Apr 29, 2015
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Deep Magic is a solo project of Alex Gray who is one half of Sun Araw. He has also worked with Black Eagle Child and Pocahaunted. His initial release Solar Meditations was released on Not Not Fun. He actively experiments with mindstate and sound but in perpendicular fashion, which is rare for this new crop of electronica. Gray is able to maintain the chalice of the physical while journeying to source, rather than remain subliminal. Lucid Thought is the third piece in a triptych CD release called Circa released in 2011 on Preservation. From Lucid Thought, is the track excerpt featured above called Minds in Lucidity V.
Once again
It is about 2am, and I have almost nothing coherent or interesting to say.
Yet.
But, I assume, as this post goes on, I will eventually arrive at some kind of idea what this was all about.
It's the journey, not the destination, right?
This post is prompted by some things I've read tonight. I worked another closing shift, which ran a bit longer than usual because we had more than our fair share of discontented patrons, and, being the shift manager, it was my responsibility to act nice, smile, and make it right.
It gets exhausting after a while, being a corporate pizza whore.
For now, I do my part, and I take my money. This may all change very soon. I have an interview at a much better paying and lower stress job next week. I'll have to find a nice shirt... Here's hoping it all works out.
But I digress.
After coming home from a pretty un-enjoyable shift, I, of course, open up my browser and open a tab to each site I care to stay up to date on. Facebook is one of these, since face-to-face interaction with my social circle is sparse; I work all night and sleep all day.
I can't help but notice that many of my friends, who once posted only cynical, meaningless things, are now more upbeat, and more aware of their digital selves. I think it's refreshing. Facebook is a tool, and tools can be useful. But it can also be a detriment, a time-waster, and a soapbox for people who should really critically think about the things that come out of their mouths (figuratively. literally: fingertips).
And I know you're saying, "But John, isn't that a result of you finely tuning your news feed by blocking out the things you don't want to see?"
And it may be.
But there are people whose opinions I harshly disagree with, whose posts make me want to punch straight through my computer screen, in the hopes that the fist will transfer digitally through the ether, come out on the other side of their monitor and clock them in the jaw.
And I don't always block those people. I disagree, but I read anyway. It might make me roll my eyes, or seethe with anger. But that's a good thing. Opening myself enough to read and process other opinions keeps me grounded. It strengthens the way I feel and validates my own views.
I don't jump onto the "attack" train. I don't even comment, most of the time. It's just not a productive thing to do. If I ever see that person in public, and we get around to talking, I may bring up the subject in question, for some lively debate. But pulling that out on Facebook, that just gets nothing done. All it does is start a sort of digital street fight. I'll get people jumping in with me, agreeing, and offering support, and my opponent will certainly have friends joining them in righteous comment combat. But no one's mind will be changed. It's simply not the medium for it.
Being face to face brings a more human element to the combat. It's easier to see things from a different person's perspective when you're looking them in the eyes. It's subtle, but it definitely makes a difference.
So I guess I found out what this post is about.
Let's have meaningful arguments. I'm so for that. But let's do it in a more personal way. I'm not usually the one to argue against technology. I'm often times on the other side, lauding the miracle of instant international communication and information flow. But we are still humans, we are not entirely mechanized.
At least, not yet. (Come on, Singularity!!)
My request is corny, but here it is. The next time you see something you don't like from one of your friends, don't attack them online. Think, first. (Always think first, when it comes to these things). Then, invite them to hang out. Go get a coffee (or something less cliched). Then argue. Don't argue angrily, emotions will certainly play a role, but keep your cool. This is how humans used to talk. We'd argue.
It's not a bad word. Arguing is wonderful. Because, in those rare, beautiful scenarios, arguing can change a mind. And a changed mind is a changed world. It starts small, and it starts with you. If you believe in something, stand for it. Let people know what you think, how you feel, and why you feel that way. If they don't agree, then they don't agree.
But you'll have said your part, they'll have said theirs, and you'll feel a little something inside yourself. That feeling that lets you know: We're all similar, but we're hardly the same. Relish your uniqueness, and appreciate the individuality of others.
This is a good world, and it's only better for people like you being in it, being aware of it, and being kind to the others you share it with.
And with that, I'm going to bed. Because this is how I live. Brief early morning moments of lucid thought on a digital notepad, followed by blissful sleep, and 18 hours of grinding.
Good morning/evening.
-JBJR
Jealousy has drivin me to this...
I hate letting my emotions be dictated by the silliest of things... and the word "things" being used as loosely as possible. But, funny, it's who I seem to be. And who I am has helped pull me along this far in life :P
Time to lose sleep and let myself go... let myself be whisked away by this tornado we call living, by this roller coaster we call life, by this woman we call fortune.
Time to let her wheel spin. And may it ever be in my favor. *sigh*
Life....To many people stress about it and not enough of them living it.
I wake up a little earlier than expected on a Monday morning and try to force myself back to sleep. Seeing nothing but darkness as I try to drift away to another unforeseen dream; I start to think about my obligations for the week. What jobs will I apply for, how many bills I have to pay, who do I have to meet with and so on. Suddenly the dark cave that I was in starts to flicker with orange fluorescent looking lights. I open my eyes to see it was the rays of sun beaming through my window. As I sat up from my resting position to close the blinds a simple question pops into my head, "Is this the way we should be living our lives?" Should we feel trapped in our bottomless pit of debt and own self worthiness? Just a few days ago I was able to hold my beautiful week old niece. While holding the 7 pound 3 ounce gift to our family and grinning from ear to ear I say quietly, "Welcome to the world!" But when driving back home I began to think about how little Kaylah and babies like her have no clue what the world has in store for them. Their soon to be ups and downs, their trials and tribulations, seeing the world for what it really is...cruel and unfair!
How come when we ask people "hows it going?", it mostly comes back with a response that starts off in a sigh and ends in "Just working and paying bills." Why is it that we can't follow the question up with "It couldn't be going any better", or "It's going just the way I planned it." Somehow my friends we have to find a way to put back the living in our lives. Whether its going away on a vacation or taking 10 minutes out of our day to just breathe and relax. When was the last time you just looked up at the sky and felt at peace with yourself? If your not happy about how your life is right now you can not be scared to take the necessary steps to change it to how you see fit. If you are not satisfied with your career then find a new one more to your liking. I'm not saying that it will happen tomorrow or the day after but you need to believe that it will happen when its time. There is another step people tend to forget about after the belief and that is the action. You can not expect another career or another goal of yours will come if you are just waiting and expecting it to fall on your lap. That will set you up for failure and disappointment causing you to become pessimistic about making the change. If you want the new job then you can start applying, you could learn the job characteristics and acquire the skills they are looking for, and also you can tell someone (people always know a friend who knows a friend in the career you want). You have to act on your beliefs or it will pass you by. And last and certainly not least be humble and grateful for what you do have and not for what you don't have. Be humble and grateful for the things you have yet to receive. No matter how bad a situation is, it can always be worse. They're 6 billion people in the world so I guarantee there is someone out there that has it worse than you. But anyways....the moral of this article or the point that I was trying to explain is we were put on this earth to live life. Our homes, jobs, clothes, and cars do not control our destiny...WE DO!!!! God Bless!!!
Deep Magic | "Minds in lucidity II" | Lucid Thought | 2011
Some time ago ago The Orb sampled the phrase "I've been waiting for music like this all my life" in their "Back side of the moon" (which will be posted next because I cannot find it anywhere except for a poor quality YouTube video, and it really should be readily available). That really resonated with me listening to much of The Orb's recordings, and I keep thinking of that phrase again listening to Deep Magic's new record.
Previously.
Deep Magic | "Minds in lucidity I"| Lucid Thought | (forthcoming - May 2011)
A beautiful ode to spring. I wandered into this guy's Bandcamp on Thursday, and then into a Vimeo collection inspired by his music on Friday. You'll find of wealth of watery, mellow, contemplative sounds along the lines of White Rainbow, Sean McCann, Fabric, Red Electric Rainbow, Brother Raven, gkfoes vjgoaf, Gem Trails, Mandelbrot & Skyy, etc.
