Bed of Northern Lights

It's been a great deal of time since I last posted any music here.  This isn't for lack of making music however.  My server was attacked because it was using SSL and I had to take it off line and rebuild my personal system.  My music is back online and I will be posting some relatively new recordings that I have done.  I give you this tune, it is one of my favourites of my own instrumental pieces.  This is a meditation on Northern lights.

Bed of Northern Lights


(C) Peter J Slack, Socan , 2011

LIFE DOES SING

I've been working a bit in the studio lately and some songs are coming to fruition. :-) A new song can be found here:

http://www.pjslack.net/lifedoessing.mp3

Life does sing

The breeze that brings
the tree that sways
sum of the motion
that nature brings

..nature brings

The music heals
intention fields
All of us caring
in harmony

...harmony

Forever young
our brilliant sun
shining its light
that creation rings

...creation rings

As we grow old
stories time told
time is the song
that life does sing

...life does sing

Beginning ends
the mystery
climbing each limb
of the knowledge tree

...the knowledge tree

Words and Music
Copyright 2009, Peter J Slack, SOCAN

I wrote this while on holiday with my family, it is part of the project I am working on called "The Love Network". I tend not to tell stories but rather summarize and embed messages in my songs. The production is minimalist with no overdubs; as if I have come to sing for you by the fireside. I am currently inspired by the work of Rene Thom and his book on Morphogenesis and I am also having fun playing with hyper-spectral imaging data from satellites and looking at things in new ways, like a kid in a candy store :-). This song was written for an occasion; to open the Fresh Water Jamboree in Guelph that my good friends put on every year.

Peace to all,PJ

Deep Inside

(Image: "PROPHESY" created by Zappha)

It's been a while since I've published any new music tracks. Please find here a new song track entitled "Deep Inside":

http://www.pjslack.net/deepinside.mp3

I've begun a new music collection project entitled "The Love Network Voyager". The theme is intended as an exploration of love within social networks of people. Today we experience light speed communications between people from all over the globe, it seems almost a natural extension of ourselves to be able to do this. We have always been naturally blessed with light speed processes in our brains to enable memories of our life to be recalled, and with senses that can view the light from the very beginnings of the universe; we sense and recall the memory of the universe and all time.

Social networks perhaps mimic these senses,experiences and structures in some way, as if creating a toy universe inside a real universe where we can explore, create, be together. Since I was a child I have always been fascinated and addicted to communications, it somehow made me feel closer to understanding a larger picture that I could be a part of when I was able to communicate with other people in remote locations in real time. The popularity of social networks,cell phones etc. and the addictive properties, I feel, is an interesting and important topic for study in the form of a music collection. I feel it is also important to expose the positive aspects rather than things like; a guy driving his car while texting someone on his crackberry.

I had a notion this summer to pack up the recording gear and make pieces of a song in different locations. The recordings took place around a camp fire in my back yard in Erin and in my studio, at a mule farm in Tara, atop the Greystone Inn in Orangeville. This features the voices of friends Kiera Merriam and Lisa Watson and is an improvisational, electro-acoustic / new age genre piece.

With great admiration for you all,
PeterJ

(music copyright 2009, Peter J Slack / SOCAN)

Songwriter Spotlight Radio Broadcast-Podcast: Peter J Slack

Sal Noguera's show Songwriter's Spotlight airs on http://www.erinradio.ca/ every Sunday from 8 to 9 p.m. and features local talent from the town of Erin. Sal also dives into what the songs mean to the artists and the complicated depth of songwriting.

Sal Noguera is the owner of Erinwood Studios, a multitrack demo/project studio. Sal has been a musician for the past 35 years and has been involved in radio since 1974. This charismatic man can be seen at the Bushholme Inn every Sunday jamming with friends during the Open Stage from 1-5p.m. So tune in to the Songwriters Spotlight and explore what Erin musicians have to offer.

Sal Interviewed me in April of 2008 and the show is posted here with his permission:

http://www.pjslack.net/peterslackshow.mp3


Copyright 2008, Peter J Slack, Erin Community Radio

Em Uma Outra Vida

Hello to all fine folks,

http://www.pjslack.net/emumaoutravida.mp3

This is an instrumental tune dedicated to AmandaMartinez and Laura Fernandez, both hosts of the Cafe Latino radio program that airs Saturdayafternoons on 91.1FM or online at http://www.jazz.fm for those not in the GTA.

"Em uma outra vida" translated from Portuguesemeans "in another life". I don't speak a word of Portuguese (and thanks to the powers that be foronline translators) but I played in a Brazilian jazz band several years back and was reminiscing,it seems like a lifetime ago, in another life. Istarted a mini project called Cafe Latino after Iheard news that Amanda was stepping down and following her beautiful voice and that LauraFernandez (also of a beautiful voice) was taking over as host of my favorite radio show. As with any change there is both excitement, uncertainty and we always have moments missing the life we had before changes, those inevitable blues.

The band I played with was a regular in Niagara onthe Lake and played Saturday nights at the Anchorage. The show still goes on and is hosted by Steve Goldberger and the Niagara RhythmSection. On my long drive into NOTL on those Saturdays we played, I always managed to be traveling the same time as Cafe Latino aired, this show always started my fire for those Saturday night Latin gigs and Amanda even spun up a recording that featured some of my playing once,my first time on air play! Thank you Amanda! I was fortunate to meet Amanda once many years backas she was hosting a show at the Latin Arts Festival where I was playing guitar in a backing band. Since that time she launched an amazing singing career. But this is not the end of thestory, one wintry night in Orangeville I happened to meet Laura Fernandez at the annual HAMS party. Laura is also an amazing singer / songwriter and now the new host of Cafe Latino! So congratulations are in order to both these ladies for their positive life changes and this song is for you both.

Here's some links to check out:

Amanda Martinez
http://www.myspace.com/amandamartinezsola
http://www.amandamartinez.ca/

Laura Fernandez
http://www.laurafernandezmusic.com/
http://www.myspace.com/laurafernandezband

There are also live recordings of the saturday night sessions. You should talk to Steve about getting your hands on some live recordings with the Bushman (me) on guitar, you might end up dancing:

http://www.stevegoldberger.com/shedrecords.html

With warm wishes,
PJ

Music (C)opyright 2008, Peter J Slack SOCAN

SILENCE AND SYMMETRY

Season's Greetings from the winter wonderland,

http://www.pjslack.net/silenceandsymmetry.mp3

There's hopefully always room for a song at the right time. This instrumental production dates back a few years to 2003, I was enjoying some personal freedom having just left a 5 year long industrial post and project. I was spending some time in the wilderness during the fall and winter. This is a sonic sentiment rejoicing the quiet moments after solstice that we should all take periodically in life, a winter song that is to express a natural, yet perhaps not so obvious or logical mirror reflection of stillness against a busy life.

I have been working my way through the amazing BBC series "Planet Earth" released on DVD. I am aware after a few segments about northern climates that wildlife and nature takes time off, takes timeout, the dark cold of winter inevitably brings about this natural slumber, the busy life of spring and summer is a mirror opposite reflection of this sleep, a natural balance of living life and taking time reflecting in silence. Although seemingly brutal with many species going months without food, this slumber brings about rhythmic rejuvenation worthy of musical celebration.

Happy slumber and solstice to all!
See you in the spring,
PJ

Destination Unknown

Hello to all fine people,

Destination Unknown Song Track:
http://www.pjslack.net/destinationunknown.mp3

As a child I had dreams of exploring other planets and owning a horse, my favorite books were the Time-Life series published in the early 70's and in particular, the reference book "Space" that was part of this series. These books and the wonderful illustrations therein were the stuff of dreams as I was growing up. Later in life I met the daughter of the fellow who was responsible for publishing this series of books and we are very old and dear friends to this day. The books still sit on the bookshelf at my parent's home and are always there for next generation of kids who may require good references and reading material during their stay.

Today, through the thick and sometimes monotonous,modern accounting staples of living are these dreams and a sense of great purpose and mystery. Today I imagine, like many others do, that the people of the earth are its seeds and that the ripening earth one day must let go the seeds, like a dying flower eventually must let go of its seeds with hopes and love to see them grow on their own. For me, the sense of great danger with the precarious environment on earth is balanced by the mystery that always awaits us. The next version of Noah's Ark will probably be a space craft and we will still not know where we are going but we always seem to end up somewhere.

Destination Unknown - Lyrics
Destination unknown
Don't even bother to answer the phone
'cause it's not the truth on the other end
It's my life falling againIt's my life falling again
When will this ever end?

Another sight unseen
What ever does it mean to me?
All this confusion around.
Doesn't even make a sound.
Doesn't even make a sound.
How can we go on like this?

Can't always be right.
It's never a good reason to fight.
There's still the unknown that we face,
That shadows over the human race.
That shadows over the human race.
When will we see this truth?

Words and Music (C)opyright 2007 Peter J Slack,SOCAN

Man on a String

Hello again,

Man on a String: Song Track
http://www.pjslack.net/manonastring.mp3

I'll tell you what's really going on is I'm preparing offerings for the kind music spirits in preparation for the launch of "Brewster'sCoffeehouse Tour" starting August 4th in Sauble beach at the community center and then coming to a town near you. Come out to the beach and catch a concert in the evening for more information:
http://www.myspace.com/brewsterscoffeehouse2

I've been fortunate to learn and participate in acoustic solo style music alongside some of the best writers and performers around. This song is a sample of that solo style and what you'll hear from our coffeehouse tour. I call this a fractal blues.

There's ghosts outside the window
and wolves outside the door.
I count the times I miss you,
but I don't count no more.

Man on a string,
can't buy a diamond ring.
Doesn't mean he doesn't care.
We all fall down sometimes.
We all break our crown sometimes,
and it doesn't mean that we don't care.

Love to you all,PJ

I'll see you in the morning

Hello again good people,

Song Track
http://www.pjslack.net/seeyouinthemorning.mp3

What do you do when you have the blues and don't drink? I was asking myself this very question the other day. I decided the question was also a good title for a blues album. Most obvious the first track in an album of this title would be called "I'll see you in the morning", something I would never say after a night of drinking.

Sleep is the best cure for the blues besides playing the blues, and so to answer the important question, in rootsy blues with a twist song:

I'll see you in the morning
===========================
The up side of the morning,
is the right side of the head.
The flip side is the evening,
the left side of the bed.

I'll see you in the morning,
with my arms wide open.

Love to you all, and goodnight...;-)
PJ
Words and Music (C)opyright 2007, Peter J Slack, SOCAN

Guardian Angel : song track

Song Track:
http://www.pjslack.net/guardianangel02.mp3

This is for my wife Terri who asked that I writeand perform a song to celebrate her goal of becoming a Mary Kay Sales Director. For any ofyou who are active with Mary Kay you understand that this is a very difficult goal to achieve. Throughout the four month process there was a recurring theme at the end of each month, one of panic that we wouldn't make the required sales mark and all of the work the previous months, all of the time and money invested was for not. At the end of each month the goal was met at the eleventh hour. I realized a long time ago that this always happened to us throughout our life together; at the last minute a small miracle would happen and we could carry on with our life.

This song is a celebration of our family's Guardian Angel and I extend hopes and wishes that all of your own Guardian Angels that protect you and your family, with love and light, will forever come through at the last minute when needed most.

Guardian Angel
Guardian Angel shine your precious light.
Show the path where everything's all right.
Spend too much time waiting for the axe to fall.
Out of our minds; working 'till the break of dawn.

Guardian Angel lend me your wings today.
Give us faith that there's a better way.
Spend too much time waiting for the axe to fall.
Out of our minds; working 'till the break of dawn.

We gather here to make your glory shine.
Do what.s right, no hearts of courage resign.
Just when it seems we're headed for another fall
You are there to help us through it all.

Guardian Angel lend me your wings today.
Give us faith that there's a better way.
Spend too much time waiting for the axe to fall.
Out of our minds; working 'till the end of dawn.

Namaste!!!
PJ
Words and Music (C)opyright 2007, Peter J Slack the Digital Bird