Category Archives: Weekly Song

The Weekly Song category.

Apollo 440 – Stealth Mass in F#M

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If somebody would ask me to explain what life is without using words, I’d play this song for them. Actually, I’ve come to believe that words are of very little use when describing fundamental concepts such as life, consciousness or emotions. The more we use words, the further we get from what we try to describe. Most things need to be experienced to be understood.

Yet, here is my humble attempt to write a few words about this glorious song. It starts with her voice, a voice that surrenders to the mysteries of ineffable depths. Then comes the music. They orbit each other in a cathedral of majestic sound. The melody builds, flows, recedes and then comes back for the final ecstasy.

The journey is too beautiful to describe in anything but hyperbole. When I mentioned a cathedral of sound, I literally meant that. This song is architecture through music. There’s the deep, thumping pulse that contrasts the divine voice. There’s the lonely, repetitive chord, the echoing bell, the sweeping curtains of prolonged notes and sounds.

Hopefully these words will stir your curiosity. So dare to close your eyes and see what this song speaks to your mind. Take your own journey. Forget my words, throw them away and paint your own landscape.

YouTube (decent quality):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dK8sr1WKFo^

For Spotify Users (high quality):

http://open.spotify.com/track/6oVP50X2gVyWvCOglKObQC^

For Deezer Users (high quality):

http://www.deezer.com/track/1029156^

This Weekly Song entry has been brought from the FaceBook archive of Weekly Song^. This project 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.

When I posted this song on the FaceBook page of the Weekly Song, more than a year ago, I wrote a few different words about it. I’m pasting them below, as an alternate, perhaps even more honest review of this musical jewel.

“I truly rediscovered this song in 2013 and it became one of the most moving melodies that I ever had the joy to experience. I could write a short essay about the feelings and thoughts that this song evokes, but I fear that this will rob this work of art of some of its value. Take my word and listen to this one eyes closed, see what it does to you.”

[ax_meta lnimgurl=’http://mentatul.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/00458-Apollo440StealthMassFM-Thumb.jpg’ lnimgw=’250′ lnimgh=’250′ title=’Apollo 440 – Stealth Mass in F#M’ desc=’If somebody would ask me to explain what life is without using words, I'd play this song for them. It starts with her voice, a voice that surrenders to the mysteries of ineffable depths.’]

Pogo – No Worries

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This cute little song can be a wonderful break from the hustle and bustle of a busy day. Or it can be many other things, as long as these have something in common with “uplifting” and “playful”. It’s a really fun (and even addictive) listen and that’s pretty much all I even want to say about it.

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.

https://pogomix.bandcamp.com/track/no-worries^

YouTube (decent quality):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcBLX4v8rfw^

For Spotify Users (high quality):

https://open.spotify.com/track/2GXIN2ZOwvPBvAQHKwkhhO^

For Deezer Users (high quality):

http://www.deezer.com/track/104068912^

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Enigma – Return to Innocence

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Let’s go on a sweet, comforting and hopeful four minutes long journey. A lot can be said about the beautiful mix of musical styles here, but my purpose with the Weekly Song is to just seed the first thoughts and let the listeners judge the rest for themselves. For this melody, if I’d have to wrap my review in a single word, that word would be “harmony”.

Few songs from the electronic music genre have reached the philosophical depths probed by Enigma’s lyrics. This is one of their strongest melodies. For me, it’s up there with the best of all time.

This is also one of the few Weekly Songs that have been popular hits. However, when this tune topped music charts around Europe and the world, there was an unfortunate side-effect. Legal vultures attacked Michael Cretu for using samples from the Ami tribe in Taiwan. He initially wanted his identity to remain secret, in accordance with the name of his musical project. But this intention was ruined by yet another, earlier, even worse legal attack^. It’s sad when laws tamper with art projects. I’m quite sure these disputes could have been settled amicably.

“Don’t care what people say
Just follow your own way
Don’t give up and use the chance
To return to innocence

That’s not the beginning of the end
That’s the return to yourself
The return to innocence”

YouTube (decent quality):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rk_sAHh9s08^

For Spotify Users (high quality):

https://open.spotify.com/track/2UKkLqST2xWpK8n1b0Xr5Z^

For Deezer Users (high quality):

http://www.deezer.com/track/3132752^

[ax_meta lnimgurl=’http://mentatul.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/00409-EnigmaReturnToInnocence-Thumb.jpg’ lnimgw=’250′ lnimgh=’250′ title=’Enigma – Return to Innocence’ desc=’Let's go on a sweet, comforting and hopeful four minutes long journey. Few songs from the electronic music genre have reached the philosophical depths probed by Enigma's lyrics.’]

Apollo 440 – Liquid Cool

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Strap yourself in and get ready for a passionate sound adventure. Apollo 440 is back on the menu with their longest song ever. Honestly, nothing shorter than 12 minutes would work for this beautifully inventive melody.

There are at least three major movements here, as Apollo 440 takes you on a journey of deep sound and intense, diverse vocals. As a bonus, this melody is also highly danceable.

“He who lives these words
Shall not taste death
Becoming nothing, yeah, yeah
Forever liquid cool…”

YouTube (decent quality):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxBAXjjs9GA^

For Spotify Users (high quality):

https://open.spotify.com/track/5eOgtpUxwPS1o1gvKwrs68^

For Deezer Users (high quality):

http://www.deezer.com/track/1035641^

[ax_meta lnimgurl=’http://mentatul.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/00398-Apollo440LiquidCool-Thumb.jpg’ lnimgw=’250′ lnimgh=’250′ title=’Apollo 440 – Liquid Cool’ desc=’There are at least three major movements here, as Apollo 440 takes you on a journey of deep sound and intense, diverse vocals.’]

Geomatic – Alternate Universe

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Behold Geomatic, master of dark electronica. And when I say dark, I mean mysterious, evocative, intense. This melody is all that and more. I can’t understand what the middle-eastern choirs are about, but they sure sound amazing coupled with the percussion and sweeping, encompassing texture of the instrumentals.

Geomatic have been on my radar ever since I’ve stumbled onto “Beyond the Beginning”^ last year via Spotify’s custom radio stations. In my book, that one ended up as the best song of 2015. Through each of the three albums I own, Geomatic confirms their status as one of the most interesting artists I’ve ever listened to.

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 Geomatic’s album :).

https://m-tronic.bandcamp.com/track/alternate-universe^

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKauRYSO7zw^

https://open.spotify.com/track/5z3UerFAC1iKyQ55YV6XJV^

http://www.deezer.com/track/68375362^

[ax_meta lnimgurl=’http://mentatul.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/00377-GeomaticAlternateUniverse-Thumb.jpg’ lnimgw=’250′ lnimgh=’250′ title=’Geomatic – Alternate Universe’ desc=’Behold Geomatic, master of dark electronica. And when I say dark, I mean mysterious, evocative, intense.’]

Devin Townsend – Ghost

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Let these voices soothe your mind, like the calm and blissful wind at the end of a hot day. Coming from the album with the same name, “Ghost” is one of the sweetest songs I know. Quiet guitars flow around sparkling islets of exotic sounds while a magical choir drops its nectar into the eardrums.

Completing the beautiful melody are the lyrics, which are a testament to peace and respect towards life. This chant is written for the heart, this music is a key.

Ghost is undoubtedly Devin’s most peaceful album to date. I wholeheartedly recommend you to take a dive into its world. Such gems do not appear often.

“How about a body at moonlight
How about a body at home
How about a body at moonlight,
How our body’s alone
I don’t want to bother your moonlight
I don’t want to bother your soul
I don’t want to bother your moonlight
How our body’s alone”

YouTube (decent quality):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQQ6lXfzLqY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQQ6lXfzLqY^

For Spotify Users (high quality):

https://open.spotify.com/track/0ghKnqyzzbCQTaklfMLQE1^

For Deezer Users (high quality):

http://www.deezer.com/track/108557454^

[ax_meta lnimgurl=’http://mentatul.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/00367-DevinTownsendGhost-Thumb.jpg’ lnimgw=’250′ lnimgh=’250′ title=’Devin Townsend – Ghost’ desc=’Quiet guitars flow around sparkling islets of exotic sounds while a magical choir drops its nectar into the eardrums. Let these voices soothe your mind, like the calm and blissful wind at the end of a hot day.’]

Infected Mushroom – Pink Froid

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Sit back and enjoy the brain massage. From the very first listen, this masterpiece blew my mind and tears welled up in my eyes. If Infected Mushroom and Pink Floyd would have ever collaborated, this is how the result would have sounded. Perhaps my amazement was even greater because I am very familiar with the art of the two bands. This sounds like a genuine Pink Floyd song, with a few pretty mushrooms grown on it. Indeed, these wonderful Israelis successfully infected Pink Floyd with their trippy DNA.

Even the lyrics are perfect. There are just a few words to be heard, but these are important, meaningful words. I’m referring in particular to the notion that “you are me”. There is a deep existential truth buried in this statement, at least as far as certain life philosophies are concerned.

This song has a lot to offer, whatever your taste in music might be. It’s one of those rare gems for which I can truly recommend you to relax, close your eyes and allow yourself to be transported to another place.

YouTube (decent quality):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=of77qpCdGTg^

From SoundCloud (free streaming, good quality):

https://soundcloud.com/infectedmushroom/06-pink-froid^

For Spotify Users (high quality):

https://open.spotify.com/track/0sUfo2YdcqkDk4P6o9R95w^

For Deezer Users (high quality):

http://www.deezer.com/track/107137784^

[ax_meta lnimgurl=’http://mentatul.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/00319-InfectedMushroomPinkFroid-Thumb.jpg’ lnimgw=’250′ lnimgh=’250′ title=’Infected Mushroom – Pink Froid’ desc=’Sit back and enjoy the brain massage. From the very first listen, this masterpiece blew my mind and tears welled in my eyes.’]

Enigma – Age Of Loneliness (Carly’s Song)

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This is what happens when an artist mixes electronic dance music together with powerful, evocative Mongolian chants, Gregorian choirs, and a mysterious voice delivering a deep, meaningful message. It’s one of the most moving melodies I’ve had the pleasure of hearing. It’s also quite an easy listen, which is why I flag such a song as “a wolf in sheep’s clothing”.

Enigma has always been one of my favorite musical projects. Michael Cretu is the man behind the name. Back in the when of this song, the early 90s, Michael was married with German pop singer Sandra and it is her voice you will hear. Inside the intricate cathedral of sound, her words speak of change, of courage, of hope.

“Carly don’t be sad,
Life is crazy
Life is mad.
Don’t be afraid.

Carly don’t be sad,
That’s your destiny
The only chance
Take it, take it in your hands.”

If you choose to listen to the melody through one of the high-quality streaming options below, make sure you also see the video. It’s quite beautiful. I think it’s the perfect imagery for this song.

YouTube version (decent quality):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRsb-4JsHR4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRsb-4JsHR4^

For Spotify Users (high quality):

http://open.spotify.com/track/7x97HGHJQwvgDkYOLbpsVF^

For Deezer Users (high quality):

http://www.deezer.com/track/3132756^

This Weekly Song entry has been brought from the FaceBook archive of Weekly Song^. This project 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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Parov Stelar – Shine (feat. Lilja Bloom)

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Parov Stelar is known as one of the pioneers of electro swing. This musical genre, as its name implies, is a mixture of electronica, jazz and swing. Parov sometimes collaborates with various singers and today we’ll be listening to one of these collaborations, namely with Lilja Bloom.

Not only is this melody a body-mover, but it’s also a mood-lifter. Witty lyrics, beautiful voice and groovy music, all the ingredients of a good listen. It takes skill and talent to mix the old and the new with such success. If you like what you hear, your next challenge is to check out a few of the other songs where Parov and Lilja have worked together.

“Out of hell, out of darkness
Finally we’re able to see
See the beauty not the beasts
One step further up at least
But one day
We will shine, we will shine
We will fly so high”

YouTube (decent quality):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xikPDt6rAfs^

For Spotify Users (high quality):

https://open.spotify.com/track/288aixH79jpawtNhGr7Mi8^

For Deezer Users (high quality):
http://www.deezer.com/track/30147381^

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Ozric Tentacles – Spacebase

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This almost ten minutes long melody is exactly what you should expect from such a length: a diverse and beautiful journey. It twists and turns like an untamed vibe creature, luring you with the echoes of its soundscapes.

The art of Ozric Tentacles can be best described as space-rock, but “neo-psychedelia” does it justice as well (I didn’t even know such a music genre exists before checking their Wikipedia entry). This is pure enjoyment for the ears and mind. Turn it to 11 and jam!

YouTube (decent quality):

For Spotify Users (high quality):

For Deezer Users (high quality):
http://www.deezer.com/track/10967595^

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