Souk

Photo: Road to Harar, Ethiopia, 2009; encounter with an AK47 happened shortly thereafter.
Drums: NI Karriem Riggins.
Bass: Warwick 5-string Corvette through NI Guitar Rig.
Guitars: PRS CE24 through NI Guitar Rig.
Keys: various NI and Arturia.
Mastering: Ozone 10 Standard.
DAW: Ableton 11.

Walk Towards the Desert

Slowly crossing the long bridge of time

Composition 7/4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDJGkm-LmNo

Rydwan Ezechiela / Ezekiel's chariot

Cast of Characters:
mistermark-- @user-432503709 -- Mark--sax (VST), organ, tremolo guitar chords (synth), harmonica, composition, production, mix
Mysterious Decibel--@themysteriousdecibel --MD—lyrics and primary vocals
TexMex Shaman–@texmex-shaman –Stephen– second electric guitar solo, and mastering
J.J. Terrell–@j-j-terrell –piano and electric piano
K2 and the Three [and the Four]--@k2andthe3, @k2-kara -–Ken–drums and percussion
Entheogenic Psychonaught (Josh Clary)–@josh-clary-1 –-four string fretless bass, first electric guitar solo, rhythm guitar comping 

This is a song started when Mark came up with its architecture, recorded in a  slower, more laid back version on his own. However, he wanted a more souped up version with solos in turns. 

So, he turned to The Eclectic Collective to fill in the pieces. He originally had solos in all the parts which he laid down on the keys, and he had some lyrics, too. However, once he heard The Mysterious Decibel's excellent lyrics and vocals, the song totally changed the direction and the vibe, for the stellar. 

But MD didn't start the whole thing. As happens sometimes, even without Tez on this one, we still needed to clear out some space to let everyone have their say. So, Mark went in and lengthened the song mechanically. Once we had a final form, Ken, as always, came up with the foundation for the song, allowing Josh to add his version of Mark's bass line. 

Then, after MD gave us the vocals to form the song, we got down to adding the solos. JJ first added his thrilling opening piano solo, as well as the electric piano solo right after the first verse, which Mark is also playing a VST sax solo in, as well. Then Josh added his guitar solo, which is the first of the two, with a very clean tone. Right after that, Stephen added his fiery solo, which follows right after with a more overdriven tone. Finally, Mark stepped back in and added his killer harp solo at the end. Of course, it needed to be mixed well, too, so we turned to Stephen for that important role, once again, which he fulfilled expertly.  
 

This past Tuesday, we released a fun little series of interviews over a compilation of some of our favorite musical moments. If you want to hear our voices and some of our thoughts about music, check it out. I realize it's a big ask at twenty minutes, but you might really enjoy it, especially if you follow us, and have been for a while. It's a celebration of all of our work over the past almost year together in various forms. This song was supposed to be a showcase of all of our skills, except Tez isn't in on this one. He'll be on the next one, though, for sure.
  We hope you enjoy this jazzier side of the EC as much as we enjoyed making it. MD's lyrics are about a psycho killer artist who hides clues about his murders in his paintings. 
Original Lyrics by The Mysterious Decibel:

Some might say he's crafty and planned.
With a shade of black and a brush in his hand
Some might say the world is his oyster
But no Pearl lays inside just a conjuring blur

He'll paint you a murderous scene
With the blending of  sin all between pigments of green
He's a shady fella Who hides behind the canvas!
I spy something with my little eye
This art might show just where he died

Will you find it?
The secret
Some freak shit
are you so sure you'll really wanna Keep it ?
The secret
Are you so sure you'll really wanna keep it?
Ahhh a little secret
Are you so sure you'll really wanna keep it?
It'll haunt your mind like it does him too
He's a swifty one he'll come for you!
The secret
The secret
The secret
Are you so sure you'll really wanna keep it?

I spy something with my little eye
This art might show just where he died

His art might show
might show
might show
just where he died

A Brush With Death -  (EclecticCollective) w/ special guest mistermark

Taker of Time.

This was a track that never saw the light of day.  Furball was a band I was part of, in the mid nineties.  We only lasted about 15 months.  I played the guitar (badly!)

Furball - Truman's Scam

Clever.wav

Not Like Me | Emotional Cinematic Music |

Nocturnes Op.13 No.13 - Winter

Super Speeder Blues is a gritty outlaw Southern rock story-song with deep Appalachian Americana roots. Inspired by the real Georgia “Super Speeder” law, it tells the tale of a working man on the edge, driving too fast, stacking tickets, and fighting to keep his license and freedom. The song blends the sound of highway blues with jam-band energy, weaving in acoustic roots with slide guitar grit. This track embodies the clash between freedom and the heavy hand of the law, turning a Georgia roadside struggle into a universal anthem for anyone who’s felt the weight of the system on the open road. For those that know crossing that Macon County line can wind up dealing with.