Alchemeon Live In Session Spring 2009

Alchemeon Live In Session Spring 2009 were the last burblings, thuddings and wailings to be heard from Alchemeon. These versions of the songs were recorded during live sessions at The Sound Gallery, Exeter between late February and mid April 2009.

This particular selection was chosen by consensus of Alchemeon band members, including in the old and now disabled Wud Records forums.

All of the tracks were recorded live on February 22nd and 23rd, and April 6th 2009. The songs were all recorded using four mics into the mixer section of a Tascam 244 portastudio (state of the art in 1986 and still has a lovely warm sound) and then into a cassette machine.

The cassettes were played into our computers using some rather dodgy technology, which we have long since abandoned. This abandonement was due to the enormous number of unnecessary technical issues it created.

By not transfering the audio to digital format correctly, the files ended up languishing in our vaults for quite some time. All of the files were plagued by many instances of a sound similar to the sound one might hear when someone bends over and rips one's trousers during a <em>Carry On</em> movie. This was very annoying and required a lot of work to redraw the corrupted wave forms by hand in miniscule detail, which was extremely fiddly, tooth-gnashingly tedious and horribly time-consuming.

Subsequently to the discontinuation of our previous in-site mp3 player, the FlamPlayer, we took the opportunity to master these tracks before re-release. Despite the ghastly cassette hum, the somewhat furry sound in places and general technical difficulties assocaited with digitising old 1960s technology, the tracks are sounding pretty good by now in comparison to what we salvaged from the cassettes.

Download

Alchemeon: Live In Session Spring 2009

Celestine by Alchemeon, from Alchemeon Live In Session Spring 2009. 

* Celestine is a song of several parts.
* Sometimes it seems to be in the key of B minor, other times G major.
* In the end it resolves to D major.
* Celestine is an Alchemeon exclusive, having not been performed by the Spacegoats, nor any of the Masters of Drone bands such as Now or Laughing Sun.

CELESTINE
Celestine they make their way
Brothers to the water
To cleanse the crystal in the head
Still in silent laughter

The drop into the forehead
Silver people roam
To lace the time
With story rhyme
And drink the river’s daughter
Drink the river’s daughter

Oh! La la la la…

Pyramids inside the mind
They walk the crystalline
To trade their scarlet thoughts for talk
All wisdoms from the grail

Tower stands against the sky
The people are not there
Stone’s old voice speaks of an age
The brothers hear and reel amazed
The brothers hear and reel amazed

Oh! La la la la...

Wind through stone
Your eyes and your ears
Our time has come
Wonder begun

Wind through stone
Your eyes and your ears
The time has come
Wonder begun
Wonder, wonder

Now to be
Now to be
Now to be
Now to be
Now to be

La la la la la…

Words and music by Simon Miller.
This arrangement by S. Miller/G. Davies/J. Peters/Iggy.

Performers:
Pok the Bard – guitar and voice
Jim Iz – keys and voice
Iggy – drums and percussion
George – bass and technicals

This version recorded live at Sound Gallery, Exeter, 22nd February 2009. 
Cassette salvage and remastering at Wud Records Studio One, 2020.

Cover illustration by Pok the Bard.
Graphic design by Sam James.

Released worldwide September 14, 2020.
Original release date: 10th April 2009.

Copyright © 2020 Wud Records.
Copyright ℗ 1993 Pok Songs/Explicit Music.

See also:
https://www.wudrecords.co.uk/artists/alchemeon/
https://www.explicitmusic.co.uk/lyrics-information/alchemeon/alchemeon-lyrics/celestine
https://wudrecords.bandcamp.com/album/live-in-session-spring-2009
https://wudrecords.bandcamp.com/album/live-in-session-winter-2008-09
https://twitter.com/WudRecords

Live In Session Spring 2009

Celestine

Alchemeon: Celestine

Finale by Alchemeon, from Alchemeon Live In Session Spring 2009.

* Finale is a song in the key of E.
* It would have been the final encore of an Alchemeon live show.
* Finale was originally performed as the closing track for the play Chameleon, which Pok wrote in the mid 1980s.
* A version of this song is in the works for Pok’s growing Anthology album.
* Finale was also performed live by the Spacegoats.

FINALE
When we were young
We saw the faces
And friends from the stars
Built the earthworks with us
And energy ran through
The earth’s sacred surface
Messages ran from star to star
Aaaah

All you can see
All you can be
All that is now
All that’s to come
And all that means something
All that’s inside
All that you covet
All that you hide
Aaaah
Aaaaah

Words and music by Simon Miller.
This arrangement by S. Miller/G. Davies/J. Peters/Iggy.

Performers:
Pok the Bard – guitar and voice
Jim Iz – keys and voice
Iggy – drums and percussion
George – bass and technicals

This version recorded live at Sound Gallery, Exeter, 6th April 2009. 
Cassette salvage and remastering at Wud Records Studio One, 2018.

Cover illustration by Pok the Bard.
Graphic design by Sam James.

Released worldwide September 14, 2020.
Original release date: 10th April 2009.

Copyright © 2018 Wud Records.
Copyright ℗ 1985 Pok Songs/Explicit Music.

See also:
https://www.wudrecords.co.uk/artists/alchemeon/
https://www.explicitmusic.co.uk/lyrics-information/alchemeon/finale
https://wudrecords.bandcamp.com/album/live-in-session-spring-2009
https://wudrecords.bandcamp.com/album/live-in-session-winter-2008-09
https://twitter.com/WudRecords

Finale

Alchemeon: Finale

Orb by Alchemeon, from Alchemeon Live In Session Spring 2009.

* There are some songs that give the listener goosebumps as soon as they hear and recognise the first couple of notes and realise they are about to hear something truly extraordinary.
* Orb is one of those special songs.
* There are several distinct sections to the song with classic riffs and earworm la-la-la vocals.
* It was performed by the Spacegoats before Alchemeon started playing it.
* Orb would have been the first of two encore songs in a live performance.

ORB
When the walls of the temple
Are cast to the ground
And light shines through the ruins
When the form decays
To leave no trace
That is the time of re-doing

And the sun is shining
Casting rays throughout the universe
And everything goes on as before
The slip of light has pierced
The very heart and soul of you
Take a look now, open up your door

At first you may find it a little curious
Just let go to the feeling
Describe a circle your arms outstretched
Learn to feel this healing

Singing...
Li la li li li li la li
Li li li li la la li la la li li la la

Send the sun’s rays into the earth
And round and round and round revolving
The moon will shine her light upon you
As round the stones we are returning

Return...
Li la li li li li la li
Li li li li la la li la la li li la la

Become a tribe of many lives
Around and round and round and round evolving
The moon will shine her light upon we
As round the stones we are returning

Return...
Li la li li li li la li
Li li li li la la li la la li li la la

Send the seeds into the earth
You know you know you know it’s worth
Send the seeds into the ground
It’s a holy holy holy sound

La la li la la la li li
Hey hey!

Don’t you don’t you don’t you know
We gotta sow sow sow sow
And don’t’ya don’t ya don’t ya know
We’re gonna grow grow grow grow
Grow grow grow grow grow grow grow grow!

La la li la la la li li
Hey hey!

And the sun is shining
Casting rays throughout the universe
And everything goes on like never before
The slip of light has pierced
The very heart and soul of you
Take a look now
Open up your door

Words and music by Simon Miller.
This arrangement by S. Miller/G. Davies/J. Peters/Iggy.

Performers:
Pok the Bard – guitar and voice
Jim Iz – keys and voice
Iggy – drums and percussion
George – bass and technicals

This version recorded live at Sound Gallery, Exeter, 23rd February 2009. 
Cassette salvage and remastering at Wud Records Studio One, 2020.

Cover illustration by Pok the Bard.
Graphic design by Sam James.

Released worldwide September 14, 2020.
Original release date: 10th April 2009.

Copyright © 2020 Wud Records.
Copyright ℗ 1995 Pok Songs/Explicit Music.

See also:
https://www.wudrecords.co.uk/artists/alchemeon/
https://www.explicitmusic.co.uk/lyrics-information/alchemeon/orb
https://wudrecords.bandcamp.com/album/live-in-session-spring-2009
https://wudrecords.bandcamp.com/album/live-in-session-winter-2008-09
https://twitter.com/WudRecords

Alchemeon: Orb

The Freaks (Shall Inherit The Earth) by Alchemeon, from Alchemeon Live In Session Spring 2009.

The Freaks (Shall Inherit the Earth) is a glorious rock n roll anthem and call to action in the key of G major. It was performed by the Spacegoats before Alchemeon started playing it. The Freaks (Shall Inherit the Earth) would have been the final song in an Alchemeon set, with Orb and Finale as encores.

During this rendition one of Jim's keyboards started to misbehave. It was either too quiet or too loud and harsh despite his numerous and ongoing fiddlings and twiddlings. At 3:29 he becomes a bit frustrated and gives it a good bash.

THE FREAKS (SHALL INHERIT THE EARTH)
How many jacks are kept in their boxes?
How many dreams are trodden underfoot?
Could it be in you or it could be in me
The fate of all nations or a colour TV

Look down any road see a million faces
Scream back their pain from a sheer concrete wall
There’s a million products made just to fill that hole
But you never never, can never fill it at all

It’s a cry from the depths of a pin-stripe suit
And whose voice dares not to conform
Why is it just those who can see through the see through?
They’re the misfits who break out from the norm

The Freaks! The Freaks!
The Freaks shall inherit the Earth
The Freaks! The Geeks!
Who speak shall inherit the Earth

Should we obey what the government say?
Is it wrong not to tag along?
The question is no question at all
But what we do with our backs to the wall

What is a freak? I think we’ll see
When what is established gets washed away
Those who cling to it will not survive if
Destiny’s child awakes a new day

Just look around you see those bulldozers working
Ripping up the land for fool’s gold again
It’s getting worse, can’t go on forever
And who’s gonna be here when these dinosaurs fall?

Ok. What’s it going to be if it is as we’ve hear?
Who’s gonna emerge with these worlds have submerged?
When the profit is made from the damage is done
You wanna cling to the wreckage or go with the change?

CHANGE!!!!!

Now there’s some pretty megaton forces
Stirring up hate and making a war
Who can get poison and spit out the bullet?
Who are these freaks, do you think that one’s you?

The Freaks! The Freaks!
The Freaks shall inherit the Earth
The Freaks! The Geeks!
Who speak shall inherit the Earth

The Freaks! The Freaks!
The Freaks shall inherit the Earth
The Freaks! The Geeks!
Who speak shall inherit the ….. Earth!!!!

Words and music by Simon Miller.
This arrangement by S. Miller/G. Davies/J. Peters/Iggy.

Performers:
Pok the Bard – guitar and voice
Jim Iz – keys and voice
Iggy – drums and percussion
George – bass and technicals

This version recorded live at Sound Gallery, Exeter, 23rd February 2009.
Cassette salvage and remastering at Wud Records Studio One, 2020.

Cover illustration by Pok the Bard.
Graphic design by Sam James.

Released worldwide September 14, 2020.
Original release date: 10th April 2009.

Copyright © 2020 Wud Records.
Copyright ℗ 1992 Pok Songs/Explicit Music.

See also:
https://www.wudrecords.co.uk/artists/alchemeon/
https://www.explicitmusic.co.uk/lyrics-information/alchemeon/the-freaks-shall-inherit-the-earth
https://wudrecords.bandcamp.com/album/live-in-session-spring-2009
https://wudrecords.bandcamp.com/album/live-in-session-winter-2008-09
https://twitter.com/WudRecords

The Freaks (Shall Inherit the Earth)

Alchemeon: The Freaks (Shall Inherit the Earth)

Born of Stars by Alchemeon, from Alchemeon Live In Session Spring 2009.

This was recorded right at the end of a session. At the start you hear George saying that there's about 16 minutes left (until they have to start to pack up and leave). "Let's make it a good one," he says.

The whole session should have been filmed by a friend of Pok's who was allegedly something of a whizz where it came to video matters.

Unfortunately, he turned out to be rather unreliable. He suddenly entered the room through the door, camera to eye and rolling, halfway through this version of Born of Stars, which was actually the very last song Alchemeon played that day. At 1:25 Pok shouts "Hey!" to greet the man's arrival. Fashionably late would be understating it somewhat.

Not only was he very late, he also filmed a lot of things that were not very interesting, such as George's bare foot for about a minute in close-up, some cymbal stands and the carpet.

As the band were packing, he sat on the floor leaning against a wall with hands in pockets, surreptitiously stroking his raging boner. It was all just a bit too weird.

Later that evening, Pok saw the footage. He was so appalled at how awful it was he simply deleted it all. Blam!

Pok plays Marsha on this track. She is a 1985 Ibanez Roadstar II in pale gold with a floating trem. At 8:11, just after a shout of "Rebirth!", he breaks a string and the instrument immediately goes completely out of tune. Unfazed, Pok finishes the rendition, expertly using the whammy bar to control the guitar. You can hear him grinning as he goes into the following vocal.

* Born of Stars is a highly rifftastic space rock song in the key of E.
* Several sections are deliberately left quite loose to allow for improvisation.
* The lyrics also tend to vary from one version to another.

BORN OF STARS
We are born of stars
We are born of stars
We are born of stars
We are born of stars

Om nam maya maitraya
Om nam maya
Om nam maya maitraya
Om nam maya
Gaia

We are seeds of time
We are seeds of time
You are a seed of time
You are a seed of time

Om nam maya maitraya
Om nam maya maitraya
Om nam maya maitraya
Om nam maya
Gaia

Create a brighter future
Create a brighter future
We are a brighter future
Create a brighter future

Om nam maya maitraya
Om nam maya maitraya
Om nam maya maitraya
Om nam maya
Gaia

Earth
Planet Earth
Has made a conscious decision
To become one
To become whole.

Entombed, cocooned
In metal and plastic and effluence
And pollution and nuclear waste

Yet she shall break free
Free from these chains
Free from this prison

Planet Earth
And all her people and creatures and life forms
Are undergoing an interplanterary, evolutionary, galactical
REBIRTH!!!

We are born of stars
We are born of stars
We are born of stars
We are born of stars

We are seeds of time
We are seeds of time
You are a seed of time
We are seeds of… time!

Create a brighter future
Create a brighter future
We are a brighter future
We are a brighter future

Om nam maya maitraya
Om nam maya maitraya
Om nam maya maitraya
Om nam maya
Gaia

Words and music by Simon Miller/Pete Phoenix/Chrissie Ortner.
This arrangement by S. Miller/G. Davies/J. Peters/Iggy.

Performers:
Pok the Bard – guitar and voice
Jim Iz – keys and voice
Iggy – drums and percussion
George – bass and technicals

This version recorded live at Sound Gallery, Exeter, 23rd February 2009.
Cassette salvage and remastering at Wud Records Studio One, 2020.

Cover illustration by Pok.
Graphic design by Sam James.

Released worldwide September 14, 2020.
Original release date: 10th April 2009.

Copyright © 2020 Wud Records.
Copyright ℗ 1996 Pok Songs/Explicit Music.

See also:
https://www.wudrecords.co.uk/artists/alchemeon/
https://www.explicitmusic.co.uk/lyrics-information/alchemeon/alchemeon-lyrics/born-of-stars
https://wudrecords.bandcamp.com/album/live-in-session-spring-2009
https://wudrecords.bandcamp.com/album/live-in-session-winter-2008-09
https://twitter.com/WudRecords

Born of Stars

Alchemeon: Born of Stars

Castrol GTX a Go-Go by Alchemeon, from Alchemeon Live In Session Spring 2009.

This song was composed by Pok in 1992 at George's flat, opposite the Heavitree swimming baths and just a couple of doors downhill from The Emporium, a fabulous old traditional second-hand hi-fi and vinyl shop in Exeter run by John John, who still to this day DJs a fabulous weekly progressive rock radio show on Phonic FM.

Among those present were the famous and acclaimed photographer Marcus Podilchuk. Pok said he would write a song for Marcus and sat on the floor with pen and paper. After some time, when he had finished, he sang this for us. We loved it!

"Is that really for me?" asked Marcus, slightly surprised.

"Actually, no," replied Pok.

* Castrol GTX a Go-Go starts on an A major ands ends on a D minor.
* Simplified, the chord sequence for the verses is A – G# – Dm – Bb – A – Dm.
* Describing to Iggy how the beginning should be played, Jim said “Play some jokes! Play some musical jokes!”
* Children seem to love the whackiness of this wonderful song.
* Castrol GTX a Go-Go was first performed by the Spacegoats before Alchemeon started playing it.

CASTROL GTX A GO-GO
We’re gonna juice you to the bone
Feed the ogre faintly bold
He’s grinding chrome

West is my kind of tree
Feel till you’re opaque in the door
Scooping up the gnomes from the floor

Blessed be the world
For there is a dragon deeply curled
Well I’ll sing a sweep of dreams
Crown the day with night

I’m a matt-bam-bootle
Ride away on my scooter
I peel oranges now

Castrol GTX a go-go
I’m gonna motor your mojo
Brideshead’s eagle and a seagull
Home again, ogre-man

Words and music by Simon Miller.
This arrangement by S. Miller/G. Davies/J. Peters/Iggy.

Performers:
Pok the Bard – guitar and voice
Jim Iz – keys and voice
Iggy – drums and percussion
George – bass and technicals

This version recorded live at Sound Gallery, Exeter, 23rd February 2009.
Cassette salvage and remastering at Wud Records Studio One, 2020.

Cover illustration by Pok the Bard.
Graphic design by Sam James.

Released worldwide September 14, 2020.
Original release date: 10th April 2009.

Copyright © 2020 Wud Records.
Copyright ℗ 1992 Pok Songs/Explicit Music.

See also:
https://www.wudrecords.co.uk/artists/alchemeon/
https://www.explicitmusic.co.uk/lyrics-information/alchemeon/alchemeon-lyrics/castrol-gtx-a-go-go
https://wudrecords.bandcamp.com/album/live-in-session-spring-2009
https://wudrecords.bandcamp.com/album/live-in-session-winter-2008-09
https://twitter.com/WudRecords

Castrol GTX a-Go-Go

Alchemeon: Castrol GTX a-Go-Go

It's a Blue Sky Don't Hold No Rain by Alchemeon, from Alchemeon Live In Session Spring 2009. 

Jim takes the lead vocal at the start of this song. A little later on, there is a moment of comedy.

At about 5.20, when the vocals come back in again, Jim's lyric sheet makes a sudden leap for freedom. He manages to grab it in mid-air before it escapes. You can hear the "glorch!" of the keys as some part of his anatomy comes into contact with them when he goes for the grab, the little giggle when he catches the sheet, and the mumbulated lyrics as he tries to unfold the paper with one hand while playing the keys with the other.

* It’s a Blue Sky Don’t Hold No Rain was one of the very first songs that Pok ever wrote.
* There are probably not many 17-year-olds who would write such a thoughtful lyric as this.
* Pok once described the song as being about “the loss by genocide of the native Americans and general early eco lament directive for that generation.”
* He also said that the original idea for it came from listening to Neil Young.
* The very first time we heard this was when it was played by Pok on a 12-string acoustic with only six strings, as he sat on a bench along a footpath in the dark in Honiton late one evening.
* Its first proper live performance was at the Sidmouth International Folk Festival in the summer of 1983.
* It’s a Blue Sky Don’t Hold No Rain has been performed by Laughing Sun and the Spacegoats previously to Alchemeon performing it and you can hear their versions at Bandcamp, SoundCloud and the Wud Records website.
* It’s a Blue Sky Don’t Hold No Rain is in the key of E minor and begins and ends with a big glorious Em7 chord.
* The chords in the verses are Em7 – Am7 – C/G – B11#9.
* There is a rather wonderful key change in the “What have we done” section, which is C7 – D7 – Gm7 – D7 – Am – C/G – Em7.

IT’S A BLUE SKY DON’T HOLD NO RAIN
I'll try and try and try and try to get to you
I'll try and try and try and try forever
I'll try and try and try and try to get to you
I'll try and try and try and try forever
Forever

We came across some bones of men
Scattered in the rust
So many good souls turned to dust
Within their shattered husks
And these people had worn jewels
And their heads had been held high
Speckled foreheads touched the sky
Behold the sparkling in their eye

Don’t you know it’s a blue sky
Don’t hold no rain
Don’t hold your love in vain
‘Cos we’ve still got some loving to do

Some time ago the white man came
Bringing bible books and swords
Bound them up in twining cords
In the name of their great lord
They slew down the Aztec, Inca, Ibu, Masai
Now we hide in concrete lies
So to my Mammon side I cry:

"What have we done
To the Mother Goddess Gaia?
Why can’t we nestle in her
Warm aching bosom?"

Aaaah...

Now the world’s a spinning ball
Two thirds with none to eat
So while we chew our scrawny meat
Can you hear those big bells beat?

What have we done
To the Mother Goddess Gaia?
Why can’t we nestle in her
Warm aching bosom?

Words and music by Simon Miller.
This arrangement by S. Miller/G. Davies/J. Peters/Iggy.

Performers:
Pok the Bard – guitar and voice
Jim Iz – keys and voice
Iggy – drums and percussion
George – bass and technicals

This version recorded live at Sound Gallery, Exeter, 22nd February 2009.
Cassette salvage and remastering at Wud Records Studio One, 2020.

Cover illustration by Pok the Bard.
Graphic design by Sam James.

Released worldwide September 14, 2020.
Original release date: 10th April 2009.

Copyright © 2020 Wud Records.
Copyright ℗ 1983 Pok Songs/Explicit Music.

See also:
https://www.wudrecords.co.uk/artists/alchemeon/
https://www.explicitmusic.co.uk/lyrics-information/alchemeon/alchemeon-lyrics/its-a-blue-sky-dont-hold-no-rain
https://wudrecords.bandcamp.com/album/live-in-session-spring-2009
https://wudrecords.bandcamp.com/album/live-in-session-winter-2008-09
https://twitter.com/WudRecords

It's a Blue Sky Don't Hold No Rain

Alchemeon: It's a Blue Sky Don't Hold No Rain

The Centre of the Cyclone by Alchemeon, from Alchemeon Live In Session Spring 2009.

* The Centre of the Cyclone is more-or-less in the key of A major.
* The rhythm and noises at the start and then in the instrumental section are in the key of E.
* There is a classic chord progression in the first verses, which is A - Em - G - Bm - D.
* This mutates into C - G - D - Am - Em - G.
* The final chord of the whole song is an Asus4, which leaves a giant tantalising question mark dangling in the air.
* The Centre of the Cyclone has several sections, each with a different tempo and texture.
* It was first performed live in 1985 by Laughing Sun in the drama studio at Exeter College during a free lunchtime concert given for the students.
* Jim used his amazing understanding of arrangement to take this wonderful song and make it longer and more elegant with the addition of a guitar solo before the vocals start.
* It seems more and more extraordinary that Pok wrote the lyrics for this when he was only 19.

THE CENTRE OF THE CYCLONE
In forlorn castles too brief for living
We rose to catch the sun but were defeated
Just around the corner beyond the eyes
Beyond the skies we set ourselves as real
Like spaceships casting cosmic lines
Left behind with stars strewn from our astral selves
And planets in our eyes

You walk along the road of life
Too high to see the mountain you are climbing
Casting seeds and scrolls from our outstretched hands
The forgiven forget of the gift
And it’s too late, the ladder stretches up and down
And where do you stand in perspective to it all?

Can you imagine a place
A space where you have not been before
But which is not new to you?
A place you can recall softly
Push through bad dreams
Make it real, remember
Complications contradict but reality sticks
And unbounded has its realms
In everything you see

Yes, what do you see?
Push through the dark vales to the sea
Cast your cosmic line wherever it may fall
Maybe you will find some higher guidance there
Or maybe you will find a place where you may truly rest
Maybe you will find some friends who love you the best

Listen
Listen
Listen

The tides of swirling memories
Are nearly gone but forgotten
Would you choose to beg or lose
The axis which you hold onto
Thirteen is the number, twelve it is the rite
Thirteen red eyed ravens
Outside the house til night

Outward, outward on out
Cast light, cast light about
Outward, outward on out
Look out, which way is far out?

Petty wages are falling like leaves
Calling the master to apprenticeship again
Will he recall the time, the chimes of freedom
Blowing through his keyhole
Step down from your pedestal and mingle once again
With the crowds that you shunned as a youth

At the centre of the cyclone
Where all our thoughts are real
You’re cacooned in your mental egg
Imprisoned inside your head

When you look out the bars you’ve made
Can you maybe follow a little way
To see there are no more shackles to pass
Yet more fresh air, green fields and grass

And we are like the butterfly
Cannot take off, our wings aren’t dry
But soon if we shall heed the guides
The caterpillar metamorphosise

Words and music by Simon Miller.
This arrangement by S. Miller/G. Davies/J. Peters/Iggy.

Performers:
Pok the Bard – guitar and voice
Jim Iz – keys and voice
Iggy – drums and percussion
George – bass and technicals

This version recorded live at Sound Gallery, Exeter, 22nd February 2009.
Cassette salvage and remastering at Wud Records Studio One, 2020.

Released worldwide September 14, 2020.
Original release date: 10th April 2009.

Copyright © 2020 Wud Records.
Copyright ℗ 1984 Pok Songs/Explicit Music.

See also:
https://www.wudrecords.co.uk/artists/alchemeon/
https://www.explicitmusic.co.uk/lyrics-information/alchemeon/alchemeon-lyrics/the-centre-of-the-cyclone
https://wudrecords.bandcamp.com/album/live-in-session-spring-2009
https://wudrecords.bandcamp.com/album/live-in-session-winter-2008-09
https://twitter.com/WudRecords

The Centre of the Cyclone

Alchemeon: The Centre of the Cyclone

Crazy Mandy by Alchemeon, from Alchemeon Live In Session Spring 2009.

* Crazy Mandy is in the key of D minor.
* It was originally performed by Laughing Sun in 1985.
* When this was recorded it was still a new song for Alchemeon.
* Pok had the idea for this song after meeting one of George's girlfriends, whose name was not actually Mandy.
* A new development in the Alchemeon version was that Jim and Iggy made the Boosa Nova section towards the end of the song much more Bossa Nova-ish.

CRAZY MANDY
If you have flown too far from the nest
If they got you under sedation
Come rest in here, come meet your fears
Come greet some human relation
And we shall wait and say the words
That cool you like a breeze
Becoming part of the clothes that you wear
Becoming whole, it’s easy

It’s all in the plan, crazy Mandy
It’s all as it should be
It’s all in the winds of time my love
And it weighs out like sand

Add two and two, it’s all you need do
You already have done that
No sign on the line, everything’s fine
Everyone’s here from the start
And to take a bet and jape and jest
Is all you might have done
This matters not because what you have got
Is really much more than that

It’s all in the plan, crazy Mandy
It’s all as it should be
It’s all in the winds of time my love
And it weighs out like sand

Silently she has to wait in the long halls of stone
Red drops the blood from her fingers to the floor
Will she know?
Will her children grow?
Will she hear?
Is she near?
Watch her go
Mindfire glow
She is seeking

Mandy a bird of some sort she soared
High above civilization
And looking down she gulped and frowned
Saying this is not my inclination
To bank and shop the streets and follow
All these rules I see
Something else must I do
Or am I really being me?

It’s all in the plan, crazy Mandy
It’s all as it should be
It’s all in the winds of time my love
And it weighs out like sand

Words and music by Simon Miller.
This arrangement by S. Miller/G. Davies/J. Peters/Iggy.

Performers:
Pok the Bard – guitar and voice
Jim Iz – keys and voice
Iggy – drums and percussion
George – bass and technicals

This version recorded live at Sound Gallery, Exeter, 6th April 2009.
Cassette salvage and remastering at Wud Records Studio One, 2020.

Released worldwide September 14, 2020.
Original release date: 10th April 2009.

Copyright © 2020 Wud Records.
Copyright ℗ 1985 Pok Songs/Explicit Music. 

See also:
https://www.wudrecords.co.uk/artists/alchemeon/
https://www.explicitmusic.co.uk/lyrics-information/alchemeon/alchemeon-lyrics/crazy-mandy
https://wudrecords.bandcamp.com/album/live-in-session-spring-2009
https://wudrecords.bandcamp.com/album/live-in-session-winter-2008-09
https://twitter.com/WudRecords

Crazy Mandy

Alchemeon: Crazy Mandy

The Winged Man by Alchemeon, from Alchemeon Live In Session Spring 2009.

* The Winged Man is in the key of A major.
* This is the version with the new ending.
* The Winged Man is an Alchemeon exclusive.
* It was never performed by any of the Masters of Drone bands such as Laughing Sun or Now, nor by the Spacegoats.

THE WINGED MAN
Heaven knows why but he saved us from the furnace
We mistreated his kind and stained his need to see

Heaven knows why
Our people will fly
Memory will die
This winged man he cried

Melting above he drew his energy from below
And seeing the sun he knew he had to go

Heaven knows why
Our people will fly
Memory will die
This winged man he cried

Can you hear the voices?
Hear the voices around you
And the echo of the voices
Hear them too
Play on
Play on

Seething below the man was a wreck of invention
And we brought him down just like a crash landing

Heaven knows why
Our people will fly
Memory will die
This winged man he cried

He was too far ahead for us here and so he flew
Back to the sun where he’s working on something new

Heaven knows why
Our people will fly
Memory will die
This winged man he cried

Words and music by Simon Miller.
This arrangement by S. Miller/G. Davies/J. Peters/Iggy.

Performers:
Pok the Bard – guitar and voice
Jim Iz – keys and voice
Iggy – drums and percussion
George – bass and technicals

This version recorded live at Sound Gallery, Exeter, 6th April 2009.
Cassette salvage and remastering at Wud Records Studio One, 2020.

Released worldwide September 14, 2020.
Original release date: 10th April 2009.

Copyright © 2020 Wud Records.
Copyright ℗ 1985 Pok Songs/Explicit Music. 

See also:
https://www.wudrecords.co.uk/artists/alchemeon/
https://www.explicitmusic.co.uk/lyrics-information/alchemeon/alchemeon-lyrics/the-winged-man
https://wudrecords.bandcamp.com/album/live-in-session-spring-2009
https://wudrecords.bandcamp.com/album/live-in-session-winter-2008-09
https://twitter.com/WudRecords

The Winged Man

Alchemeon: The Winged Man

Born by Alchemeon, from Alchemeon Live In Session Spring 2009.

* Born is in the key of E minor.
* It was first performed by Laughing Sun in 1985.
* There are many changes of tempo throughout, some subtle, some not.
* One of the changes that Jim introduced was replacing two of the B minors with G majors during the main ascending theme.
* The main ascending theme is ten bars long, four measures of 2.5 bars.
* Pok plays Marsha, a pale gold 1985 Ibanez Roadstar II.

BORN
Can she see?
Will she be?
Saintly lady by the water
Faintly fiery fisher’s daughter

And you see nothing is as it is
Nothing is as it ought to be
And you see it’s back to where we began
Back so far you’re out in front again…

It’s time.

Born – you were meant to be
Born – into the family
Born – we were meant to be
Born – into the family

Words and music by Simon Miller.
This arrangement by S. Miller/G. Davies/J. Peters/Iggy.

Performers:
Pok the Bard – guitar and voice
Jim Iz – keys and voice
Iggy – drums and percussion
George – bass and technicals

This version recorded live at Sound Gallery, Exeter, 23rd February 2009.
Cassette salvage and remastering at Wud Records Studio One, 2020.

Released worldwide September 14, 2020.
Original release date: 10th April 2009.

Copyright © 2020 Wud Records.
Copyright ℗ 1985 Pok Songs/Explicit Music. 

See also:
https://www.wudrecords.co.uk/artists/alchemeon/
https://www.explicitmusic.co.uk/lyrics-information/alchemeon/alchemeon-lyrics/born
https://wudrecords.bandcamp.com/album/live-in-session-spring-2009
https://wudrecords.bandcamp.com/album/live-in-session-winter-2008-09
https://twitter.com/WudRecords

Born

Alchemeon: Born

Contact: info@wudrecords.co.uk
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ACTIVE ARTISTS:
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http://www.wudrecords.co.uk/miscellaneous/be-discovered-on-social-media

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