Rigel 7 Podcast

Here's a quirky little instrumental to kick off the new year. No, I didn't set out to write a funeral march, though it's certainly possible - okay, likely - that the recent loss of my father to stomach cancer had some influence on things. I know, I know - there's that depressing "cancer" word again. What can I say? That's what life is throwing at me these days, and it's tough to work the musical neurons without sparking the whole messy lot. That said, I promise it won't become a recurring theme. On the upside, this project has gotten the musical gears turning again after so many months. I hope you enjoy the sparse arrangement of distressed synthetic bass, electric piano and guitar.

In 2008, my lovely wife, Linda, was diagnosed with advanced, Stage 3 breast cancer. A committed over-achiever - don’t get me started - Linda fought the disease with her usual determination and impatience. In one instance, when doctors wheeled her out of surgery, her first anesthesia-impaired words to me were, "can I go home now?" Adorable. "Soon enough," I encouraged, and hospital staff joined me in spirited laughter. This song is for Linda and for anyone battling such a horrible disease. When first diagnosed, you might've thought to yourself, "I don’t have time for this." But you do. Nothing in this world is more important than your recovery. Let go of your obligations. Rely on your caregivers. Reserve your energy for yourself. In the end, you might just come to discover that your commitments weren’t so important after all. For survivors, life often takes on new clarity. For some drama - I thought it justified - this track employs a sampled cello section in place of the traditional Roland

"Raptures of the deep" (nitrogen narcosis) is a condition in scuba diving where an underwater diver feels elation and euphoria from a buildup of nitrogen in the brain. Though not physically dangerous on its own, divers who succumb to this condition become so intoxicated, so convinced of their invincibility, that they gleefully dive to their deaths - they swim too deep for their equipment or abilities, refuse to surface or simply remove their breathing equipment altogether. Either way, they perish. And when they die - here’s the creepy part - they die happy. This is a song about nitrogen narcosis. For added dimension, it's sung from the perspective of a sinister, intoxicating killer, lending it a dark, romantic angle that speaks of any bad relationship or self-destructive obsession. Check your gauges. Enjoy your dive.

Whatever did we do with ill-mannered children before drugs? The remedies for bad behavior were as unscientific as they were brutal: scolding, restriction, a slap on the proverbial fanny. Perish the thought. But of course, we're much more civilized today. Inattentive and excitable children are, in ever-increasing numbers, diagnosed with Attention Deficit and Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) and prescribed addictive stimulants with potentially serious and irreversible side-effects, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Encouraged by pharmaceutical companies, some doctors are quick to recommend chemical remedies for the mildest of "symptoms" while a new generation of fragile, overly-sensitive moms and dads excuse themselves from the traumatic responsibilities of traditional, hands-on parenting. And the best part? ADHD isn't just for children anymore. Behavioral modification through chemical adjustment is the new black. Take a number, citizen.

In November of 2009, CERN's Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is scheduled for completion. With it, physicists from around the world hope to answer, well, everything. More accurately, it is hoped that a unified theory of everything (TOE) will emerge that describes the nature of all things, from the very small to the very large. As things stand now, separate theories can predict interactions between elementary particles, for example, and between planets, but not both – the theories do not scale and are, consequently, incomplete or even flawed. With a theory of everything, it is hoped that we can explain gravity, dark matter/energy, the origins of our universe, and much more. Personally, I'm holding my breath for a scientific explanation of Jeri Curl, if such knowledge won't threaten to destroy our reality. This track is a celebration of CERN's Large Hadron Collider, with just a dash of sexual innuendo thrown in for good measure. Not to worry, I steered well clear of the cliche "black hole" double-entend

In the occult Tarot, the Hanged Man presents a grotesque image, often misunderstood to represent death, judgment or retribution. But look closely - the hanged man is relaxed, content, even smiling. A halo suggests a vibrant, living spirit. In fact, The Hanged Man is a positive symbol of self-sacrifice; he lets go of the material world in favor of spiritual enlightenment. This macabre picture has become a poignant symbol for me in recent years. With age and professional experience comes the realization that commercial success as a songwriter or independent musician might not be in my cards. Do I give up? Hell, no! Like The Hanged Man, I carry on, not for love of money but for the pure joy of creating and sharing music. What better way to kick off Rigel 7's new donation-based website. It's all about sharing the love, baby. Enjoy!

Whale song: it's not just for ichthyologists anymore. Wade into the chill-out waters and immerse yourself in an underwater reef dreamscape. For your protection, a PADI Open Water Diver certification is recommended.

This li'l ditty was inspired by a Colourbox tune, 'Edit the Dragon.' I wanted to create something a bit faster, something danceable, and overcompensated - this tune is too fast for the floor. But, as it turns out, it's just plain wonderful for tournament forms. "Waaaaaaah!" Though I lifted these samples all by my big-boy self, I couldn't begin to say where from. Truth be told, my collection of Shaw Bros. kung fu movies is, well, embarrassing. Or spectacular, depending on your point of view. And speaking of DC's American Theater, this track is dedicated to Victor Walden, Ali Hoorford, Sean Murtagh, Doug Landoll and the rest of my Burke, VA tong. "Siu Chen!" "Sifu!" "Siu Chen!!!" For trivia buffs, the song's final seconds pay homage to cult television series, Mystery Science Theater 3000, mimicking the style of the series' closing credits. Keep circulating the tapes!

Put a nickel in the jukebox, earthling, and order yasef up some clumsy sexual innuendo. Doh! I gave away the surprise. Laughs are pulled from old recordings of high school friend, Kirsten Schmidt. Pretty good for Tascam four-track cassette, eh? I wonder just how long it'll be before she Googles herself on over here to discover she's an unwitting electronica star. Royalties? Ha! Not even in Dusseldorf, baby.

Here's a danceable track for ya, featuring robotic shots from some classic sci-fi. Not to spoil the ending or anything, but "there is no sanctuary!" Truth be told, I lifted these samples into my trusty Kurzweil K2000RS, from MGM's retro sci-fi classic 'Logan's Run.' I feel so very, very naughty. Dirty. And sorta sexy.

"So we loaded up the sampler and we moved to Beverly. Techno samples, that is. Buzzing things. Sub bass." Come to think of it, the audio samples heard in this track also came from the FM sample CD. [See 'Psionic Bomb' for more info.] I'd like to believe these aren't a Viacom commodity, but then, if they weren't lifted from 'The Menagerie,' I'll eat my red shirt. Still, I'll plead ignorance until The Man puts me down. Download while you can.

Here's the last of the FM magazine sample disc projects. [See "Psionic Bomb" for full disclosure.] Can anybody place the source of the audio samples heard in this track?

More audio samples from the FM magazine collection. [See 'Psionic Bomb' for full disclosure.] Again, I'm not sure where these samples are lifted from. This track will remain available for free download until the rightful owners complain.

It's not just for web sites anymore.... When this song was first conceived, the dreaded 404 error message was familiar only to network geeks, like yours truly. In that regard, this recording was intended to be an inside joke between my clique of basement-dwelling server admins. Who knew it would become a cultural icon? The error message, that is. The samples, pulled from FM's "Bite-Size Beats 'n' Samples" CD, are of unknown origin. See 'Psionic Bomb' for more info.

Headache, shmeadache, gimme the damn pills already. This is the first of five tracks incorporating samples from Simon Powers' "Bite-Size Beats 'n' Samples" CD, bundled in Future Music magazine, circa 1994. As such, the source of these samples is unknown (as is their clearance). I'll leave these tracks online until somebody requests otherwise.

This track represents my earliest experimentation with Techno. Think of it as a B-side demo that record execs should've known better than to ever stick on any anthology, no matter how bad sales are lagging. The instruments predate the genre's sound, but sparked my interest. More techno would soon follow. Ultimately, Viacom would decline requests to license the audio samples heard in this track. Any plans to re-record the song for the proposed "Trekno Dance Party" CD fizzled.

If you're anything like me, you're a complete idiot. There's no explaining how or why my gray matter behaves the way it does when it "acts up," but here's a try....

It's an unfortunate reality that life's obligations too often steal us away from our talents. Do what you must to survive and what you will to help those around you, but always leave time for what is important to you. It's your life. Don't leave room for regret. Don't give up. Don't waste it.

Jealousy sucks. It's one thing to suffer from it. It's another thing to be a target of somebody else's jealousy - to be an unwilling participant in an unwelcome relationship. Here's a song for those who can't find it in themselves to let go.