"Without You" - A Tribute To Love Left Behind

The song "Without You" was by far my most ambitious piece on the "Out of Orbit" album. I had actually written the melody back in 2006, a good year before I started seriously rolling up my sleeves to compose again. I knew this song wasn't going to be an appropriate fit for "The Lunar Age" EP, so I decided to hold it for my envisioned full length, which would have a much broader sound. I knew I wanted "Without You" to feel epic, complete with live piano, drums, percussion and strings. I got my wish on all that, with the exception of my desire for a live string section. My budget just didn't allow it this time around, but I was lucky enough to work with Benny Brydern on fully flushing out my string arrangements with synths.

For the longest time the piece floated around as an instrumental and I tried a number of lyrical ideas. Then one day I ran across an old demo with the song "Without You", which was set to an entirely different melody. I tried singing the words to my instrumental and it was a perfect fit.

The concept behind the lyric was to tell a story of someone who had passed away, moving on to the spirit world, yet unable to get over the love they left behind on Earth. I chose to reference heaven, even though I don't subscribe to any particular concept of the after life, because I felt it would be the easiest reference for most people to understand. Ironically, during my vocal sessions, I had experienced my own loss of someone close to me, so I channeled that emotion into my voice. I think the delivery on this song is pretty raw and intense, and I'm very happy with the result, though this is one I can't listen to quite yet because of the emotion that motivated my vocal parts.


"Without You" Lyrics - by Alphanaut

Raise your hands up to heaven
I’m reaching out to you
Rest your holy heart in the temple of my hands
I had waited for you
In and out of my life
But lost, the moment has gone away now

All I wanted was to see in your eyes
Someone who cared without compromise
This distant need had eternity aching
In a place where a heart is breaking
I’ve been waiting for you
I’ve been waiting for you

Raise your eyes up to heaven
I’m sanctified by you
Wash my weary soul with the grace of your hands
I’ve been waiting for you
In and out of my life
Please don’t take this moment away now

All I wanted was to see in your eyes
Someone who cared without compromise
This distant need has eternity aching
In a place where a heart is breaking
I’ve been waiting for you
I’ve been waiting for you

Raise your hands up to heaven
I’m reaching out to you
Rest your holy heart in the temple of my hands
I’ve been waiting for you
I’ve been waiting for you

How was I breathing without you
How was I dreaming without you
How was I, now how am I
Something’s keeping the terror in me alive

How was I breathing without you
How was I dreaming without you
How was I, now how am I
Something’s keeping the memory of you alive

Purchase a copy of the Alphanaut song Without You on iTunes


Or to purchase on Amazon CLICK HERE

"Out of Orbit" Review on Daily Vault

Just got word of a new review for "Out of Orbit" by Vish Iyer on the site Daily Vault. He had some kind words for the release and I thank him for his support.

Click Here to read the article on the Alphanaut album "Out of Orbit".

To purchase a copy of "Out of Orbit" on iTunes Out of Orbit - Alphanaut

Or Amazon Click Here

Third Teaser Image From the Alphanaut "The Innocence of Time" Video

Here is the third and final teaser image for "The Innocence of Time" music video. The official launch date coming in the next week or so and I'll be posting to Youtube and all the other usual video sites.

Stay tuned.

To purchase a copy of "The Innocence of Time" on iTunes


Or from Amazon.com CLICK HERE

"Stalker" Video Clip by Russian Film Maker Andrei Tarkovsky

Here's footage from a 1979 movie called "Stalker" by Russian director Andrei Tarkovsky

I watched this movie a couple months ago, and though I was really struck by it's visual style, I can't entirely recommend you sit down and give it a viewing. That is unless you like really long winded story telling. There are a lot of great moments in the film and ultimately it's a really great idea. Just found this clip on Youtube where a German band named Heimataerde used clips from the film for their music video. It actually provides a good example of scenes from the film.

Alphanaut Radio Play on WRIR 97.3 In Richmond Virginia

Just got an alert that Alphanaut garnered airplay in Richmond Virginia this past Friday evening June 4th. The song "Safe and White" from "Out of Orbit" was played on the show The Lounge.

Cool news and a big thanks to the station.

Any Alphanaut fans in the area please show your support by letting the station know you dig hearing the tunes on the air (804) 649-9737.

Thanks for your support!

Second Teaser Image From the Alphanaut "The Innocence of Time" Video

Here's another little clue pulled from the latest Alphanaut music video for "The Innocence of Time". If all goes as planned the release date for the video will be some time in July.

To purchase a copy of "The Innocence of Time" on iTunes


Or from Amazon.com CLICK HERE

"Mystery Loves Company" - By Alphanaut

Track number six on "Out of Orbit" titled "Mystery Loves Company" is another that goes further back in my song writing catalog. Bringing this one into the Alphanaut universe was probably the most difficult and the song went through about half a dozen different personalities before I settled on this arrangement. As a matter of fact, just before the final mix of the song I ripped out the original drum track that Jorge laid down and programmed the current beats.

Lyrically, it's a tune I wrote after a heated debate with someone who had zealot-like religious beliefs and essentially doomed me to hell for not having the same convictions. Looking back on it from a more mature perspective, I'm not sure I got my point across as effectively as I could have, though there are elements of the lyric I still really like.

"Mystery Loves Company" Lyrics - By Alphanaut

Your hatred fears the secular mind
With the holy ghost you hide behind
The halls of truth are open wide
But you can choose the doors you hide behind
Cause your kind of virtue is no place I would hide in
I choose the housed I want to reside in

I can’t hold you up
You can’t hold me down
Mystery loves company when the best is not around
What’s hidden in the tea leaves
Or written in the stars
Mystery loves company no matter who you are

You read my mind
What a waste of your time
I blew your doors right off their hinges and gave you the answers
What do you want me to say
Je nes vous pas parlez
Is it am I, are you, did you, do you, can you think of something better to say

I can’t hold you up
You can’t hold me down
Mystery loves company when the best is not around
What’s hidden in the tea leaves
Or written in the stars
Mystery loves company no matter who you are

Purchase a copy of Alphanaut's "Mystery Loves Company" on iTunes


Or to purchase a copy on Amazon CLICK HERE

Photo From "Sleep Spun Brown" Recording Session

Here's a photo taken yesterday from the recording session for "Sleep Spun Brown", the bonus cut for the next Alphanaut single "Satellites Crashing".

From Left to Right: Chavo Villanueva (guitar and ebo), Mark Alan (voice), Ted Scarlett (piano), Alberto Campos (drums) and Art Agunod (fretless bass).

I shot video of the session as well so as soon as Ted and I have a mix together I'll be cutting the footage and posting to Youtube. Should be some time later in the month. It was great to work with every one involved, and their contributions to the song took it to another level.

Low Budget Sci Fi Short by Ataque de Pánico! "Panic Attack!"

Many out there have probably already seen this trailer, but for those who haven't it's a short film by Uruguayan director Fede Alvarez, called "Ataque de panico!" (Panic Attack). It's a story in which giant robots invade a South American city. The kicker is, it was reportedly made for $500, though some dispute that fact. Either way, it was certainly done on a shoe string budget and it's pretty exciting to see what can be done when imagination and ingenuity make up for money.



Last I read about this project, Sam Raimi that his Ghost House Pictures made a deal with Alvarez to direct a feature length movie based on the short.

"Spontaneity" Receives Platinum Auddy From YouPlaya.com

Check out Alphanaut on YouPlaya.com by clicking the link below and download a copy of the single "Spontaneity".

http://uplaya.com//albums/941/widget

"This Time" - The Complexities of Truth and Lies in Love

The song "This Time" is another that goes back away for me. It was originally recorded as part of a demo for my previous band to an entirely different melody. The lyric always meant a lot to me, and as I didn't have the rights to the original melody, I decided to put it to my own music.

As I am at heart a minimalist (I know it's not apparent at this point), I had been experimenting with the idea of creating a song that would revolve around one melodic theme throughout. The idea was to have the song build upon itself without moving off a constant progression, and from that idea the music behind "This Time" formed. Originally this music backed a very different version of "The Best Hasn't Happened Yet" from "The Lunar Age" EP, which was scrapped when it quickly became apparent it was the wrong direction for that song. I then began to fit the "This Time" lyric into the instrumental and it worked perfectly.

This was the second song, after "More Than I Do", that I gave to Chavo Villanueva to play guitar on back when I was working on the previous EP. Even though this song was pretty much flushed out before the EP sessions even started, it was sonically more expansive and I knew it had to be held back. In the end, it actually laid the ground work for how the sound for "Out of Orbit" would develop.

"This Time" was written while in a particularly turbulent relationship years ago. It's a pretty straight forward confession about lies told and received chipping away at the foundation of love. Oh, so many mistakes.

"This Time" Lyrics - by Alphanaut

I’ve been lied to and I’ve lied
I’ve been tied to and I’ve tied
I’ve been broken and I’ve broke
And shattered dreams before I awoke
And there have been centuries
When you meant more to me
But now you take the time you draw the line

You say, believe me
This day, believe me
This time, this time

You come to my defense
But it makes no difference this time
Desire is my reward
But these are treasures I cannot afford this time

And I’ve traded greater things
Than the treasures of a thousand kings
And I’ve faded like the smoke
To find that love was an unbearable joke
And there have been memories
When you meant more to me
But now you take the time you draw the line

You say, believe me
This day, believe me
This time, this time

You come to my defense
But it makes no difference this time
Desire is my reward
But these are treasures I cannot afford this time

Purchase Alphanaut's "This Time" on iTunes

Or on Amazon by Clicking Here