Greg Hurley: Composition / Arrangement, Lyrics, Vocals, Guitar, Keys, Percussion, Bass and Drum programming, mix and mastering / © 2025 Lyrics And Music

We drifted past the neon sprawl
no compass in our hand
Through desert haze and canyon calls
a restless, wayward band
A valley bloomed where shadows fell 
with whispers soft and low
And there we lingered, spellbound 
where wild rivers flow

remember 
All the places we’ve been

remember
All the feeling within
 
No map could lead us here
to this fleeting, sacred ground
Yet in this glen, my heart’s at ease
where peace is finally found
Though roads still beckon
I’ll hold tight to this dream’s soft glow
This hidden place 
my saving grace, where only dreamers go

remember 
All the places we’ve been

remember
All the feeling within

We drifted past the neon sprawl, 
no compass in our hand,
Through desert haze and canyon calls,
a restless, wayward band,
A valley bloomed where shadows fell, 
with whispers soft and low,
And there we lingered, spellbound, 
where wild rivers flow. 

remember 
All the places we’ve been

remember
All the feeling within

Remember

i’m already 
goin’ down
to the end of the story now
wind is blowing
to the end of the story now

come away   come away

time is bending 
drifting down
spin the hourglass all around
pulverize it
spin the hourglass all around

i’m comin’ after 
i’m comin’
i’m unembodied
i’m free

i’m already 
leaving town
train is rounding the mountain now
got my ticket
train is rounding the mountain now

come away   come away
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

image from Malcom Shadrach via Unsplash


Quietus

Dusted off the trusty old Volca Drum machine to create the beat for this one. In years past I used it quite a lot, including on many of the early Smoking Trout tracks, but it had been a little while. I'm also continuing to experiment with longer stretches of guitar, and incorporated most of the synth arsenal on this one. This was kind of inspired by reading the news here in the US, a strange mixture of depressing and ridiculous weirdness haha.

End Time Blues

Cast of characters:
The Beautiful Dark -- @thebeautifuldark -- Carl — acoustic guitar, vocals, lyrics, and compostion
K2 and the Three [and the Four]--@k2andthe3, @k2-kara –Ken -- drums
TexMex Shaman– @texmex-shaman –Stephen– Tom Anderson custom T electric guitar, production, mix, and mastering
Entheogenic Psychonaught (Josh Clary)– @josh-clary-1 –Josh – Warwick fretless four-string bass, and Roland organ
Llanpsych -- @llanpsych -- Tez – Fender Stratocaster electric guitrar
Mistermark-- @user-432503709 -- Mark – triangle, and ancillary vocals

This song began when Carl, who is always making connections on the Cloud, was inspired to write a song about our bandmate, Mark. As you can tell from his lyrics, Carl shares our appreciation and respect for our resident Canadian singer and multi instrumentalist. So, when he had the chords worked out on his acoustic guitar, and a great vocal track, he recorded them and started a project, to which the rest of Eclectic Collective were invited.
  First up to bat was Ken, laying in his always clever, essential beat for the rest of us to work with. Stephen was the next person to lay down a track, which was his essential, but subtle electric rhythm track. Later, after it was almost done, he also added a fiery solo in the firt part of the ending section. Josh came along right after Stephen, laying down his signature fretless bass. He also added the organ shortly after, as well. Tez entered the fray next, adding the lightning, Gilmore-esque final solo in the end section. 
  We considered what to do with this song for a minute, too. The thought was whether to present it to Mark as a gift, or to include him in the mix. We decided to go with the latter, and he added the awesome vocalizations towards the end, as well as some cool triangle.
  Once we had it in the bag, we turned it over to Stephen for the production, mix, and mastering, which he always does in a very pro manner.
  This is our second of hopefully many songs with Carl. If you have good music on your page, there's a good chance that he'll hit you up to collaborate. Like the moon, he's everywhere, and he's a damn fine collaborator, too. We hope you enjoy hearing this as much as we enjoyed creating it.
Carl also wanted to share this message about Mark, as well.
  "This song is written for our Canadian friend Mark. Mark is a pivotal member of the Eclectic Collective who as a band and equally Mark as an individual I'm discovering are phenomenal to work with. I was particularly struck how multiple generations of Mark's family enjoy music and creating together. Thanks for your music man. You really do show a unique approach and I look forward to making more really enjoyable songs like this one with you buddy. In my head lyrically Mark is whoever you focus the love on. Rock and Real!" ----TBD

Original lyrics by The Beautiful Dark:
You are the Mark
Mister Lark
Pedigree Bark
Stunning musical stark
Meet Mistermark

From Wondr to Bossa
All from I' Spy
Projecting your best
Proud human melody cry

May 2019
Maybe some fear became esteem
Soft bands in garage channel a way
Internal dreams in sound found light this day

So Dad was a seed
Kudos big man
You do good breed
In music we learn with proper concern
I think now you found Josh the EP

So onto Collective
You expand their perspective
With you and your music
Now Earth gets more fuses
Because of your music
It's a better blue ball
I know I certainly love hearing Marks call

We pressed the remote
We having those jams
Let's get it on and get more brain tan
We singing to clan
Wham bam thank you man

Miss No Mark-The Beautiful Dark/Eclectic Collective

Swamp Interactions

Archy has finally reached the elusive land of his dreams. But is it really all what it seems? Is there something evil in the air? Is there dark clouds at the horizon? Archibald Whim may step ashore, but what awaits him in this ever changing America?
This track was recorded in corporation with the ever so talented BribedAnt, that supported with bass and solo guitar along with a critical input in the mix and master process. Do look up BribedAnt on Soundcloud - it's a blast.

America – Archibald Whim X

Il Gigante di Monterosso – Feat: Sergei Govorov
June 2025
Duration: 3:20
Music Composition - Bruce Klepper
Effects and Mixing - John-Marc Ventimiglia 
Cover Art Photography- Heidi Schnicker 
Soprano Sax- Sergei Govorov 

On our recent trip to Italy, one of the places we stayed was Monterosso, one of the 5 villages in Cinque Terre. From our patio, we were able to see Il Gigante looking out over the ocean. I am pleased to announce this new music collaboration, Il Gigante di Monterosso - Feat: Sergei Govorov, celebrating the beauty of Italy.  Listen to Sergei's music on Spotify and Apple Music.
Sergei Govorov completed his doctoral degree at the Gnessin Academy of Music in Moscow with the highest honors.  In 2022, Sergei moved to the United States.  Sergei's repertoire ranges from classical saxophone to avant-garde, jazz, and pop. He has performed over 4,000 concerts worldwide.  For the last year I have been writing music for the sax and piano duo, Govorov & De Groot.  Sergei Govorov and Britta De Groot have performed my music in Colorado and have future plans for more concerts and possible recordings. 

For soprano sax, piano, tubular bells, sound effects and percussion

Il Gigante di Monterosso - Feat. Sergei Govorov (demo)

Mark says - 
In the 5 years I have been working with Rod, I have been encouraged to reach as far as my experience allows me to, with complete support at all times. So far we have completed 11 songs and have experimented with several others that made for a great learning curve for me, with several more at other stages of development... Watch this space, however as we are methodical and patient, therefore it may take some time to get them off the ground.

The subject matter of this song may be based on a different scenario but it is also a token of my gratitude to my inspirational collaborator and friend Rod, who has given me much confidence to rise to the ambition of his musical creativity and meticulous arrangements. Thank you all for giving this song your time.

Rod says - 
This song was conceived a long time ago to be sung in Spanish, but Mark did a magnificent adaptation with his English lyrics, and the meaning is 100% faithful to the original spirit, even though he hadn't heard the original song in Spanish. Technically, there are three voices together, consolidating a multi-vocal performance. The synth sounds emulate my old analog and FM synths, and the guitars were routed through an old console to achieve the vintage sound I was looking for.

Rodolfo Planes - Music composition, instrumentation, arrangement, production and mix - @rplanes
Me - Vocals and lyrics
Image by Douglas Corrance

Thank You (Rodolfo Planes/Mark J Bennett)

I would like to tell you just how grateful I am,
And also how important you’ve been here in my life.
I know I don’t need to draw you a diagram,
Thank you for being there all this time as my wife.
I have to tell you just how good you’ve been for me,
And I hope that I have also been there for you,
When you needed me through all this trouble and strife.
 
No need to show me all of your gratitude,
I already know how much you show that you care,
When you were prepared to move to my latitude,
Then I was convinced I was ready to share,
My life with you whatever it threw at the both of us.
I know that it’s true, no matter what you care to say.
I’ll always need to express all of my thanks to you 
This will always be true on that I swear.
 
I would like to tell you just how grateful I am,
And also how important you’ve been in, in my life.
I have to tell you just how good you’ve been for me,
And I hope that I have also been there for you,
When you needed me through all this trouble and strife.
Then I was sure that I was ready to share,
My whole life with you, whatever that meant for the both of us.
I know that it’s true, whatever you say.

This song on Continental Collision's own cloud - https://soundcloud.com/user-517923604/thank-you

Also available on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/album/5pfvPjop9XCJPrVL9a60U0

4 U

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