Catch your breath

The simple things in life aren't free
no matter what you believe
You gotta work to get to Heaven
There's no other way to receive

The things you need that aren't so simple
You'll find it's hard in every way
You can tear it all down, for example
But it's only yourself you deceive

Find a way to catch your breath,
before they drag you under
You know the wonder that you express?
Well, they'll tear it asunder 

Take a chance to walk the path,
with the sound of thunder
The lightning strikes if you do the math,
that's your biggest blunder

The simple things in life aren't free
no matter what you believe
You gotta work to make it here
Who else are they gonna deceive?

The things you need that make life simple
You'll find they're totally out of your reach
They'll put you down, for example
You got to practice what you preach

Demo written and recorded between 18:30 and 21:12 on 2021-08-17
Vocal overdubs, additional percussion, and remix - 2021-08-18 ver 2b; additional mixing work and storm c/o Mother Nature added 2021-08-19
A few trivial mixing fixes done 2021-08-20 and removed the thunderstorm and added some breath!

Words & Music - David Bradley
Vocals, guitar, and bass - dB/

Download

Catch Your Breath

A rather noisy and raw, one-take-wonder on my phone, done with minimal preparation and the words and melody written on-the-fly, ad lib, as I played the guitar part.

Count yourself a lucky one
You're waking with the rising sun
And though you're aching inside
You know you're on the right side of the day

Count your blessings every one
Even ones that seem one way
I don't know what it is I've become
But I finally know the way

Here to live, with fire
What we have become
Chances are you'll see
What we have become

What We Have Become

You remember how we flew home at night?
Head full of memories, I could tell
You shone when we caught sight of Paris
and smiled at the lights of the Tour Eiffel

It was so small, a golden dagger
In a playground of streetlights and bars
Full of the memories that make me stagger
A flashlight on streetlife and cars

Oh, how I wish I could find a way
To take us back to those nights, we'd see
The secret to happiness isn't time or place
It's the laissez faire of the c'est la vie
The secret to happiness isn't time or place
It's the finding the people we can be

The mighty drinkers in that old cafe
Who asked us all about The Queen
We shared their wine and spirit, I have to say
But we lost the thread, I felt so mean

We headed home along the banks of the Seine
I headed out on a limb
The easiest thing to do was to stake a claim
But, my mind was dulled and my eyes were dim

Oh, how I wish I could find a way
To take us back to those nights, we'd see
The secret to happiness isn't time or place
It's the laissez faire of the c'est la vie
The secret to happiness isn't time or place
It's finding the people we can be

We chased the plane in an airport race
Entangled in our own youth
Although I'd held back just to check out the place
What more did I need, in truth?

The people we could be

There’s a tension in the air
Always someone being so unkind
Never found the right time to make that repair
To my confounded state of mind

Didn't see you out and about
You couldn’t bear to breathe the air
You’re clued up there is no doubt
But missed your cue ‘cause you just don’t care

And, I feel
That something is missing
The lonely aren’t kissing any one
Just before the dawn I will know
If it's easy come, then it's easy go

Did I mention it today?
They're always looking for a fight?
Never found the peaceful way
To resolve the wrong from the right

And I feelThat someone is blessing
those second guessing everyone
Before the sunrise I will know
If it's easy come, then it's easy go

But, I feel
That we're all missing
That we're lonely and we're messing with our heads
To think we really ought to know
That if it's easy come, then it's easy go

As usual, words and music, acoustic, electric, and bass guitars, percussion, production, mixing, and artwork by dB/ Re-recorded the chorus vocals on 2021-10-17

Easy come, easy go

No Footprints in the sand

The days are colder and the nights drawn in
No barricades of comfort, now the aching will begin
I'm running down an unlit corridor
The pain can chase me, but I head out through an open door

And you won't find a clearer path today
If you turn your back on the future, try to run away
And, there are times when you can plan your day
But the tide will turn and wash your wishes away

But I can see the warning signs ahead
They don't deter me, they draw me on instead
And I should say that we can choose a tougher path
The path of least resistance was never going to last

Walk with me, I'll take you by the hand
Can't promise anything like a promised land
But, I’ll give you love, though nothing's planned
Walk with me, leave just our footprints in the sand

The summer comes around and the days are long
I thought I'd moved on but something feels so wrong
And there you're kneeling with your head in your hands
Still can't believe we found ourselves in this foreign land

Though I could see the warning signs ahead
They didn't stir me to turn away instead
And though I said that we should choose a tougher path
The path of least resistance was never at our backs

-----------------
As usual, words, music, and production by David Bradley
Vocals, guitars, bass, keyboard, percussion mixing dB/

On BandCamp

No Footprints in the Sand

Lost in Action

You stake your claim on my time, and I succumb to a rhyme
I won't cry at this one, been toughened by friendly fire
This is all I've got, so I'm not wasting time; no time

Can I be lost in action? No reaction's what I've seen
Just a silent distraction, out of the picture, it seems, completely

You gave no time to my claim, and I ride out the blame
I just can't cry with this one; collateral damage is done

Can I be lost in action, action's not what it seems to be?
It's just a sign of distraction, out of the picture, it seems, completely

You're telling the story of the age, but it breaks your heart to say
There's nothing left of the printed page, nothing left at close of day

Can I be lost in action? Action's not my scene
It's just a failed reaction, out of the picture, it seems, completely

Can I be lost in action, when action's not what I've seen?
It's just a sign of distraction, out of the picture, completely

You stake your claim on my time, so come to a lie
Not going to cry over this one, I've been toughened by friendly fire too many times

Can I be lost in action, action's not my scene
It's just a silent distraction, out of the picture

You stake your claim on my time, and I succumb to a rhyme

Words and music - David Bradley
Vocals, guitar - David Bradley

Lost in Action

Nomadic Soul

The amber shades of fen and stone
Spare world and time as soil tends bone
Those bells that herd the faithful home
Set free lost souls in Heaven's dome

What answers lie beyond the wind?
The reedbed trail goes on and on
Stone cast against the age of sin
To shed this mortal coil again

“I can't wait forever!”
Tideless echoes of a plaintive cry
It can't be forever
Soulless in this world I'll fly

There’s anger buried deep below
It fades with time as soil turns bone
We tend the spirits locked in stone
But, the falcon calls as it flies home

“I can't wait forever!”
Timeless echoes of a plaintive cry
It won’t be forever
Soulless in this world I'll fly

Nomadic Soul

Ebb and flow

I can't quite put my finger on it
I was wilder in my dreams
Open hearted, full of promise
But, nothing's what it seems

The tide it turned against me
As it turns for everyone
A surge of loaded questions
Whose answers never come

Though carefree on the outside
I feel we've lost our sight
That harbour light once guiding us
Won't brightly burn tonight

The tide will turn against you too
It turns for everyone
We’re promised nothing, but to question 
No answers ever come

You can't quite put your finger on it
Nothing's what it seems
The ebb and flow of wretched promise
Still tidal in our dreams

The tide has turned against you
No anchor for you to moor
The pull of loaded questions
Wrecks dreams on rocky shore

Vocal and guitar - David Bradley
Music - David Bradley
Lyrics - David Bradley with "Little Bird"

Ebb And Flow

Escape to the Stars

Over the water, no anchor out at sea
Islands will be washed away by change

Climbing up our mountain believing we’re free
Emptiness that clings hides only rage

You’ll see them as they struggle through the years that roll by
You know that they’ll try their best but in destiny they’ll die

But the air is poisoned, so there’s nowhere left to hide
Could we leave behind this empty shell with no pride?

Ever looking upwards it’s the stars that draw us near
If stardust’s what we’re made from then our fate is ever clear

Over the water, no anchor out at sea
Our island washed away by change

Know how we struggled as the light years flew by
Know that we suffered for the dreams we left to die

And the air that we poisoned, left us nowhere else to hide
So, we left behind that empty shell and our pride

Words & Music by DB
Vocals, guitars and "trumpet" DB
Recorded in the ScienceBASS Studios

More information http://imagingstorm.co.uk/escape-to-the-stars.html

Escape to the Stars

Dustbowl

Kicking up the railroad dirt, I ride these metal wheels
There's plenty of times those dozy bulls come snapping at my heels
They've got to let it go when I hop that old freight train
Never going to mess with me in this old town again

Some unholy angel going to fix me up alright
Heading for the county line making good time tonight
I'm riding high in the lowdown, you know I'm on a roll?
'cause kicking back is easy on the blue highways of the dustbowl

Nickel and dime the journeys you can ride from stay to stay 
Cross that bridge when it gets here, just hopping on that plate
The rolling stock’s for rolling as the years turn by and by
No tears are shed for the lonely who find no place to die

Nickel and dime the journeys you can ride from state to state
Cross that bridge when it gets here, just hopping off that plate
The rolling stock’s for rolling as the years turn by and by
No tears are shared for the lonely who find a  place to die

The times they ain’t for changing, my fortune’s on the wind
Can’t make no money doing nothing, for that’d be a sin
I'm rattled by the railroad track from dusk to break of day
I've no Bible, just a bottle to ease my soul away

Riding high in the lowdown, know I'm on a roll!
'cause kicking back is easy on the blue highways
out of the dustbowl, of the dustbowl

Nickel and dime the journeys you can ride from stay to stay 
Cross that bridge when it gets here, just hopping off that plate
The rolling stock’s for rolling as the years turn by and by
No tears are shared for the lonely. The final place to die

Nickel and dime the journeys you can ride from stay to stay 
Cross that bridge when it gets here, just hopping on that plate
The rolling stock’s for rolling as the years turn by and by
No tears are shed for the lonely who find no place to die

Nickel and dime the journeys you can ride from stay to stay 
Cross that bridge when it gets here, just hopping off that plate
The rolling stock’s for rolling as the years turn by and by
No tears are shared for the lonely who find a place to die

Lyrical embellishment "LillBirdToldMe"

Free download

Dustbowl

Golden Light

Dawn

Dry night-time chills that fracture stone
Give way to distant East as shadows form
Racked and stretched, escape the dawn
But they're defective, by the minute torn

Beyond the burning dry, the thorn
Now, searing sunlight rakes the floor

Fast, scorched to dust, in time, forlorn
And rising from their slumbers borne

Escape the rock, the fever sworn
And at its peak no air, no home

All anger, fear as life must flow
Those distant memories cannot atone


Then as the rake turns skies unknown
From deepest blue to tortured moon
Beyond the realm of tidal doom

There is nothing. There is nothing

Hope

But, golden in the night, The Light that lights their world
Tender by the Mother's love, His heart 'round all life is curled
Thus, fearful that they'll lose their way,
The Three seed starlight as a pearl...

Dusk

The dark enshrouds the desert blown
By skies that turn to wait the dawn
And chills return to fracture stone

As skies that turn to wait the dawn
The chills return to fracture stone

Eternity

And so the golden Light will rise
Beneath their star they tremble at the sight before their eyes
Perfume and metal, death disguise
Believers right the wrongs, deceivers must despise

And so the golden Light will rise
In all Eternity a date with fate we'll finalise
And so the journey of our lives
A never-ending story of the wrongs that will be right

Acoustic, electric and bass guitars and vocals dB
Recorded and mixed by dB
Photo and cover design by dB

Golden Light (A four part trilogy)

Coaldust and Seaspray

I was born with coal dust in my veins, but seaspray on my skin
I don't know if I can shake it, I don't know where to begin
Coal dust was feeding them, putting money in their hands
But from my skin that sea spray, washed salt into the sand

He fuelled this land, from down below, where a man could never weep
I know that he could take it, for the family he'd keep
But ageless rock would crush him	Put his heart within her hand
Yet from my skin that sea spray washed salt into the sand

It broke her heart, to see him fade and give up on all hope
In the dark, where wagons rolled on ancient, dusty slopes

So now with children at her feet but the strength to carry on
She worked her fingers to the bone until all her work was done

Though light of day would blind her	Tear her heart out of his hand
Still from my skin that sea spray washes salt into the sand

The timeless things they taught me roll down life's dusty slope
In the dark, where wagons lie you never give up hope
No ageless rock could crush us	Pull our heart out of this land
And from my skin that sea spray washing salt into the sand
And from my skin that sea spray washes salt into the sand

Words & Music by dB
Acoustic guitar and vocals dB
Written, recorded and mixed Christmas 2013
Remixed and renamed for 2015

My paternal grandfather was a coalminer, but was crippled in an accident when he saved a fellow miner's life by holding off a coal wagon that would have otherwise crushed him to death.

My grandmother worked her fingers to the bone on nightshifts in a factory (two men were needed to run the same machine during the day and each got paid more than she did working it by herself at night!). She raised seven children and lived well into her 90s and she had a lovely singing voice.

My Dad avoided the subterranean life, and our family grew up by the sea in a tiny fishing village. This is a kind of family memoir...not quite Catherine Cookson, but close...the tales I could tell of the next generation...

Coaldust and Seaspray

In the End

A man could walk for many a day, on a path he chose to defend
Don't think he found love on the way, took an oath in the end

His calling was strong, devotion was pure, 40 days of fear
Redemption and reason never a cure, the gift he was given unclear

 Why do something when nothing will do, after all there's no reason?
Without the words to tell the truth there can be no deceiving

 Don't think he knew his God as a friend, there wasn't a right thing to do
Maybe his God was dead in the end and his purpose down to you

Why move a mountain a molehill would do, after all it's the season?
Winds of change they just blow on through, faith is lost for a reason

In the end, there is no other way
In the end, no other day will do
In the end, this too will fade into the deepest blue
In the end, this too will fade into a deeper blue

Guitar, vocals, cajon - David Bradley
Recorded at ScienceBASS

In the End

Love's offline

Days when your love's offline,
Happens once in a while
You just have to smile on through it	

I know it's not easy, but try
Wonder if you'll ever find
some kind of peace of mind

Times when it's harder to play
You just have to throw the game
It's the only way to get through it

I know it's not easy, to cry
Wonder if you'll ever find
you can stay, just the same

You're staring at the mirror and emptiness prevails
You can't take no for an answer
'cause you know that way you'll fail

Days when your love's offline
Happens once in a while
You just have to grin and bear it

You know it' not easy, but try
Wonder if you'll ever find
you can stay just the same

You're staring at the mirror,
but it's all to no avail
She won't take no for an answer,
And you know you're bound to fail

You move like you think you're in time
But you hear everything they're saying
You know it's not all in your mind

Day's when your love's offline
Days when your love's offline

Gotta reconnect this time
Find it hard down the line,
To never give a piece of your mind
When your worlds are out of time
She takes her love,
She takes her love offline

You'll see that you'll be fine,
Never gonna change her mind
It happens all the time,
when she, takes her love, she takes her love offline

From the critics: "The first instrumental break is perfect, and the chorus had tears whelling up in my eyes for some reason"

"Chilled out feel to this, some nice guitar work in there. Lyrically it's very strong"

"Lovely song. Loved the vocal melodies and arrangement."

This track is now available for download from iTunes.

When your love's offline

Dawn Chorus

Asking for a favour, but nothing left to say
Churning up my insides still I hoped that I could stay
Making out the liar was the one who told the tales
Pushing back the limits 'cause they're really in my way

I can't take the pressure in the morning
But at night I know you'll tell me how to change
I can't face the day without a dawning
Would it be so hard for you to play, yeah

You won't find me at daybreak
Leaving now the light has come, such an easy way to go
Don't turn your head I'm making my escape
Got to know the time is right now that morning's come

Asking for a favour, still nothing else to say
Turning my down insights still I hoped that I could pray
Making out the liar was the one who told the tales
Pushing on those limits 'cause they're really in my way

No, you won't find me at daybreak
I'm leaving now the light has come, such a lazy way to go
Don't turn your head I'm making my escape
Got to know the time is right now the morning's come

Addictive drum groove - Adrian Hillier @dontlooklisten
Words & Music - Dave Bradley @sciencebase
Vocals, guitar and bass - DB
Arranged and produced by DB with AH

Funk-rock arrangement of a collaboration with @DontTalkListen

From the reviewers: "Steely Dan meets Jamiroquai meets Chic", a splash of Phil Collins or maybe Glenn Tilbrook.

"This is a sophisticated piece of music. Great groove with the bass and drums and I thought the song was strong and it was well sung."

This was kind of meant to be the sequel to Daft Punk's "Get Lucky".

A collaboration between @DontLookListen and @sciencebase...it's a new dawn, it's a new day, are you feeling good?

Bradley and Hillier - Dawn Chorus

Escape to the Stars

Over the water, no anchor out at sea
Islands will be washed away by change

Climbing up our mountain believing we’re free
Emptiness that clings hides only rage

You’ll see them as they struggle through the years that roll by
You know that they’ll try their best but in destiny, they’ll die

But the air is poisoned, so there’s nowhere left to hide
Could we leave behind this empty shell with no pride?

Ever looking upwards it’s the stars that draw us near
If stardust’s what we’re made from then our fate is ever clear

Over the water, no anchor out at sea
Our island washed away by change

Know how we struggled as the light years flew by
Know that we suffered for the dreams we left to die

And the air that we poisoned, left us nowhere else to hide
So, we left behind that empty shell and our pride

Words & Music by dB/
Vocals, guitars dB/
Sax solo Eddie Bryant @Andoran

More information imagingstorm.co.uk/escape-to-the-stars.html

This is a new mix of my song "Escape to the Stars" featuring the beautiful sax playing of composer, musician and producer Eddie Bryant aka @Andoran TaVaine who has added some wondrous stardust to the track.

NOW WITH VIDEO - https://vimeo.com/88443687

Saddened to hear of the death of space scientist Colin Pillinger who lived not too far from here, as a matter of fact. This song of our quest for the stars is dedicated to his memory...

From the critics: "Another awesome song - both musically and lyrically"

"We have really the impression to be in this escape to the stars... And yes, the saxophone is wonderful!"

"Beautiful tone and wonderful playing.  Your playing is equaled by some really incredible saxophone"

"Sun on my back, beer in my hand ......this tune in my ears ...perfect...sax is superb ... a really pure vibe to this"

"Beautifully recorded strummed acoustic and the fingerpicked part is beautifully judged as well. Great vocals and a clean, uncluttered sound. I thought it was a very strong song which rapidly embedded itself in my brain. This is very sophisticated songwriting and arrangement by somebody who clearly knows what they're doing. Awesome."

Dave Bradley + Andoran Tavaine - Escape to the Stars

Gravity's Rainbow (2016 remaster)

If the fire's on the inside, a naked flame can't touch you
Gravity can't pull you now the tide has turned there's no return
Walking back the way you came and hoping that you'd be the same
Holding back your tears but the fear is just too much for you
All the colours of gravity's rainbow
Waves of pressure pushing you to fall
All the bruising from the grip of your halo
Aching with the pressure. That's gotta bring you down
And the pressure that's gonna bring you down, down, down


Words and Music by Dave Bradley

All vocals, harmonies, guitars, bass and handclaps by DB. Originally, I did the lyric where I sing about "pressure" a little bit too much like a Bowie (Under Pressure) pastiche, it was never meant to be that, so I tempered it down in the next take...maybe I should "release" that original version...but I guess I'd also need to have a Freddie Mercury soundalike along for the full duet ;-)

I laid down a Nile-style funky guitar lick weeks ago, but the recent, controversial discovery of gravitational waves got me thinking about what brings us down...geddit? Now with cheeky Bowie impression in the finale after the Lifesonesque guitar solo...

Gravity's Rainbow

The Time of Your Life

Fortune sells the tokens for emotions that we fake
Is the price they're always asking the price you have to take?
Are you waking up each morning without a smile upon your face?

You can ride beneath the surface or dance on through the waves
This is the life you're living no time to be a slave
Step out of line, and work it out, this fever burns but only for the brave

We're all lifetimers caged within our rage, No one gets to take a dive

We're all highflyers grounded on the printed page, No one gets out of here alive

Fortune sets in motion the thirsting that we slake
It is the price of freedom set by the enemy we face
Have you woken to the real world that's just a fantasy we hate

We're all lifetimers caged within our rage, No one gets to take a dive
We're all highflyers grounded on the printed page, No one gets out of here alive

Words & Music David Bradley
Guitar, vocals and bass by DB
Recorded at Sciencebass 2014-05-09

Pocket watch photo adapted under CC from
https://www.flickr.com/photos/navalhistory/

From the SongStuff critics:

"Very punchy and catchy..."

"the singing is great, as always..."

"Love the tones of the guitar... very aggressive..."

"Love the more rockin' sound from you.  It's very retro sounding"

"Like that gravelly vocal of yours and lurve that bass"

"Top song love the sound, nice bass and the vocal sounds great. Definitely will get listened to again and again"

"Fantastic! Guitars are razor sharp good... the vocal is nice and loose- you sound great. Loving this!"

The time of your life

Worry about it later

There are some things few of us can face,
Confession's not in our system

There are times when we lose the race,
Always learn from persistence
There are places we'd rather be,
Telling some how we miss them
The search for truth, the burden of proof,
The last word on insistence

		Defy as you might, You have to agree
		Love is lost, if there is no will to be free

	Worry about it later
	We've got too much time to spare
	I need the space to set the pace
	So I can run without a care

	Don't worry about the future
	There's no need to despair
	The past is lost, there is no cost
	To fortune's subtle heir

There are new things we might's well face,
Learning how to assist them
There's a time, and there's a place
for hope and love and existence

You might go places beyond the sea,
seeking those who will listen
The search for proof, the burden of truth,
the final key to acceptance

		Carry on without it, There's trouble in your need
		Nothing's gained in misfortune or misdeed

	Worry about it later
	We've got little time to spare
	I need the chase to catch the pace
	Then I can live without a prayer

	Don't worry about the future
	There's no need to despair
	The past is lost, there is no cost
	To fortune's subtle heir

Words & Music by David Bradley
Vocals, guitar, bass, drum programming DB
Recorded at Sciencebass Studios

Worry About It Later

Take me down to the river
Take me all the way out to sea
Chill my heart with the spindrift
Sail the memories home to me

Take a look at the questions
At the questions you have found
Catch a wave without harbour
Where the truth is surely drowned

Yet you know how I wonder
If the truth will be concealed
In the safety of that harbour
That's the time when all's revealed

Sail me back to Uh-huh Town
Sail me back for free
Shake the water from the prow
Sail me back for free

Take me down to the river
Take me all the way out to sea
Chill my heart with the spindrift
Sail the memories home to me

Take me to the lost & found
Sail me back to where I'm bound
Take me to the lost & found
Sail me back to where I'm bound

Take me to the lost & found
Sail me back to where I'm bound
Take me to the lost & found
Sail me back to where I'm bound

Take me to the lost & found
Sail me back to where I'm bound
Take me to the lost & found
Sail me back to where I'm bound

Hey, hey, hey

Sail me back, sail me back
Sail me back to Uh-huh Town
Sail me back, sail me back

Take me down to the river
Take me all the way out to sea

Words & Music dB
Vocals, guitar, bass, drum programming dB
Record and mixed by dB

With thanks to @MonoStone-1, @AMusicalJourney and others for encouragement and to them and others for ego-boosting references to David Bowie, Big Country, U2, The Stone Roses, R.E.M and even Simon & Garfunkel

PS I have no idea where Uh-huh Town is...

Sail me back to Uhuh Town

The Silent Spring

They tell us history is a lesson to learn
Too many times we ignore it
They say the danger is a stranger to burn
Through the seasons they implore it

It doesn't matter how near or how far
The border lands we deplore them
They feed us lies that just won't settle the score
Fail to see that we abhor them

Across the desert a healing wind blows
Now the promise of a silent spring
Though lines were drawn and the borders were closed
Above the cloud the eagle spreads her wings
Above the cloud the eagle spreads her wings

They say that fear is the enemy within
Too many times that we have sworn it
From East to West their lies begin to wear thin
The oath I swore I could ignore it

Across the desert a healing wind blows
Now's the promise of a silent spring
Though lines were drawn and the borders were closed
Above the cloud the eagle spreads her wings

And through the valleys a healing wind blows
With the promise of a silent spring
The lines were cut but no borders are closed
Above the cloud the eagle spreads her wings
Above the cloud the eagle spreads her wings

And in the cities a healing wind blows
With the culture of a vital sting
The ties once cut and all borders exposed
Above the cloud the eagle spreads her wings

And through the desert a healing wind blows
With the promise of a silent spring
The lines once cut and our feelings deposed
Above the cloud the eagle spreads her wings
Above the cloud the eagle spreads her wings

Words & Music by dB
Vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, bass dB
Backing vocals @Emmazen
Programming and mixing dB
Mastered by dB

The amazing Emmazen has now joined me on backing vocals and her voice soars like an eagle on this one!

I have remixed and remastered the song. Hope you enjoy ;-)

Emmazen and Dave - The Silent Spring

Bling! Bling! Funk rock...is money all you want?

Gold and Silver

Gold and silver, throw them away
Final chance now, I hope and I pray
Gold and silver, burn in the night
Heat inflection, the timing is right

Words and music by Dave Bradley
Vocals, guitars and programming by dB
Mixing and mastering dB

Original, Creative Commons gold robots photo courtesy of Epsos.DE - https://www.flickr.com/photos/epsos

Gold and Silver

Inspired by a visit to the "ghost town" of Kayaköy in southwestern Turkey and the book by Louis de Bernières "Birds without Wings", which is set in a fictionalized version of the town...

Anatolia 

Moving through the empty places 
Confused by all the open spaces 
Climb the hill to reach the chapel 
The leaves are scorched within the dappled lighting on the ground 

Writing now a book for those to learn 
I devise a way to share the only Word 
To give them clarity in everything they've heard 
With faithless charity they open up and find it all absurd 

Whiter than the minaret, paler than the Virgin painted on the wall 
Warmer than the leatherette, paler than the virgins waiting for your call 

Anatolia! Anatolia! Anatolia! 

Moving through the open spaces 
Confused by all the empty places 
Climb the hill to reach the chapel 
The leaves are scorched within the dappled lighting on the ground 

Tearing up the Book for no one learns 
I declare the fear to share that everybody yearns 
To take their charity and throw it on the ground 
With faithful clarity we hear the fighting in the desert sound 

Whiter than the minaret, paler than the Virgin painted on the wall 
Warmer than the leatherette, paler than the virgins waiting for your call 

Anatolia! Anatolia! Anatolia!

Vocals - Dave Bradley
Produced by dB
Photo of Kayaköy ruin by dB

From the critics:

"Anatolia" has full flavour of bedoin tents and belly dancers. I feel the haunting, ancient past/imminent trouble, whilst being swept up in a trancy, night club (rave?) dance number. It would go down well on holiday nights out (anywhere hot and sandy). It's great; particularly liked the energy driven through the track and the contrast between the very low bass beat and your high notes. Smooth, exotic and entertaining."

"I thought it was going to be a folk number"

Anatolia

The Mighty Fall

Suddenly it's gone
You cannot see what you were missing
The pain inside has grown so strong
A future lost, no new beginning

Time is moving on
The winds of change swept you aside
Took your faith with all your pride
The years just crawl along

Didn't you hear them calling?
"Brother can you spare a dime?"
Or was it just like any other day?

Oh, couldn't you feel yourself falling?
You really didn't spare the time
To make it unlike any other day

Tortured by the view
You cannot turn your head to see
or look beyond the window
You wonder what you're missing

Nothing is forgiven
You cannot see it's true
You were never one to listen
You turned away and sailed beyond the blue

Oh, how the mighty have fallen
Wonder if you changed your mind
It would seem like any other day

Oh, how the misery claws you
Wonder if you'd had the time
Would it have seemed like any other day?

Time is moving on
You cannot reach what you were missing
The pain inside has grown so strong
A future lost, no new beginning

Any other day
Any other day, the mighty fall
Any other day

Vocals, instrumentation, production Dave Bradley
Music by dB
Lyrics by dB and JH Livingstone

A song of greatness diminished, faith lost, the autumn of one's years...

The Mighty Fall

Just messing about with a simple chord progression Dm-Bb-C-F-Am

And a masked #selfie

El canalla - Spanish for scoundrel/blackguard/cad

El Canalla

Candles

It all changed in the blinking of an eye
And all it took was a little white lie
The candle flickered and you stared at the floor
She said "it's over" and headed for the door

Regrets you have and a pound of insecure
Those wasted years were never part of the cure
If you had your time again you'd get up off the floor
If you had it all again you'd have boarded up that door

When you see that you can never make amends
You'll find your failings were  just fair-weather friends
You cannot sleep on it for the message that would send
Until you realise you're burning the candle at both ends

Take your time, but move on out to another place
Don't stand in line, find your open space
There's no disgrace, you can really change your mind
Light it up, in the darkness you can shine

When you see that you could never make amends
You found your failings were just fair-weather friends
You couldn't sleep on it for the message that would send
And then you realise you're burning ...
And then you realise you're burning
And then you realise you're burning the candle at both ends

Words and music dB
Vocals and guitar dB

Remastered 29th September 2017

Burning the candle at both ends

Indian Summer

Seasons of mists and mellow
They turn around
You wonder where the time goes
You still haven't found the questions
For the answers that you know

Seasons and living on the flow
Too easy to watch them come and go

Can't you make up your mind?
Now the summer's gone, but, you just can't let it go
Still looking for those questions
To the answers you already know

The trees are turning
And you're fooling yourself
There's no point in yearning
for the loss you have felt

Seasons and love, they come and go
Teasels and easiness take it slow

Seasons and living come and go
So easy to watch them come and go

Seasons of mists and mellow
They turn around, You wonder where the time goes
You still haven't found the questions
For the answers that you know

Seasons and living, karma flow
Too easy to watch them come and go

Seasons and loving they come and go
Teasels and easiness take it slow

Words & Music Dave Bradley
Vocals, guitars, bass dB

Indian Summer

As a teen, just starting out on guitar, I was quite obsessed with Al Di Meola, Paco de Lucia, any player with a "d" in the middle of their name...but also the likes of Robert Fripp (and Adrian Belew), Andy Summers, Nile Rodgers, Steve Howe, John Williams, Steve Hackett, and, of course, Alex Lifeson. I'm not sure whether any of their techniques ever trickled down into my finger tips, but here's an instrumental that has some vague elements of those players here and there...

Music and production by Dave Bradley
Guitars, bass, percussion programming dB

Al Dee Mi

Time Lapse

When you come right down to it, it was never going to last
Days and weeks and months went by but years would never pass
Words had  never failed me...at least not until today
But anger rose and doors were closed, seemed nothing more to say

Just one thing...I really ought to touch
So, sit right down, don't turn your head, won't beat around the bush
There's angry words and painful deeds, it's all a crying shame
The thing is that I love you and we're none of us to blame

Come on, come on, come on, come on
Let's take another shot
Just focus on the day today
Leave everything we're not

Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on
Let's give it our best shot
Just focus on this day today
Give it everything we've got

Come on, come on, come on, come on...
When you come right down to it
Come on, come on, come on, come on...
Will you come right down to it?
Come on, come on, come on, come on...
When you get on down to it
Come on, come on, come on, come on...
Will you get on down with it?

Words and Music by Dave Bradley
Vocals, guitar, bass, BeatBuddy mixing dB
Cartoon by dB

Album

Time Lapse

My cover songs are elsewhere, this is just an intro and a snippet. So, head on down the tracks for my latest - The Doobie Brothers' Long Train Runnin' - http://j.mp/doobietrain

Now available from Loudr.fm and all the usual outlets (iTunes, amazon, Google etc) https://loudr.fm/release/long-train-runnin/wMMns

This is a passenger announcement. Dave is over on the sciencebase Youtube platform right now with his cover of The Doobie Brothers Long Train Running. Head on down the tracks for a listen.

Chuff chuff woo woo



Passenger announcement: Long train runnin'

Well, as I enter my sixth decade I was going to write a new song about getting on a bit...but I already had one in my archives from the summer of 2013, so I recorded an entirely new vocal with a bit of a tweak to the lyrics, which seemed apt now that I'm finished my first half century. It's not actually about me though, although it's definitely a song about existential angst. The original song was really for Nelson Mandela who was very ill and very old when I first penned it. Hah!

New vocal and harmonies, new mix, same guitar, bass, and drum mix by dB

Too Old to Die Young

I don't want to leave
Don't want it to pass me by
Don't think I found  the answers in a  lie

Too old to die young,
Too free to belong to anyone
Too late to be  wrong

I know that I can face it
When I think  about your rights
I know that I can take it
All the way up to the fight

Too far have I gone
Stepping miles without a smile for anyone
Stand beyond the sun

Too young for not trying
Too old to cry over dying
Staring back is that old setting sun


We'd live for  ever in the spring
The summer's moving on, And, every  thing
leads back to The Fall   


Too old to die young,
Too free to belong to anyone
Too right     to be wrong

I don't want to leave
Don't want to pass it by
Don't think I found an answer in a lie
No, I don't think I found it in a lie
Don't you think I found it...

Too free to be wrong,
Too young to hold onto anyone
Too old to die young

Yes, I think I must be too old to die young
Don't you think that I'm too old to die young

Too Old to Die Young

For crying out loud

Heaven-sent lovers chasing milk and honey
Spend their time like everything's just so sunny
No little hitches, taking all their pictures
Still the feeling's healing with its homespun riches

Never lets them down, keeps their head off the ground
Rolling down saddled without a frown or a breakdown
Come on strong, holding on so long
Send the preachers back 'cause we're living like there's nothing wrong

The long last brother, shaking down the tree
It's just not funny how his greed comes naturally
Sells on his pitches, the real rags to riches
Still the wheeler's dealing in his pulled up britches

Never seen him round, but kept his ear to the ground
Rode in saddled with a frown and a takedown
Coming on strong, and hanging out too long
Just send the teachers back 'cause we never learn when we are wrong

One more mother, her love unspoken
All the time is lost and her heart's all broken
Laying out her son, he lies with the stitches
Keep the kneelers praying in their worn out  britches

Never hit the ground, keep her heart above the clouds
Stardust dazzled with a frown and a breakdown
Going in strong, moving a bit too long
Bring it all back home 'cause it don't look like there's nothing wrong

For crying out loud
For crying out loud
For crying out loud
For crying out loud

The lyrics to this number started out as me spoof-rapping in an FLC style over the Kurt Vile song "Lost my head there", but quickly morphed into a little bit of Sunshine NuJazz Funk Rock Fusion nestled with The Eagles, running with The Doobie Brothers, and checking out a 10cc measure of Steely Dan.

Words and music written and arranged by dB/
All instrumentation, vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, electric bass, keyboard and percussion played by dB/

For Crying Out Loud

http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/classic-chords-3-the-hendrix-chord.html

There’s one chord every wannabe rock guitar hero has to figure out at some point…we all listen to Jimi Hendrix, we all marvel at what he’s doing with that Strat, whether plucking it with his teeth or setting it on fire. But, what is it he’s doing exactly to get that E-major power chord that is something like a dominant 7th instead of a no-third, but has a little bit of funky extra hidden behind all that disortion. Well, it’s the pinkie finger on the B-string at the 9th fret that gives it the unique Hendrix flavour.

Classic Chords #3 - The Hendrix Chord

Just as all rivers will flow to the sea,
So forgiveness must come easily
Though your hands are tied today,
You'll be hand in hand tomorrow
That's got to come easily,

In simpler times it seems you're like the river,
Well that must flow easily
Won't it feel the way it feels to a stranger by the water
You forgive her anything, You can give her everything

The sea refuses no river,
they all flow easily, they flow because they're free
The sea to the river like a stranger must seem

If you really can’t forgive her
then it won't come easily,
you know it don't come easily

Just as all rivers will flow to the sea,
so forgiveness must come easily
Though you wash your hands today,
you'll praying for tomorrow
That won't come easily,
you know it won't come easily

The sea seems like a stranger to me,
no river sets me free,
that don't feel good to me

Words and music, instrumentation, production - David Bradley
Remastered 29th September 2017. New 1+1 remix 20/12/17

Now the title track of my new collection.

The sea refuses no river

The Sea Refuses No River

This little ditty started off as an attempt to write a kind of pastiche of The Police, but once I'd mixed up the reggae drum loops it really didn't sound like either...the words I'd been thinking of were to do with standing up to oppressors but I ad libbed some new ones to try and get a melody and somehow ended up singing about Johnny Cash...go figure...

Stand up and fight, fight for cash

I walk the line, like the man who's name was Cash
But I can't find
The words to tell the story like he can

I feel so fine, Like the man who's name was Sue
I walk that line but feeling blue

Burning light, waking like a fire
And rolling
On a wave of empty desire

Fight for Cash

No free ride (The low down on the sky highs)

You might think that you've got a free ride,
That your words really can turn the tide
But there's one thing way beyond doubt
There ain't no limo waiting outside
No food on the table, a roof that's unstable,
and there ain't no car on the drive


I once thought that we had a good chance
Of making moves that would just let us dance
But one thing is way beyond me
This ain't no big moneyed fine romance
If you think there's a free lunch, girl I've got a real hunch,
you ain't given up on chance

We once gave it up as our lot,
We avoid the haves and haves not
But you know, it's way beyond doubt
We tried to give our true best shot 
Cos things are getting tight, I don't sleep too good at night,
we don't have an awful lot


Nowhere to drive and nothing to drive in
No free ride and nothing to drive


The cash it's not piling, the bills still sky-highing. 
It really just ain't happenin'
There's no food on the table, the roof it's unstable,
but it still ain't happenin', no ma'am
If you think there's a free lunch, girl I've got a real hunch, 
it just ain't happenin'

I always thought that we'd make it some time,
knead the dough for the bills we would find
But, there's one thing I just have to say
There's still no limo waiting outside
If you think there's a free lunch, girl got on a real hunch,
you'll hate being cut down to size

You might think you got a free ride,
that your words really could turn the tide
But, there's one thing that's way beyond doubt
There really ain't no limo outside
We've got no food on the table and a roof that's unstable
And, there ain't no car on the drive, no
There' ain't no car on the drive, no, no, no
There' ain't no car on the drive, ain't no car on the drive

Words and Music by David Bradley
Vocals, solo electric guitar and bass DB
Sax and drum loop mixing DB

No free ride (The low down on the sky highs)

Founding member of C5 the band, rhythm guitarist and singer. Also, performing with bigMouth and TyrannoChorus choirs. Guitarist with the CTW pit band. Recording and collaborating on every spin of the disc. Well over 80000 Soundcloud listens, thanks to you! Keep 'em coming.

Dave Bradley

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