come Full Circle

Tom "Puppet Xeno", core member of the Alice Deeper music project.
Grungegoth, Myth Wave, Eclectic experimentalist -

Songwriter, producer and session musician for spoof (witch)punk band The Cacklettes.

Alice Deeper is on Spotify, Bandcamp and Youtube. Check the links below to connect. We aim to make it worth your while 😸

PuppetXeno

Pinned to spotlight

Popular tracks