Category Archives: Weekly Song

The Weekly Song category.

Bluetech – Lay Your Sorrows Down

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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.

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Digitonal – Polestar

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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^

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Baby Alpaca – Sea of Dreams (Turbotito Remix)

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Baby Alpaca’s “Sea of Dreams” is a calm, beautiful song, which is why I linked it below as well. Turbotito’s remix is, however, more to this (dreamy) listener’s linking. The clever use of echo and resonance gives the song a different (dreamy) texture.

Both versions of the song are equally evocative and they share the same good (and dreamy) lyrics. They are both relying on lots of reverb to invoke the (dreamy) mood. It’s due to my love of electronica that I choose the remix version as title (and main feature) of this (dreamy) Weekly Song entry, even though you can find both (dreamy) songs here.

“Dawn’s growing from the sea
Reflections lilac in the clouds
Sea lion’s black eyes awaken me
Takes me to the sea of dreams

We wade in a sea of dreams
Swimming free in the mountain breeze
Far out where it’s dark and deep
Dawn’s horizon sets us free”

YouTube (decent quality, NICE video):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87N4EgpLKng^

For Spotify Users (high quality):

https://open.spotify.com/track/2cpTQcWzvkwltxoPuhX50B^

For Deezer Users (high quality):

http://www.deezer.com/track/74620370^

Original song:

YouTube (decent quality):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzB3awjHOK4^

For Spotify Users (high quality):

https://open.spotify.com/track/6cr7CDzWPPeIBdTkLYwBE1^

For Deezer Users (high quality):

http://www.deezer.com/track/67128608^

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Pink Floyd – Shine On You Crazy Diamond

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From the very first seconds, this avatar of musical art promises to send its passengers to the far reaches of imagination. The finesse at play here is all too evident. While the mighty sound creature begins to unfold its wings, through solemn, constant touches of the synthesizer, a myriad smaller musical happenings occur in the background. And this is barely scratching the surface of what can be said about the first minute and a half of this masterpiece in composition and meaning.

Soon, the soft, calm synth landscape is punctuated by a lonely guitar, bringing a whole new dimension of sharpness and… sincerity. Then, the melody bursts to life, echoing, warping time and space. And it’s still only the beginning.

Words are blinded by the light of genius. The only way to reward this creation is to close my eyes and let it live inside me. And a long life it will be, for songs such as this one are touched with the magnetism of divinity.

The melody is regarded as homage to Syd Barrett, one of the founding members of Pink Floyd. He had departed seven years prior to the release of “Wish You Were Here”. The album is rounded off sublimely by “Shine On You Crazy Diamond”, with parts 1-5 starting the journey and parts 6-9 ending it. It’s one of the best space-rock albums I ever heard and, of course, I recommend listening to it in full. That would be the proper way to appreciate this song.

“Remember when you were young?
You shone like the sun.
Shine on, you crazy diamond
Now there’s a look in your eyes
Like black holes in the sky
Shine on, you crazy diamond
You were caught in the crossfire
Of childhood and stardom,
Blown on the steel breeze
Come on you target
for faraway laughter
Come on you stranger, you legend,
You martyr, and shine
You reached for the secret
too soon
You cried for the moon
Shine on, you crazy diamond
Threatened by shadows at night
And exposed in the light
Shine on, you crazy diamond”

YouTube (better quality, music video, only parts 1-5)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWGE9Gi0bB0^

YouTube (rather poor quality, COMBINED version of the song, all 9 parts):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UXircX3VdM^

For Spotify Users (high quality):

Part 1-5:

https://open.spotify.com/track/2dWCp5vcNwSy25zRVFGC5t^

Part 6-9:

https://open.spotify.com/track/0W1uJJJsbbLxc1Sa9aLNxN^

For Deezer Users (high quality):

Part 1-5:

http://www.deezer.com/track/117585768^

Part 6-9:

http://www.deezer.com/track/117585776^

Further musical history reading:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wish_You_Were_Here_(Pink_Floyd_album)^

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syd_Barrett^

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AWOLNATION – Sail

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This melody came on my radar thanks to an amazing fan-made YouTube video. It’s so good that whenever I read the song’s title, the first thing I think about is not the music, but the playful, over-the-top video full of youthful exuberance and vibrant energy. This one is simply off the charts in the “cute” category!

Of course, this is not to say that this isn’t a great song, because it is! It’s a fabulous combination of rock, synth-driven textures, distorted vocals and dreamy choirs. Definitely a song I’d put in a collection meant to expand one’s musical horizons. But really, make sure you see the video :).

“This is how I show my love
I made it in my mind because
I blame it on my A.D.D. baby

[…]

Maybe I’m a different breed
Maybe I’m not listening
So blame it on my A.D.D. baby

[…]

Sail with me into the dark
Sail!”

YouTube (decent quality, AWESOME fan-made video):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaAWdljhD5o^

YouTube (another awesome fan-made creation: Sail by floppy disks and other computer hardware):

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

For Spotify Users (high quality):

https://open.spotify.com/track/5k0mTv94djzbl1HvhxjXPn^

For Deezer Users (high quality):

http://www.deezer.com/track/97453888^

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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Tristania – Endogenesis

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This melody is an enthralling journey into the value of contrast. It bites, but it’s as if it does so only to bring further value to the soft touches that will always follow. It’s a composition of staggering diversity. Few melodies have this much happening in the space of less than 8 minutes. There’s nary a second of boredom and hardly any repetition. The song goes through several movements with excellent pace and in total harmony. It’s a work of art of undoubted rarity.

“I will find the truth within your skin
You keep feeding me distractions
Feeding me lies
But I know the truth is there
In fragments
in bits
and pieces

Tall and slender
But your eyes are lustreless
Your facade may glimmer
Your surface may be smooth silk
You’ve been convinced of your own illusions
But your weary eyes unveil a sinner”

YouTube (decent quality):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNgxrn-4cNk^

For Spotify Users (high quality):

https://open.spotify.com/track/5Az6h6UQcObFqs3Be6jxbj^

For Deezer Users (high quality):

http://www.deezer.com/track/16960126^

[ax_meta lnimgurl=’http://mentatul.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/01695-TristaniaAshes-Thumb.jpg’ lnimgw=’250′ lnimgh=’250′ title=’Tristania – Endogenesis’ desc=’A composition of staggering diversity, goes through several movements with excellent pace and in total harmony.’]

Anugama – Shamanic Journey

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Embark on a peaceful exploration guided by calm percussion and air instruments. One such air instrument is the human voice. Mystic choirs flow along with the music, weaving a dreamy tapestry. The invocation for inner peace is the song’s only spoken word, so that the entire composition becomes a mantra of surprising clarity and purpose.

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/0p9IDHE6Le0iD186FNfwX3^

For Deezer Users (high quality):

http://www.deezer.com/track/91071287^

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Insane Clown Posse – Halls Of Illusions

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This rabid, mad, wicked rock/hip-hop song is half horror-comedy movie and half awesome musical performance. Since this style is all about the lyrics, I’ll start by saying that this is one little sadistic gem. Contrasting ideal dream worlds with terrible realities, the merciless writing goes through a violent story, infesting it with dark humor coming from the blackest pits of hell.

It’s all delivered by a solid melody, diverse and very well-orchestrated (I’d say it rises far above the average hip-hop instrumentals). Guitars, percussion, vocal distortions, weird sounds of all sorts, samples – everything is brought together with excellent production values.

The song comes from what I consider to be Insane Clown Posse’s best album. I’d be surprised if ICP’s music won’t summon at least a smile from the inner insane clown waiting deep inside… some of us?

“Ticket please, thanks, walk through the door
Into the Halls Of Illusions, visit yours
And see what coulda and shoulda and woulda been real
But you had to fuck up tha whole deal

Lets take a walk down the hallway
It’s a long way it, it takes all day!

And when you get to tha end, you’ll find a chair
With straps and chains, we slap you in there
Lock you down tight so you can’t move a thread
And pull your eyelids up over your head
Cuz you’re about to witness an illusionary dream
It’s just too bad it ain’t what it seems

[…]

Great Milenko, wave your wand
Don’t look now, your life is gone
This is all because of you
What you got yourself into

[…]

And that reminds me man, hey ya gotta call:
Watch your step to Hell…it’s a long fall!”

YouTube (decent quality):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USHsNHb3o0s^

For Spotify Users (high quality):

https://open.spotify.com/track/7bCJbL4Sjq3v9iiF56vBiD^

For Deezer Users (high quality):

http://www.deezer.com/track/3040087^

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Şuie Paparude – Marajkee

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A guitar passed through several filters joins forces with sweeping electronic textures, setting the mood before the monolithic beat arrives. Echoing and contrasting the tribal-industrial feel of the rhythm is an airy female voice sample, cleverly intertwined with the electronic arrangement. A beautiful mood-setter by one of the best electronica bands hailing from Romania.

YouTube (decent quality):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x081vs75hS8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x081vs75hS8^

For Spotify Users (high quality):

https://open.spotify.com/track/1E4uluWHjrZrczWDwHriYk

https://open.spotify.com/track/1E4uluWHjrZrczWDwHriYk^

For Deezer Users (high quality):

http://www.deezer.com/track/116037828^

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Delerium – Heaven’s Earth (feat. Kristy Thirsk)

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From the very first minute of this song we are greeted by an impressive array of instruments and motifs. The mélange of electronica, choirs and acoustic instruments continues to mature well into the second minute. Only then is the melody truly taking off as Kristy’s voice blossoms.

The acoustic and vocal part of the song is transported into the future by means of shiny, spotless electronic beats. Evocative choirs join Kristy as she sings her way towards the ecstatic end.

This is a journey of surprising diversity and intensity. Eyes-closed listening is highly recommended.

Delerium and Kristy Thirsk is a pair made in heaven. I’ll be even more subjective than I usually am for my Weekly Song collection and declare that this partnership is one of the best marriages of electronic music and female singing to have ever graced this Earth. Just listen to songs such as Ray^, Flowers Become Screens^ or Sky (Tears From Heaven)^. It’s true that Delerium are masters of incorporating female vocals into awesome electronic music, but the collaboration with Kristy is one of the band’s highest moments in this listener’s humble opinion.

“This spoiled seduction
Intoxicates thee,
So balanced on my halo
You long secretly
Could it, could it be
Love’s what you deny me?
Don’t deny yourself
‘Cause I know what you want
You can’t deny me
We’ll be together
So try to run, love
But you won’t get away
Could it, could it be
Love’s what you deny me”

YouTube (decent quality, and the ONLY online source I could find the song at):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnhtlHPt0pY^

Neither Spotify nor Deezer have the full version of the song. They do, however, have an “album edit” version. Unfortunately, the version has been hacked at mercilessly so that it becomes a shadow of its former self. You can also find dance remixes of the song, which I find rather sad and boring. So, I won’t link anything else but the YouTube, original version. Perhaps in a few years the Record Industry will get its act together and start properly digitizing works of art. See you on Bandcamp!

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