From the Hearts

Travelling with Ghosts

Yesterday you told me that you‘ll leave our home today 
I think it’s okay cause you’re eighteen now anyway

It seems to me like someone pushed fast-forward on my tape
Keep holding back the memories in my head so they won't escape

Farewell my son, be safe when travelling with ghosts
They like to whisper in your ear, the things you fear the most

And when you‘re old and grey like your father is by now
Most likely you will think of me and drop a line somehow

Farewell my son, be safe when travelling with ghosts
They like to whisper in your ear, the things you fear the most

And when the time has come for you to meet your dad again
We‘ll be sitting on our cloud together, smiling now and then 

Happy birthday David!



Thanks a million for pre-listening: Michele, Gary, Judith and Brenda!

Travelling With Ghosts (David’s 18th birthday)

I'm not too sure how to say this, but I need to. I am not well. I don't know how long I will be able to continue playing the piano. It is getting hard. I have a degenerative neuromuscular disease. It is probably ALS - Lou Gehrigs disease, but they are still doing tests. I can't walk any more ( I can't move my feet) or sit up without a brace and it is getting harder to breath and speak. I often need oxygen. I'm losing my left arm arm - it won't always go to the right piano keys. But I keep pushing. Creating music keeps the brain active and makes me feel like I still have a purpose. Playing the piano has kept my hands and fingers strong, but there are days I can't make it to the piano because I am very weak. I will keep going as long as I can.

All of the music I have written in the last 50 years I have recordings of, along with hand drawn lead sheets and piano scores that I have keyed into musescore for all of the future musicians in my generations to come who might want to play my music. Music is my diary, especially all the songs with lyrics that were written before my time here on SoundCloud. I have been here for 10 years and have made friends with many other musicians. I want to thank everyone who has supported me. It has been a wonderful time for growth when I could no longer play gigs but wanted to keep writing. It is great for senior musicians and for those where music is a creative hobby, not a profession. There is room for everyone. 

I realized after I posted this that I had just used the piano track.  I put different instruments to it and did a new mix. I can't believe I did that.  



Diagnosis Unknown

RPR08_75

The train to nowhere has no end
As far as you can see around the bend
There always is another curve
Another chapter to the story
So we can continue to pretend
Not to see how our story ends

We try so hard to never see
The end of tracks go on endlessly
We hear them rumble beneath our feet
We feel the sway in perfect time
An effect for every cause we find
Creates our end in harmony

A life of storms with wind and rain
Teaches us to weather pain
There is no sense to lie and blame
Hardships on bad timing
The train that I am riding
Is my story just the same

The Train To Nowhere

"One day blooms, the next day blusters—spring keeps us guessing and growing."
this quote would perfectly describe my Lovely Niece 🪴😊
Happy birthday to my dear 'Iren'. ❤️

mix & mastering by @bahram-dashtii

Buy/Stream

Iren, the Spring Girl

This song is actually more of a poem. But I only realized that when I tried to set the text to music after I had written it. 
"I count on you" is a song written as a heartfelt thank-you to the quiet companions in our lives — those who stand by us when times get tough. 
Sometimes, these are the people who understand us without needing many words. Sometimes, they are the loyal, four-legged friends who remain by our side through the years. And sometimes, it’s a spiritual presence that carries us through our darkest moments.

This song is about that steady, silent presence — the comforting feeling of not being alone. It reminds us how much strength can be found simply in being there for one another. Some call it friendship, others call it love — some believe it is God. Ultimately, it’s about connection, trust, and the quiet certainty: I can count on you.

A heartfelt thank-you to Andreas and Colter, who deeply inspired me in the creation of this song.

It would mean a lot to me if this song finds a place in your heart and uplifts you when you listen.



I count on you

When everything inside goes quiet,
and I don't know what to do,
when every step feels heavy,
somehow – there’s you.
You never asked for answers,
you just stood there by my side.
In a time that felt so broken,
you were my piece of light.

I count on you 
when the fire’s burning low.
When I feel like fading,
you’re the one who still knows.
I count on you –
not 'cause you're loud or strong,
but 'cause you stay,
when everything feels wrong.

You held my silence gently,
carried every flaw I had.
You saw the parts I couldn’t show,
and never said it’s bad.
You never needed big ideas,
you just showed up as you are.
And in the middle of the night,
you were my northern star.

I count on you 
when hope has gone to hide.
When the world gets smaller,
you still stay by my side.
I count on you 
no questions, no disguise.
You’re the quiet truth
in a world of little lies.

And if the day should ever come
when you can’t hold it all alone –
I’ll be the one who holds you back,
like you have always done.

I count on you 
And you can lean on me
We carry what the other can´t
And set each other free
I count on you 
and hope you feel it too.
Through every broken piece,
I’ve found a friend in you.


Lyrics/Vocals/Music: Axel Menningen

I Count On You

Kintsugi is an art form that embodies the philosophy of wabi-sabi which values the beauty of imperfection and transience. Kintsugi also serves as a metaphor for embracing our flaws and imperfections in life seeing them as a source of strength and beauty and finding resilience in the face of adversity. 

Kintsugi

An improv composition in celebration of the perfect, simple days that bring us moments of happiness and wonderful memories. Wishing more of these days to everyone listening.

The Perfect Day

Mark says - 
In the 5 years I have been working with Rod, I have been encouraged to reach as far as my experience allows me to, with complete support at all times. So far we have completed 11 songs and have experimented with several others that made for a great learning curve for me, with several more at other stages of development... Watch this space, however as we are methodical and patient, therefore it may take some time to get them off the ground.

The subject matter of this song may be based on a different scenario but it is also a token of my gratitude to my inspirational collaborator and friend Rod, who has given me much confidence to rise to the ambition of his musical creativity and meticulous arrangements. Thank you all for giving this song your time.

Rod says - 
This song was conceived a long time ago to be sung in Spanish, but Mark did a magnificent adaptation with his English lyrics, and the meaning is 100% faithful to the original spirit, even though he hadn't heard the original song in Spanish. Technically, there are three voices together, consolidating a multi-vocal performance. The synth sounds emulate my old analog and FM synths, and the guitars were routed through an old console to achieve the vintage sound I was looking for.

Rodolfo Planes - Music composition, instrumentation, arrangement, production and mix - @rplanes
Me - Vocals and lyrics
Image by Douglas Corrance

Thank You (Rodolfo Planes/Mark J Bennett)

I would like to tell you just how grateful I am,
And also how important you’ve been here in my life.
I know I don’t need to draw you a diagram,
Thank you for being there all this time as my wife.
I have to tell you just how good you’ve been for me,
And I hope that I have also been there for you,
When you needed me through all this trouble and strife.
 
No need to show me all of your gratitude,
I already know how much you show that you care,
When you were prepared to move to my latitude,
Then I was convinced I was ready to share,
My life with you whatever it threw at the both of us.
I know that it’s true, no matter what you care to say.
I’ll always need to express all of my thanks to you 
This will always be true on that I swear.
 
I would like to tell you just how grateful I am,
And also how important you’ve been in, in my life.
I have to tell you just how good you’ve been for me,
And I hope that I have also been there for you,
When you needed me through all this trouble and strife.
Then I was sure that I was ready to share,
My whole life with you, whatever that meant for the both of us.
I know that it’s true, whatever you say.

This song on Continental Collision's own cloud - https://soundcloud.com/user-517923604/thank-you

Also available on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/album/5pfvPjop9XCJPrVL9a60U0

Thank You - Continental Collision (Rodolfo Planes & Mark J Bennett) on Spotify

"There is always a road back, if we have the courage to look for it, and take it." - Louise Penny

"The road back is always longer than you think, but generally never as long as you fear. " (Usually attributed to F. Scott Fitzgerald)

This composition draws inspiration from those who've traveled "the long road back"—whether to find their way home, reclaim their health, or revive a cherished dream. The composition begins slowly and tentatively, mirroring the first steps of such a journey. Around the 2:20 mark, the music gains momentum, signaling that the end of the long road is near. The piece ultimately resolves on a major chord, symbolizing a successful and hopeful return.

The Long Road Back

"Love is not written on paper, for paper can be erased. Nor is it etched on stone, for stone can be broken. But it is inscribed on a heart and there it shall remain forever." - Rumi

A piano improvisation for Mr. Harris. 😊 Loved you then...Love you now...Always will. ❤️

Always Will

RAW Version

Tuning 432 HZ A
D# A# D# G# C F
Capo 1
Tempo 99

We need to save music with passion (maybe a little more controlled then I was here but sure... Own your moments and don't allow shame to stop you learning from the harder moments...)

The first letter made a page at 09:01 and the raw song got uploaded at 09:35. USE your instinct! Don't have a guess handed to you by the digital devil or evolution will take your sorry filled weak  ass genetics!

I don't know about you but it hurts me very deeply to see the indifference people are starting to show music with thoughtlessness. It is the job of true artists to passionately defend and spell out what makes musical character and how it moulds our culture and our individuality. Otherwise we are complicit in allowing a dystopian future unfold. FUCK THAT

I'll only start making more and more powerful passionate songs about this until people realise what stands to be killed! Enjoy your honey moon period I have more musical bombs then any program can ever manufacture. This is RAW.... Let's judge it post DAW.

FUCK INDIFFERENCE. Be real and be LOVE and we are all going to be fine

I cried right through writing these words. I cried through playing the song. Some might look at that and think I should head for a looney bin. Here's the new normal....That's called real emotion and that's called showing people it's ok to feel it deeply and that's called not giving a shit about showing people that because we should not be afraid of our emotion. When we don't fear to feel then we find new power and music or new music we need to teach children to feel themselves and be honest with those feelings as they will find their true selves younger and EVOLVE


The Poem

So, you've invaded my world
You started this fight
Meet adamantium pearl
You won't crush me and music will win
Kids get inspired by character from within
This you can't clone even by force
'Cause this light will shine brighter everyone's course
Meet musical passion
Tears from the sun
Meet love you can't make with one/zero fun
Meet musical heart with wonderous words
Meet the deepest soul ahead of the curve
These tears are floods
Tanks of infinite force
To spell out this world giving spirit as source
I'll NEVER give up this musical WAR
You'll need to end me to allow you score
You can keep trying
I'll just always upgrade
The newer the kids...
The stronger I'll save
I pledge my life to fight for music
True character teaches evolution
We've fused it
Survival of fittest artists today
Will pave the way for creators to have more new say
Save the day and save yourselves
Grind those years to betterment elves
I am Thor for your digital drivel
You insult our culture so watch new civil
This hammer will beat it into your souls
We deliver this light by musical scroll
This is no dead sea
Love from me to you
Declare WAR for the soul of music!
I do!

Who's there? It's WAR

It's Peace (Jam #1)

This is a piano piece with cello arrangements. A peaceful look into nostalgia and memories, composed from the wonderful island of Mallorca. Greetings to all of you who have been following me for years. 

Where we used to be

If you use AI in any form to create "your music", don't bother with my profile, you are not welcome here.
AI music generation detector: https://www.submithub.com/ai-song-checker
I do not support the use of generative AI in music creation. I will not support people who use such technologies nor will I use them. The two songs I posted only serve to raise awareness of the existence of such technologies and as a warning.

At the beginning I would like to sincerely apologize that I am responding to comments late and I am sometimes unable to keep up with listening to your work, but I still work full-time in a profession that has absolutely nothing to do with music and I have my duties towards family and home.

To everyone who flew into my corner on SoundCloud: I am grateful for your support with likes, shares and thank you for the great comments. Please don't hesitate to suggest changes to my music in them. Thanks to this, the next songs will be better and better.

All my music is MIDI (except some drum loops), played/created by me and edited in Ableton Live.

---------------------------

Born in 1970. Music fan since 1985. Now heaving fun with making music. I'm self-taught, playing everything by ear. Started in 1990's but due to certain circumstances left in 1998 until April 2022. My music is created in Ableton Live 11 Intro (until december 2022) and 11 Standard with mostly free plug-ins. Fan of soundtracks (my personal heros are John Williams, Clint Mansell, Philip Glass, Thomas Newman, Hybrid, Hans Zimmer and much more), world music (Dead Can Dance), chillout (Bent, Zero7, Groove Armada, St. Germain, Air, Röyksopp, Kosheen and more), trip-hop (Massive Attack, Portishead), acid jazz (Us 3), fusion (Pat Metheny Group, Dirty Loops), progressive rock (Porcupine Tree), classical (Tchaikovsky, Mozart, Debussy, Orff, Mussorgsky) electronica (Imogen Heap), IDM/House (Moderat, Apparat, Plaid) and electronic music (Vangelis, Kraftwerk, Isao Tomita, Marek Biliński, J.J. Jarre).

Still learning how to produce music.

From the Hearts

R.U.R.