Ideas, for the interested. Demos.

CLOUDS: In East Kilbride, where I lived most of my life, I was fascinated with the way the clouds seemed lower than the valley hillside, which rose up to meet them. It was like being as high as heaven. That and the shadow patterns which the clouds made on the fields, on a summer day when the grass is lush. The sparkle and shine of the sun and shadow following, creates different moods. Which can flit between bright and gloom instantaneously. The general dark/brooding mood of the piece reflects where I was at, but the subconscious happy ending with the sun coming out at the end reflects where I’m going. More chords than some albums. And the solo was my solo, to end all (my) solos.
COWS GRAZING: A soothing little number, that gets into its brief groove to placate and please. Sweet melancholy, like the cows in the fields.
MAY MORNING: I have no idea how to play the piano. I used three chords that I knew and made up the rest. Sunshine spreads, birds tweet and a horse canters. Music can really paint a picture, and this is the picture it paints for me.
AILSA CRAIG: A rhythm at the start, which was a good groove to get into, but I wanted more out of it, without sacrificing the main thrust. It always suggested water, and rock. This is the truncated version.
COWBOY ANTHEM: Theme for a Western, that will never be. Or maybe something like Telstar, from Uncle Joe. Or perhaps Moscow by Orange Juice. The full lungs of an orchestra behind it would really make it fly.
DAWN AWAKENING: Army Dreamers by Kate has a few notes. I thought, “That sounds good and doesn’t sound so difficult.” So here is one of my first forays into music. I liked the idea of incidental music in nature programmes. And have a natural curiosity for chords and notes to take me in the direction they suggest. A mixture of instinct and analysis, and you feel the pressure to solve the puzzle you started, with the first few notes. Puzzle solved.
HORSES: Galloping rhythm, again, with the full lung capacity of an orchestra, it would blow the rain clouds away. And has more horsepower than a Ferrari.
CAT/DOG WALKING: Me, on my own cheap keyboard, not the Gumtree mystery musician who recorded May Morning and Chinese cowboy. For friends I know who like cats. I can think of two. It pads along like a cat in a hat. Or a little dog. I’d never heard of Duke Ellington’s In a sentimental mood, when I wrote this.
THE CLIFFS: Fado, someone said to me. And a bit of yer man Morricone. I can imagine an old Portuguese woman wailing along.
SUNLIGHT: Showed me that I, who can’t play guitar in the traditional way, of being able to play a guitar, might just have a knack for getting a tune out of the simplest of materials. If I made enough attempts to get it down. Take 127.
THE SEA: God knows. It really does have the soul of the sea. Lol. I can summon up the sea, the clouds, the cliffs. Cat soul. First recorded on a £10 TJ Hughes tape recorder. I hope one day to forget all of the chords.
CLOUDS (Fresh weather): I like the clock ticking. The thunder comes with the A7 chord, but like Clouds, part one, the sun returns in the end. If you want to know the secret, you lead the listener up the garden path a bit, but have a few recurring notes, so they don’t feel lost and rudderless. Although none of this music would be created if I didn’t feel lost and rudderless. The provisional title for this was Send one, as in the inspirational Send one your love, by Stevie Wonder.
CHINESE COWBOY: I'll let anyone from that part of the world be the judge of whether it's good or not. I quite like it.
CRASHING WAVES: One I had forgotten about. Found on a memory stick. It's just like the crashing waves, maybe better. No offence, nature!

Tracks 16-30: Written March - June 2022

CLOUDS (FASTER) Main thing about it is you are meant to enjoy it

STORMS: I wasn't happy or well, but music seems to happen if it finds me trying.


WALKABOUT: Walking song

WINTER BEACH - Tone poem, as per

BODY BOARD BEACH: Quiet/ loud with A maj 7

CLEAN MOUNTAIN SPIRIT: After recording it I heard an interview with a man who said ancient spirits take new forms in modernity.

LIFE ON EARTH: I wrote this, wasn't as easy as it sounds.

NIGHT BREEZES: Using the static well, silence and sounds add up to a good composition.

TRAIN DYNAMO: I don't let it go off the rails. But enjoyable.

OLD SCHOOL: Instrumental version of a song.

SUMMER STRUT: I enjoy it, the main thing. What's the point otherwise?

CHERRY TREE STROLL: To help you enjoy the spring moments

SUMMER SUNDAE: Realised it's like Waiting on a Train by Flash and the Pan, so therefore realised it's ok. I think the Rocky 1 (first date) theme is an influence.

GALLOPING IN THE SUNSHINE: Hold your horses, or go for a ride. You decide :)

CITY LIGHTS: Soundtrack for no place in particular. Like all of the above. Rooted on earth, but rootless in place. I'm not sure it's any particular style either. Although in saying that, I had to grow up in a certain place to be inspired, but all these things I'm inspired by, you could get anywhere.