Natural Life Essence: Dune [Beginning]

Posted on March 28, 2022 by Stupidity Hole

One listen for this one.

I wanted to go for imagery but I didn’t quite know how to go about it, so I tried to go for what the song (and the album as a whole) seemed to be trying to go for. Considering the album’s structure I probably could’ve done the whole thing in one go and maybe that would’ve led to something interesting, but I didn’t and I ended up with some light waffle.

I feel the song does capture the idea of a desert, but at the same time it doesn’t quite. It could be inspired by the novel Dune, but I’ve no idea.

Natural Life Essence’s “Dune [Beginning]” is from Dune.

I hope you enjoy.

—

Something pulses. It is distant and faint at first, but gradually it comes into view.
Soon a wideness becomes apparent and all become expansive. Smoothed out and seemingly endless, the expanse consumes all and it is all the same in all directions. The form and the shape may change, but it remains constant. It continues onward.

Crests of low hills and shallow valleys appear under a sky as bright as it can be dark. When it is bright the details are as clear as they are blurred; when it is dark there is little to guide the way.

Wisps of sounds lift up on a strong, yet seemingly distant breeze. The landscape changes over time whilst remaining utterly still. Some features stand out but it all seems to be a vague shimmer that reveals little other than a suggestion of detail and something distinct. It’s muffled, muted and vague to the point where it could not be there.

Other sounds seem to cradle and guide for the way forward in a changing land. In that guiding something comes more to the forefront. Something approaches, but it never quite get there and instead flickers in and out, and eventually it too seems to fade.

A sense of calm falls over the landscape, though that calm can be deceptive. However, in this instance it is not, and as the journeying continues onward the song ends.

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Five-Hundred Word Challenge 1089: Here and There

Posted on March 28, 2022 by Stupidity Hole

Sometimes you think ab out things that don’t matter, and sometimes you think about things that do matter.

Sometimes I think.

There are plenty of things that are worth thinking about, just as there are plenty of things to think about. I don’t think I’m thinking much about what any of this implies, but it should be pretty obvious… I think.

Anyway, that’s the introduction. That’s what you get for this bit of writing and I don’t know where to go from here. I could go over there, but here is a good place to remain. There is no need to push outward and explore; why, there’s a chair here, so what would be the point in me going over there when I can sit here and be perfectly content with whatever it is that I need to be content with in order to be perfectly content.

Is there even any way to be perfectly content?

There probably is, but I digress.

So I sit here and not there but there could be better for the growth of the thoughts, but here is fine. Here is comfortable. Here is safe as I know here, but there is inly so much knowing of here and there does offer more possibility. There could be better, but there could challenge some of my views. There could be something that makes me think of things that I have no need to think of as I know here, and I know here well. Here has a chair. There might not have a chair. There might not have a chair. It might not have anything to sit upon.

There might, but here does. Here is comfortable and allows me to remain content. There offers growth. It shows things that I was not aware of, but I don’t need to be aware of those things as it means leaving here and here is comfortable and I know here and here has a chair and I can sit on the chair and be comfortable and content. I don’t need to do much else. I can keep going on about things as they have always been over here. Sure, there seems to be getting bigger and it seems to offer more, but it means that I might see here differently. I might have to reflect on here in comparison to there more and that’s not something that’s necessary, as things are simple over here and things are always how they have been here. It’s all known and it’s all firm, and in my knowing of here I can dismiss what is over there.

I can continue as I always have over here. There may require me to change things around and why would I want to do that? Why would I want to change things around? It seems to me that there is a place where they talk about things that they think are pressing an urgent, but they don’t know what they’re talking about, so I’ll stay here.

The time it took to write five-hundred words: 06:15:18

Due to my clumsy writing there’s probably a few ways this could be read.
As such, I feel a need to clarify that this is about resisting learning and doing anything about climate change because of believing to know better.

It’s also about refusing to engage in supporting and promoting equality as supposedly support for it is fine up until, due to their own refusal to question and challenge their own past and ongoing actions, it becomes inconvenient to do so.

Written at home.

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Saori Kobayashi: The Breath of Life

Posted on March 27, 2022 by Stupidity Hole

One listen for this one.
However, a couple of restarts early on as I got stuck on a word and lost pace.
Probably should’ve just let the song repeat so I could’ve gotten a bit more down.

I’d been meaning to write about one of Saori Kobayashi’s (小林 早織) compositions for a while now, but hadn’t gotten around to doing so until now. I’m not quite sure as to why I put it off for as long as I did, but it is now done and in a bit of a messy fashion to boot.

I feel I didn’t do much of a good job of covering anything here. There is some description but it doesn’t really do much in terms of covering the song well, I feel.

Saori Kobayashi’s “The Breath of Life” (“生命の息吹”) is from Resurrection: Panzer Dragoon Saga 20th Anniversary Arrangement. Originally it is from Panzer Dragoon Saga Original Soundtrack, the soundtrack for Panzer Dragoon Saga. The original soundtrack was composed in collaboration with Mariko Nanba (南波 真理子).

I hope you enjoy.

—

Something shines and shimmers. A quick and gentle, yet firm percussive run appears, aiding in flow whilst other sounds stir and a flow is established. Drama comes low and high whilst a muted sound flutters about.

A slight shift into something with more of a sense of rising, though all remains flowing and easy. There is a gentleness, but there is also a sense of seriousness. The sounds express an urgency whilst they seem to explore something that is neither purely natural nor purely artificial. It is almost as though scenes and places lost to time come forward whilst the sounds continue their gentle exploration.

Upon coming back to a start of the loop a few extra sounds become present in the flow. There is a gathering in this expression and in this gathering the sounds flow with a wider range and expression.

Soon they are rising once more and more sounds join in, building on texture and tone, looking to reach higher and they soon do. They reach a point where they find their peak and as soon as they do they fade away, leaving one last sound its final few dots before the song ends.

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A Poem About Night Rainfall

Posted on March 27, 2022 by Stupidity Hole

This was kind of written quickly.
Maybe it is better to say that it was lazily written.
I wasn’t looking for anything other than describing the rain, which I kind of did.

As per usual, this could become something better.
It’s a rough draft.

I hope you enjoy.

—

The rain falls through the night
It cuts through the stillness
It creates its own rhythms
And carries familiarity

In waves the rain falls
And so it changes volume
Sometimes it holds the background
At others it envelopes all

As the rain falls
Smells linger in the air
Much like the rhythms
They wax and wane

As the rain falls through the night
It paints familiar scenes
Whilst inhabiting presence
It seems to prolong time

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Solaris: Rays of the Sun

Posted on March 26, 2022 by Stupidity Hole

One listen for this one.

There’s a lot and also not much going on in this song and I felt it difficult to keep up with what was going on. I think that’s due to needing to go to sleep as once more I’ve waited for too long before writing.

That said, I think that I’ve given an idea of how some of the song goes.

Solaris’ “Rays of the Sun” is from Solaris.

I hope you enjoy.

—

Something descends whilst a beeping comes forward. Soon more beeps join in on the beeping, as does what could be looped bass and what could be synth. A sort of tension builds whilst feedback comes forward and joins the melody. The beeping pulls away and soon percussion comes in.

The percussion plays steady and in a pushing manner whilst guitar chugs away. The melody continues and sometimes the guitar lets loose for a brief moment. However, soon the melody changes and a brief rhythmic unison is found before once more the song shifts.

It continues on and seems ready to unleash when it strips back. The bass plays a kind of throb whilst the percussion shuffles and the guitar seems to loosely, yet tightly slide along. The guitar gives way for what sounds like clapping before returning to fade in and out. Tension continues and the sounds push on forward.

Space remains and the guitar becomes more angular and jagged in a sense. A brief pause and the rhythm shifts to something more driving. Soon the sounds let loose a little more and become more flowing whilst maintaining the tension. Guitar rings out and stretches and expands whilst the bass and percussion keep grooving on, hurrying where they can.

Rather than keep on building, rather suddenly the song ends.

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Business Watches

Posted on March 25, 2022 by Stupidity Hole

Yesterday morning I had to go to The North Shore.
On the way back I stopped off near McMahon’s Point to try and get a few photos of the sunrise, of which I kind of did. It wasn’t a strong one due to how heavy the cloud cover was, but I did get some photos I liked, such as this one.

I like how the tall buildings seem to loom over everything. They feel rather menacing whilst keeping a cold distance.

I hope you enjoy.

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The Oscillation: Visitation (Exit)

Posted on March 24, 2022 by Stupidity Hole

One listen for this one.

I started off trying to work with imagery more than anything, but I think I was trying to use imagery to describe how the song progressed. I think some of that came forward, but not as much as I’d have liked.

I was also hoping to get imagery across that related to how I first heard this song. Part of it was set to footage of what could be Bathyphysa conifera which I saw many years ago. I think I saw this by chance somewhere around 2012 or 2013; I’m not entirely sure. If curious, the footage can be found here. Anyway, that didn’t quite come across in this writing.

The Oscillation’s “Visitation (Exit)” is from Out Of Phase.

I hope you enjoy.

—

A wind gently whips at something and something low lurks among the cover it provides. Other forms appear in the vagueness of the wind and they too are vague. They are indistinct, though their forms are recognised as something familiar. At the same time they are formless and trying to organise themselves into shapes, though it may be that they already have form and are rising to become more distinct.

The sounds are a pool somewhere deep and they create an atmosphere of their own. There is a sun rising and its light is piercing through a thick miasma and some things seem to race off before coming back.

Through it all a light repeating percussion and an electronic sound moves about in a loop. Soon the percussion fills out more and another electronic sound follows the first. Another sound finds itself in there, following the others. Something higher pitched looks and lurks through, seemingly searching for something.

Soon bass comes in and plays careful. More sounds appear and rise and come to the forefront, filling out an expanse of sorts whilst one of the previous sounds slowly morphs whilst remaining in shape.

More percussive sounds come to the forefront and movement continues onward. A groove holds and all find themselves in a state of clarity. Something far back calls out as space is made, and a few glimpses of what is calling out are possible, though it is difficult to tell if it is something large or small.

Slow the sounds move around and with a grace unexpected. They ride a groove and soon much dissipates. Percussion spaces itself out whilst much seems flat and level. Soon some things return whilst the percussion seems to stagger whilst trying to move onward.

A pause as something seems to move on past and the percussion finds its footing once more and moves with a little more speed. There is no urgency, but there is a need to keep on moving forward. Sounds stretch out, whilst others build more on the atmosphere that was previously established. However, all soon crash into each other and a shattered rotation is left whilst an electronic sound moves about in a loop, and it continues until it all suddenly stops before the song ends.

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Rock Doves in the Rain

Posted on March 23, 2022 by Stupidity Hole

I hadn’t seen rock doves sitting in the rain before I saw them here.It was something I found quite interesting. They could’ve gone under shelter, but didn’t.
Maybe this is normal behaviour for them.

This is my submission into Leanne Cole‘s “Monochrome Madness” for this week.
I suggest checking out Leanne’s photography, as well as checking out what other people submit.

A lot of what people are submitting will likely end up here.

I hope you enjoy.

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Peter Gabriel: Sky Blue

Posted on March 22, 2022 by Stupidity Hole

This was one listen, but I had to rewind a little at one point.
The reason being is that I paused the song for a reason for which I cannot remember.
By the time I returned I couldn’t remember what the part I was covering at the time of pausing sounded like and had to start it again. It made it easier to finish this, but I should’ve just continued on and let the song repeat instead, I feel.

I wanted to describe the song but I don’t feel I did a good job of doing so. However, I do feel I captured something, though what that something is I’m not sure of.

Peter Gabriel’s “Sky Blue” is from Up.

I hope you enjoy.

—

Something soft and seemingly muted appears vague at a distance. Soon it comes more into view, anchored by something lower, deeper. Vocals approach, revealing a dryness to the sounds that remain calm, and somehow pulsing.

Random strikes of sound follow a sense of rise that settles quickly. The sounds continue onward and after a second strike the sounds shift and fill and grow into something more looking for an emotional emphasis. It stretches and reaches out before snapping back.

A beat finds itself solidified and more clear, though the dryness remains. Vocals continue with a strong sense of passion and move onward along with the other sounds before returning to a chorus.

The chorus fills out more. There is movement around the main body and a sense of interweaving to produce something a little richer in sound. Eventually this gives way to a new section that seems to find a sense of grandeur without going too big. It stays grounded and keeps things going before pulling away.

Piano and vocals come in and almost feel comforting. There’s a warmth and a closeness, yet it still manages to feel distant. The beat returns, gentle, and slowly other instruments come in and there’s a tenderness, though it seems as though at any moment things will become massive, but instead of doing so the sounds pull away.

One last vocal grouping, one last pressing of the keys and the song ends.

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Five-Hundred Word Challenge 1088: Long Day, Short Day Ramble

Posted on March 22, 2022 by Stupidity Hole

A long day will stretch out in all sorts of directions and today has been a long day. At the same time it has been a short day. There are two paths that could be traced through today and both of them follow the exact same route. However, one is shorter than the other, and that’s fine. That’s sometimes how it goes really.

I’m thinking of what it would take to be able to get all the things I need to get done in the short period I have left before I need to go rest, for tomorrow is a day where I need to get up early. Tomorrow will see an early rise followed by an early drive. Then there will be driving back and then I’ll have to work and some other stuff.

I don’t know as to why I am mentioning this. I had this idea of writing about deserts as I like writing about them for some reason. I was going to explore landscape and aridity and how vegetation in a desert region can be lively and vibrant without appearing as such, but for some reason that isn’t what is coming forward at the moment. Instead of riding the desert winds I am writing about the day that was today and the day that will be tomorrow, and to be honest, I don’t know why. There are other things that are far more worthwhile in terms of things to write about and this is what is coming forward. Such is the way of things, I suppose.

For the time being I am thinking of maybe steering this away from the dreariness that is the excitement of driving, but I don’t know if I can do that. I don’t know if I have that kind of energy at the present moment. I do have energy, however, and so I am going to do what I can to take advantage of said energy to get this out and get it rolling and then move on, as there…

So anyway, tomorrow is a day of events and maybe they too will be as long as they are short, and then I will be home sooner than I think I would be and that would be something that I’d appreciate a fair bit, but it’s a small thing in the grand scheme of things. There are other things to worry about at the moment and the world is greater than myself and that’s a good thing. Sometimes it’s a sad thing as there’s a lot of pain and sadness out there, but there’s also a lot that can be done to try and improve things for everyone. There is a lot that can be done and there is a lot that I hope will be done. Obviously action needs to be actually taken rather than just talked about, but over time more action will be taken and then things might just improve for everyone.

Hopefully much sooner rather than later.

The time it took to write five-hundred words: 06:50:76

Not quite slow, not quite fast. Not sure.
Not happy with the writing. I feel this could’ve been spun off into something about the perception of the passage of time, but it went nowhere. Oh well.

Written at home.

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