watch the video at
  https://youtu.be/XjUXXWDfyWY

Consciousness

El Conquistador talks about current and past autocrats, populists and dictators. To me the only different is the context in which these people arise.
Drums and backing vocals by Tekin Irengun @gultekin-irengun

Petty Life

El Conquistador

"Time is our only enemy"... I have seen these words on the SoundCloud page of my good friend and partner in crime (of the musical type), Nick.  I was never quite sure why he has this on his page. Recent events have made me come to understand these word… very clearly.

Cherish every moment. Laugh hard, play hard, hold each other tightly, because time is our only enemy.

Thank you, Nick. You are a gentleman, a man of many talents, and a true friend.

Be sure to check out <a href="/nickrdavies" class="g-link-user">Nicholas Ridiculous</a>

Image Copyright by Ukrainian Artist: 
<a href='https://www.123rf.com/profile_olegtroino'>olegtroino</a>

Time Is Our Only Enemy

A short piece of music that was inspired by a guitar exercise I saw Rick Beato play on a YouTube short...

LIVING THE DREAM

I created and arranged all the core music. 𝗔.𝗜. 𝗝𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻 on vocals. Chris Warren on Lead guitar.  Lyrics by Ava. Initial vocal tracking by Ava.

-- LYRICS --

VERSE
i've tried to change but
i'm no good on my own
no good on my own
not placing blame but
you left me here alone
left me here alone

BRIDGE
when i get like that
know i won't come back
no i'm not coming home

CHORUS 
give you up you know me i wont 
can't control what i know i want 
and i know that it's been you all along
got no faith but i'm holding hope
if you're thinking of leaving don't
i know that this love isn't wrong

VERSE
you're not the same but
i know we’d still get on
still get on
not one for change but
changing for you ain't wrong
don't feel wrong

BRIDGE
when i get like that
know i won't come back
no i'm not coming home

CHORUS 
give you up you know me i wont 
can't control what i know i want 
and i know that it's been you all along
got no faith but i'm holding hope
if you're thinking of leaving don't
i know that this love isn't wrong

1.3 Officially released 9/7/2023.
1.2 Full version early release 9/4/2023.
1.1 Early short version release 9/4/2023. 
1.0 Initial RFC(4) version 8/20/2023

Not Coming Home

Retro-inspired (but hopefully somewhat modern sounding) symphonic prog piece.

Unstill

A new version of Procyon using the latest version of Logic Pro (10.8), making use of the Mastering Assistant as well as heavy use of Phat FX, Step FX, Vintage EQs and Chromaverb.

This is a solo Chapman Stick piece which theoretically could be performed live, it's just two tracks (bass and melody pickups) with heavy effects processing that changes over time.

Procyon 2023

This may sound familiar – yet very different.  The fourth iteration of “The Illusion Of Vision,” aka “The Illusion” reworked and re-imagined through the vocals of Hossein (Rehearsals).  The song becomes more mystical with Hossien’s amazing transformation with vocal interpretation of an Egyptian poem by Farouk Gouida. Nick did a completely different guitar take with a touch of the east and this time I left it as is – and it is blazing. I reworked drums, bass, and keys – so it really is a new piece and one that we are all proud to add our name to.

We hope you enoy!

Vocals: Hossein Ragheb (Rehearsals بازآواز)https://soundcloud.com/hossein-tunes
Guitar: Nick R Davies (Spade)https://soundcloud.com/nickrdavies
All other instruments and Production: eSyrup - Thom Palumbo
Poet: Farouk Gouida
شاعر : فاروق جويدة

Translation of the lyrics:
Oh my love, people tell me
that you will forget me
and you will forget that I, one day,
gave you my heart and heartbeats
and you will adore another wave
and you will leave the warmth of my beach
and my name will fall together with hope
and my address will get lost
So, my love, will you still say
that you (once) loved me!?
I met you while there was hope
remaining between my arms
I love you like an oasis
on which my sorrows have calmed down
I love you like a breeze, which tells
my songs to people’s silence
I love you, you, my only hope
returning to me like the morning light
So, my love, will you still say
that you (once) loved me!?
And if I were to choose a home
I would say my home is your love
and if I were to forget you
then my heart would forget me
love has killed many lovers
but I was reborn with your love
if I ever lose my way
my address is in your eyes
(I would then live in your eyes)
Original lyrics (in Arabic)
يَقولُ النّاسُ يا عُمري .. بِأنّكَ سَوفَ تَنساني
وَ تَنسى أنّني يوماً .. وَهَبتُكَ نَبضَ وِجداني
و تَعشُقُ مَوجَةً أُخرى .. و تَهجُرُ دِفءَ شُطآني
و يَسقُطُ كَالمُنى إسمي .. و سَوفَ يَتوهُ عُنواني
تُرى سَتَقولُ يا عُمري بأنّكَ كُنتَ تَهواني؟
حَبيبي .. كَيفَ تَنساني؟
أتَيتُكَ و المُنى عِندي .. بَقايا بَينَ أحضاني
أُحِبُّكَ واحَةً هَدَأَت .. عَلَيها كُلُ أحزاني
أُحِبُّكَ نَسمَةً تَروي .. لِصَمتِ النّاسِ ألحاني
أُحِبُّكَ أنت يا أمَلاً .. كَضَوءِ الصُّبحِ يَلقاني
تُرى سَتَقولُ يا عُمري بأنّكَ كُنتَ تَهواني؟
حَبيبي .. كَيفَ تَنساني؟
فَلَو خُيِّرتُ في وَطَنٍ .. لَقُلتُ هَواكَ أوطاني
وَ لَو أنساكَ يا عُمري .. حَنايَا القَلبِ تَنساني
أماتَ الحُبُّ عُشّاقاً .. وَ حُبُّكَ أنتَ أحياني
إذا ما ضَعتُ في دَربي .. فَفي عَينَيكَ عُنواني
تُرى سَتَقولُ يا عُمري بأنّكَ كُنتَ تَهواني؟
حَبيبي .. كَيفَ تَنساني؟

I Live In Your Eyes - eSyrup, Rehearsals بازآواز , and Spade ♤

Is it thanks to the lack of oxygen on that high mountain? Or is it a fundamental insight hitting him as he finally reach the top? Climbing from the plains up on the ridges Archibald Whim suddenly is capable to see the truth - or is it?
The Unpredictable Journey of Archibald Whim has reach yet another stage, another intriguing part of the story of a lost soul. 
I do hope you like it, although it may be somewhat challenging. It sure was to me stumbling around among the channels and sounds in an endless mix. 
Best to you all!

From The Roof Of The World – Archibald Whim IV

In the wait for yet another piece form Archy´s journey, here is an old sin and a homage to the titans. All in a mix and production of Bribed Ant – also represented here on Soundcloud.  And take care in these difficult times.

Afterglow

Here’s a remix of a Chapman Stick demo I first posted a couple years ago, shockingly the only original music I’ve recorded since the One Cloud album in 2010.

It’s a more effect-heavy approach than is typical for me, and everything was done within Logic Pro. I was interested in recording a piece that featured two effects plug-ins that I worked on at Apple- Step FX and Phat FX (reincarnations of CamelPhat and CamelSpace by Camel Audio). These were used to add filtering, distortion, delays, and rhythmic effects, particularly in the closing section which is processed to the point that it sounds more like a synthesizer than a stringed instrument. 

Despite the complex effects processing, I wanted to create something that was still essentially a solo Stick piece - it could theoretically be played live using MainStage and a foot controller to navigate the effects settings (not that I will attempt it anytime soon). 

Eventually I’d like to re-record a better performance and develop the piece some more. But my head is done in from knob tweaking and listening to multiple mix attempts too many times, so back on the shelf it goes...

Thanks for listening!

Procyon Mix #2

I am an amateur musician who loves Progressive Rock. I am always pushing my boundaries when it comes to writing and arranging my own music. I put a lot of emphasis on the lyrics I write as well as the overall arrangement.
I play electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass, keyboards and piano. 
As the prominent french poet once said: "un ouvrage n'est jamais achevé, mais abandonné" (a work is never finished, but abandoned)

El Conquistador

Juan IQ

Related tracks