More interesting than gravel?

(Written by Terry Reeves)
Gary Reeves: Lead Vocal
Terry Reeves: Spoken Vocal
Hans-Michael Albers: All instruments, Arrangement & Production

Video: youtu.be/4t-H-HHpQ20?si=_reTvkVVmF73vkRi

I was walking down Mare Street, Hackney
Climbing boots and back pack on
Looking for a song of mountains
I had climbed them many times before
Challenge may help to find another door

I’ve climbed arduous N.H.S mountains
Planted flags a'top of wedlock peaks
Hung upside down on magical fountains
With my muscles springing major leaks
My heart is growing smaller by the week

Stood and pointed at hours of darkness
Winds of silence a challenge of their own
Worn out boots a testament to distance
But the misery of counting my toes alone
Sixty three feet behind me as it goes

I have loved being a man of mountains
I hope many will profit from my deeds
I will try to climb just one more mountain
Slide down the other side to save my feet
At the bottom I'll need brand new cleats

This was written over 10 years ago as a George Formby style (Google the name if you’ve never heard of him) ukulele song - a mildly amusing message to Gal to let him know that I was fully aware of the mental health difficulties he was having and that I would always be there if he needed me.

Over the years, we spoke often about the song but nothing much came of it until Gal suggested slowing the tempo and giving it a kind of shuffle beat. As it was about him, I thought he should definitely sing the lead vocal, which I think works rather well. (*Vocalist’s note: It would help if I could still sing…)

You’ll find many personal references to Gal’s life in the lyrics. At the time it was written, he was 63, literally a fatal age for men in the extended Reeves family and he wasn’t having the best of times himself, still wrestling with the grief of a marriage break-up alongside the loss of his big brother and closest friend less than a year before. But even with all of this going on (and not always out of choice) he found there were plenty more mountains to climb.

The transition of the tune from Formby to Albers is a story in itself but suffice it to say that Hans somehow managed to transform it into this rather poignant opus.  He has also made a beautiful film to accompany the piece (see link above). All in all, it testifies perfectly to the reason why Gal’s cleats are somewhat care-worn...and he still has many mountains yet to climb.. (Terry Reeves)

MOUNTAIN MAN - CRIPPLE CLUB

24 Frames (Jason Isbell cover)

Ceremonies for the lonely

A reload of a song about the passage of time and wondering it you have perhaps let life slide by. Melancholy turned up to 11.
Lyrics
I'm 57 years old now, its hard to believe I know
Where the hell did these years all go?
I hesitate and prevaricate, capitulate and procrastinate
Where the hell does that leave me now

They say that he who hesitates is lost
Well i have found that out and it's to my cost

Standing at the station with one foot on the train
But I step off and watch it roll away
Just watch the lights as they fade away

They say that he who hesitates is lost
Well i've found that out and it's to my cost..

I put off 'til tomorrow what I can do today
But today will soon be yesterday and tomorrow'll be today
So where does that leave me
Well somehow it seems
Between the devil and the deep blue sea....

57 years old now it's hard to believe I know
Where the hell did these years all go?
Where the hell have these years all gone.........?

He Who Hesitates

Lyrics:
There was trauma when you woke in the night
There was chaos when you started the fight
There were no winners or losers
Just plasters on bruises
And angry neighbours who turned on their lights

And no one can afford to go out
But you don’t have to shout so loud
We’ll get some cheap wine from Aldi and sit on the hill
And watch the sky as the bombers fly out

I’m just a little bit wiser just a little bit older
Just a little bit sadder just a little bit colder
You and me and trauma

You put the trauma in a box
And stored it in the loft
And then told me off
Because I’m either too sad 
Or not sad enough

We’ll take the lock down dog for a walk
Throw it snacks and throw it bones
Give it different pet names to make it confused
Will it be living with me or will it be living with you?

I’m just a little bit wiser and a little bit older
A little bitter sadder a little bit colder
You and me and trauma

You and me and trauma
I’m just a little bit wiser and a little bit older
I’m just a little bit wiser and a little bit older

You and me and the trauma

Power Bomb

When We Were Young

* Let's Twist Again \ Author : Kal Mann \ Composer : Dave appell
ISWC : T-070.095.613-3 \ Released : June 19th 1961
Publishers : Kalmann Music Inc - Kobalt Music Publishing France
* You Are My sunshine \ Songwriters : Jimmie Davis & Charles Mitchell
ISWC : T-314.787.727-4 \ Released : October 6th 1939 
Publisher : Peer International Corp
_____________________________________________________________

We took part in a dinner dance for a Lao-Viet-Thaï-Hmong 
“Catholic Group of Friends” on April 05, 2025.

It's been 7 years (2018) since we played live. We usually play in threes... 
On this particular evening, there were only two of us,
and a guitarist was missing. Except that we weren't no longer used 
to playing continuously...
In fact we hadn't rehearsed much. We'd just fine-tuned our repertoire,
so there were bound to be a few slip-ups... you'll see. 😊
_____________________________________________________________

Arrangement (Yamaha PSR SX900) & Synth : Phong
Vocal : Anh
Recorded : April 5th 2025
_____________________________________________________________

Medley "Let's Twist Again - You Are My Sunshine" - Cover

@TexMex-Shaman and I are continuing to go down the rabbit hole of exploring this heavier sound. I'm always impressed with his shredding abilities, endless creativity, and keen ear. I am mixing most of the Texas Teas but getting tons of good input from Stephen. Thanks all for checking it out!

Elevator - A Texas Tea Production

I am always glad that you stop by and take the time to come. 
Thank you as always.
You are receiving great guidance.
There is no one around you.
But you can feel an invisible force drawing you in.
Can you sense it? Does anything come to mind?
Are the stars telling you something?
Look up at the sky! Take a look at the moon, the sun and the stars.
Have you ever seen a strange-looking cloud? Have you ever seen a strange-looking cloud?
What did it look like? A dragon? Or an angel?
It's sending you a message!
Now, take that message!
Let us reveal a little about its meaning.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version).

Star Line (mysterious invitation)

Lyrics:
When you try to explain that the feeling is a precious thing
Don’t just give it away its the start of everything
It will break your heart to see how fast the money goes
Then your climbing a wall under fire and you’re all alone

And we all fall down
In this roadkill town

There's a scar on youre face from the fight that you had at school
There's a primitive smile when the memory returns to you
Your were too locked down to reach out to anyone
Now your friends and foes have come and gone

And we all fall down
In this roadkill town
And we all fall down
In this roadkill town

They say love is drug but I’ve had better memories
All you energy goes in a rush like amphetamines
Play it cool, play it cold, play it dumb and then terminate
Leaving feelings of loss curled around you like a snake

In this roadkill town
In this roadkill town
And its all right now
And its all right now 
In this roadkill town

Roadkill Town

Something to keep me warm

LYRICS:
There is something there 
Waiting in the dark
Feeding on your fear
Clawing at your heart
Seekers of the truth beware
We are not alone in here
The leaders are now lost
Time is only borrowed
Monsters walk among us
Run and they will follow

Sorrow is a long clear note
Sung by everybody’s ghost
Monsters walk among us
Ubi est deus tuus

How can I believe in our gods when they leave us to live in this seething mass of misfortune and suffering?

Ubi est deus tuus?

Guitar, vocals, arrangement - Lizzie Taypen
Photo - Dunavon Woods - Lizzie Pentland
Recorded early this morning on my phone, a simple take when it was quiet.
I am finding it quite difficult to play my guitar now because of my arthritis, so  good to play a little. 
Happy Solstice to all of you!!

She moved through the fair ( Trad Cover)

Mountains crumble skies turn grey
Rivers weep and fade away
Forests fall beneath our hands
A shattered world built on demands

Mother nature cries aloud
Her voice lost within the crowd
Ravaged lands and broken seas
Begging us down on her knees

Cry of the earth .mp3

thundering fighter jets rip the picturesque sky apart
another casualty in this senseless war of art
i heard a woman say that’s the roaring sound of freedom
and thought to myself her brain must be pretty numb
from feeding the insatiable war machines of the state
sick symbiotic relationship they use to dominate
one more two more how many more populations?
for the prosperity of our great fairy tale nation

oh say can you see?
patriotism ain’t the same thing as being free

pledging allegiance is a kontrol trick for human beings
yeah I know that’s hard to grasp especially when you are not seeing
the horrifying outcomes of the often spouted hollow phrases
like you can love it or you can leave it if you hate it
because here in the land of the free thanks to the brave 
you’re free to disagree but you’re just desecrating heroes' graves
kind of like the graves of men and grave of women and graves of little kids
who lived a whole lot like you with regional differences
different languages creation myths and skin pigment
cultural superiority is only a figment 
of a state sponsored second-hand imagination 
natural curiosity entertained to sleep and calcified with education

oh say can you see?
patriotism ain’t the same thing as being free

so peek through cracks in hands and see the nightmare we endorse
because even if we’re unaware we’re still passively pissing on the corpse
of whoever wherever however The Party next decide
will make for a healthy bottom line Q4 genocide 
is it easy to look away when it’s not your family on the business end
of the drone bomb chemical agents and generations of gene mutation
is it blissful to be naive to humanity tortured and torn?
or can you see the hypnotic free falling acrobatic aerial bomber porn
as just another jaw dropping tail spin tingling heir forced masturbation
glorifying war for one more generation?

oh say can you see?
patriotism ain’t the same god damn thing as being free
what will it take for you to see?
blind obedience binds us in chains of slavery

ultra kontrol

Music from the Hill- Indie rock from near Oxford, UK.
Latest Nightshift review Nov 24 http://nightshiftmag.co.uk/2024/nov.pdf
Nightshift review Oct 2023 Top Track http://nightshiftmag.co.uk/2023/oct.pdf
Nightshift magazine demo review (Nov 2022): 
http://nightshiftmag.co.uk/2022/nov.pdf
Nightshift demo review from Jan 2022: http://nightshiftmag.co.uk/2022/jan.pdf
https://linktr.ee/arrowsofthesun

24 Frames (Jason Isbell cover)

Arrows of the Sun

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