Peaceful Dreams of the Mushroom Man

[StephenM]

This is strange and uses an Auto harp and a Hill Country Harp, drums, Kawai keys, Shecter bass, shaker, wood blocks, "vocals"...

I started this as a left handed only drum exercise so the first long piece is left arm only and feet. 

the words Duwishi or wishi or duwoli are Native American words for mushroom(s)
Smohalla is peacemaker or person seeking peace
wampum are ceremony beads
nonomonestotse is dreamer or dreams

the recording is experimental each track I had to think a bit about how to do... but the mixing phase was all about trying things... I utilized alot of eq changes all done in Audacity and I used the on board audacity effects to distort and phase and wah the vocals.  also the bass has effects from audacity.  The drums I did a mix on the Zoom L20 as I really like the gated reverb that I can add there.  I know this is very weird but in a way it is serious.. although every time I listen I start laughing... but you know what?  It is mushroom season again!  lol...

 

[Farrell Jackson]

Ha...it's Zappa on Shrooms! Experiment away Mushroom Music Man...this belongs in a film!

I'm on my second listen to catch what I missed the first time. The piano sounds cool plus the bass and drums rock. Your left arm must have gotten tired. This song could have been the soundtrack to The Doors peyote scene in the desert when they were experimenting. A very cool musical experiment Stephen!

[Kenneth]

Yikes!
Never done the shroom here, but almost feel like I have now!
My friend brought out several bags with different kinds 3 or 4 months ago. She asked if I would partake with her, but I declined.

I don't know what to say.. is it a song? Depends on your state of mind I think.
It's creative! It's what I call a cool recording. And you said it has a seriousness to it, so that's good enough for me. I like the experimental stuff. You have raised the strange bar, ...

Will have a listen after a few drinks...

[BerryPatch]

Wild stuff Stephen! Reminds me a lot of "Pow R Toc C" from Piper At The Gates of Dawn. In fact, this track could fit right in on any early Floyd release, its certainly got the free form feel they would get into. Cool to hear the addition of autoharp here as well, an instrument that's underutilized but can really add to a song. Far out!

[Mike_S]

Wow. Well I loved this. I am up for anything anyhow musically. It certainly took me back to a trip I had on mushrooms (the only one) many years back. It really was mind blowing but ended up freaking me out for a few days after. This really does a good job in tapping in to the experience. Really fascinating and would fit in a movie pretty well like Farrell says.

Mike

[Zoltan]

Whaat..... The tape that just got eaten away sounded similar to this. Was it the Mushroom men who did that?

Stephen... I'm going to send you the bill!

This is super weird. But it's weirdly good. It's not a throw away track although it might sound like that at first. It's not an experiment. It's an experience.

Songcrafters! Everyone involved! We've unleashed the beast!

[Johnbee]

Hey Steve, I think if Zappa was still alive today and heard your stuff he's probably be seeking you out for a collaboration.  You certainly love to play with those "toys" that you seem to have so many of.  Experimentation is a great thing.  Have fun with it.

You know, one of Zappa's first TV appearances was in the early 60s on the Steve Allen Show where he "played" a bicycle.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QF0PYQ8IOL4

John B

[Bluesberry]

Insanely captivating

[T.C. Elliott]

Crazy fun. I wish I was at that party, partaking in the "refreshments" and the music. It sounds like a hell of a lot of fun. I don't know if Zappa would want to collab but I want to join in.

[thetworegs]

Ummmagumma comes to mind a trippy ride through the mind of Stephen ....look out! The Calvary are coming but there not dressed in blue they seem to have long white coats on and somekind of vest in the hand of the one in front.....RUN!STEPHEN RUN!