it's war that we abhor
it's more than we can take
the lies go on and on
so that you can take

it's war
that we abhor

put on your thinking caps
we know you can do it

there's got to be a way out

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Acd773p11o

I like many am shocked and appalled at what is unfolding before us. In the midst of this darkness I salute the people who are opening their hearts and offering assistance to the refugees from this disastrous conflict.

Here are some UK links to appeals providing humanitarian aid. I'm sure each country has equivalent appeals happening now.

https://www.dec.org.uk/appeal/ukraine-humanitarian-appeal
https://www.oxfam.org.uk/oxfam-in-action/current-emergencies/ukraine-crisis-appeal
https://www.unicef.org.uk/donate/donate-now-to-protect-children-in-ukraine/

Empathy For The Agony

Spiral Staircase Dream

Afterlight

Biomorphology

Buy "Afterlight"

WALKING UP THE PATH

An unconscious exploration of the conflict and growth at the birth of a season, also the conflict within myself as I explore this art form further. I had no idea what was going to be explored within the music until it happened.
Helen x

Our process started off with a simple repeating chord progression on the piano for Helen to improvise over. We gradually added more elements once the vocal parts were complete and the final element is a field recording of the dawn chorus, recorded at 5am in our back garden.
Andy

Words and Music: Helen
Music and production: Andy

Impatient awakenings

Take It Back

Rich Man Lyrics

This one is called Rich Man. In our last song, the poor man was trying to get by with limited funds. In this one, our hero is just enjoying life with whatever he can. He's happy just living life.

Lyrics;
I walk in old shoes
Drive on old wheels
Don't have much money
But that's not how I feel
Cause I'm a rich man

I do what I need
And that's getting me by
Got two feet on the ground
And my Head in the sky

I travel lightly
Not much to my name
But I've got all I need
Just the same
I'm a rich man

Wherever I'm at
Is where I want to be
And I'm living my life
Like this world's made for me
I'm a rich man

I have my friends
And my family
They're all the best people
And they're rich just like me


I've traveled the highways
In sunshine and rain
Slept in a boxcar
Of many a train
I've loved and lost
And I still feel the pain
But life is for living
And I can't complain

I don't need a thing
To prove my success
Nobody out there
I need to impress
But I'm a rich man

I do what I need
And that gets me by
Two feet on the ground
My head in the sky

I might walk in old shoes
and drive on old wheels
Not much money
But that's not how I feel
Cause I'm a rich man

I'm a rich man
a rich man
a rich man ...

Rich Man

Where ever we go who ever we meet from our home town to around the world we all smile in the same language. 
It only means one thing and cuts through any greed and culture.
We all suffer in some shape or form but a smile can change a million things.
So smile it’s a language we all know.  😊

The Same Language ~ Conscience of Kings

THE SECRET OF REASON.

=================================

Some political events in my country during the year 2017 inspired this composition. I wanted it to be kind of hard and melodic at the same time. The base of the melody is a strong electronic harp

23 native instrument tracks from Music Studio and forum Xewton, and one track from kv331.

Made in 2017, mixed, edited in my car (Parked...) and composed on ipad (ipad mini, in this case).

Remixed and re-edited July 2022.

All the percussions of this theme and all the others are programmed without the use of preset samples. They are composed using each percussive sound independently on a track-by-track basis.

Thanks for listening and commenting.

Paco.

The secret of reason (Edition 2022)

just thinking out loud fantasizing how to solve the gun violence next door...
Wish there were such magnets and vacuums to clean things up

sound clips are from a Breaking Bad episode  about such magnets..........

    The Anger, the Gun and the Magnet Machine

Last night I had a dream where I figured out a way
A gun removal machine, I sailed it to the USA
To that land of politico platitudes, prayers and lies

It had a big-ass magnet with a vacuum connector 
Powerful suction plus an anger detector
I went to work, street by street, house by house, high-rise by high-rise

Get out of my way, I'd say
Got this job to do today
If you be Anger with a gun
Your hateful days are done
I'm coming for you
I'm the People’s Pest Control
I'll cart away your blackened soul
Your anger and your guns
I'll scrunch them into one
Dispose of all the dark you do

Lots of people cheered me on, pushed my magnet machine
Through their schools, through their churches
I cleared the wicked and mean
But got stopped by a crowd screaming ‘bout the Constitution 

They said, “ Hey Buddy desist, we got this lawsuit for you.
Flushing away our firearms, it just won't do”
As they surrounded my contraption, demanding restitution 

Get out of our way, they say
Nation nurtured by the NRA
Feel the anger, feel our gun
We want you to have one
It's Amendment Number 2
My magnetic disarrayer
With vacuum jet disintegrater 
That rids the anger and the gun
Replaces fear with schoolyard fun
Now made impossible to do

Last night while I was dreaming, on the TV screen
More heartbreaking Breaking News, there ain't no magnet machine 
Only questions, many tears and sad goodbyes

Every month, every week, it's the same old shit
We need to plug in, power up and retrofit
A solution to stop this need to weaponize

Get out of the way I say
Is this the way it has to be today?
Anger's got his gun
We better cut and run
What else we gonna do
Uncommon sense, remote control
Gaping wounds and bullet holes
Check the anger, lose that gun
My illusion come undone 
I've only words to stick to you









The Anger the Gun and the Magnet Machine

Dan X2 is Dan Blackard (Reno, Nevada & Susanville, California) and Dan Lockhart (Carmel, Indiana & Edwardsville, Illinois).  We met here on SoundCloud.  We like making music together.  We have written and published over 300 songs together.  More songs written together than Lennon and McCartney.

You can find Dan Blackard's music here:
https://soundcloud.com/daniel-blackard

You can find Dan Lockhart's (aka ProgRockDan) music here:
https://soundcloud.com/dan-lockhart
https://soundcloud.com/user-276716031
https://soundcloud.com/progrockdan-instrumentals

The ProgRockDan1 site was taken down by SoundCloud. It was located here:
https://soundcloud.com/progrockdan1

We play the music that comes to us.  Much of our music has a basis in blues and rock.  Although we venture into other musical territory.  You will find hints of jazz, country, bluegrass, soul, classical, and other music in our songs.  We have a number of songs that change time signatures and pace.

When we first started recording we called ourselves Dan and Dan. 
 You can find our music under that moniker here:
https://soundcloud.com/user-590884876

We stopped using the name Dan and Dan's because there were to many other Dan's using that name.  If you google Dan and Dan we would not show up.  We believe that Dan X2 to be a moniker that we could own.   If you google Dan X2 we are right at the top,

You can find more Dan X2 music on ReverbNation:
https://www.reverbnation.com/dananddan5

The first Dan X2 album is now available on iTunes.  Songs on the album are not available on SoundCloud.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/4114/1439066447?app=itunes&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

You can also find the Dan X2 album on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/album/3hEejRAQYPj9q130D5lZ8f

You can also find the second Dan X2 album:  "Playing the Odds" on Amazon Music:
https://www.amazon.com/Playing-Odds-Dan-X2/dp/B08C4VNX3R

Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/album/6oI3XsqPph3v6Xkg2BjVDG

and other on-line music sites.

We have a music making process that fits our unique skills.  We each do the parts that best fit our skills and interests.  Dan Lockhart does the initial song development.  Dan Blackard writes the lyrics, perform the vocals, and adds lead guitar.  Dan Lockhart then takes the track and do all final production (mixing and mastering).

Dan Lockhart writes all of the chords, timing, changes, and develops the track.  I then send two tracks to Dan Blackard.  One track has Dan L. describing the song.  Tell him the key, the timing, and any oddities about the song (changing keys or time signature...).  In the track Dan L tell Dan B verbally where is the verse, chorus, bridge and any other important information.

Dan Lockhart then send a second track that does not have this verbal dialogue.  This is called the instrumental track.  This is a track to which Dan B. can sing and add his parts.  Dan Blackard then returns  four pieces to Dan L:  a complete version of the song, a solo track of his vocals, a solo track of his guitar parts, and the artwork to accompany the song.

Dan Lockhart add his information into the original file.  Dan L. listen to it and make changes to the song to enhance the meaning of the lyrics. He sometimes adds instruments or takes away some instruments.  As Dan L. play many instruments (guitar, keyboards, banjo, mandolin, pedal steel, violin, viola...), he can make a lot of adjustments.    On rare occasions he move pieces about.  Dan Lockhart then masters it and prepare it for final production.

You can find press releases about us in the Lassen News here:
http://www.lassennews.com/former-resident-creates-album-with-near-stranger/

and in Current in Carmel  here:
http://www.youarecurrent.com/2018/12/20/carmel-resident-partner-create-album-through-internet/

You can find Dan X2 videos Here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7p2YTgLdrMAJjSBBwrgRew

Out albums are also on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCicvC6l-R73MzdLHLdcFuZQ

We hope you enjoy our music.