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Composed, produced & performed by Srouly Frank

The Bear And The Wolf

I hope to open my eyes tomorrow...I still have dreams and don't want to fade away.

Dreams Fade Away (Dark Demo)

Continuing the Jazz injected pop-rock theme of Collect the Moment and Better do SOME GOOD this one references AJA though it could easily be ASIA. My time spent in AJA (Steely Dan) was about the same time we were dissecting preserved bodies in Otago Medical School. Playing live then I was channeling more of a Neil Young, Bob Dylan and THE BAND pre Americana country rock thing. But jump ahead 40 years and here we were just this last Saturday night churning out JOSIE from AJA in a set of originals and covers full of Jazz Chords and RnB beats. So this new song absorbs a lot of that stuff. 

HR Kiosk

Next to you, I feel a hero
The maintenance of normal, while you’re a trip to Cairo
Circa 2023 I’d like to paraphrase
Cause cities like that and Khartoum
Once set a soul ablaze

So book yourself into an HR Kiosk tonight
There’s gotta be an on-line guru who could shine a light
Infiltate you with guile
Make you think there’s actually an I in why 
Yeah yeah yeah

Time spent in Aja did it make me cynical?
Made me feel ok to rave 
And pull you off your pinnacle
Of course it’s arrogant to judge, someone on culture
But I see you circling thru the sky, with the eye of a vulture

Know you kinda inside out
So I’d try it with a hundred grand
I bet you on your virtual couch 
You’re lying on a slippery Sam

Course you’re going even lower - way below zero
Sayin’ hey let’s all be friends
Like Ghandi and Nehru
Your time at the Taj Mahal, did us no favours
After breathing in the rarified shrine
Where’s your reconciliation pavers

HR KIOSK

This is a song that Tez (Llanpsych) came up with by creating a dope beat and laying some killer guitar over it. He then sent it to me, and I added some 5 string fretless bass and some electrified mandolin. I had a lot of fun making this one with Tez. He also produced and mixed the whole thing, expertly, as always. We hope you enjoy listening to it as much as we did making it.

We Have Ways of Making You Dance (with Llanpsych)

Yet another instrumental inspired by a road trip. 
Can I fit another road trip in before the summer is gone?

All the guitar parts were played on my American Telecaster with Texas pickups... I aways seem to reach for this guitar when road trips are on my mind.

Open Road

This is a really personal one. It was written during a very stressful period in 2021. I came home, had a little too much whisky, wrote the lyrics and then wrote and recorded the backing in one night. I then forgot all about it!!I found the file the other morning and decided to finish the melody and record the vocals. It’s not easy listening but I wanted to express how I felt at that time. Some of my songs on here are personal and some are stories etc. I wanted to show one with real, pure emotion. As ever, best with headphones. There is a longish instrumental intro and then the vocals. It’s about the life spark being smothered by stress. 
Life is better now! 

Lyrics 

Unfocused and Gone

I know it’s missing
it feels hollow and spare
It was alive once, eager to act
Urgent and hungry, for attention and contact 
There was surging desire and constant demand
Oh I miss what I was, and what I am I can’t stand!

I’ve no joy in films and tv, all dead to me
Work doubt my skills, love holds no thrills
It’s just complaints and jibes, angry and snide
No sleep, no calm, just fear and alarm

And then here you are, you smile and I know
That hope starts to build, my confidence grows
But I’ve nothing at all, what can I do
I’ve no spark or desire, or excitement for you 

Unfocused and gone

And will a renaissance come?
Or will it go on and on? 
Unfocused and gone 

James Whiteman copyright jan 2021

Unfocused and Gone

Written in 1929 by Albert E. Brumley. Chris and I on guitar and vocals.

I'll Fly Away

Sandsea

Thank you for checking out this Highlight reel of Eclectic Collective's greatest moments in the year 2023. The Eclectic Collective is a very loose band of musicians who collaborate over the internet and communicate via email only.
Cast of characters:

Hosted by: StonerJazz on.soundcloud.com/6qwFQ

Entheogenic Psychonaught (Josh Clary) - Bass, Lap Slide Guitar @josh-clary-1

K2 and the Three - Drums, Percussion, backing vocals, production @k2andthe3

Llanpsych - Guitar, Effects, production@llanpsych

TexMex Shaman - Guitar, Effects, Production@texmex-shaman

J.J. Terrell - Keys, Synth, Organ on.soundcloud.com/ivM1E

MisterMark - Lyrics, Vocals, Piano, Synth, Effects 
on.soundcloud.com/qMWgp

Not interviewed in this piece, but a big thank you from all of us goes to :

Artur of Surfers Like Us @user-411502040 Jaguar Surf Guitar 

Mysterious Decibel @themysteriousDecibel Vocals, Lyrics 

Steve of Steve’s Planet @Steve-Vervaet Vocals, Lyrics, Acoustic guitar 

Chris Maness @user-419254289-15129531 Guitar, Vocals, Bass, Production 

(Logo by Mr. Mark)

“This is one louder”

Eclectic Collective Rockumentary 2023-bits of hits

Total Destruction Sonic Comic Episode # 11

Electrogrinder

It! will return. It! will shed It!'s skin and It! will begin again. 

Thank you for listening. It!'s pretty horrible right now...