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So here's the deal: after years of commuting down the highway to join
in the rat race every day there comes a point
in
the lives of some where there is rationalization of what the point really is. For me personally, the commute journey
begins in the serene setting of the country and each day I cross the phase transition line between serenity and insanity
as I descend from the hills of Caledon into the industrial oasis ("I-Oasis") of Southern Ontario. Fortunately there is
always the trip back from the insanity each day to maintain the balance. Eventually there are some that will succumb
and become creatures of habit always to be satisfied and happy to do the same things in and out each day without
question whether there is something better. For others there is a continuum of pointlessness. So here is my expression
of both pointlessness but also a comfortable sense of belonging to something larger than one's self: The Corporation.
Looking back over the years there is something for me that follows through. For me it is an expression of a type of
blues that is both comfortable and at the same time describing the tragedies. These are not the blues in the
traditional sense that tend to be expressions of the more tragic events of life, death and love. On the surface these
songs may seem like nothing even close to traditional blues however there is a fundamental structure derived from
traditional blues. I tend to use a mixture of major and minor chords in a traditional blues song structure to give the
sense of belonging and dissonance at the same time. You will also find rhythmically, a Brazilian overtone and that is
the influence of many years of training from my mentor Mr. Bruce Jones who, in his own rights, is an accomplished artist
who expresses the joys, beauties and tragedies of life in his songs. Truly he has had a great influence on these works.
The corporate blues thus with the Brazilian influence are both a celebration that I hope is dance worthy and at the same
time is also meaningful expression of the blues.
For 7 years I have been researching and experimenting to finally create the expression
that has materialized into
"The
Corporate Blues Tracks". The works enclosed on this CD began in 1996 and finally the point of doing these songs is
clear in my mind and there is a story behind each song that relates to the duality that most of us face each day. This
release is truly a vertically integrated effort as I have personally performed all of the tracks playing all the
instruments, recorded, mixed, mastered and packaged the final CD. These are things I like to do on my own time and
hopefully skills that I can apply to produce other artists and these skills represent "Tribal Knowledge" that hopefully
I can pass on to my kids and also inspire other talented people to "let it all hang out". The technologies available to
artists today are truly astounding and I believe this release is a good
example of what is possible with a modest
budget and large ambition.
The cover design (above) is more to the point of the eastern philosophies. The
corporate entity strives to achieve
black on the profit statement and avoid the red. In reality there is no clear line because the expressions of black
merely point out the general sense of well-being and do not describe the tragedies that occur in reality to achieve
black ink. There are always failures within the realm of success, red inside the black. Conversely there are always
black or positive elements when a company is "in the red". There is no real dividing line but there are only overall
measures of good and bad (black and red) in the corporate world. Along the way there are stories to be told and there
are commonalities and motifs that transcend all corporations.
I thank you in advance for taking the time to listen to these tracks and I hope that you
find some enjoyment therein.
There are other releases planned on the Digital Bird Man Studio Label: new artists and also, perhaps, a "Corporate Blues
Tracks II". I would be grateful for any comments good or bad and I am always interested to know how these tracks and
CD's performed on your particular sound system. This is the "Six Sigma" strategy or continuous improvement philosophy
of "the Corporation". If there is a problem please let me know.
Sincerely,
PJ Slack, Master Mechanic,
Digital Bird Man Studios
LYRICS
ANOTHER DAY
Yet again the rats have been dreaming
of a better life as mice locked in a cage.
Purify the things you believe in,
so once again you live to play another game.
Southern cross burns wild with hatred.
Northern lights shine bright to blind the pain.
Desert storm, oil flows until you taste it,
Central bank it has a virus in its veins.
Don't stand out just trying to find attention,
you'd better step around to find another way.
Yet again the rats have been dreaming
of a better life as mice locked in a cage.
COMMENT
This is a song about the desert storm operation and the recent revisitation by the
USA. There is an industrial
aspect
to war that is convoluted with the economic well being of a nation waging war. The rats are those powerful lobyists who
profit from the industrial works of war whereas the mice are those who are prisoners of this endeavour. Certainly an
economic boost to a nation can be through the engagement of war. An economic war engine ultimately inspires
protectionism as one of the ugly forms of devastation and sabotage of other nations aside from merely dropping bombs.
The war machine must continue to devour and so either there is a continuous war and happy caged mice or there is peace
and propserity; freedom.
POINT SOURCE
Point source is where it all began.
One step and back again,
there's no turning back.
Blue sky is out again,
Black cloud and then it rains,
there's no turning back.
I'm feeling down again,
Good friends and let the party begin,
there's no turning back.
Snake eyes our luck has turned again,
full house and let the chips roll in,
there's no turning back.
We're diving in the deep end again,
One breath and we begin,
there's no turning back.
COMMENT
This inspired by the zero point field theory and the second law of thermodynamics.
There are good and bad, perpetual
balances of opposites. We can never turn back our actions as stated by the second law of thermodynamics : all systems
tend towards maximum entropy and minimum enthalpy (energy). What is done is done but cycles will always continue until
the universe has reached minimum energy (it freezes). The ZPF concepts are well established in the anals of science
with some very compelling experiments that demonstrate that there is possibly infinite energy in the zero point (my
"point source") field. The Casimir effect is the most widely accepted experiment that points to something big on the
horizon; possibly a never ending nature of the universe that is as counterintuitive as many of the well know phenomenon
in quantum physics are. All of this is described in this song with the usual events of one's life to try and relate the
driving forces of the universe with the consequences experienced in life.
TRIBAL KNOWLEDGE
---INSTRUMENTAL---
COMMENT
Tribal knowledge is that information that is passed down to generations of a tribe.
In
a company generations can
happen within years and tribal knowledge can become critical consideration for a company to continue to function. When
tribal knowledge is lost either through corporate genocide (downsizing) or general restructuring, the corporate
organization looses its spirit and the purpose of why it was formed in the first place. Tribal knowledge is part of
that spirit.
SIX SIGMA
---INSTRUMENTAL---
COMMENT
Six Sigma is a methodology for eliminating defects (driving towards six standard
deviations between the mean and the
nearest specification limit) in any process -- from manufacturing to transactional and from product to service. This
song is about continuous improvement. I like to experiment with time signatures for groove and feel. This song is 6/8
time and nicely captures the driving momentum much like a 6-sigma or other improvement campaign to achieve perfection.
I liked the swing so much that there is one other instrumental song below in 6/8 time. Most songs I do in 6/8 time also
have a 6 in the title.
GOLF
I was dreaming of a warn lie,
it caught me by suprise.
She had it all in the palm of her hand,
twist of fate in the eyes.
chorus:
It was a hopeless attempt at a following event.
Tap it light with impending disguise.
If I could take my regret and go back in time,
take my place, in the air, see it fly.
I wash up and out this act of mine,
sitting fat by a high tide.
{chorus}
guitar solo
{chorus}
She stayed up with high time,
If she would only stay true to the end.
I'm mourning , I'm mourning,
I'd like to know what I'd like.
{chorus}x3
COMMENT
These lyrics were written by my life long friend Doug Hastings who decided he needed
to
describe the Zen of golf in a
musical peice that I had written. We asked him after who "she" was and he told us that the "she" is like what is meant
when we refer to a ship. Although I still don't believe him I thank him for these interesting lyrics. When I listen to
this song I do think about a pleasant day on the course and the frustration and exacting psychology of the game. Golf
is the social sport of choice for the executive and is a cure for the "Corporate Blues" yet it is also a game that keeps
the tension up to continue life's rush.
SO COLD
---INSTRUMENTAL---
COMMENT
This song is absolutely meaningless. Since we are all getting old there's no reason
to
be so cold. The importance
of this song, for me, is the time signature : 7/4. I was inspired by a jazz musician from New York who was talking on
the radio about funk and weird time signatures. I took the advice and tried this funk song in the strangest time pace I
could imagine. The awkward transition really does provide a funky rhythm engine. I hope this inspires young artists to
experiment.
LIFE'S RUSH
Life's a rush.
Life's too short.
And when it crashes down you know it really tumbles 'round,
this side of nowhere and forever.
No one is really sure where our souls may rest,
but it's this side of nowhere and forever.
Life's a panic.
Let's get manic.
Let's not run 'round on someone else's dime,
'cause when it's all done no one remembers.
Life's precarious.
Can't let it bury us.
I let it slip my mind I was running out of time,
they say that's life in the fast lane
Life's a rush.
Life's too short.
And when it crashes down you know it really tumbles 'round,
this side of nowhere and forever.
No one is really sure where our souls may rest,
but it's this side of nowhere and forever.
Life's a panic.
Let's get manic.
Just when I wrote this song I was pulling double time,
quick and easy to the point.
Life's precarious.
Can't let it bury us.
I let it slip my mind I was running out of time,
they say that's life in the fast lane.
Life's a rush.
Life's too short.
And when it crashes down you know it really tumbles 'round,
this side of nowhere and forever.
No one is really sure where our souls may rest,
but it's this side of nowhere and forever.
Life's a panic.
Let's get manic.
COMMENT
Everyone is in a panic and a rush because everyone is headed for the intangible
entropy.
There are also many smaller
intangible dangling carrots throughout life that create an equal pressure to cause a mass tumbling confusion and panic
like "job security" and "promotion" and "financial freedom" to name a few. Just drive the freeways in either Toronto or
Los Angeles and you'll feel the pressure even if you stick to the slow lane. It is easy to miss a beat and make tragic
mistakes. If you slow the wrong person down they'll run you off the road!
MUSH
Where do you come from?
Yes you, my little sweet plumb.
I'm willing to pick you,
but I'm afraid I will miss you.
Where are we going?
In my mind it's snowing.
I climb into my spaceship,
ready for the big trip.
Where are we going,
In my mind it's snowing.
I'm changing direction,
searching perfection.
Where are we going,
In my mind it's snowing.
Laugh, laugh, laugh as the galaxies collide and coalesce like cells dividing,
into the patterns of patterns of life as all time flows now,
and as we chart our past and future in one great unity of infinite perfection.
And from the great cosmic soup we emerge self evident,
our deepest expression merely guiding us as agents of connection for the universe.
Where do you come from?
Yes you my little sweet plumb.
I'm willing to pick you,
but I'm afraid I will miss you.
Where are we going?
In my mind it's snowing
I'm changing Direction
Searching perfection
Where are we going?
In my mind it's snowing
COMMENT
When one chooses a path in life then one should either devour it with a passion or move on to test new waters. While
this potential comedy of errors continues the universe also continues and our paths and consequences of our actions are
like snow on a TV set with no channel. We act as though we are intransigent with the universe but we are a consequence
of it and we are fundamentally connected to it.
OFF BLUES
---INSTRUMENTAL---
COMMENT
Another meaningless 6/8 experimental peice. I would actually call this a Celtic
swing.
The entire structure is
truely off blues: the time signature, the chords are minors, it's not quite a 12 bar progression. Perhaps some day I'll
do a traditional 12 bar blues tune and call it on blues...
CIRCLES
Here are our yesterdays.
Gone are our tommorows.
Circles of paper,
circles of time,
spinning 'round.
We live on a circle,
what else is a sphere?
Circle without end,
spinning through space.
Here are our yesterdays.
Gone are our tommorows.
Silver circle that shines,
overhead in the night,
cirles our circle,
now dim,
now bright.
Forever together,
we follow our path,
and circle our star,
through the galaxy vast.
Here are our yesterdays.
Gone are our tommorows.
Time without start,
time without end,
for time is a circle,
without join or seam.
Circles of paper,
circles of sound,
circles that spin,
'round and 'round.
Here are our yesterdays.
Gone are our tommorows.
Circles of paper,
circles of sound,
circles that spin,
'round and 'round.
Circles of infinity,
circles without end,
carry us back,
to the beginning again.
Here are our yesterdays.
Gone are our tommorows.
Circles of paper,
circles of sound,
circles that spin,
'round and 'round.
Circles of infinity,
circles without end,
carry us back,
to the beginning again.
COMMENT
These lyrics were written by Liz Balmer. I am greatful for these lyrics as they are an excellent addition to the
circular and grandiose themes of "The Corporate Blues". I added the "Here are our yesterdays..." as a place holder for
a chorus. Typically I like to write the music first and fit the words second. Sometimes I have to rearrange and make
additions to do so and as I have done here.
DISTANCE
---INSTRUMENTAL---
COMMENT
In the mining business many times one is far away in remote places working. This is
a
song that attempts to capture
the feeling of isolation and the feeling of elation when returning home from distant lands.
I-OASIS
---INSTRUMENTAL---
COMMENT
This is a what I would call a slow desert funk song. Many years working at a factory
I
would drive to and from and
at a certain spot on the road you can see thousands and thousands of acres of flat roof tops and a thick black haze
floating above. This is what I call the industrial oasis. It is kind of an erie sensation much like this song with an
underlying industrial plodding rythm. Interspersed randomly is a vibrophone playing a very an eastern scale to give it
a desert feel.
SILICON SYSTEM
Neural synapsis on planet brain,
silicon system diagnosed insane.
Log on anonymous IRC port hell,
silicon system going to kiss and tell.
{chorus}
Glassy eyed and cafine filled,
silicon system system has it's very own will.
jump on inside my node and you will see,
silicon system doesn't set you free.
{chorus}
I know a man his name is Bill,
he makes us choke and swallow the pill.
It doesn't help to fight and resist,
silicon system has a digital fist.
{chorus}
Quantum dynamics and things you don't see,
silicon system is the root of a tree.
There is a hope if you and I remain,
inside our bodies and inside our brains.
{chorus}
Neural synapsis on planet brain,
silicon system diagnosed insane.
Log on anonymous IRC port hell,
silicon system going to kiss and tell.
COMMENT
I view our internet creation is the cerebrial formation of the planet earth. People are like neurons in this massive
network and the internet is a self similar to our own brains. I believe we are all instinctively compelled to be a part
of it yet there is good and bad; there is loss of freedom and there are those who want to control and dominate it (like
our friend Bill). If you were able to sit "planet brain" down in front of a psychologist it would probably be diagnosed
insane.
BLUE SUNDAY
Well my friend he failed the test,
when he said to hell with the rest
and he drove off in his car into the sunset.
All our faces with a frown,
as we keep on pushing down,
the echos of the past that don't go away.
Just when I think I've got it right,
I start all over again.
Just wait out in the rain on blue sunday.
What I'm doing, where I've been,
and what I want are different things
But I know I can go home just where love remains
With my heart I do my best,
to try not to fail the test
and drive off in my car into the sunset
Just when I think I've got it right,
I start all over again.
Just wait out in the rain on blue sunday.
Well my friend he failed the test
when he said to hell with the rest
and he drove off in his car into the sunset.
All our faces with a frown,
as we keep on pushing down,
the echos of the past that don't go away
COMMENT
My friend and colleague was very passionate, very stressed and he had a weak heart, smoked too much, drank too much, and
he died on the golf course. He failed the test because he cared a lot about his fellow workmates.
CADILAC
---INSTRUMENTAL---
COMMENT
This song was actually written in '96 and was inspired by a scene in the movie
"Escape
from Ney York" where the
nemisis was driving a big Cadilac through the ruins to this very heavy funky rhythm....I think the Cadilac also had a
chandeleer as an internal light. So this song is like driving in your smooth riding Cadilac through a war zone.
CATCH PHRASE
The only thing that I know is that once
I'd like to wake up bright eyed and
bushy tailed in the morning.
Tripped out in paradise,
as I drive by the shrine on the road
that commiserates the dead.
Chorus:
That's the way it is, that's the way it goes.
That's the way it is, that's the way it goes.
Jump on the bandwagon and they take your soul away.
Sit down and be hypnotized by the catch phrase of the day,
And when you finally realize they only live for today,
that's when you theorize that there must be a better way.
The only think I think about are the sands of time
that slip through my hands every day,
and when I stop and take a rest
I can't believe the sand has all but blown away.
{chorus}
And when I stop to think about all the things that
were done and said I get shivers down my spine,
but it's just to late to look back and toss and turn
about the things from our past.
{chorus}
COMMENT
Whenever waging a campaign to take action in an organization there is a term people
use
called "buy-in" wherein
essentially you are having to sell your ideas to others to "buy in" or otherwise take action. Now certainly if you have
to be sold every day on what you should or shouldn't do then there is something wrong with that picture. So this song
is about that routine.
CELEBRATION
---INSTRUMENTAL---
COMMENT
I don't know why I put this song here but I did and that's that...
SPRAWL
---INSTRUMENTAL---
COMMENT
This is a song inspired by the farmers fields that all now sub-divisions. An
inevitable
result of Corporate progress.
