Category Archives: Weekly Song

The Weekly Song category.

Bob Moses – Far From The Tree

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It ramps up slowly but determinedly, marching forward with a solid thumping bass that can turn subwoofers into weapons. Then the voices start, rising in beautiful monotony and leading up to the few lyrics that are sung. The melody features an interesting mix between the underlying scattered beat and a carefully put together accompaniment for the singer.

This song reminds me of a saying in Romanian: “the splinter won’t fall far from the tree”. It is usually said when children follow in the footsteps of parents. However, I think many of us do fall quite far from the tree…

YouTube (decent quality):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsyB0phTz9I^

For Spotify Users (high quality):

https://open.spotify.com/track/2iTwQZcArboA9KZ0Xdl0zx^

For Deezer Users (high quality):

http://www.deezer.com/track/94757278^

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All India Radio – Four Three

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Dreamy yet action-packed, this song showcases a beautiful combination of instruments. Distorted percussion, guitars, violins, they all play their part in leading up to her voice. The way she’s introduced to the listener is beautiful and serves as a cornerstone for the entire composition. If it wasn’t for the few words she speaks, this would’ve been just a good rock song. Like so, it’s a colorful musical journey.

“Welcome to my world.
Stay. You are not alone.”

It also comes with one of the quirkiest videos I’ve seen lately.

You can listen to the song 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 All India Radio’s album :).

https://allindiaradio.bandcamp.com/track/four-three^

YouTube (decent quality, quirky video):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWi2ujL5dM4^

For Spotify Users (high quality):

https://open.spotify.com/track/7GraNeuFPEK0slh0AZ4Mgc^

For Deezer Users (high quality):

http://www.deezer.com/track/66279144^

[ax_meta lnimgurl=’http://mentatul.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/01202-AllIndiaRadioEchoOther-Thumb.jpg’ lnimgw=’250′ lnimgh=’250′ title=’All India Radio – Four Three’ desc=’Distorted percussion, guitars, violins, they all play their part in leading up to her voice.’]

Clubroot – Low Pressure Zone

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It’s lovely when an artist manages to somehow combine sound and words, without actually uttering the words. In this case, the song really acts like the title says: “low pressure zone”. There are some seriously low pressure vibes here, as in solid, badassbass (that was not a typo). Of course, there’s much more than the bass. More specifically, the mysterious, all-encompassing floating clouds of sound, punctuated by the lonely, determined keyboard touch. It was love at first listen.

Soundcloud (high quality, free):

https://soundcloud.com/fbits/clubroot-low-pressure-zone^

YouTube (decent quality):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nctcPI-_nI^

For Spotify Users (high quality):

https://open.spotify.com/track/0xLmLMC5phGgyrq2c5bAfc^

For Deezer Users (high quality):

http://www.deezer.com/track/13610263^

[ax_meta lnimgurl=’http://mentatul.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/01155-ClubrootClubroot-Thumb.jpg’ lnimgw=’250′ lnimgh=’250′ title=’Clubroot – Low Pressure Zone’ desc=’This is some seriously low pressure vibe here, as in solid badassbass (that was not a typo).’]

Au4 – Over The Edge It Goes

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Showcasing an impressive amount of craftsmanship, this song is one fascinating ride ending with a long, beautiful guitar solo. There are some seriously wicked grooves here, people! The lyrics are strong too and the way they’re sung is also perfect for the atmosphere that the artists are trying to create.

14 minutes you say? The last five minutes are a bit of a drag you say? Not really, it’s all part of the cool-down that the two brothers making up the core of Au4 have in store for us via what is the last song of their album. Speaking of which, this is one of the best rock albums I’ve heard in the past few years. There are some gorgeous musical gems scattered through Au4’s “… And Down Goes The Sky”. I highly recommend listening to the entire album, especially since it’s freely available on the artist’s website!

You can listen to the song for free, in good quality, on BandCamp, which is one of the best websites when it comes to supporting artists.

https://au4music.bandcamp.com/track/over-the-edge-it-goes^

However, if you’d like to contribute to the artist, then go to their website and donate (like I did). You can also download both of their albums for free:

http://www.au4.ca/^

YouTube (decent quality):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jL6Qet29S-4^

For Spotify Users (high quality):

https://open.spotify.com/track/42HP5DUz8uETktHXrceTtF^

For Deezer Users (high quality):

http://www.deezer.com/track/81830950^

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Kalya Scintilla – Boab

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The trees are throwing a party and we’re invited. This is perhaps what Kalya Scintilla’s version of what the Boab corner of the party would sound like. As usual when it comes to this artist, the listener is treated to a staggering array of rhythms and sounds.

I have to say that at this party, I can hardly contain my body. Even though I am sitting on a chair donning my headphones, I cannot contain the grooves as they keep moving me left and right. It’s good I’m in no rush to type this, because this means I can make all sorts of gestures with my hands as the song keeps digging its way into the tribal parts of my awareness.

Kalya Scintilla is one of what I’d like to call the “titans of psybient”. This song comes straight from an EP the artist launched this year. I’m happy it happened so, because I was actually looking for a good Kalya Scintilla song to feature on the Weekly Song. Now I have two. The other one will probably be featured next year.

You can listen to the song 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 the EP) from this same location. And in case you’re wondering, yes, I did purchase Kalya Scintilla’s EP :).

https://kalyascintilla.bandcamp.com/track/boab^

YouTube (decent quality):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yGrsTZpe7c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yGrsTZpe7c^

For Spotify Users (high quality):

https://open.spotify.com/track/057USOSey2cIDaCuAKugTM^

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Eskmo – We Got More

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But it’s true, isn’t it? We got more than we had before. The way the words are spoken and the way the music frames them is strangely compelling. “As a whole, we got more than we had before. And that’s that”, the song whispers in this listener’s mind.

This is one entertaining ride.  I feel the “addiction” potential in it. It’s a groovy piece with a solid thumping tempo. Topping things up is a wonderfully crazy video. As I was watching it, I realized that the graphical style is familiar to me. The way the animations are combined and the playfulness behind them made me think of a certain artist. I was too busy being entertained by the video to read” the words my subconscious was texting me. And I didn’t need to, because, sure enough, at the end of the video, that exact artist was mentioned. Cyriak^! I erupted into mad laughter as I was thanking the Universe for bringing these artists together and allowing me to bask in the glorious heat caused by the union of their intellects.

YouTube (very nice video, shorter song version):

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

YouTube (decent quality):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HE0pkMtVwGg^

For Spotify Users (high quality):

https://open.spotify.com/track/6MyvAyuqostquGKkXDIKu9^

For Deezer Users (high quality):

http://www.deezer.com/track/10236314^

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Devin Townsend – Fly

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The saying goes that Devin Townsend once dreamt that he was flying. Then, he decided to write a song that would best represent his dream. This is the result.

It’s one of the most positively charged songs that I know. There is so much peace in this melody that one could calm the Middle East with it. Even so, there’s a lot going on inside these magical four minutes. Across the airy textures the listener is accompanied on their journey by all sorts of guitars and magical electronic fairies that spiral up and up and up. And up there, we’re met by his and her sweet voice. Close your eyes and let your mind soar.

Disclaimer 1: even though I made up the part about Devin’s dream, I did not lie about the feeling of flying. I did dream about flying, like so many others. At least as far as I’m concerned, yes, this song is a beautiful metaphor for the feeling of flying.

Disclaimer 2: regarding the “calming the Middle East” part, I seriously believe in therapy through art. Of course, the mind has to be prepared for it, but there are tools and shortcuts for that too. If only there would be a will… because as the saying goes, where there’s a will, there’s a way.

YouTube (decent quality):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQ5UAnGLqQI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQ5UAnGLqQI^

For Spotify Users (high quality):

http://open.spotify.com/track/1pZUfKZRItZYV8W4f5smIJ^

For Deezer Users (high quality):

http://www.deezer.com/track/108557446^

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.

Original post:

It’s time to fly! This song has been at my side through countless precious moments, helping me soar through the infinite landscapes of my mind. Devin Townsend’s usual style is progressive metal, but this gem I’m showing you now would better be categorized as “acoustic ambient”.

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Pink Floyd – Another Brick In The Wall, Part 2

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How many generations sang, heard or read these words?

“We don’t need no education
We don’t need no thought control
No dark sarcasm in the classroom
Teachers leave them kids alone
Hey teacher leave them kids alone
All in all it’s just another brick in the wall
All in all you’re just another brick in the wall”

More importantly, how many truly understood the meaning of these words? A lot, I think. But how many of these people ended up with any decisional power and with the attitude to change things for the better? Looking at the state of the educational system in the year 2016, it seems like the system has an even stronger grip on our brains than it had almost four decades ago when these words were written. Beaming from all directions, the informational overload is more efficient than ever in programming young and old minds alike. Perhaps it’s time to implement an Intellectual Diet^?

What about the song itself though? It’s a wonderfully groovy rock song, bursting with diversity, glistening with the masterful composition of space rock titans Pink Floyd. “The Wall” album is a powerful statement against a system designed to format minds and crush bones and bricks alike. For me, it’s impossible to post this song anywhere without an honest declaration of solidarity towards the principles it embodies.

Thank you for having been here, Pink Floyd.

YouTube (decent quality):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrxX9TBj2zY^

For Spotify Users (high quality):

https://open.spotify.com/track/21jBRxUvrWXTwBfGnQwyVy^

For Deezer Users (high quality):

http://www.deezer.com/track/13795692^

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Yonderboi – I Am Cgi

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Even though it starts with a rather plain guitar, there’s something about those early seconds that betray this song for the chameleon that it really is. Soon enough, all sorts of other rhythms and sounds pop out of nowhere and it becomes harder and harder to slap a genre over this melody.

And why would we? Genres may be good for helping us find more of the music that we like, but at times, the terminology that we use to categorize works of art becomes the fence that limits the artist’s creativity. The good news is that Yonderboi didn’t allow himself to be limited by anything.

YouTube (decent quality):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0ToEp7jgfE^

For Spotify Users (high quality):

https://open.spotify.com/track/2ZpK1QsOsIQd0L6lHi8yy4^

For Deezer Users (high quality):

http://www.deezer.com/track/45045191^

[ax_meta lnimgurl=’http://mentatul.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/01050-YonderboiPassiveControl-Thumb.jpg’ lnimgw=’250′ lnimgh=’250′ title=’Yonderboi – I Am Cgi’ desc=’Even though it starts with a rather plain guitar, there's something about those early seconds that betray this song for the chameleon that it really is.’]

Cold Play – Up & Up

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Sweetness is on the menu for today. And since today is every day for every reader, sweetness is on the menu forever. Oh yes, this beautiful dreamy melody can definitely inspire us to do some thinking about the meaning of life.

I find myself lacking the words to properly describe this song. Technically, it’s a good rock piece, but really, it’s much more than that. Cold Play’s uplifting song comes along with a beautiful, dreamy, chilled-out video. Make sure you see it; I think it’ll deliver you what I can’t with words.

“Lying in the gutter, aiming for the moon
Trying to empty out the ocean with a spoon
Up and up, up and up

How come people suffer? How come people part?
How come people struggle? How come people
Break your heart? Break your heart?

Yes I wanna grow, yes I want to feel
Yes I wanna know, show me how to
Heal it up, heal it up

[…]

We’re gonna get it, get it together
I know, we’re gonna get it, get it together and float
We’re gonna get it, get it together and go
Up, and up, and up

[…]

Fixing up a car to drive in it again
When you’re in pain, when you think you’ve had enough
Don’t ever give up
Don’t ever give up

Believe in love”

YouTube (decent quality):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPNTC7uZYrI^

For Spotify Users (high quality):

https://open.spotify.com/track/31L9yLXSj6LpCFupyMV6CR^

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