Peter J Slack Musical BLOG

LIFE DOES SING

pslack@pjslack.com (Peter J Slack) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 20:53:46 PDT

I've been working a bit in the studio lately and some songs are coming to fruition. :-) A new song can be found here:

http://www.pjslack.net/lifedoessing.mp3

Life does sing

The breeze that brings
the tree that sways
sum of the motion
that nature brings

..nature brings

The music heals
intention fields
All of us caring
in harmony

...harmony

Forever young
our brilliant sun
shining its light
that creation rings

...creation rings

As we grow old
stories time told
time is the song
that life does sing

...life does sing

Beginning ends
the mystery
climbing each limb
of the knowledge tree

...the knowledge tree

Words and Music
Copyright 2009, Peter J Slack, SOCAN

I wrote this while on holiday with my family, it is part of the project I am working on called "The Love Network". I tend not to tell stories but rather summarize and embed messages in my songs. The production is minimalist with no overdubs; as if I have come to sing for you by the fireside. I am currently inspired by the work of Rene Thom and his book on Morphogenesis and I am also having fun playing with hyper-spectral imaging data from satellites and looking at things in new ways, like a kid in a candy store :-). This song was written for an occasion; to open the Fresh Water Jamboree in Guelph that my good friends put on every year.

Peace to all,PJ

Deep Inside

pslack@pjslack.com (Peter J Slack) — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 13:16:39 PST

(Image: "PROPHESY" created by Zappha)

It's been a while since I've published any newmusic tracks. Please find here a new song track entitled "Deep Inside":

http://www.pjslack.net/deepinside.mp3

I've begun a new music collection project entitled "The Love Network Voyager". The theme is intended as an exploration of love within social networks of people. Today we experience light speed communications between people from all over the globe, it seems almost a natural extension of ourselves to be able to do this. We have always been naturally blessed with light speed processes in our brains to enable memories of our life to be recalled, and with senses that can view the light from the very beginnings of the universe; we sense and recall the memory of the universe and all time.

Social networks perhaps mimic these senses,experiences and structures in some way, as if creating a toy universe inside a real universe where we can explore, create, be together. Since I was a child I have always been fascinated and addicted to communications, it somehow made me feel closer to understanding a larger picture that I could be a part of when I was able to communicate with other people in remote locations in real time. The popularity of social networks,cell phones etc. and the addictive properties, I feel, is an interesting and important topic for study in the form of a music collection. I feel it is also important to expose the positive aspects rather than things like; a guy driving his car while texting someone on his crackberry.

I had a notion this summer to pack up the recording gear and make pieces of a song in different locations. The recordings took place around a camp fire in my back yard in Erin and in my studio, at a mule farm in Tara, atop the Greystone Inn in Orangeville. This features the voices of friends Kiera Merriam and Lisa Watson and is an improvisational, electro-acoustic / new age genre piece.

With great admiration for you all,
PeterJ

Songwriter Spotlight Radio Broadcast-Podcast: Peter J Slack

pslack@pjslack.com (Peter J Slack) — Wed, 21 May 2008 12:00:30 PDT

Sal Noguera's show Songwriter's Spotlight airs on http://www.erinradio.ca/ every Sunday from 8 to 9 p.m. and features local talent from the town of Erin. Sal also dives into what the songs mean to the artists and the complicated depth of songwriting.

Sal Noguera is the owner of Erinwood Studios, a multitrack demo/project studio. Sal has been a musician for the past 35 years and has been involved in radio since 1974. This charismatic man can be seen at the Bushholme Inn every Sunday jamming with friends during the Open Stage from 1-5p.m. So tune in to the Songwriters Spotlight and explore what Erin musicians have to offer.

Sal Interviewed me in April of 2008 and the show is posted here with his permission:

http://www.pjslack.net/peterslackshow.mp3

Copyright 2008, Peter J Slack, Erin Community Radio

Em Uma Outra Vida

pslack@pjslack.com (Peter J Slack) — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 15:27:35 PST

Hello to all fine folks,

http://www.pjslack.net/emumaoutravida.mp3

This is an instrumental tune dedicated to AmandaMartinez and Laura Fernandez, both hosts of the Cafe Latino radio program that airs Saturdayafternoons on 91.1FM or online at http://www.jazz.fm for those not in the GTA.

"Em uma outra vida" translated from Portuguesemeans "in another life". I don't speak a word of Portuguese (and thanks to the powers that be foronline translators) but I played in a Brazilian jazz band several years back and was reminiscing,it seems like a lifetime ago, in another life. Istarted a mini project called Cafe Latino after Iheard news that Amanda was stepping down and following her beautiful voice and that LauraFernandez (also of a beautiful voice) was taking over as host of my favorite radio show. As with any change there is both excitement, uncertainty and we always have moments missing the life we had before changes, those inevitable blues.

The band I played with was a regular in Niagara onthe Lake and played Saturday nights at the Anchorage. The show still goes on and is hosted by Steve Goldberger and the Niagara RhythmSection. On my long drive into NOTL on those Saturdays we played, I always managed to be traveling the same time as Cafe Latino aired, this show always started my fire for those Saturday night Latin gigs and Amanda even spun up a recording that featured some of my playing once,my first time on air play! Thank you Amanda! I was fortunate to meet Amanda once many years backas she was hosting a show at the Latin Arts Festival where I was playing guitar in a backing band. Since that time she launched an amazing singing career. But this is not the end of thestory, one wintry night in Orangeville I happened to meet Laura Fernandez at the annual HAMS party. Laura is also an amazing singer / songwriter and now the new host of Cafe Latino! So congratulations are in order to both these ladies for their positive life changes and this song is for you both.

Here's some links to check out:

Amanda Martinez
http://www.myspace.com/amandamartinezsola
http://www.amandamartinez.ca/

Laura Fernandez
http://www.laurafernandezmusic.com/
http://www.myspace.com/laurafernandezband

There are also live recordings of the saturday night sessions. You should talk to Steve about getting your hands on some live recordings with the Bushman (me) on guitar, you might end up dancing:

http://www.stevegoldberger.com/shedrecords.html

With warm wishes,
PJ

Music (C)opyright 2008, Peter J Slack SOCAN

SILENCE AND SYMMETRY

pslack@pjslack.com (Peter J Slack) — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 18:13:45 PST

Season's Greetings from the winter wonderland,

http://www.pjslack.net/silenceandsymmetry.mp3

There's hopefully always room for a song at the right time. This instrumental production dates back a few years to 2003, I was enjoying some personal freedom having just left a 5 year long industrial post and project. I was spending some time in the wilderness during the fall and winter. This is a sonic sentiment rejoicing the quiet moments after solstice that we should all take periodically in life, a winter song that is to express a natural, yet perhaps not so obvious or logical mirror reflection of stillness against a busy life.

I have been working my way through the amazing BBC series "Planet Earth" released on DVD. I am aware after a few segments about northern climates that wildlife and nature takes time off, takes timeout, the dark cold of winter inevitably brings about this natural slumber, the busy life of spring and summer is a mirror opposite reflection of this sleep, a natural balance of living life and taking time reflecting in silence. Although seemingly brutal with many species going months without food, this slumber brings about rhythmic rejuvenation worthy of musical celebration.

Happy slumber and solstice to all!
See you in the spring,
PJ

Destination Unknown

pslack@pjslack.com (Peter J Slack) — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 13:07:56 PST

Hello to all fine people,

Destination Unknown Song Track:
http://www.pjslack.net/destinationunknown.mp3

As a child I had dreams of exploring other planets and owning a horse, my favorite books were the Time-Life series published in the early 70's and in particular, the reference book "Space" that was part of this series. These books and the wonderful illustrations therein were the stuff of dreams as I was growing up. Later in life I met the daughter of the fellow who was responsible for publishing this series of books and we are very old and dear friends to this day. The books still sit on the bookshelf at my parent's home and are always there for next generation of kids who may require good references and reading material during their stay.

Today, through the thick and sometimes monotonous,modern accounting staples of living are these dreams and a sense of great purpose and mystery. Today I imagine, like many others do, that the people of the earth are its seeds and that the ripening earth one day must let go the seeds, like a dying flower eventually must let go of its seeds with hopes and love to see them grow on their own. For me, the sense of great danger with the precarious environment on earth is balanced by the mystery that always awaits us. The next version of Noah's Ark will probably be a space craft and we will still not know where we are going but we always seem to end up somewhere.

Destination Unknown - Lyrics
Destination unknown
Don't even bother to answer the phone
'cause it's not the truth on the other end
It's my life falling againIt's my life falling again
When will this ever end?

Another sight unseen
What ever does it mean to me?
All this confusion around.
Doesn't even make a sound.
Doesn't even make a sound.
How can we go on like this?

Can't always be right.
It's never a good reason to fight.
There's still the unknown that we face,
That shadows over the human race.
That shadows over the human race.
When will we see this truth?

Words and Music (C)opyright 2007 Peter J Slack,SOCAN

Man on a String

pslack@pjslack.com (Peter J Slack) — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 11:21:15 PDT

Hello again,

Man on a String: Song Track
http://www.pjslack.net/manonastring.mp3

I'll tell you what's really going on is I'm preparing offerings for the kind music spirits in preparation for the launch of "Brewster'sCoffeehouse Tour" starting August 4th in Sauble beach at the community center and then coming to a town near you. Come out to the beach and catch a concert in the evening for more information:
http://www.myspace.com/brewsterscoffeehouse2

I've been fortunate to learn and participate in acoustic solo style music alongside some of the best writers and performers around. This song is a sample of that solo style and what you'll hear from our coffeehouse tour. I call this a fractal blues.

There's ghosts outside the window
and wolves outside the door.
I count the times I miss you,
but I don't count no more.

Man on a string,
can't buy a diamond ring.
Doesn't mean he doesn't care.
We all fall down sometimes.
We all break our crown sometimes,
and it doesn't mean that we don't care.

Love to you all,PJ

I'll see you in the morning

pslack@pjslack.com (Peter J Slack) — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 20:58:11 PDT

Hello again good people,

Song Track
http://www.pjslack.net/seeyouinthemorning.mp3

What do you do when you have the blues and don't drink? I was asking myself this very question the other day. I decided the question was also a good title for a blues album. Most obvious the first track in an album of this title would be called "I'll see you in the morning", something I would never say after a night of drinking.

Sleep is the best cure for the blues besides playing the blues, and so to answer the important question, in rootsy blues with a twist song:

I'll see you in the morning
===========================
The up side of the morning,
is the right side of the head.
The flip side is the evening,
the left side of the bed.

I'll see you in the morning,
with my arms wide open.

Love to you all, and goodnight...;-)
PJ
Words and Music (C)opyright 2007, Peter J Slack, SOCAN

Guardian Angel : song track

pslack@pjslack.com (Peter J Slack) — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 17:50:27 PDT

Song Track:
http://www.pjslack.net/guardianangel02.mp3

This is for my wife Terri who asked that I writeand perform a song to celebrate her goal of becoming a Mary Kay Sales Director. For any ofyou who are active with Mary Kay you understand that this is a very difficult goal to achieve. Throughout the four month process there was a recurring theme at the end of each month, one of panic that we wouldn't make the required sales mark and all of the work the previous months, all of the time and money invested was for not. At the end of each month the goal was met at the eleventh hour. I realized a long time ago that this always happened to us throughout our life together; at the last minute a small miracle would happen and we could carry on with our life.

This song is a celebration of our family's Guardian Angel and I extend hopes and wishes that all of your own Guardian Angels that protect you and your family, with love and light, will forever come through at the last minute when needed most.

Guardian Angel
Guardian Angel shine your precious light.
Show the path where everything's all right.
Spend too much time waiting for the axe to fall.
Out of our minds; working 'till the break of dawn.

Guardian Angel lend me your wings today.
Give us faith that there's a better way.
Spend too much time waiting for the axe to fall.
Out of our minds; working 'till the break of dawn.

We gather here to make your glory shine.
Do what.s right, no hearts of courage resign.
Just when it seems we're headed for another fall
You are there to help us through it all.

Guardian Angel lend me your wings today.
Give us faith that there's a better way.
Spend too much time waiting for the axe to fall.
Out of our minds; working 'till the end of dawn.

Namaste!!!
PJ
Words and Music (C)opyright 2007, Peter J Slack the Digital Bird

Never Lost

pslack@pjslack.com (Peter J Slack) — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 14:45:08 PST

NEVER LOST:Song Track

Today I am grateful to be able to offer to you all, a humble trinket from a seemingly perpetual philosophy machine. Logic doesn’t always prevail simply because the primordial paradox that continues to explode allows neither pure logic nor pure chaos to prevail. “Never Lost” is a song celebrating the dichotomies, without which, we would not exist nor would we have such rich lives. If you find yourself repeating clichés like” I’ll never figure out women” or “I’ll never figure out men”, consider that not being able to figure things out has nothing to do with gender. Also, if you find yourself very comfortable with the way things are, I recommend not getting too comfortable but instead, allow some of the strange things that occasionally happen in life to happen.

Never Lost: Lyrics

Heard a wise man say

Need not cry today

Over something lost

That's never found

Think you've got it made

Lying in the shade

Finally found your place

Was never lost

Never lost and never found

Now and then

Never lost and never found

A river without end

A child that wants to grow

Find the youth when you're old

Candle burns both ends

Spilling on the floor

Lovers get it right

Some may choose to fight

The world is falling down

While angels rise

Never lost and never found

Now and thenNever lost and never found

A river without end

Heard a wise man say

Need not cry today

Over something lost

That's never found

Words and Music

(C)opyright 2007, Peter J Slack, SOCAN

Mother is Going to Melt Your Ice

pslack@pjslack.com (Peter J Slack) — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 14:30:15 PST

Good Day to all fine people,

Song Track: Mother is Going to Melt Your Ice

I suppose I'll begin the introduction to this sad song by using an old cliche here: I'm not a pessimist, I'm a realist. My new year's resolution every year from now on: I'm going to make the best of my life and do things that respect the lives and beliefs of others, respect and enhance our beautiful mother earth, and do things that naturally have respect for my own self and my own well being. Writing country blues songs and love songs certainly can rank in all three of these categories as long as it causes people to stop and reflect in a positive and constructive way. This has always been my intention for writing songs.

This is a blues / country song to add to the "Declassified" album project. This is sort of a late addendum to resonate the theme in Al Gore's film, "An Inconvenient Truth". I can certainly remember winter when there were 20 foot snow banks along the road where I live; today only half a foot if any. I can remember talking about all of the environmental issues, such as acid rain and greenhouse gas, when I was in grade school, thirty years ago. Somewhere along the line I decided to join the popular consumer culture and ignore all of these messages and simply become a sleeping, dreaming skeptic like everyone else: in this life's dream everything is just wonderful no matter what we choose to do. The lessons about impending doom that were conveyed were obviously lost in the interpretation of what life's dream is. I find myself at a loss to tell you today what my dreams are beyond enjoying companionship with a happy, healthy family and friends. I write songs to try and work out the answer to this difficult yet seemingly simple question.

This is a blunt declassification for you today: our life's dream is approaching a cataclysmic nightmare. The green revolution and evolution itself will not come about in calm, happy transitions but rather cataclysmic changes of nature and free will that leave no choice in the matter but to change. Successful form with harmonious sense of survival carries on and survives.

I am neither an anarchist nor pessimist but rather make these observations based on the irreversible and unstoppable nature of change itself. Successful life form on every scale becomes stubborn in a sheltered trough of calm and serene. This becomes the sense of balance and survival. This is survival inertia. Collectively we become extensions of single calorie burning organisms and impact nature as a collective, external consciousness that devours the amount of energy required for the new and larger hungry life form satisfying a larger survival inertia. The energy required to sustain the new collective life form is a quantum jump beyond what is required to sustain the sum of the individuals that make it up, this is the concept and physical manifestation of quantum consciousness. A successful star in the cosmos will devour more mass until finally it dies and is reborn into the next larger form and then eventually, a black hole. The propensity to consume and collect and the idea of "survival inertia" is not limited only to human nature and form but is a fabric of the universe.

There is great hope however because, most importantly and perhaps most profoundly, the sense of survival and way of survival is something that is communicated. Mother earth is communicating to us, a requirement for a new paradigm of the collective sense of survival. This is my interpretation for you in case you've missed the message:

Mother is Going to Melt Your Ice (Lyrics)

The fields are burning.
We've poisoned air.
Nature is turning
a war on this terror.

Hey hey!
Mother is going to melt your ice.

The east is yearning
for western fare.
Dollars churning
for plastic wares.

Hey hey!
Mother is going to melt your ice.

How green is your lawn?
How far does your tank of gas go?
When we reach the desert island,
won't matter any more.

(C)opyright 2007, Peter J Slack, SOCAN

THE ISLAND RIVER HEART

pslack@pjslack.com (Peter J Slack) — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 13:49:33 PST

This past fall I participated in a benefit for the Jai Dee Children's Fund and we raised money to help build a school in Laos. I wrote a song for the event and was asked by one of the elders of the community if I would record it. I am pleased today to be able to offer you the recording of this song. This is a blessing for the children of Laos and is a humble and simple musical exploration of the enchanting Khong Island in southern Laos.

The Island
River Heart

From the island river heart,
Love flows freely, forming beautiful falls.
From the land of happy hearts,
Accept this blessing:
May you love and be free.
Love and be free...Love and be free...

Song Credits:

Peter J Slack : Vocals, Guitar

Jennifer Gillmor : Cello

Recording/Engineering: Brian Hewson, Escarpment Sound

(C)opyright 2006, Peter J Slack, SOCAN

OASIS TANGO

pslack@pjslack.com (Peter J Slack) — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 14:39:26 PST

OASIS TANGO
I simply have to continue to ask this question: what are your symbols of peace and freedom? My philosophy is that the ultimate symbol of peace and freedom is an honestly earned, deep respect for one another. How do we gain respect from one another? Do we build nuclear bombs? Send armies marching to destroy? Drop bombs on innocents? Slaughter one another? Enslave on another? Together we live on this oasis. There's not a lot of good real estate to build our own Zion anywhere other than here on the great mother planet earth; our oasis in the universe. The doorway to Zion, to individual peace and freedom, is to learn to dance with one another. I offer this vibration and these symbols crafted from ancient and modern instruments, as a digital hex to ward against the false respect nations and hateful societies seek to achieve through aggression, violence and death. May we all find peace and freedom, may we all learn the Oasis Tango.

CD RELEASE: THE CAT CONTINUUM

pslack@pjslack.com (Peter J Slack) — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 14:12:24 PDT

CD RELEASE!!!

Announcing the official release of "The Cat Continuum"

Hello and warm regards to all fine people!

It is with great pleasure to announce today the first official CD release : "The Cat Continuum". After many years of simply releasing mp3 renditions of songs, I decided it was time to prepare a slightly more serious production. I am very happy with the results. This is perhaps what you could call a pop-folk album for lack of a better description; the first half is pop and the last half is folk :-).

My wishes that you are all enjoying this incredible summer and that you are all experiencing good health and good fortunes.

Sincerely,

Peter J Slack

Above the Clouds

pslack@pjslack.com (Peter J Slack) — Mon, 05 Jun 2006 19:39:51 PDT

Greetings to all fine people,

ABOVE THE CLOUDS:SONG TRACK

I'm just ecstatic today to receive another great submission for distribution on the pod-waves from the archives of Mr. Thomas Hastings. I suspect Thom has an entire album stored away. Let's just call it the Eight Years After project and be thankful he has decided to let it sail on the internet ocean.

Thom labeled this song "Above the Clouds" and this is a very appropriate title as it does put your spirits above the clouds.

Many thanks from all of us Thom for your contribution.

Warm Regards to all fine listeners. Please enjoy
your day.

Warm Regards,

Peter J Slack

Music, (C)opyright 1998-2006 , Thomas Hastings,
All Rights reserved

DECLASSIFIED

pslack@pjslack.com (Peter J Slack) — Mon, 08 May 2006 10:35:53 PDT

The meaning of declassified is to reveal secrets, for example, through the declassification of secret documents. The social conscience, however, reveals itself without the declassification of secret documents or news broadcasts. Perhaps one of the most well guarded secrets is that the reason people are depressed is not because pharmaceutical companies need to exist by making pills to cure people's sadness. Although this sounds like a ridiculous statement it is equally ridiculous that people feel they no longer have time or tolerance to be sad. Equally as ludicrous, pharmaceutical companies and marketers of goods have convinced us that it is not normal to be without a sex drive. Today there are many reasons to feel sadness and it is an inescapable part of living as a human being. Wouldn't the world be a nicer place if there weren't so many sex crazed people?

Welcome to the year 2006 and the epitome of Brave new Worlds

This is a song to kick off a musical exploration on the theme of declassification.

DECLASSIFIED

Put the trash in the can,
Drag it down to the end of the road.
Where it goes from there,
Don't really care and don't want to know.

3 billion starving people,
Living on the edge of life.
Vanish into the darkness,
Out if sight and out of mind.

Drive off in your car.
Don't let anyone get in your way.
When it all goes wrong,
Take a pill and it all goes away.

In fear the armies marching,
with allegence to a flag.
3 billion people starving,
enemies of the state.

Put the trash in the can,
drag it down to the end of the road.
Where it goes from there,
Don't really care and don't want to know.

(C)opyright 2006, Peter J Slack, SOCAN

PETER J SLACK @ GRAFFITI'S MARCH 3, 2006

pslack@pjslack.com (Peter J Slack) — Wed, 26 Apr 2006 18:23:30 PDT

(PHOTOS BY: Cassandra Slack)

Hello Fine Listeners!!!

PETER J SLACK LIVE @ GRAFFITI'S

I am so very fortunate today to be able to release to you a recording captured live at Graffiti's on March 3/2006. The most fortunate occurance was to have some very dear and talented friends jamming with me and helping me to perfect my humble love song. I extend great thanks to those friends:

Thomas Hastings; Guitar
Jerrard Smith; Mandolin
JR Busby and Russell Leon; Jembe

And additional thanks to Russell Leon for organizing the event and letting us record to produce this PODCAST.

(C)opyright 2006, Peter J Slack, SOCAN

GLENELG IMPROVISATION SESSIONS

pslack@pjslack.com (Peter J Slack) — Wed, 26 Apr 2006 18:25:19 PDT

PHOTOS BY: Peter J Slack
Hello World!!!

GLENELG ALBUM TRACKS

I am so very pleased to release to you all the GLENELG IMPROVISATION SESSIONS that took place at the end of July 2006 at he Glenelg community hall. These are the "best of" tracks that were recorded over the weekend during the emancipation picnic weekend. The spirits were flying high and these are some incredible ambient sessions captured for you on hard drive. The Players list for this weekend excursion is as follows:

Nik Cherry: percussion, slide guitar, calimba
Nick Hall; Guitar, Slide Guitar
Phil Papineah; Percussion
Jerry Prager; Harmonica, Chants
Morvern McNie; Darbouke drum, egg
JR Busby; Jembe
Warren Campbell; Bass, Percussion, Frog
Peter J Slack; Guitar, Bass

Enjoy!!!!

(C)opyright 2006, Players of Instruments

8 YEARS AFTER

pslack@pjslack.com (Peter J Slack) — Wed, 26 Apr 2006 18:26:36 PDT

Good day to all fine people!

SONG TRACK: 8 YEARS AFTER

I am very excited today to introduce some awesome talent on the PJ Slack
Musical Blog. This song was recorded by a good friend and musical
colleague, Thom Hastings, in the studio we had operated many years
back. I am convinced that a 5 year plan is too quick to really accomplish
anything in life and a 10 year plan is generally more realistic. Thom
didn't have a name for this tune so I named it for him: "8 Years After"

This track was recorded in 1998. Thom is an incredible guitar player and
song writer. We hope to hear more from him soon and perhaps we can
convince the other studio operator, Doug Hastings, to put some tunes up here
as well or perhaps any other of the fine artists on this spam..uhhh..I mean...
mailing list.

Enjoy!!!

PJ

MUSIC (C) 1998-2006 Thom Hastings, All Rights Reserved

CUPID'S ARROW 2

pslack@pjslack.com (Peter J Slack) — Wed, 26 Apr 2006 18:28:05 PDT

Good day to all fine people!

CUPID'S ARROW 2

I humbly offer this new recording as homage for Valentine's day. It is my own emerging tradition of producing a guitar duet as a celebration. The first rendition of this style of song ,"Cupid's Arrow", was recorded in my closet with a classical guitar borrowed from a dear friend. This morphological rendition ("Cupid's Arrow 2...the next couple a years...;-)") is performed with my Les Paul that I have recently 'converted' into an acoustic guitar!!! The piece is inspired from soul, blues, classical fugue, and country...it's a folk fusion peice..

PLEASE ENJOY! (and forward this song to your favorite Valentine!)

With Love.... Happy Valentine's Day,

PJ Slack

ICEBERG

pslack@pjslack.com (Peter J Slack) — Wed, 26 Apr 2006 18:29:24 PDT

ICEBERG
My favorite digital bird landed on my shoulder the other day and told a story in well-formed mystic URL, of the news of the singing icebergs. Enchanted by such news and the recordings of their songs I went to sleep that night and dreamed I was an iceberg singing a song of my beloved mother earth. I had a heart beat that no one could hear other than the great mother who spoke to me through the ocean waves and the moon whose grip was steady like the rhythm of my pulse. As the sun rises only slightly on the horizon, the water that is my life-blood begins to flow ever faster through my veins. Only the icy waters of the ocean sooth the scorching heat of the mysterious glowing orb; my color, snow white, to reflect the full spectrum of harmful rays. The smaller life forms around me, oblivious to my presence used me as a perch for hunting and trapping their prey. The life surrounding me is part of my purpose, is part of my soul.

THE VALUE OF A MAN

pslack@pjslack.com (Peter J Slack) — Wed, 26 Apr 2006 18:30:47 PDT

THE VALUE OF A MAN

With certainty, many women ask this question every day and with equal certainty, most men either do not have the right answer or just simply do not answer such an obvious rhetorical question. Of course, every argument or position can be broken down or dissected until eventually a paradox that has no answer is encountered but today, I will refrain, step down from the cosmos, and will not attempt a cosmic all encompassing answer to this particular question. I'll propose here instead, words and song that form a very sensible answer that any man can feel free to use if presented with such a difficult question. He can memorize it because, in my selfish opinion, it's a very good answer!

THE VALUE OF A MAN?

The value of a man is not what he takes.
Not what he holds in his hands but what he lets go free,
and what he gives of his heart and when he lets it be.

So give your heart and your soul.
Set free the joy and the pain.
The sparkle will stay in your eyes,
let the rain fall down.

To hold the light or the dark
will only tear you apart.
Give hope to your children near,
let the rain fall down.

The value of a man is not what he takes.
Not what he holds in his hands but what he lets go free,
and what he gives of his heart and when he lets it be.

Warm Regards,
PJ

THE EYES OF JUPITER

pslack@pjslack.com (Peter J Slack) — Wed, 26 Apr 2006 18:32:15 PDT

THE EYES OF JUPTIER:Song Track

One of the most startling and immense systems of weather and inexplicable demonstrations of stable atmospheric dynamics is the great red spot of Jupiter that was first observed more than 300 years ago. It is assumed that it was Cassini who first observed the Great Red Spot, however, it is unlikely that when Cassini made the observation that he considered whether the spot could be observing him.

If one accepted the gaia hypothesis as addition or otherwise fitting
with our clinical definition of life, then there would be no need to further question the existence of extra terrestrial life because we could simply begin to investigate the other planets in our solar system as conscious living systems. Possibly the most difficult psychological hurtle for the human race would be to accept a view that we are conscious beings that make up part of a larger conscious being that is the earth and that each degree has free will that defies logic. For sake of this hypothesis, put aside the notion that life and consciousness has to follow a strict clinical definition of what we can observe, dissect and calculate to consider and compare the larger living system of Jupiter with that of earth.

One of the observable traits common to living planets with complex internal workings is its weather system. Collectively, life on earth contributes to the creation, the content and the shape of our atmosphere. In this respect, the human race through the observation and understanding of the universe has shaped the weather systems by applying this knowledge and understanding to lifestyle and to the taming of nature. A gaia theorist could postulate that, in part through our actions, the earth weather system is an evolved complex system that has a memory and is aware and conscious of the universe; the earth can observe and store information of the surrounding universe through us. A planet like Jupiter would not be able to sustain our forms life given the immense gravitational field yet there is potential mechanism that could shape the weather patterns on Jupiter through external universal influences: the great red spot. The great red spot of Jupiter is still a mystery to scientists yet is it possible that it is part of the living system of Jupiter itself much as we are to the earth? Is the great red spot an example of the inexplicable properties of life and free will?

Consider the great red spot as an engine that drives the rest of the weather patterns on Jupiter and then apply the butterfly effect discovered while attempting mathematical weather modeling; a small perturbation in temperature or pressure within the great red spot will have immense consequences to the unfolding patterns of the surrounding weather system. A small blip in the spot would be amplified to some degree on the resulting eddies and vortexes around the spot. Is this Jupiter's eye to sense the surrounding universe?

Words and Music (C)opyright 2005, Peter J Slack, SOCAN

The Seven Rings of Saturnalia

pslack@pjslack.com (Peter J Slack) — Wed, 26 Apr 2006 18:34:16 PDT

Good day once again to all fine people,

The Seven Rings of Saturnalia : Song Track

I awoke the other morning to a news cast on TV with these spectacular and mysterious sounds of the aurora of Saturn that were recorded by the Cassini probe. This particular recording was in the radio spectrum and was slowed down 44 times to render in the audio range. I decided to overlay some improvisational tracks over top of these tracks from the physics lab at U of IOWA for you. The original recording can and spectral graph can be found here:

UNIVERSITY OF IOWA

I was excited to produce this particular track because earlier, and co-incidently, as part of the cat continuum project, I had simulated schumann resonance:

SCHUMANN RESONANCE

and inserted it as backdrop for a live performance of "Heal the Children" at the Hugh's Room. These types of planetary soundscapes seem to work very well for ambient and even folk tunes....ooppps!!!my secret is out!! :-)

These are very exciting and inspiring times to have these more intimate understandings and connections unfold to further express our place in the giant milky way: more fuel for music making.

Enjoy,

PJ Space Cadet
Music & Words
Copyright 2005, Peter J Slack, SOCAN

North American Dream

pslack@pjslack.com (Peter J Slack) — Wed, 26 Apr 2006 18:35:44 PDT

Good day once again fine people,

NORTH AMERICAN DREAM

I was considering this song for some time now and it sort of follows on the theme of relationships. The scale of this song however is much grander; it is a plea to mother earth that she is always there to tame our guiding social conscience with that of the earth conscience, or in other words, the relationship we have with the planet and beings we share it with. In a sense, the relationship we have with ourselves is embedded in the relationships we have with others, is part of the relationship we have as communities, and furthermore is part of the relationship we have as nations on the planet. The will of the earth is much larger than the will of all nations combined and follows a different set of controlling philosophies and balances. The earth can shift and change our lives in an instant and, with certainty; we will all live our lives out together on this orb and share it with all other life forms. The moral of this short tale; our controls and balances of social conscience aren't necessarily friendly with the free will of mother Earth.

I suppose one can call this sort of a "stop and smell the roses" country/blues style....Enjoy

North American Dream

Follow me.
We climb to the top put our heads in the fog.
We shoot for the moon but we still hit the ground.
Mother Earth please follow me
Through this North American dream.

Shelter me.
We hide from the truth but we can't stop the pain.
We say that it's right and ignore when it's wrong.
Mother Earth please shelter me,
From this North American dream.

Frighten me
You speak through the trees with deep love from the ground
Your mind is a flash lightening strike to the clouds
Mother Earth please frighten me,
From this North American dream.

Set me free.
We go on our way and forget where we've been
We live out our lives disconnected it seems
Mother Earth please set me free,
From this North American dream.

Warm regards to all,
PJ

Words and Music
(C)opyright 2005, Peter J Slack, SOCAN

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PETER J SLACK @ GRAFFITI'S MARCH 3, 2006

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THE EYES OF JUPITER

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