The unknown

Collaborations

16 track digital recording, 2 April 2013.

sampler, hammered keyboard

A brief encounter

A collaboration a long time in waiting. My friend embedded my words deep within his rich reality long, long ago. Now it has made it here.

With the utmost appreciation for taking my words to the music you enveloped them in, I thank you my dear friend.

Find him here and you are sure to stay a while.
https://soundcloud.com/quarkstrangesscharm

Inescapable Mind with music by Quarkstrangenesscharm

16 track digital recording, 4 and 5 January 2014
Available on Bandcamp (http://quarkstrangestcharm.bandcamp.com/track/the-unknown)

laptop

First of all, I want to thank the wonderful SinTaMental (https://soundcloud.com/sintamental), who kindly  recorded the words 23 October 2015 (and made some corrections on the way).

Basic recording (bassguitar and sampler) was done somewhere in 2004, overdubs (guitar, synthesizer)were done 20 October 2015. Words were written on 30 July 2015.

Photograph by my brother  Oscar. I'd like to dedicate this song to him.

The sun was hot  blazing in a blue autumn sky
We strolled the green hills and fields 
Without a care in the world
Like we did in younger days that were full of promise
Days that never seemed to end
We caught the colours of the falling leaves
Thinking this might go on forever
Thinking life might go on forever

Under shadows of trees
The river was so cool and inviting
its water clear and full of strength 
Running forever and ever
We saw flights of birds
And smelled the sweet scents of decay
But we didn’t catch the colours of the fallen leaves
imagining this might go on forever
imagining life might go on forever
									

Blue autumn sky- collaboration with SinTaMental (see description)

Anexa (https://soundcloud.com/annnnushka) came with the idea of adding vocals to an existing instrumental, "De lange leegte" (https://soundcloud.com/quarkstrangesscharm/de-lange-leegte)... I think you'll agree that she did a wonderful job! For words she chose a poem by Russian poetess Anna Akhmatova, again an excellent choice!

Anexa is a great pleasure to work with, please check her out!https://soundcloud.com/annnnushka.

vocals: Anexa
words: Anna Akhmatova
instruments: Ralph

"I’ve ceased to smile long ago …" 

I’ve ceased to smile long ago,
The bitter winds now chill my lips,
Another hope was just let go,
Another song was added since.

Against my will, I’ll cede this song
To people’s laughter and offense,
Because love’s silence for the soul
Is too unbearably immense.

I've ceased to smile long ago- Anexa with quarkstrangenesscharm

16 track digital recording. Backing tracks recorded April 2014. Vocals recorded June 2014. Overdub keyboard recorded 21 August 2016.

Rob: vocals, music
Ralph: guitar, keyboards, music, words.

(A) (Song for whomever)

I wonder where I should be
seeing you in that velvet red dress
as if anything could match your cheeks 
eyes shining with expectance
on opening the door
I dream... yet do not sleep

would you still be
looking at the world through a child's eye
your words won't have to inhaled
to fan a smoldering fire
a clock losing its time
strangely it's at ease
I dream...yet do not sleep

when I sleep I dream
explaining these deeper thoughts
and everything that may matter
when you leave, leave
a confusion
you're still here
a trumpet 
in the distance
playing
at night

(A) song for whomever (vocal version)

How the night came (@howthenightcame) came up with the idea of making an album on Roman mythology (Ovid's great book Metamorphoses) and invited other artists to participate in the project. 
The results are very nice I think: 21 tracks based on his favourite stories, while collaborating with lovely artists like Hypoid (@hypoidsound, www.youtube.com/channel/UCc_iQ5JFusPt9EIwKIZ5rew) and Daniel Diaz (dedeland.com, @daniel-diaz) amongst others.

“Ovid stares at The Black Sea (Niobes return)” was the track I was asked to collaborate on. The story is about a woman who turns to stone: (en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niobe)
The basic tracks and final mix are How the night came’s. Thanks Martin, for your confidence and all your work!

Here you can listen to (or download) The Ovid album: howthenightcame.bandcamp.com/album/metamorphoses with an accompanying PDF which gives you some information about the project.
For more info: howthenightcame.wordpress.com/
www.youtube.com/channel/UCPGfN1lu3WZovgIA42_G0eg

How The Night Came - 21. Ovid Stares At The Black Sea (Niobe's Return) -with Quarkstrangenesscharm-

Thanks for lending an ear.

for different sounds see also:
https://soundcloud.com/delichtmorbidebrigade
https://soundcloud.com/thefactsoffiction
https://soundcloud.com/bint-4
https://soundcloud.com/rgmb-1