Edges of Dreaming is back on the air today after a few weeks off. We have gotten ourselves back across the country to our mountain home, and are settling in for a retreat from the world.
The news is dire all over, and we’re being told to do things that seem to run counter to our nature — “social distancing” is a sterile way of saying “disconnect”, “don’t touch each other”. Humans are by and large social creatures, so this is alien to many of us.
Today’s episode had originally begun as a challenge episode weeks back. The entire challenge is a three-part series called “2020 Vision”; part 1 was “Peace”, which we heard back in January; part 2, “Love”, was delayed a few weeks; part 3, “Unity” comes up at the end of March.
We received a single entry for the “Love” challenge, a track by George L Smyth, which we’ll hear to start the program.
And then the music community stepped up! Posting a day-of notice on Facebook yielded a program of very interesting and beautiful tracks that take up the rest of the program. We’ll hear works by Chris Stack, Shaping Mind, Cousin Silas (with yours truly telling a “yikes” true story about dating in the 21st century), Joe Howard, M. Peck, His Divine Shadow, Perceptual Defence, Kevin Hay, Doug Lynner, embral, Soundician, Symmetry2010, Usufruct, and Robert Scott Thompson.
PS: We received enough recommendations for this to spill over into a second show next week. To be continued!!
- “Love” – George L Smyth – Love (2020)
The single entry for the “Love” challenge. - “Modoru” – Chris Stack (2020)
A new one from Chris Stack, using real (not sampled) shakuhachi and Moog guitar - “Mariage D’Amour” – Version – Shaping Mind (2017)
This track takes its inspiration from
Mariage d’Amour – Paul de Senneville
www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoCG-WNsZio - “Dating In The 21st Century – part 1” – Cousin Silas and Rebekkah Hilgraves – Silas & Friends | Volume 3 (2014)
A real, no-bull$#!+ true story from my misadventures with online dating - “Into Light” – Joe Howard (2020)
All alone, on a road, he seems to drive away, with no one else
And appears that it has crossed in a distant place
Where time stands stillWhen it creeps and it grows into another place, alone
When it creeps and it grows into another place,
Where time stands stillAll alone, on a ride, on a big dark trail, into light, into anywhere
All alone, on a ride, on a big dark trail, seems too light, into anywhere.
Alone, alone, alone, alone…
- “Anchored In Light” – M. Peck – Secret Rituals For Atonement (+/-) Phase One (2020)
- “October Night” – His Divine Shadow – (2019)
From the artist: “This is an early track of ours (me and my wife). It was certainly done with an intention of love and connection. When I listen to it, it’s like a conversation between us.” - “…but at the End everything will be alright!” – Perceptual Defence – …but at the End everything will be alright! (2020)
Just released yesterday (March 14th, 2020): “Track improvised in my Musart Studio in Roma utilizing my two Grp A2 and some Effects in these tragic Days here in Italy where everybody is at Home. It is a very emotive ambient Track but with a Light at the End like all the Drawings that the Italian Children are doing: a Rainbow with written it will be alright!! “ - “RD” – Kevin Hay (2020)
Homage to Ram Dass - “When Dark Clouds Dance” – Doug Lynner – Modular Tonalism (2019)
Performed on the “Mystery Serge” - “Metta” – embral – Immeasurable (2014)
One of of four Buddhist virtues and the meditation practices made to cultivate them: Metta – Loving Kindness, the wish that all sentient beings, without any exception, be happy - “Two Souls” – SOUNDICIAN – Evensong (2018)
“Evensong, as a project, began several years ago as a response to the death of my favourite Aunt, Vera. I created music, as words utterly failed me at her loss. I then stored the tracks away with a mind to one day return to them and maybe release them at a future time.” - “Awakening” – Symmetry2010 (2012)
“…great for meditation. I had a stressful night at work several days ago and I meditated with this along with “Multidimensional” and “Not from Here” during my lunch hour. I felt like a completely different person afterwards.” - “Upside-Down Wedding” – Usufruct – Windfall (2017)
“The piece is called “upside-down wedding” because I had some sheet music I played at a wedding gig and I turned it upside down and played from it“ - “Refrain” – Robert Scott Thompson – Alchemy (2000)
Recorded expressly for Jim Brenholts, and his book “Tracks Across the Universe – A Chronology of Ambient and Electronic Music”, in Fall of 2000, Alchemy proposed a new direction for Robert Scott Thompson’s ambient music. The disc is comprised of 11 tracks which are carefully sequenced for an evocative flow. The design of the album emphasizes a recurring thematic identity together with subtle shadings and perspectives.