The latest from Spirit Level features RayC; I`m very happy he could relate to this song and accepted the invite to contribute a great bass track.

Dark Star Cathedral

Bass RayC
Guitars ScottC Peavey Powerslide (lapsteel)
Fender Stratocaster
Amp Purdy
Eventide H9’s
RealTracks in style: 3182:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm GrungeUnpluggedQuinn Ev16 090
RealTracks in style: 3181:Guitar, Acoustic, Rhythm AcRockDriving8thsQuinn Ev 100
RealTracks in song: 3440:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm BritPsycRockMarchGrittyChords Ev 110
RealTracks in song: 1856:Cello, Background PopCountry Ev 085
RealTracks in song: 1680:Guitar, 12-String Acoustic, Fingerpicking Ev 085
RealDrums MetalSlowBigTomGroove

mixed by Scott in Studio One 5



Dark Star Cathedral


read me your needle Dark Star Cathedral
all systems go gauges floored
counting from ten we take off on amen
light breaks through the door
light breaks through light breaks through
light breaks through the door

boys in helmets our rust box welded
for holes in science prepared
this is Dream Eclipse 876
strapped in saying a prayer
strapped in strapped in this is your captain
strapped in saying a prayer

battered hopeful where it don`t show
the crew of Dark Star Cathedral

stick to your mission I copy your vision
keep the Prime Directive intact
never repeat mistakes in space
with gods and girls make contact
gods and girls gods and girls
make first contact

this is Dream Eclipse 876
come in Dark Star Cathedral
more than carbon genius trumps jargon
aliens are my kind of people
aliens aliens blue with radiance
my kind of people

battered hopeful where it don`t show
the crew of Dark Star Cathedral


© Robert Cordrey August 2020

Thanks Robert & Scott for the opportunity to play along...I was very happy to listen to this great song and to have a chance to participate was wonderful. Terrific song, terrific guitar & vocals.

Guys,

Really really good, enjoyed everything about this one.

Specifically:
Some very tasty playing by Scott with some lovely effects and very atmospheric
Ray's bass propels the song along and adds a great "live" feel to the recording
Some of Roberts best vocals and a suitably impressive lyric.

Top notch.

Peter

Howdy All ...

I think Ray summed up the song pretty dang good. A bit "out there", but in the best of ways. It all sounds good to mre. Ray's bass line drives it very nicely. The laidback vocal adds a contrasting mystery to the ethereal music.

A really cool song!

Wishing all of the best. Be safe ...

Alan

Robert (and Ray),

Rich and haunting—some great internal rhymes in the lyrics that make this resonate. And the production is stellar—got no nits, no suggestions—really hangs together. That lead guitar is particular is just perfect,. One of my favorites from Spirit Level.

All my best,

Deej

Spirit Level.

Coolness abounds!

An awesome Spirit Level sound. Scott has never sounded better - excellent fills and leads. Ray's bass sounds great - punchy and driving. Drums are cool. Guitars all sound good.

Robert's vocal is strong (I thought it was just a little "too buried").

Your lyrics always shine in these Rock productions. Excellent.

This is the Complete Package. A great listen.

fj

Is this a tribute to The Grateful Dead? Dark Star, Captain, Girls. Those are my only clues, Coincidence? Whatever, the song was cool, I liked it a lot.

Peter,
We very much appreciate all those positive comments!




Thank you Alan!



Deej,
I think this is the first SL song to feature Scott`s lapsteel as a solo instrument; he`s really developed and I`m glad it`s being noticed.
Many thanks for your listen and thoughtful comments.



Floyd,
Thanks for that; I agree Ray`s bass goes well with those heavy toms.
I really enjoyed the lyric write on this one (a combination of reading some early Arthur C Clarke and remembering how caught my young imagination was by the 60`s space missions; they took over from Cowboys and Indians as roleplay themes).
I heard the vocal about right playing the song loud, which seemed what was required by the genre.

Robert

Very well arranged and produced song. I really enjoyed listening to this!

Will

Man, that intro is insane!! Very, very cool, a big tip of the hat to Scott for that.

That lap steel throughout sounds great actually. I like the bit at the end where it is trading licks with the straight guitar.

Everything about this works, that busy pattern on the toms is perfect for the song, and Ray sounds great also.

Your lyrics are always an experience, great writing chops.

Excellent guys, you kicked it up a notch with this one!

Tunemonger,
This has as much to do with the Dead ( their Dark Star was the last track I played many nights- nothing was good enough to follow), as our Secrets of the River had to do with Springsteen`s The River!
Thanks for your listen and likes though.



Thanks Will!




Dave,
Scott surprised me with the slide- he`s been practicing and keeping it a secret.
I appreciate those positive comments.

Robert

Very nicely done, gentlemen. Cool, spacey lyrics, excellent spacey guitar work and Ray's bass is a great addition. While the vocals sound a little buried to me, maybe that just adds to the air of mystery.
Regards,
Leon

Very cool song. Spacey (no pun intended). Great electric guitar playing. Bass played wonderfully. Cool lyrics and vocals. You guys captured the atmosphere the song created perfectly. Job well done.

>Tunemonger,
>This has as much to do with the Dead ( their Dark Star was the last track I played many nights- nothing was >good enough to follow), as our Secrets of the River had to do with Springsteen`s The River!
>Thanks for your listen and likes though.

Okay, no more guesses from me.

Sonically interesting, which is really what the song seems to be about: taking a cosmic trip in sound.

I also thought the vocal was a bit buried, but I'll buy that it fits the genre.

I enjoyed the trip!

A melting pot of various styles. Neil Young, Bryan Ferry etc.
Bass ain't bad too.
Enjoyed my listen.

Vic

Thanks everyone for the awesome comments. Was really happy with the tune when Robert sent it to me. Key of Am my favorite key. Had been missing my slide guitar as it had been neglected for awhile. The lapsteel has such a big sound especially with amps turned up. Want to thank Ray for sitting in on this song. His bass really put some punch into the song. Love it when Robert turned up the heat a little on this tune. Was a joy to play on. Was a little nervous with the mix as I has two very good producers providing some excellent feedback.

It came MUCH cooler than what I thought it would be!
Spirit level + Ray, very interesting collaboration! Very art-house-licious. Some serious space donkey #ss kicking! Easily makes in top 5 tunes I have heard in U.Showcase this year. Wow! Excellent teamwork, especially considering that Ray played first time with SL. Bass work is A+!
Scott, you need to use that slide of yours in more tunes, very cool opener / FX. Robert, very good composition. I listened to is several times and more I listened, the more I liked it. Thank you for sharing.

Misha.

P.S. One suggestion. I wish vocals would be more on top.

Hello Robertkc,

Very nice composition that you made with Rayc. The lyrics and your voice is splendid on the arrangement well done. it shows once again your talents as a composer.

Kindly regard

Dero13
alias JaniJackFlash

Wow!! Really cool!! Loved the lyrics and the melody. It has a haunting feeling. Reminds me of some of the 60s experimental music, some band like King Crimson. Nice!

Nice to hear a song from the future for a change The band supports the space mission nicely, especially the tom groove and Scott's playing sounds like very long distance signals. Nice chording, especially in the "battered hopeful..." part.

Janne

Thanks for your listens and positive comments Leon, jptjptjpt, dcuny & vicarn.
Tunemonger; please excuse my grumpy response- go ahead and keep interpreting.I was so sure the lyrics on this painted a clear picture ...for once!

Robert

Thanks everyone for all your awesome comments and for checking out the song..

And then there were three!! Very cool trippy track guys!! The spirit level has been raised higher!! Very 60's!!! Take care. Greg

Robert, Scott and Rayc,

It's fun to be able to hear various collaborations as the exchanges between the members of the forum become active.
This collaboration between Sririt Level and Rayc is also very nice.
Scott's lap steel is also amazing.
Robert's individuality is fully demonstrated in the music, and I think it is a wonderful work.
Enjoyed my listen a lot.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Cool psychedelia! We kept expecting a light show to appear on our wall

"aliens are my kind of people
aliens aliens blue with radiance
my kind of people"

Yep. We are both reading a sci-fi book and we like the spiders much better than the humans!

Glad to see Ray joining in to help glue it all together ... nice bass.

The lap steel was a great addition to the ethereal sound ... enjoyed it and the Strat.

Janice immediately commented on the drums with the "toms focus." Great choice.

Vocals are really good and fit in the mix most excellently. Not easy to do with the as mentioned ethereal vibe.

Cool collab you three!

J&B

Robert - That is one cool song. I love the lyrics - this one for example:

"strapped in strapped in this is your captain
strapped in saying a prayer"

Just wow. That syncopation is just killer. The whole song is a real trip - it just grabs you and launches you out into space (far out). Great production.

Robert, Scott and Ray...



What a journey!!!!

You've pulled out all stops on this one.

Robert, your lyrics pulled me along on images that both mesmerise and tantalise. Everything in these words is so vivid! You hooked me.

Scott... what an arrangement and mix! You've matched the intensity of Robert's lyrics with a brilliant production!

And Ray... I love that driving bass line. It was a perfect fit and captured the mood really, well. I don't think there is anything more important to bedding a fine production than getting the bass spot on.

This is really good listening!
Noel

Thank You: Misha, Dero13, Belladonna, Janne, Greg, Shigeki, Janice & Bud,Ed Z
Our space opus garnered some cool comments; I might take them as public support for another mission!

Robert