Category Archives: Weekly Song

The Weekly Song category.

Devin Townsend – Funeral

January 31, 2018 Axonn Echysttas Leave a comment

A soft guitar leads the way into this cozy yet challenging refuge for the mind. Yes, at times this song feels like a shelter. At other times, the shelter is blown away and we’re left experiencing the storm in its unfolding furious beauty. The composition is diverse and the melody goes through several transformations during the song’s 8 minutes, always managing to keep the ear busy and satisfied.

“Jesus, here lies my brother
Tortured and blown
Stretch for the heavens and go
…I watch him go
Here it comes

[…]

And this one’s for the life
This one’s for the funeral in the rain
And if only for tonight
This one’s for the funeral in the rain

The day’s gone and the year’s gone
And I don’t know when I’m coming home
I can’t hold on to what I’ve had
When what I’ve had
There’s nothing left at all…”

YouTube (decent quality):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wWuun-adj0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wWuun-adj0^

For Spotify Users (high quality):

https://open.spotify.com/track/73Z4v4uDvjdwCcKPNTGZ7V^

For Deezer Users (high quality):

http://www.deezer.com/track/108558112^

[ax_meta lnimgurl=’http://mentatul.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/02240-DevinTownsendOceanMachine-Thumb.jpg’ lnimgw=’250′ lnimgh=’250′ title=’Devin Townsend – Funeral’ desc=’The composition is diverse and the melody goes through several transformations. Experience the storm in its unfolding furious beauty.’]

Hocico – Beings Of Relief (Instrumental)

January 24, 2018 Axonn Echysttas Leave a comment

Aliens came to Earth some years ago, descended upon Mexico City and, together with two talented musicians, created this little trip for us. It’s true! This is exactly the sort of music aliens are listening to when they sledge it around the galaxy in their party cruiser – mysterious spacey synths, excellent percussion and the all-conquering God-drum. This is a solid thumper that (in my not so humble opinion) shouldn’t be missing from any decent electronica collection.

YouTube (decent quality):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0J3bAclVTKQ^

For Spotify Users (high quality):

https://open.spotify.com/track/61lmYEh7DqHGAjiuvhs1sj^

For Deezer Users (high quality):

http://www.deezer.com/track/115369196^

[ax_meta lnimgurl=’http://mentatul.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/02226-HocicoDiaDeLaIra-Thumb.jpg’ lnimgw=’250′ lnimgh=’250′ title=’Hocico – Beings Of Relief (Instrumental)’ desc=’Mysterious spacey synths, excellent percussion and the all-conquering God-drum.’]

Sneaker Pimps – Post-Modern Sleaze

January 17, 2018 Axonn Echysttas Leave a comment

It’s difficult to make contemporary music work well with symphonic arrangements, but these guys pulled it off quite beautifully on this song. The orchestra is diverse, but used sparingly, increasing its charm and effect. Kelli Dayton’s voice is a pleasure to wrap the ear in. It’s quite hard to believe this song is already 20 years old.

“Straw spun from gold, she craves a tortured soul,
All doom and gloom, she plays an open wound,

She takes every scene they steal,
She fakes every pain they feel,
She must be a Thelma or Louise,
She must be a post-modern tease.”

YouTube (decent quality, longer version with acoustic overtones):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7Ux9SXEqiU^

YouTube (video, slightly annoying song interruptions)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swX-2GT9q44^

For Spotify Users (high quality):

https://open.spotify.com/track/5OkHOeLhznFQpbwdZZ7lzn^

For Deezer Users (high quality):

http://www.deezer.com/track/67044851^

[ax_meta lnimgurl=’http://mentatul.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/01753-SneakerPimpsBecomingX-Thumb.jpg’ lnimgw=’250′ lnimgh=’250′ title=’Sneaker Pimps – Post-Modern Sleaze’ desc=’Kelli Dayton's voice is a pleasure to wrap the ear in. The orchestra is diverse, but used sparingly, increasing its charm and effect.’]

Delerium – Consciousness Of Love

January 14, 2018 Axonn Echysttas Leave a comment

Let’s start with the lyrics:

“The Consciousness of Love doesn’t understand
The white lies and the alibis of a wicked man
The purity of trust only seeks to find
The truth within the nothingness

Wants me in the oceans of the light
Fill my soul eternally
Solace brings the darkness of the night
And dances in the flame…

Of the consciousness of love
The consciousness of love

The consciousness of love is the patient calm
That stirs within the eye of the perfect storm
The fate of all the lights on the wings of a butterfly
That nothingness is calling

Take me where the ocean meets the light
Blowing in the ecstasy…
Solace brings the darkness of the night
And revels in the flame…
Of the consciousness of love”

What happens when these sweet verses meet a vulnerable, honest voice to bless their words and a sprawling, effervescent electronic orchestration? The result is a tune that is absolutely… nutritious. The words are food for thought and the crunchy sound textures are like a shower for the eardrum.

When you’re in search for beautiful vocals coupled with uncompromising instrumentals and good lyrics, look no further than Delerium. One day, or one eternity outside time, I’d like to dance this song together with you. Yes, with you, You!

YouTube (decent quality):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oH2sdP48uY8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oH2sdP48uY8^

For Spotify Users (high quality):

http://open.spotify.com/track/7ex5987gXQC40h8DdEqglN^

For Deezer Users (high quality):

http://www.deezer.com/track/65166481^

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.

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Power Glove – Motorcycle Cop

January 10, 2018 Axonn Echysttas Leave a comment

This is one little marvelous dark gem. It serves its goods on the same plate with pinpricks of lighter, lively sounds, but these are only offered to emphasize the overall somber mood. Without any lyrics to tell stories about the motorcycle cop, distorted male voices, the occasional siren and motor sounds make an excellent job of constructing an atmosphere that gives an efficient, wordless message.

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 Power Glove’s album :).

https://powergloveaudio.bandcamp.com/track/motorcycle-cop^

YouTube (decent quality):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nqe7jPX6DQY^

For Spotify Users (high quality):

https://open.spotify.com/track/6zpGlMguCiKeoUMMe4NUce^

For Deezer Users (high quality):

http://www.deezer.com/track/99462268^

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Samael – Supra Karma

January 3, 2018 Axonn Echysttas Leave a comment

Samael are masters of the unexpected, having pioneered new sound and shifted genres several times during their three decade musical career. This is one of the most interesting metal songs I know. It is an unorthodox composition that strikes an exquisite balance between headbanging material and joyful, middle of the night tribal dancing. Topping everything off is some clever writing, which is something Samael are particularly good at.

“Some stay some leave
some come some go
get on the air
and check your plan
if you do try you will remember
the fine line no one denied
unsharing joy is a pain to release

One by one we all came around and we
danced around night and day
One by one we just play our round to
leave and drop another way

[…]

the heart is strong
and it keeps warm
what the distance
will never change”

YouTube (decent quality):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSpgS71YkhY^

For Spotify Users (high quality):

https://open.spotify.com/track/7Ck1nvwm5z0u84lFQ3x0Km^

For Deezer Users (high quality):

http://www.deezer.com/track/108935796^

[ax_meta lnimgurl=’http://mentatul.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/02209-SamaelEternal-Thumb.jpg’ lnimgw=’250′ lnimgh=’250′ title=’Samael – Supra Karma’ desc=’An unorthodox composition that strikes an exquisite balance between headbanging material and joyful, middle of the night tribal dancing’]

Terry Oldfield – Pilgrimage

December 27, 2017 Axonn Echysttas Leave a comment

Combining deep, solemn male choirs with mystic percussion does indeed translate into a musical pilgrimage. This is a very relaxing song, best listened with eyes closed. The melody goes through several transformations, but keeps to an overall oriental feel.

https://terryoldfield.bandcamp.com/track/pilgrimage^

Unfortunately, no YouTube version is available for this song, but that’s OK because you can listen it for free on BandCamp.

For Spotify Users (high quality):

https://open.spotify.com/track/3dURSInGjOdxPdZyELv6Rq^

For Deezer Users (high quality):

http://www.deezer.com/track/81765404^

[ax_meta lnimgurl=’http://mentatul.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/02211-TerryOldfieldYogaHarmony-Thumb.jpg’ lnimgw=’250′ lnimgh=’250′ title=’Terry Oldfield – Pilgrimage’ desc=’Combining deep, solemn male choirs with mystic percussion does indeed translate into a musical pilgrimage.’]

Susanne Sundfor – The Silicone Veil

December 24, 2017 Axonn Echysttas Leave a comment

The first thing that stands out on this track is Susanne’s amazing voice. The instrumental is subdued and makes a lot of room for her to unfold. And unfold she does, showing magnificent strength and range. But don’t worry, there’s much more that this song has to offer besides the convincing vocal performance (which is among the best I’ve heard in years).

Synth veils will soon join the singer and lead us into the lively portion of the melody. It’s not long until we’re treated with a beautiful orchestral arrangement. My only gripe with the composition is the ending, which is not in such a good harmony with the rest of the melody.

The live performance is beautiful in its own right and I highly recommend watching it.

“let the stars be my eyes then
unchain the knuckles and latches
unbutton my wrists.
My skin so thin you can see black holes within
My eyes so clear they light up the sky
And sometimes I’ll bend into the silicone veil
And enter this world again as a ghost
Beauty is poisonous
Disruptive
Oh, heaven must be an iron rose
Unfolding…”

YouTube (decent quality, really good clip from a live event):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ze9bcegcmW8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ze9bcegcmW8^

For Spotify Users (high quality):

http://open.spotify.com/track/03RI85OY7RLQMVTpDLlGeV^

For Deezer Users (high quality):

http://www.deezer.com/track/60733352^

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Dub Fx – Love Someone

December 20, 2017 Axonn Echysttas Leave a comment

As much as I could possibly love the music here, the lyrics will always outshine it. And that’s saying quite a bit, because the music is excellent. This song spoils the listener with a feast of thumping percussion and sweeping, deep sound curtains. But the message is wise, powerful and important. You’ll need more than open ears to truly enjoy this sound. You’ll need an open mind.

Dub FX is an expert in creating electronica / drum’n’bass music using verbal sound effects. The video version of this song (which I’ve linked below) is made purely with verbal sound effects. The other versions feature a combination of verbal sound effects and synthetized textures. Both versions are amazing.

“It’s possible to love someone
And not treat them in the way that you want
It’s possible to see your eyes
Be the devil in disguise with another front
And, it’s possible to change this world
Revolutionize the boys and girls
It’s possible to educate
The next generation that will rule the world someday

[…]

Creating a world for the open minded
A unique perception of truth inside it
I know we could find it
It’s just a matter of where and when we collectively decide it
The world is not a vicious place
It’s just the way we’ve been raised”

http://music.dubfx.com/track/love-someone^

YouTube (decent quality):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiInBOVHpO8^

For Spotify Users (high quality):

https://open.spotify.com/track/2iNc1WDSSQNjt2IkwVIfdV^

For Deezer Users (high quality):

http://www.deezer.com/track/123384880^

[ax_meta lnimgurl=’http://mentatul.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/02149-DubFxEverythinksARipple-Thumb.jpg’ lnimgw=’250′ lnimgh=’250′ title=’Dub Fx – Love Someone’ desc=’As much as I could possibly love the music here, the lyrics will always outshine it. And that's saying quite a bit, because the music is excellent.’]

The Polish Ambassador – Live Inside A Dream (feat. Ayla Nereo)

December 13, 2017 Axonn Echysttas Leave a comment

It starts airy and carefree but the melody doesn’t waste a second to make it clear that despite Ayla’s soothing voice, this is still a groovy electronica song. Call it psybient, call it tribal electronica, call it whatever you want, this is one solid creation.

Like all songs from The Polish Ambassador’s “Ecozoic” album, this one ends with an outro that is in the same time fitting and seems like it’s coming from another story. “Ecozoic” is a massive album that is filled to the brim with all manner of sound experiments.

“my sheets were cold tonight
had to leave them for a dying fire
burn up time for dreams
lovely soul, you’ve gone to sleep
silence empty house I cannot breathe
you’ve said too many nice things

can I keep spinning to your turns
can I just fall back in your open arms
and when you ask, I’ll always sing you a song
bout a girl who tried to live inside a dream
won’t you speak, she wants to hear all of it, everything
go to sleep, cause morning will come sooner than you think…”

https://thepolishambassador.bandcamp.com/track/live-inside-a-dream-ft-ayla-nereo^

YouTube (decent quality):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LekKWbS-W3s^

For Spotify Users (high quality):

https://open.spotify.com/track/6fdx0cZd8FMiCtTwy1UwTY^

For Deezer Users (high quality):

http://www.deezer.com/track/68000114^

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Because being informed is just not enough anymore…