Wes Martin

With a Snake. (cover of a Samandtheplants song)

Thu, 09 Nov 2017 13:41:48 +0000

A cover version of Samandtheplants song, from the album The Eft. Myself on piano and vocals, and my imaginary friends Pookie Throttle and Griswald Bench on backing vocals and vibes, man.

Cosmic Banjo

Fri, 13 Oct 2017 10:54:42 +0000

Banjo. Synth.

Recover The Sunlight

Tue, 28 Mar 2017 12:27:33 +0000

A downbeat song. A few Nick drake inspired chord changes. Unravel the Moonlight Unfollow the day Recover the sunlight It's showing the way You'll spend the whole time alone, alone You'll bring the whole world home, today. Words undone together Lives falling apart Keep fighting the moment Go back to the start. You'll spend the whole time alone, alone You'll bring the whole world home, today. Written and performed by Wes Martin

Seaghosts (wk67/104)

Tue, 26 May 2015 14:29:06 +0000

I'm in mimicking mode again. More of a homage actually. This one is my version of a Mark Hollis (former Talk Talk) type song. The guy has one weird voice, and indistinct lyrics. Well, here goes

On Waking, the Sun (wk66/104)

Mon, 11 May 2015 16:00:57 +0000

Whether its waking from a bad dream, or a period of confinement, be it spiritual or emotional, there is always the rising sun, the earth turns. Inspired by Philip Glass, I must admit

The Life and Times of The Real Charlie Cheese (wk 65/104)

Sat, 11 Apr 2015 20:30:19 +0000

A few years back I had the pleasure of performing some live music to my mate Ollie's art performance as The Real Charlie Cheese. This is a new piece, and for me it evokes that particular character. Charlie is a modern day jester, fool, pied piper, call him what you will. He nods back to Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Laurel n Hardy....bygone heroes. Ollie's stuff.. http://www.free-range.org.uk/cgi-bin/portfolio.pl?yearID=7&exhibitionID=74&memberID=3168

Homeless Child (week 64/104)

Thu, 02 Apr 2015 15:10:36 +0000

I'm a week behind myself. This is a mellow number, guitar, piano and first appearance this year of the Banjo.

Exit John (Renbourn) (week 63/104)

Fri, 27 Mar 2015 13:32:29 +0000

When I did this weekly song project first time around in '11, Bert Jansch sadly passed away. This time, the news of John Renbourn passing away reached me today. A true guitar hero and songwriter, founder member of Pentangle, teacher, solo performer. Amazing dude. I luckily had occasion to meet him a couple of times, sweet guy. RIP This is a song I wrote this morning thinking about his passing

Eclipsing (Wk62/104)

Mon, 16 Mar 2015 20:58:03 +0000

I wrote a song about oddities. Here it is.

On The Wall (Wk61/104)

Sun, 08 Mar 2015 18:21:48 +0000

This is week 9, its a pretty chilled one. I tried to get a Zero 7 feel, but you know, without the know how, lol. Anyhow, enjoy.

Going To The Mountain(Wk60/104)

Sun, 01 Mar 2015 17:15:59 +0000

This weeks tune is quite upbeat for me. Its a departure from piano and back to the guitar. Superficially its quite upbeat, its got spikes though. Hope you enjoy.

I Thought The Earth Remembered Me (Wk59/104)

Sat, 21 Feb 2015 17:07:02 +0000

Sleeping out in a forest, next to the earth, can be a simultaneously beautiful and terrifying experience. In Winter the nights are so long, cold, and the mornings quiet, free of birdsong. In summer, the rains can fool us, make us weary..heats dry our skins, bring a thirst. Despite these things, when that moment comes to rest on the earth, we are at one with nature, and with ourselves. Lying alone, in the wild, exposed, returned, can deliver questions and answers like no other experience can. Washing in and out of sleep, time upon time, minute by minute. All is seen. The title of this comes from the following poem by Mary Oliver.... Sleeping In The Forest I thought the earth remembered me, she took me back so tenderly, arranging her dark skirts, her pockets full of lichens and seeds. I slept as never before, a stone on the riverbed, nothing between me and the white fire of the stars but my thoughts, and they floated light as moths among the branches of the perfect trees. All night I heard the small kingdoms breathing around me, the insects, and the birds who do their work in the darkness. All night I rose and fell, as if in water, grappling with a luminous doom. By morning I had vanished at least a dozen times into something better. - Mary Oliver Image by Casper David Friedrich

Nothing Is Real (Wk58/104)

Thu, 12 Feb 2015 23:32:31 +0000

Week 6, and this one is about being a little offensive, and sometimes provocative on social media. Its like a form of tourettes, sometimes I find myself saying all the bad things.

Son (Wk57/104)

Thu, 05 Feb 2015 13:07:01 +0000

Ok, another rather downbeat offering. I have two sons, and despite them being fully engaged with and enjoying life, I sometimes despair for what could be their future. Anyhow, I'm sure they will thrive. This song is about these anxieties of mine

Drift(Wk56/104)

Sat, 31 Jan 2015 14:51:55 +0000

Week four. I'm creating and recording a sound piece every week for a year (again). This is about drift, the snow, the sea, the wave, clouds, the body.

Clearing(Wk55/104)

Thu, 22 Jan 2015 10:48:59 +0000

Week 3, a song, sung, about finding space amidst the clutter of life

Brightness Falls. (Wk54/104)

Thu, 15 Jan 2015 12:48:37 +0000

Week two, round two of my weekly noise project '15. Another piano instrumental. I love introducing dissonance, ever so slightly into the mix, its there. This piece is about a shift in states, a flux.

There Are No Pieces. (Wk53/104)

Thu, 08 Jan 2015 13:57:33 +0000

A short piece. Instrumental.

Tail Lights

Tue, 18 Nov 2014 12:47:42 +0000

A simple, short song about final letting goes and endings. Tail lights Peering like monsters Against the night Goodbye, Our time has come To an end, now Silence, Speaks to a future, We never had. So help me, My heart is caught, And it needs to be free x2

To The Dark

Tue, 11 Nov 2014 16:02:29 +0000

I've not posted on here in such a long time. This is one of many tunes written from the shadows, from a place of reflection and loss. Hope you enjoy

Nigredo

Fri, 17 Oct 2014 12:14:56 +0000

Ok, so this is pretty much a Satie number, I just found myself noodling around with his sound, this happened. Its a piece from a pretty dark place however.

Talking Pictures 2. Colonel Sparrow. 6x6", oil on board

Thu, 13 Feb 2014 12:52:22 +0000

Find my work at www.facebook.com/AWMartinArtist or awmartist.blogspot.co.uk/ or indeed at any of the other links on my profile. *All for sale*

Talking Pictures 1. Westward Ho! 8x10" oil on canvas, framed

Wed, 12 Feb 2014 12:41:07 +0000

Find my work at https://www.facebook.com/AWMartinArtist or http://awmartist.blogspot.co.uk/ or indeed at any of the other links on my profile. *All for sale*

Written

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 13:46:49 +0000

This is one of those eerie autumnal numbers that seem to float around my head at this time of year. I imagine an Atkinson Grimshaw painting when listening to parts of this. I suppose its another song about fighting those little demons that trouble us. Guitar Bass Harp Dulcimer Synth

Fallen

Fri, 21 Sep 2012 14:18:52 +0000

First track for a while. A whistful autumnal number.

Riverbed ft HanJanDuncan

Thu, 28 Jun 2012 09:05:20 +0000

This is collaboration with Hannah Duncan, http://soundcloud.com/hanjan. I wrote the bare bones of the song and Hannah created the rest, the harmonies, counter melody and orchestration. I don't think I would have recorded this on my own, as it lends so much to Drake, but Hannah lent her unique voice to it, making it much more of a joint effort, and something very different from how I would have driven it. 'Riverbed symbolises the ancient, worn, life bringing veins of the landscape. The song is an idea of a conversation, a journey with them. Something much bigger in significance and longevity than us. Its about floating, finding,and understanding our place.' (Obvious influence here is Nick Drake's 'Riverman'. I use 3/4 rather than his 5/4. Otherwise, yeah.)

Gatherdown II

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 14:49:19 +0000

A tune about the relentlessness of life and this little gem... 'in the midst of winter, I finally learned that there was within me an invincible summer' - Camus I wrote Gatherdown I, an entirely different tune some years back.

'Soup' by Harvey Lord (dreaming hand)...(Wes arrangement/production)

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 15:45:19 +0000

The Second of Harvey's full moon tunes. His project page is here His project page is here http://soundcloud.com/harveylord. This I recorded, arranged and produced. Guitar Vocal, Synth strings, harp, samples.

Once below

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 15:47:23 +0000

I know I said in the blogcast I wasn't posting again to this account, well I have six days untill its downgraded so I thought I'd get this up before migrating Its about sad shit. Guitar, Strings, Samples.

Dictive Redicking (DRUMandBASS)

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:59:02 +0000

Drum n Bass Scary Cathartic

Winter Sun (wk52/52)

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 13:09:05 +0000

THE FINAL WEEK from the 'weekly noise' project, a tune a week for the whole of 2011. http://thespeedofsoundblogcast.wordpress.com/ This is a song about the heart. Inspired initially by Bergman's film 'Winter Light'. Its really about those who move us. Its been emotional. Thanks for following these tunes. I've learned a lot and made some astonishing friends on SoundCloud. You know who you are. So, this is me, Wes Martin, signing off. (for now) Winter Sun I told you, the sky was blue. I could never lie, I believed for you. Sun so low, it's hard to see. So far gone, its cold here alone. Cold hours,cold hours, winter sun for you. Cold hours,cold hours, winter sun for you. Half disliking, too forlorn Our sunrise, now there's nowhere to hide Cold hours,Cold hours, winter sun for you x 4 For you, for you, for you,for you... Hope you enjoy Guitar, Bass, Strings, Synth, piano, Vocals

Sweet Silence (wk49/52)

Sun, 11 Dec 2011 13:40:35 +0000

Week 49 from the 'weekly noise' project, a tune a week for the whole of 2011. http://thespeedofsoundblogcast.wordpress.com/ This was inspired by the poem 'Sweet Darkness' by David Whyte. A friend sent it my way this week. Look it up if you're interested, its immense. Guitar, Vibes, Bass, Cello, Strings. Voice.

The Mark Of Cain (wk48/52)

Sun, 04 Dec 2011 16:44:26 +0000

Week 48 from the 'weekly noise' project, a tune a week for the whole of 2011. http://thespeedofsoundblogcast.wordpress.com/ Whoa!, this one could be a little heavy. I'm back to my usual melancholia. The biblical meaning of The Mark Of Cain and its contemporary meaning have diverged somewhat. Here, its pretty encrypted but its about the shit we carry around with us our whole lives, for a variety of reasons, good or bad,er, I guess. Guitar, Bass, Vocals, Synth Strings and Oboe, Synth Pad.

The Twisted Waltz (wk47/52)

Sun, 27 Nov 2011 17:25:14 +0000

Week 47 from the 'weekly noise' project, a tune a week for the whole of 2011. http://thespeedofsoundblogcast.wordpress.com/ I think this is in 11/8, predominantly. It gives it an erratic, waltz time, mis step feel. It was originally gonna be about my mate, Harvey, but it went off somewhere and found others. See what you make of it. Guitar. Bass, Piano, Samples. Vocals

The Ghosts (that tear us apart) (wk46/52)

Sun, 20 Nov 2011 15:09:59 +0000

Week 46 from the 'weekly noise' project, a tune a week for the whole of 2011. http://thespeedofsoundblogcast.wordpress.com/ There's ghosts in the machine... Guitar, Bass, Accordion, Banjo, Piano, Drum loop, Synth, Saw.

Eleanor (wk43/52)

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 14:23:57 +0000

Week 43 from the 'weekly noise' project, a tune a week for the whole of 2011. http://thespeedofsoundblogcast.wordpress.com/ I've been wanting to write a song about childhood for a while now. My two boys provide plenty of material, their own secret worlds are just mesmerising. Hanjan HanJan posted a recording of her daughter Eleanor http://snd.sc/tKuYQw and it is just the most gorgeous thing. This song is inspired by my boys, Eleanor and that recording. Hope you like Guitar, Guitcello, Zither Harp. Vocals. Your love is seeing, Your time is fleeting, she'll paint a picture for you. She is a kite in the summer sky, she is a flare in the dead of night, Everyone will know you were there. Would she go home ?, would she grow old ?, would Eleanor find the truth ?. Ooo Eleanor x 2 Your world is holding, Our eyes are closing, Our minds seem broken to you. Some say you're growing, Too fast for knowing, I say there's still things to learn. Ooo Eleanor x 4 You're not alone, You're not alone. Ooo Eleanor x 4

Sailing for the War (wk41/52)

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 15:12:43 +0000

Week 41 from the 'weekly noise' project, a tune a week for the whole of 2011. http://thespeedofsoundblogcast.wordpress.com/ A tune in 7/8 and 3/4, I think, could be wrong. Anyhow its about relationships, between people and inbetween times.Its a song of two contrasting halves too. I was thinking about 'The Snow Goose' story at the time, hmmm, make of it what you will. Hope you enjoy. Guitar, Cello, Harp, Vocals.

Exit Bert(Jansch) (wk39/52)

Fri, 07 Oct 2011 12:55:11 +0000

Week 39 from the 'weekly noise' project, a tune a week for the whole of 2011. http://thespeedofsoundblogcast.wordpress.com/ Very sadly this week Bert Jansch died. A true guitar legend and inspiration to countless folkies n rockers alike. He was the man. This is my tribute, in the style of Bert. He would have done it with infinitely more style however. RIP Bert Jansch Guitar, Percussion.

Dree Ane's Weird (poem/ambient) (wk 36/52)

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 15:47:22 +0000

Week 36 from the 'weekly noise' project, a tune a week for the whole of 2011. http://thespeedofsoundblogcast.wordpress.com/ A break from the songwriting here. This is an ambient track over a poem recitation. I recently found this poem, by me, written a lifetime ago. In a sense this is like a conversation between the young me, and the me at present. Hope you enjoy, or something.... Banjo+mellotron+cello - adjusted, my voice-slowed, Guitcello, Synth pad.