Category Archives: Weekly Song

The Weekly Song category.

Desert Dwellers – New Generation (feat. Darpan – Temple Step Project Remix)

June 17, 2017 Axonn Echysttas Leave a comment

Time for a hopeful look towards tomorrow. Desert Dwellers’ psybient song “New Generation” was begging for some more message. As luck would have it, Temple Step Project stepped in the project. Now, the already awesome vibes of “New Generation” are joined by a beautiful speech which integrates seamlessly with the music.

Temple Step Project went all in for the “new generation” message and gave the song a powerful, intentful message – if at time a bit too bombastic for its own good. It’s one of the better remixes out there. Even better, courtesy of a wonderfully composed fan-video we are transported to what is and what could be. I’ll link the original song too because it’s too good not to.

“We stand at the threshold of a great dawning.
Something deep within life is changing.
An era is ending.
And at the very core of creation something new is being born.
We are awakening from a long collective sleep.
An in-vitro dreaming deep in the womb of our mother Earth.
We are awakening

[…]

Let go, and let life be you. Let life be the dancer, and simply become the dance.”

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 Temple Step’s album :).

https://templestepproject.bandcamp.com/track/desert-dwellers-new-generation-temple-step-project-remix^

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5d2k6CKgtmM^

For Spotify Users (high quality):

http://open.spotify.com/track/5kEuLhyDDmtYJXR8ZhNPSW^

For Deezer Users (high quality):

http://www.deezer.com/track/36050441^

Original version of the song:

https://desertdwellersmusic.bandcamp.com/track/new-generation^

YouTube (decent quality):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGUe6r1mLRs^

For Spotify Users (high quality):

https://open.spotify.com/track/3A4BWQiyXeT2QpF0DDXaUq^

For Deezer Users (high quality):

http://www.deezer.com/track/14118856^

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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Argaman – Life In The Pocket (Day)

June 14, 2017 Axonn Echysttas Leave a comment

You can’t play this song. It plays you. If you let it, it’ll stretch your mind far towards funkyland and load it up with a sphere of crazyjoy. Then, the intellectual bow will be fired and the ball of crazyjoy will be shot back into our reality with a noisy twang. It will reach Earth at full power, trumpeting and tip-toeing its chaotic-yet-charming dance, changing tempo, keeping the ear guessing at what’s going to play its drum next.

https://argaman.bandcamp.com/track/life-in-the-pocket-day^

YouTube (decent quality):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9m279ptwK84^

For Spotify Users (high quality):

https://open.spotify.com/track/5xamcgXvBq2weeJyW9KI2Y^

For Deezer Users (high quality):

http://www.deezer.com/track/63182650^

[ax_meta lnimgurl=’http://mentatul.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/01664-ArgamanLivingInABubble-Thumb.jpg’ lnimgw=’250′ lnimgh=’250′ title=’Argaman – Life In The Pocket (Day)’ desc=’It'll stretch your mind far towards funkyland and load it up with a sphere of crazyjoy.’]

Kenny Rogers – The Gambler

June 7, 2017 Axonn Echysttas Leave a comment

Telling a tale through music is one of the most beautiful joinings of the arts. The atmosphere-building in this song is done with supreme mastery. Every instrument is introduced at just the right time and is being kept on the stage for exactly as much as it should. For example there’s some delicate percussion starting at 0:28. It stays around for less than 20 seconds.

Kenny’s voice is just perfect for the story he’s telling. The reverb is used in ample amount, but again, ideal for the mood being conjured. As the song builds up, a choir joins voices with the singer, telling us important things about life from a gambler’s perspective. And this brings me to the lyrics. The song does very well at imparting life wisdom through the use of analogy.

This is probably the oldest song I’ve featured in my Weekly Song collection. The fact that it “made it” in this modern music listener’s subjective “best of” is sign of how actual this song still is. It also makes me want to find more “oldies but goldies” through the endless tail of the comet named Human Art.

“You’ve got to know when to hold ‘em
Know when to fold ‘em
Know when to walk away
And know when to run
You never count your money
When you’re sittin’ at the table
There’ll be time enough for countin’
When the dealin’s done

Every gambler knows
That the secret to survivin’
Is knowin’ what to throw away
And knowin’ what to keep
‘Cause every hand’s a winner
And every hand’s a loser
And the best that you can hope for is to die
in your sleep”

I have one (very) personal comment regarding these last two verses. In this writer’s opinion, a lucid death under the sun is better. Preferably without excessive pain.

YouTube (decent quality):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jj4nJ1YEAp4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jj4nJ1YEAp4^

For Spotify Users (high quality):

https://open.spotify.com/track/5KqldkCunQ2rWxruMEtGh0^

For Deezer Users (high quality):

http://www.deezer.com/track/3108438^

[ax_meta lnimgurl=’http://mentatul.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/01669-KennyRogersTheGambler-Thumb.jpg’ lnimgw=’250′ lnimgh=’250′ title=’Kenny Rogers – The Gambler’ desc=’Every instrument is introduced at just the right time and is being kept on the stage for exactly as much as it should.’]

Entheogenic – Silent Knowing

May 31, 2017 Axonn Echysttas Leave a comment

There’s a fine balance between ambient and dance music. At the crossroads, you can find styles such as psybient, to which this calm yet diverse song belongs. The rather lengthy composition seems to have but one purpose: to submerge the listener in a world of adventurous, delicate sound, guided by mystical chanting. It is all supported by solid, well-thought rhythm.

https://entheogenic-usr.bandcamp.com/track/silent-knowing^

YouTube (decent quality):

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

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

For Spotify Users (high quality):

https://open.spotify.com/track/0eZt7R83GjDUAfsytDmtG2^

For Deezer Users (high quality):

http://www.deezer.com/track/80376286^

[ax_meta lnimgurl=’http://mentatul.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/01647-EntheogenicEnthymesis-Thumb.jpg’ lnimgw=’250′ lnimgh=’250′ title=’Entheogenic – Silent Knowing’ desc=’The rather lengthy composition seems to have but one purpose: to submerge the listener in a world of adventurous, delicate sound, guided by mystical chanting.’]

The Crystal Method – Wide Open

May 24, 2017 Axonn Echysttas Leave a comment

It’s one of The Crystal Method’s most lyrically-inspired songs. It’s also one of the more mellow ones – this tune is not as danceable as some of the band’s other creations. Instead, they wisely opted for crafting an intricate arrangement of atmosphere-enhancing sound textures. These are the perfect accompaniment for Hanifah Walidah’s voice, as it punctuates the flowy instrumentals with lyrical surgical strikes.

This is one of those times when a lot can be communicated through not so many words. Two of the song’s verses in particular have impressed me: Open like a child’s mind? / But then you start talkin’. I interpreted this as “a child’s mind is open until it starts talking”. Food for thought: just how much is language restricting the mind’s full and total openness? Isn’t language to the mind what the lines on millimeter paper are to a virgin canvas?

“Open like what?
Open like a child’s mind?
But then you start talkin’

[…]

Totally wide open
know how to shut it down”

YouTube (decent quality):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yInOn0Kn3Hk^

For Spotify Users (high quality):

https://open.spotify.com/track/1Cni970keVzhK5KiTzT0Yq^

For Deezer Users (high quality):

http://www.deezer.com/track/6152059^

[ax_meta lnimgurl=’http://mentatul.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/01642-CrystalMethodLegionOfBoom-Thumb.jpg’ lnimgw=’250′ lnimgh=’250′ title=’The Crystal Method – Wide Open’ desc=’An intricate arrangement of atmosphere-enhancing sound textures is the perfect accompaniment for Hanifah Walidah's voice.’]

Isihia – Transfiguration

May 17, 2017 Axonn Echysttas Leave a comment

Ghosts of clouds are dancing upon the endless plains of eternity. A silky mist envelops seven silhouettes as they walk up to an old wooden stage. There, one picks up a guitar, another picks up a flute, another picks up a strange cylinder filled with grains of sand that have been hand-picked from the countless imaginary worlds that these pilgrims have been through. Allow them to explore your world and observe what the evocative chanting stirs up.

Isihia come from Bulgaria. I strongly recommend listening to the entire album “Transfiguration” comes from. It’s an amazing creation!

YouTube (decent quality):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUhDC2ZCMdU^

For Spotify Users (high quality):

https://open.spotify.com/track/6cJSyfJ146M58c1N5djj3i^

For Deezer Users (high quality):

http://www.deezer.com/track/49808671^

[ax_meta lnimgurl=’http://mentatul.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/01637-IsihiaTransfiguration-Thumb.jpg’ lnimgw=’250′ lnimgh=’250′ title=’Isihia – Transfiguration’ desc=’Allow these pilgrims to explore your world and observe what the evocative chanting stirs up.’]

Bomfunk MC’s – Freestyler

May 10, 2017 Axonn Echysttas Leave a comment

The Freestyler was jamming from speakers around the world just before the turn of the millennium. This groovy masterpiece comes from the land of the Finns. It climbed sky-high in the charts back in the day and for good reason. The song is a solid body-mover featuring excellent production values and infectious hooks. It’s one of those “oldies but goldies”.

YouTube (decent quality):

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

For Spotify Users (high quality):

https://open.spotify.com/track/47xLbuUdmD03ATrke934S1^

For Deezer Users (high quality):

http://www.deezer.com/track/5363024^

[ax_meta lnimgurl=’http://mentatul.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/01632-BomfunkMcsFreestyler-Thumb.jpg’ lnimgw=’250′ lnimgh=’250′ title=’Bomfunk MC's – Freestyler’ desc=’The song is a solid body-mover featuring excellent production values and infectious hooks.’]

Deep Forest – Will You Be Ready

May 6, 2017 Axonn Echysttas Leave a comment

Deep Forest is known for its interesting blend of electronic music and folk elements from around the world. This song, however, is a departure of sorts from the usual ethnic electronica. There’s a rock feel to it, but only enough to make it stand out.

To be sure, Deep Forest has been true to its style and the melody takes the listener through a fascinating array of interwoven arrangements. Through it all shines her beautiful voice, imparting mysterious words, challenging the mind.

“An eye for an eye, will only make this world go blind
Another lie for a lie, we’ll be wiping out mankind

[…]

Will you still sing out in ecstasy
To know that while you live
Only love can see deep down inside
Will you be ready
Will you be strong?
Throw the love away”

YouTube (decent quality):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXvJWPtKa64^

For Spotify Users (high quality):

http://open.spotify.com/track/3GXZeoDQgmWUbzh80efVmx^

For Deezer Users (high quality):

http://www.deezer.com/track/13160669^

[ax_meta lnimgurl=’http://mentatul.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/01626-EssenceOfTheForest-Thumb.jpg’ lnimgw=’250′ lnimgh=’250′ title=’Deep Forest – Will You Be Ready’ desc=’The melody takes the listener through a fascinating array of interwoven arrangements. Through it all shines her beautiful voice, imparting mysterious words, challenging the mind.’]

Those Who Ride With Giants – The Mountain Seed

May 3, 2017 Axonn Echysttas Leave a comment

This song falls firmly into the “musical journey” category. It builds up rather quickly and then takes the listener on a calm and dreamy ride. An echoed guitar rows us along towards another guitar that plays the role of the charming siren. Close your eyes and get lost at sea.

I would have thought this to be a journey song even if it wasn’t for the official video, which I must highly recommend. It’s a simple, touching and sincere story if I ever saw one.

https://thosewhoridewithgiants.bandcamp.com/track/the-mountain-seed^

YouTube (beautiful, MUST-see video):

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

For Spotify Users (high quality):

https://open.spotify.com/track/6uwRfLoNw00mVSYJlbjnw0^

For Deezer Users (high quality):

http://www.deezer.com/track/79734908^

[ax_meta lnimgurl=’http://mentatul.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/01430-ThoseWhoRideWithGiantsMountainSeed-Thumb.jpg’ lnimgw=’250′ lnimgh=’250′ title=’Those Who Ride With Giants – The Mountain Seed’ desc=’An echoed guitar rows us along towards another guitar that plays the role of the charming siren. Close your eyes and get lost at sea.’]

Mari Boine – Big Medicine (Bluetech Remix)

April 26, 2017 Axonn Echysttas Leave a comment

Healing songs are rare jewels of creation. Bluetech took one and it intertwined ritualistic percussion and ghostly chanting textures into its structure. There are several other changes gleaming from the instrumental side. They all contribute to the creation of a mystical atmosphere while in the same time infusing the song with the unique ingredients that call to our body’s ancestral lust for pattern and rhythm. The result is yet another masterful creation from one of the best psybient music projects out there.

The original song is beautiful but – at least for my taste – this remix brings the originally sparse instrumental to perfection. Now, the music is a much more reliable vehicle for Mari’s voice. I’ve linked the original version too, since it may be preferred when in need of a quieter, acoustic journey.

Healing songs are worth seeking, and on Bluetech’s album “Love Songs to the Source” you can find more than one.

“There’s a wild melody
There’s a million harmonies
There’s a note with everyone
There’s a big medicine

Think we know what we need now
Think we got it figured out
Right inside of everyone
There’s a big medicine”

https://interchill.bandcamp.com/track/big-medicine-bluetech-remix^

YouTube (decent quality):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwDB4_Uyra0^

For Spotify Users (high quality):

https://open.spotify.com/track/5nCk7XRpE5OQvLfKb6YCpU^

For Deezer Users (high quality):

http://www.deezer.com/track/12666604^

Original song:

YouTube (decent quality):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NY9z4sSDCwg^

For Spotify Users (high quality):

https://open.spotify.com/track/5xhu3Tew14jvCMtB7TD78K^

For Deezer Users (high quality):

http://www.deezer.com/track/1147469^

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Because being informed is just not enough anymore…