29: Contemplation

As promised way back when I reported on my trip down south with my then single son Jonas, here is a listen to the latest album by Rich Ruth, Water Still Flows. Ruth, if you remember, opened for All Them Witches, who we saw in Baton Rouge - on our way to New Orleans. Water Still Flows had not yet been released, but many of the songs on it were performed in Ruth’s set. They were really good.

Water… is a very interesting record, and was a perfect component to this morning’s light therapy session. It’s a relaxing record, except when it explodes with fuzzed out guitar and skronky baritone saxophone. It’s still contemplative, and that, I decided, is going to be the theme of the post. Music that is there to spur your mind into thought. No lyrics to contend with, no lightning guitar runs and no bombastic drum solos.

Ruth has managed to fill a very unique space within the Ambient music community. While most Ambient music is also an exploration of space, this album is quite grounded. It’s roots are in rock and roll - that much is obvious - but its a deep record, that allows meditative thought. Parts of tracks are typical ambient music, synthesizers warbling repetitively - which can bring you into a deep relaxing stupor. However, within those moments are pieces of quiet excess. When we saw this band in Baton Rouge, the vibe was electric. Of course, the house was drunk and awaiting the presence of the headliner, but (except for one really hammered guy right in front of us) nobody fell on their face in a stupor. The music was engaging enough to compel deep listening. The record in parts brought me into a relaxing state. The musicians are all top notch, and the instruments flow together quite nicely into an audio onslaught of the senses. Occasional spoken word voices are flown in, which is a staple of the genre - but do not distract from the contemplative state the music brings you to. I’m not sure your average meditation group would find this music helpful - it gets a little too dark, but I’m sure you’ve guessed, if you’ve listened to what I post, that the musical dark is where I mostly hang out. So this record gets a whole bunch of stars. I’m a fan, and it was a great wake up, despite almost putting me in a trance. And that will be the theme for the rest of the music in this post. Trances are good!

One of the things that alerted me (and Wendy) that I was having some cognitive issues, was that I started losing at Scrabble quite frequently. So, I’m happy to report that I’ve massively crushed it in our last few games. I know that winning at Scrabble can be attributed to the luck of the draw, but for whatever reason - these wins made me feel really good about my mental progress. I’m doing a lot for myself - and if I choose to attribute my victory as a byproduct of that work, then I shall! Overall, I’m feeling pretty good about my state - and always looking to make it even better. If this diagnosis has proven anything to me, it is that one can work to improve one’s brain function. Entropy does not have to be the order of the day. Try everything, if you’ve been diagnosed. Do not roll over and accept anything! Sure, there is a real probability that you will still end up demented, but, speaking only for myself, I feel better now that I ever did. So, even if it seems far fetched, try it all. Sound, light, PEMF, herbs, mushrooms, word games, writing, reading, music and social interaction. Some of this ain’t going to do jack for you - but some of it might help. And for sure the intent of trying to make it better will help your mental state quite a bit - which could lead to a slow-down of symptoms! Don’t allow yourself to drift away without an attempt to delay the bastard’s approach.

Whew! I’m sounding like Matt Foley now! Pretty soon I’ll be living in a van… down by the river! But listening to great music while I do it!!!

So, what happens when a guy from Japan decides he wants to make Indian derived trance music? Makyo created (among other albums) Vismaya. Over two long tracks totaling nearly 45 minutes, I was taken from the outer limits of space, to the floor of an opium den in Mumbai. Using synthesizers, drum machines, (often detuned) sitar, tabla and disembodied voices (some of which took you out of the musical trance, unfortunately), Makyo establishes himself as a club/trance musician to be reckoned with. I first heard of Makyo when Bill Laswell (remember him?) remixed one of his tracks. I hunted down the CD, and thus became a fan. Despite being repetitive (or perhaps because) it was a deeply engaging listen, with the lights flickering in time to the steady beat - whether driven by drum machine, or by synth arpeggios. Perhaps not my favorite record of all time, but in this time, and this place I was quite pleased. In some ways parts of this could have fit well on the Porcupine Tree album Up The Downstair from a few posts back. The club would be quite similar! And so, I now know what’s coming up for the next listen…

But before I get there, I want to mention that I’ve bit the bullet and purchased a Vibe device. It could be snake oil, or it could work on (even) one of my myriad afflictions. It's another thing I can try, and since I’m trying nearly everything (that won’t hurt), I’m trying this. I’ll start using it when it arrives (and obviously not before) and report here on any changes (or not).

The next listen will be the full version (originally released in an edited version on Porcupine Tree’s follow up album called The Sky Moves Sideways) of an instrumental excursion called Moonloop. This version stretches out to its full 40 minute glory. This track was on my original relaxing playlist from the clinical trial, so my intent is to return to that zen like state!

If this is truly an improvisation (which I doubt - at least in its full form), it is an exemplary feat. I’m sure there are studio additions including the famous Tranquility Base broadcast and other conversations between the President and astronauts on the moon, but for the most part this is a guitar, bass, percussion, keyboards jam that succeeds in its attempt to guide you to the moon in your mind. It was a perfect compliment to the lighting this morning. Excellent playing and production (as always with a Porcupine Tree project) on a real trance inducing journey. Forty minutes passed like nothing, which is the sign of a good space jam. I didn’t even get too into thoughts. I was just engaged with the music. The music ranges from quiet synthesizer swirls to a powerful guitar based crescendo. All anchored by a throbbing bass and subtle percussion. It was the start of a good day!

Last night we went out to our favorite Chinese restaurant. We observed some really troubling human behavior. I’m not talking about fights or dine and dash. Just a real disconnection from the moment and from other people. We sat near the take-out area. Everybody that came in and waited was staring into their phone, in many cases watching videos out loud. Several people had loud conversations via speaker phone. It was really disconcerting how out of touch with their surroundings these folks were. And I wonder when that became acceptable. I know that Wendy and I always step outside if we’re on the phone, and certainly would put the device down when speaking to a staff member or in an elevator. I fear our lack of basic empathy and awareness has become really pervasive - and I don’t like it. We are, for the most part, a selfish species. (Not that there is not great good being done in the world, but the common person exists in a shell due to the extent of their technological obsessions.) It's a sad commentary on who we have become.

Trance music is different, depending on the creative culture surrounding it. In some African nations, trance music puts the players into a form of trance, and their output is tempered by that trance. So this morning I listened to some tracks from Moroccan trance musicians of that discipline. The tracks came from the following releases - all curated by Bill Laswell:

• Night Spirit Masters, by Gnawa Music of Marrakesh (First 2 tracks)

• Trance Of Seven Colors, by Maleem Mahmoud Ghania with Pharoah Sanders (First track)

• Apocalypse Across The Sky, by Master Musicians of Jajouka feat. Bachir Attar (First 2 tracks)

• TAGNAWWIT - Holy Black Gnawa Trance, by Maâlem Mokhtar Gania with Bill Laswell (First track)

I’ll start with a little honesty here… I rarely listen to these records. I have them simply because of the Laswell connection. I’m a completist there, and will purchase anything with his name on it. Because of that I have more than a few records that I don’t like. But I have more records (and musicians) that I do like, even love, that I would not have known of if not for his involvement.

These four albums all occupy a similar space - with some significant differences. Yet they all bring to mind images of a crackling fire pit and the entire village coming out to play and sing. They are full of wonderful energy that evokes the joy of existence. Night Spirit Masters is a percussion driven album, with some wonderful call and response vocals. It is a pure album - recorded in a market in Marrakesh. It is infused with energy. There is no reason for this album not to trance (port) you directly to Morocco.

The Trance Of Seven Colors, also recorded in the Medina of Marrakesh adds the musical input of the great Pharoah Sanders, protegee of John Coltrane on saxophone. Sanders understands the music here, having a lot of experience experimenting with music of the world in the past. His saxophone compliments the Moroccan musicians quite well. The title of the album is extremely fitting. So many musical colors bring about a deep trancelike state. The 11 minutes of this track passed almost instantly. If the musicians were in a trance, so was I.

The Master Musicians of Jajouka are perhaps the most famous group playing indigenous music in the region. There are two Master Musicians groups - the result of an internal dispute over leadership that has led to much acrimony - especially since they both have the same name. This record is by the group led by Bachir Attar, who is the son of one of the group's leaders from the 60’s (that group was documented by Brain Jones from the Rolling Stones). I’ll be truthful and say that I had to skip track one on this release. I hate the sound of that warbling horn, which reminds me of the vuvuzela, which became a world phenomenon during the world cup one year. The second track, however, is nothing but great - the production is organic (recorded in the mountains of Morocco) and the music is full of energy.

Tagnawwit is a much more unique record. Recorded at a LilaI in Morocco, which are “entire communal nights of celebration, dedicated to prayer, evocation of spirits and healing” and then brought back to America and added to by Laswell and a small crew of compatriots at Laswell's studio in Orange, New Jersey. Quite often when indigenous music is augmented by western musicians, the results can pull you out of the moment. In this case, the musicians are completely sympathetic to the source music and create something truly wonderful. This record, of all of them, will go into deeper rotation. In fact I continued to listen while writing this section of the post. All of these records were an excellent complement to my morning lights routine. I’m going to poke about in the collection to see what other similar music I have and report back.

Today is Valentine’s day, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge Wendy, who has been a steadfast rock through my illness (and our whole married life). Far too often the caregivers are left to themselves, but the amount of stress they are under, perhaps, is greater than our own. They get to watch the decline. They get to manage seeing the person they love slowly fall to pieces, and they get to become the sole holder of a lifetime of memories. And even when that isn’t happening yet, they get to live in dread of that moment. And god forbid they’ve got medical issues of their own.

Yesterday we met online again with a couple we’ve been introduced to by the Alzheimer's Association. I think I’ve mentioned them before. The parallels are really amazing though (he’s a little further ahead of me in his diagnosis and decline). He’s also trying everything. On Leqembi, taking care of his body, doing clinical trials and also seeing a Naturopath. She is really showing the signs of the stress of being a caretaker and it’s affecting her own physical health. Stress and worry are real things, and they really affect the body.

So I say Happy Valentine’s day to my love, my rock, my support and to whom I could not imagine my life without, in sickness and in health. I’ll do everything I can to be a rock for you as well.

Thanks for reading,

Dy