Pair Off

for all of you who are pairing off to keep warm in these winter months.

old demo, a bit clunky rhythmically, but you'll get the idea.

Fresno Summer - Pair Off [demo].mp3



ps. <3<3<3


Pair Off:

'streetlights turn themselves on between piles of leaves
and sundresses become jeans and long sleeves
the air becomes thin and crisp and sweet
as the days move on.

and we live and dream in the light of dusk
as the landscape's complexion turns the color of rust
we pair off slowly and with any luck
we can keep eachother warm

so don't forget me
when you turn your lights down low
don't feel so lonely
i'm here more than you know
i'll pour my heart into this song
so don't leave me out here for too long
in the cold...

throughout changing seasons we move close and far away
i can hear it crystal clear and i hope it's not too late
the sound of your breathing in love's different shades of gray
and it's keeping me warm

so don't forget me
when you turn your lights down low
don't feel so lonely
i'm here more than you know
the chill is setting in
i want to end where you begin
there isn't anything more i could want
i'll pour my heart into this song
so don't leave me out here for too long
in the cold.'

summertime = nowhere fast

okay, fresno...it's sprinkler time. when i was working on this track, the main feelings and images i had in my mind were of cooling off in the heat of summer either by the fire hydrant, through the sprinklers or even just in a cold shower with the windows open, giving that warm fresno summer air the illusion of a nice breeze. don't get me wrong, i think being submerged in a pool is nice most times and i do it pretty much every time there's one around, but there's just something i find so hypnotic and sweet about water falling on your skin, collecting on parts of your body while the mist creates all kinds of color in the sunshine. so in celebration of the fresno heat, grab a popsicle or an ice cold beer, turn the water on and relax to this jam while getting wet.

Fresno Summer - Nowhere Fast.mp3

Distance/Absence -> the Blip

the blip (which in case some of you didn't know, ended around march/april of this year) was probably the most volatile band i've ever been in, but we were making some pretty cool tunes near the end. last night kyle sent me a few tracks which i remastered and tried to clean up a bit. though still demo quality, performance and otherwise, i think this is probably the best one. since it'll most likely never end up anywhere else, enjoy.

The Blip - Distance/Absence.mp3

cockrockjukebox strikes again: ruins a mirah song

this track was composed by the lovely and talented mirah yom tov zeitlyn.
it appears on her classic 2001 album advisory committee and was subsequently ruined by yours truly in 2009.

here's the math:

mirah + otis
____________

talking heads

=

Fresno Summer - Mt St Helens.mp3

click arrow to stream or right click to save

the way to the ocean

the way from here to the ocean
is monotony and i know it
like the feeling of my own skin.

the only way out of here
is to follow the string
of solemn mexican towns
disguised as a boulevard
of lonely palms and neon
struggling to shine
in the dust of the valley
like a procession of dive bars
where the patrons all drink together in silence.

it is the slow diablo crawl
up pacheco pass
in the heat of a valley summer
thicker than still-warm blood
even at night.

it's the sweetly pungent aroma of
garlic and green onions
that are mostly invisible from the highway.

it is only a syllable away from death
and i ought to know better.

watsonville is like downtown fresno
because no one wants to clean it up.
we all just want to make it up the beach.

--



--

On the drive back
I am partially drunk
and feel I could spend my life
atop one of these grass green hills
overlooking the sea
in the bright heat of spring
partially drunk
bellyaching about you and rubbing my head
touching ground with the earth
and releasing my ghosts.

So I breathe
the last breaths
of ocean air
clinging to the scent
hoping to remember it
when I get home.

get back on the train / Shake Your Neck Brace

aight. i know it's been a while and the project un- intentionally went on the backburner for a bit while i settled in to a new job and schedule. now that that's pretty much squared away, i figure it's time to be getting busy creatively again. i fixed all the outdated links, changed the layout a bit and pulled some things out to post just to get back on track with this here thingamabobber. and slowly but surely new material is arriving...making beats and demos and little scribblings here and there when i'm not working and/or napping.

so for this first post, here's more hip hop for you. previously posted at the2ndrate.com, this is a remix i did for a track called 'Shake Your Face' by my homeys in New Future.

you can stream or download the track here:
Fresno Summer/New Future - Shake Your Neck Brace.mp3
or check out the video courtesy of the ever-prolific mr. adam evolawonder.



gots more for you on the way. y'all be sure to drop by the2ndrate.com (Howie's back from summer vacation) and check out the new layout and a smokin track from New Future and MIDImob! sick hi-hat.

a slapback echo from the blue yonder

Remember when mixes actually went on tapes? Here's one that I made sure fills up a good 60 minute tape (the cheap ones). If you're into that and have a tape deck, I put where the side breaks should be in there. All of y'all that like the funky shit are gonna like this one. Oh, yeah...and this one really is for you...those of you that are paying any attention to this. You'll like it, I promise.

The title is from the song 'Inspiration Information' originally by Shuggie Otis, but recreated with great panache by the one and only Sharon Jones. There is some discrepancy about the lyrics on the interweb, but that's how I hear it. 'You're my little symphonia singing the weather / I get a dark blue rain / I get a slapback echo from the blue yonder.' Enjoy.

'A Slapback Echo From The Blue Yonder'

SIDE A

1. !!! - Bend Over Beethoven

2. Starlight Mints - Zoomba

3. Cat Power - New York

4. Handsomeboy Modeling School - I've Been Thinking (feat. Cat Power)

5. Sharon Jones and Dap Kings - Inspiration Information

6. Jenny Lewis - Bad Man's World

7. The Heavy - Girl

SIDE B

8. Lovage - To Catch A Thief

9. Céu - Grains de Beaute

10. Lifesavas - Double Up

11. OK Go - WTF?

12. Islands - Where There's A Will There's A Whalebone

13. Rilo Kiley - Give A Little Love

14. Staple Sisters - Let's Do It Again

15. Sherlock's Daughter - In The End

use the link above or click here to download from mediafire. peace, y'all.

loves. ben.