Mentatul

Month: August 2017

  • Sussan Deyhim – Fire Within

    Sussan Deyhim – Fire Within

    Ritualistic beauty springs from within this passionate work of art. The driven, solemn singing is wrapped in an almost mystical arrangement of strings and air instruments. The percussion is something to behold. One invocation after the other, the magnificent composition keeps pacing in perfect harmony with the enthralling chants.

    Eyes-closed listening with good hardware comes highly recommended.

    Unfortunately, the song is not available on YouTube or any other no-subscription-required listening platform that I know of. However, you can listen to it for free on Deezer, which usually works just fine (I can use it simply by connecting my Google account).

    For Spotify Users (high quality):

    https://open.spotify.com/track/1RiCNRJorb5MOPCHlv3scn^

    For Deezer Users (high quality):

    http://www.deezer.com/track/23139941^

    [ax_meta lnimgurl=’http://mentatul.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/01712-SussanDeyhimCityOfLeaves-Thumb.jpg’ lnimgw=’250′ lnimgh=’250′ title=’Sussan Deyhim – Fire Within’ desc=’The driven, solemn singing is wrapped in an almost mystical arrangement of strings and air instruments.’]

  • Let’s Give Mars a Rest

    Let’s Give Mars a Rest

    I am happy to announce that there is a fair to good possibility that seeding life on Mars may be much more difficult than previously thought. In a recent study, an extensive analysis of the chemical elements present on the planet’s surface (particularly in the regolith^) has shown that Martian soil might very well be outright poisonous for life:

    https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/toxic-compounds-may-sterilize-martian-soil/^

    So why am I happy because of this “bad news”? Because it’s not bad at all. I believe that given the current state of our society and civilization, Mars is too costly and too early an investment to make. Mars is not going to be easy to colonize in the next decades. Before we go about colonizing Mars, I believe we should do our homework. And I’m not talking only about the technology to shield us from the radiation in space, but also about our own society. A species that is still governed by what I can only call “uncontrolled survivalistic behavior” is not ready for the responsibility of being the shepherd of a new ecosystem.

    I can’t agree with this “let’s start colonizing other planets” fad. Eric Mack has a very good point when he says that “this notion that Mars or the Moon is our salvation because the end of the world is nigh is really silly”. If we’re so good at destroying ecosystems, perhaps we should consider fixing this problem before we go off trying to pollute other worlds.

    https://www.forbes.com/sites/ericmack/2017/05/03/stephen-hawking-mars-colony-moon-space-elon-musk/#7117bf826537^

    The second page of the article above brings a very good point: “Let’s just run through the scenarios: rising sea levels, famine, epidemics, ecological collapse… If all those came to pass, even all at the same time, Earth would still be more habitable than anywhere else in our solar system. Really, you can’t undersell the value of a working magnetic field and an atmosphere, even one with a little too much carbon dioxide in it”:

    https://www.forbes.com/sites/ericmack/2017/05/03/stephen-hawking-mars-colony-moon-space-elon-musk/2/#761a6189d1c5^

    As a child, I was eager to read anything there was available about Mars. It was “my favorite planet”. Perhaps two decades of increasingly boring news about “water found on Mars” made me a bit allergic to our obsessive interest in the planet.

    Lately, things shifted into overdrive as various corporations started to jump on the “colonization” bandwagon. I guess it’s pretty good PR to say you’re going to build a colony on Mars or the Moon, but as the adage says “the road to hell is paved with good intentions”.

    [ax_meta lnimgurl=’http://mentatul.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/02173-GivingMarsARest-Thumb.jpg’ lnimgw=’250′ lnimgh=’250′ title=’Let’s Give Mars a Rest’ desc=’Seeding life on Mars may be much more difficult than previously thought. Before we go about colonizing Mars, we should do our homework.’]

  • Subheim – Howl

    Subheim – Howl

    It takes a while for the gloomy droning to lead to any sort of melody, but it is this exact atmosphere building that dark electronica master Subheim excels at.

    Ghostly female voices lead the song into its foggy blossoming. This is as much melody as it is an experiential shard of some distant, unfathomable Universe.

    I’m thankful for having shared the same lifetime with artists that have managed to translate the ineffable into sound.

    You can listen to the melody for free, in good quality, on BandCamp, which is one of the best websites when it comes to supporting artists. You can also purchase the song (or album) from this same location. And in case you’re wondering, yes, I did purchase Subheim’s album :).

    https://tympanikaudio.bandcamp.com/track/howl^

    YouTube (decent quality):

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bB49oSvLkqs^

    For Spotify Users (high quality):

    https://open.spotify.com/track/1jlXr5rRYZrA3hj7JTPSUt^

    For Deezer Users (high quality):

    http://www.deezer.com/track/2572472^

    [ax_meta lnimgurl=’http://mentatul.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/01748-SubheimApproach-Thumb.jpg’ lnimgw=’250′ lnimgh=’250′ title=’Subheim – Howl’ desc=’This is as much melody as it is an experiential shard of some distant, unfathomable Universe. Ghostly female voices lead the song into its foggy blossoming.’]

  • A Birth of Art

    A Birth of Art

    More than a bit of time has passed since April Fools’ Day 2017, but this year there was at least one fantastic initiative that has to be remembered. Reddit launched an amazing 3 day experiment it called Place. You can see it and read all about it in this excellent article:

    http://sudoscript.com/reddit-place/^

    Stuff like this fills me with hope for the future of humanity. We’ve made it a long way and we sure can make it much further than this. What I see in Reddit’s Place is a snapshot of the Internet’s intellectual health, which I consider to be extremely important for our future. Things seem to be not as bad as I thought and this is wonderful.

    [ax_meta lnimgurl=’http://mentatul.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/02058-ABirthOfArt-RedditPlace-Thumb.jpg’ lnimgw=’250′ lnimgh=’250′ title=’A Birth of Art’ desc=’Reddit did an amazing 3 day experiment it called Place.’]

  • Platonic Scale – Three (feat. ALLA)

    Platonic Scale – Three (feat. ALLA)

    Here’s an audacious and groovy ride, pounding along witty lyrics and diverse instrumentation. Platonic Scale cooked the perfect sound garnish for singer ALLA’s sensual voice to be wrapped in. The only thing missing is a slowed down audio sample from a wrestling match played backwards. And it’s missing for a good reason ;).

    Seriously now, if you want to enjoy some high quality synth-pop, check out the other songs on Platonic Scale’s “Out of the Blue” EP, which is freely listenable on BandCamp (the link is below).  The EP landed in my life completely out of the blue last year and I’ve been in love with it ever since.

    “But we were always three
    While you belonged to me
    My body wasn’t cold yet
    And she just had you sold

    Boy
    Boy what have you done
    Are you having fun
    Boy what have you done to me

    Just right through you see
    As I crawl inside
    Where I want you to be

    Now tell me something ‘bout her
    Does she make you purr
    Does she taste your shame
    Where I carved my name”

    You can listen to the melody for free, in good quality, on BandCamp, which is one of the best websites when it comes to supporting artists. You can also purchase the song (or album) from this same location. And in case you’re wondering, yes, I did purchase Platonic Scale’s album :).

    https://platonicscale.bandcamp.com/track/three-feat-alla^

    For Spotify Users (high quality):

    https://open.spotify.com/track/5ORuvlggAvqD5pQRcgGqAr^

    For Deezer Users (high quality):

    http://www.deezer.com/track/117350780^

    [ax_meta lnimgurl=’http://mentatul.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/01808-PlatonicScaleOutOfTheBlue-Thumb.jpg’ lnimgw=’250′ lnimgh=’250′ title=’Platonic Scale – Three (feat. ALLA)’ desc=’Here’s an audacious and groovy ride, pounding along witty lyrics and diverse instrumentation.’]

  • The Birth of a Mother

    The Birth of a Mother

    I consider this article as a must read for all parents or parents-to-be. It’s short and to the point. Both men and women will find here information that few doctors talk about yet it is vital for a healthier family life:

    https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/08/well/family/the-birth-of-a-mother.html?smid=fb-nytimes&smtyp=cur^

    I’ve long believed that the physiological and psychological changes that come with motherhood should be planned for accordingly, long before conception. The mother must have a supportive partner that understands a lot about what motherhood entails. Of course, it’s not impossible to ignore all this, but why not minimize the risks?

    I’m quite sure that a lot of grief can be avoided if such information would be more wide-spread. There can be far less cries and misfortune for both babies and parents. Integrating children in one’s life shouldn’t be as difficult as the current “culture” seems to suggest.

    [ax_meta lnimgurl=’http://mentatul.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/02053-BirthOfAMother-Rune-Thumb.jpg’ lnimgw=’250′ lnimgh=’250′ title=’The Birth of a Mother’ desc=’I consider this article as a must read for all parents or parents-to-be. Both men and women will find here information that few doctors talk about yet it is vital for a healthier family life.’]

  • Bluetech – Lay Your Sorrows Down

    Bluetech – Lay Your Sorrows Down

    Brother, sister… just let it go. Shed those pains to the ground, like the butterfly that leaves its pupa. Spread your wings and embrace… the Universe. Let this angel’s voice guide you, let this beautiful rhythm move you. Connect with the joy that you are alive and the knowing that comes with it. You can dream and you can act.

    “Sometimes when I look at what’s in front of me
    It seems so overwhelming when it’s staring back at me
    I know things move on and they grow
    So why is it hard to stay mellow?
    Just got to take it slow

    So just breathe, breathe slow
    Though it’s hard it’s hard to make it you know
    I want you to breathe, breathe slow
    Breathe, breathe

    Sometimes, sometimes when you try to go inside and find what you’re all about
    At times you feel things aren’t for real, there is doubt
    Sometimes you feel you got to be left alone
    Sometimes you feel you got to be taking it slow
    So don’t you think another minute”

    You can listen to the melody for free, in good quality, on BandCamp, which is one of the best websites when it comes to supporting artists. You can also purchase the song (or album) from this same location. And in case you’re wondering, yes, I did purchase Bluetech’s album :).

    https://interchill.bandcamp.com/track/lay-your-sorrows-down^

    YouTube (decent quality):

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji3GsQzwYA0^

    For Spotify Users (high quality):

    https://open.spotify.com/track/6SigpcpjlpMst0fggd0hN2^

    For Deezer Users (high quality):

    http://www.deezer.com/track/12666598^

    This Weekly Song entry has been brought from the FaceBook archive of Weekly Song^. This exploration was originally started through a FaceBook page, about 13 months prior to launching Mentatul. Slowly but surely, the entire FaceBook archive will be brought here.

    [ax_meta lnimgurl=’http://mentatul.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/01732-BluetechLoveSongsToTheSource-Thumb.jpg’ lnimgw=’250′ lnimgh=’250′ title=’Bluetech – Lay Your Sorrows Down’ desc=’Let this angel's voice guide you, let this beautiful rhythm move you. Connect with the joy that you are alive and the knowing that comes with it.’]

  • Blasts from the (Tech) Past

    Blasts from the (Tech) Past

    Here are two awesome links with echoes from our technological past.

    Let Windows 95’s startup sound slowed down with 4000% guide your meditation:

    http://boingboing.net/2017/03/21/windows-95-startup-sound-slowe.html^

    And then bow in front of the all-mighty Floppotron and the Computer Hardware Orchestra playing AWOLNATION’s “Sail”:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KclRiK-L-_4^

    I can’t help it to also link another awesome fan-made video for “Sail”:

    www.mentatul.com^

    [ax_meta lnimgurl=’http://mentatul.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/02047-BlastsFromTheTechPast-Thumb.jpg’ lnimgw=’250′ lnimgh=’250′ title=’Blasts from the (Tech) Past’ desc=’Here are two awesome links with echoes from our technological past.’]

  • Digitonal – Polestar

    Digitonal – Polestar

    This song strikes a sublime balance between mood, diversity and calmness. There is just enough going on to make it a highly entertaining listen while in the same time keeping it a well within the threshold of something you can meditate on. This well-arranged combination of electronica and air instruments has brought to fruition a splendid mood-setter and journey song.

    You can listen to the melody for free, in good quality, on BandCamp, which is one of the best websites when it comes to supporting artists. You can also purchase the song (or album) from this same location. And in case you’re wondering, yes, I did purchase Digitonal’s album :).

    https://digitonal.bandcamp.com/track/polestar^

    Sadly, the song is not available on YouTube, but that’s fine because you can listen for free on BandCamp (see above) and Deezer.

    For Spotify Users (high quality):

    https://open.spotify.com/track/2WeMe27gIV9FFjKD7nKw5u^

    For Deezer Users (high quality):

    http://www.deezer.com/track/96772702^

    [ax_meta lnimgurl=’http://mentatul.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/01727-DigitonalBeautifulBroken-Thumb.jpg’ lnimgw=’250′ lnimgh=’250′ title=’Digitonal – Polestar’ desc=’A well-arranged combination of electronica and air instruments has brought to fruition a splendid mood-setter and journey song.’]

  • That Pepsi Commercial

    That Pepsi Commercial

    This nicely written article on Wired says it all: sometimes corporations are so tone-deaf that they manage the impossible: uniting the Internet:

    https://www.wired.com/2017/04/pepsi-ad-internet-response/^

    I am saddened by the fact that Pepsi took a noble message and a beautiful story only to ruin everything by having a script and implementation so utterly disrespectful towards minorities, women and social classes. Pepsi wants to say “we should look beyond social classes”, but instead highlights the ugly differences that exist between the privileged and the other 99%. The commercial is also a rather sad mix of cliché and kitsch.

    Bottom line? It’s bad taste. Just like Pepsi and the rest of the canned sugar industry.

    [ax_meta lnimgurl=’http://mentatul.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/02040-PepsiCommercial-Thumb.jpg’ lnimgw=’250′ lnimgh=’250′ title=’That Pepsi Commercial’ desc=’Pepsi took a noble message and a beautiful story only to ruin everything by having a script and implementation so utterly disrespectful towards minorities, women and social classes.’]