you've done a great thing to commemorate Herbert's life with such a gracious gift

Touched my heart, just 17 years old Herbert. Thank you for your words and song to make us remember and think.

one needs no other enemy than one's own kin and kind to meet violent death; jeez the kid endured nearly a year of hell

Just once I wish I could write a song with lyrics as meaningful as this, and still the madness raises its bloodthirsty head again.

This a Poem written by Jo Richter Aka (Sonic Structures and Silent Stretches) He also is the maker of the Natural Weather,syth,bells track  and the Art. The drums come from Roland/Boss at 164 BPm. This is another wonderful poem from Jo. Many thanks to everyone!!

Solstice Weather Report
 
These solstice eyes 
have learned to disagree
with the varnish and dies
of vain pleasantry

The ugly devices of self-serving goons
casting their angst ridden bases
only to float their ego-balloons
have erased all the sky's visual graces.

This Solstice skin
has learned to shy away
from the deceptively Thin
pvc overlay.

this discount-priced vortex of dime-store illusion
raises hope from the ground at it's gust front
only to soil soils with futile pollution
as it scatters it's load in the minds of those stunned.

These Solstice ears
have learned to listen in
to the grumblings of fears
in the voice therein

Bared. in the open, prone to transform
Buds turn to flower when graced by the soft rain
fears provide courage to transcend the norm
letting go and becoming are one and the same.

Solstice Weather Report(A poem by Jo Richter)

Frozen

Broken Pearls

Every year I try to make a little song to commemorate remembrance day in November. The month of August is also historically significant, though.  In August 1914 the massed cartoon insanity of old-world braided huffing and puffing empires slammed into stark reality when over the course of a few days: Germany declared war on Russia, France and Belgium; Britain declared war on Germany; Austria-Hungary declared war on Russia; France and Britain declared war on Austria-Hungary; Japan declared war on Germany; and Austria-Hungary declared war on Belgium. Dear God.

Herbert Burden was one of many young men who decided to do “the right thing” and lied about his age to enlist.  He endured 10 months of fighting, shelling and gas attacks in the front line trenches in France, lost many friends and was himself eventually hospitalised.  On discharge from hospital his battalion received orders to return to the front line.  Herbert went AWOL and was found at a neighbouring regiment where he said he had gone to comfort a friend who had lost a brother in the fighting.  

Herbert became the youngest British soldier to be executed by firing squad for desertion.  

He was seventeen years old, alone, given no defence at his trial, blindfolded, arms tied behind his back, lashed to a post and shot at dawn on 21st July 1915.

God rest his soul.

The picture is of a statue of Herbert which stands at the British National Memorial Arboretum as part of an installation to commemorate the 306 of their own soldiers executed by the British Army during WW1.

I felt this needed to be done raw in one take so please excuse the rough edges.
______________________________________________________________________

Broken Pearls

Come the night, through singing clouds
Of old men crying on war's recall,
Pastel light hits bleeding shrouds
Still defying, backs to wall.
Morphine hymns through organ pipes
Hairs on end, standard unfurled
Shell shock sins 'neath starburst lights
Set to defend their broken pearls.

His mother spoke through spilling tears
God beside, with angel choirs.
He then awoke – pain chilling sears
Deep inside his burning fires.
Camphor dreams through ether prayers
Uniformed boys mustard gas swirls
Just seventeen, mere child's nightmares.
Discarded toy, of broken pearls.

Weeping crows in ¾ time
Belie the crown, lay down to die.
Wreaths below, left countersigned
Head bowed down, blindfolded eyes.
Hot leaded hopes absolve the rich
Salvo thunder suspends our world
On posted ropes slumped heroes twitch
And rent asunder our broken pearls.

Broken Pearls

Dirk Taubenheim (From The Gatsbys) : Lead Singer
Delphine Portier : Backing Vocals
Richard Gonfrier : Music and Lyrics, Mix&Master
* Richard Gonfrier* copyright ©. 2023


Hi guys, really proud today introducing a very fruitful collab with my friend Dirk Taubenheim from The Gatsbys. This song means a lot to me, as this is my very first song I partly wrote almost 15 years ago. I only finished music and arrangement last year, and considering the great welcome this song had from you all, I decided to carry on the work and write lyrics. 
Once it was finished, I offered Dirk to sing it, as I always thought he had the admirable rocky voice this song deserved. He accepted straight away to sing it, which was an honor for me considering his prolific songwriting career. If you don't know him yet, you definitely have to visit his SC page : https://soundcloud.com/the-gatsbys
I hope you enjoy, and best wishes to you all.

1:00am (feat. The Gatsbys)Remastered

Hello dear friends. It's been a long while. We've all been through hell some way or other and I wish you love joy and strength.
It was great having Brian visit us in Durban this past month (the old boy's leaving on Friday). Well while he was here I got him to do some backing vocals. And he was a big help with the mixing as well. Thanks Brian!

Vocals and guitars Johnny Minstrel
Backing vocals Brian Peters https://soundcloud.com/brianpeters-3



Legerdemain - words and music Johnny Minstrel 

Bring out your entertainers
the jugglers and the clowns
We’re in the belly of the beast
as the world shuts down
All is smoke and mirrors
I hear someone say
Living the illusion
till Judgement Day 

Oh legerdemain
Too fast for the eye to see and the brain to explain
Oh, oh legerdemain
C’mon baby 
Do that trick again

He’s gonna blow your mind
Mo Magic’s back in town
There’s always something kinder
Whenever he’s around
Today is like tomorrow
Uncertain and unclear
Spill your drink of sorrows
God knows that’s too much beer

Oh legerdemain
Too fast for the eye to see and the brain to explain
Oh, oh legerdemain
C’mon baby 
Do that trick again

Well there’s nobody here
Anymore than somebody there
Guess I’ll meet you in the ether
On some dodgy cable line
And if you see me turn the corner
Wave a hello or goodbye
Who knows where I’ll be going
And who I’ll be next time
Who I’ll be next time 

Bring out your entertainers
All the world’s a stage
Just looks a little smaller
In this virtual cage
So, throw in a coin dear missus
I promise you a thrill
Not stealing from the masses
Or teaching how to kill

Oh legerdemain
Too fast for the eye to see and the brain to explain
Oh, oh legerdemain
C’mon baby 
Do that trick again

Rumours From Paradise

Legerdemain

Legerdemain     with Brian Peters

A trip into a forest to sight an elusive tiger. Enthusiastic calls, tension, a roar, release...and home again!

Lots of pianos, guitars, basses, synths, percussion...Had so much fun with this one...I hope you do too! :)

Tiger in the Forest

Flyover Sunrise

The ancient metropolis of Istanbul probably derives its name from the Greek 'Stin Polis' ('in the city')(according to Sean Lusk's excellent book 'The Second Sight of Zachary Cloudesly)having previously been Constantinople the capital of the Byzantine Empire.
This incredible city spans the continents of Europe and Asia and reflects aspects of both in its culture and people. 
(Photo taken from a trip on The Bosphorus...the waterway dividing the city's continents.)

Istanbul

Hello Listeners 😊

Here's the first of a new series of recordings from mid-February 2023.                             The way it began with my lengthy piano intro, we realized 'The Music' was asking us to Pause... much like the woman in the photo is. And as the tonal waves pulsed and expanded outwards there was a stillness present in which our Muses spoke to and through us.  And wow, here was an invocation of the 'Shekinah Fire'! 

What is this ancient 'Fire'?  Well, from what i understand, it represents the Presence of Life, the Radiance of Love, and the unfolding Flow of Truth.  So we stayed with it, and as we tuned into it, i suppose we were into a kind of meditation on the richness and goodness of Life. Listening deeply, and keeping things simple and tonal. 

Tim was on his Telecaster and i was playing that ancient Upright Grand Piano as we stayed present and let it all unfold calmly and naturally.  

And yeah... as it was said of old, to everything there is a season. A this was the calm before what was recorded next. So we just let it be what it was.

May you enJOY. 😊


© Gary Courtland-Miles & Tim Elliot 2023
℗ Gary Courtland-Miles 2023 & Tim Elliot 2023

The photo is also from late February and captured what's called 'a Zodiacal Ray' (seen coming from above through the central portion of the pic).  It happens either just after Sunset or before Sunrise , and originates as the Sun shines through planetary dust from the mid Solar System region. 
©

Shekinah Fire

Words and Composition by Sean Drysdale

Sean Drysdale: Guitar, Bass, Vox 
A. Reed: Programming, Keyboard

Freeway

THE BOY - a poem (DEMO)

Everything by THE BOY

FREE DOWNLOAD!
I hope you enjoy & spread the word!

Broken Pearls

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