We've just added four images to the gallery from Zengael. I've called them "new old" images because the actual pieces of artwork were done some years ago but only recently scanned and formatted for viewing online. Two are paintings, one is an ink wash on watercolor paper, and one is a mixed-media collage. The paintings are especially interesting because they utilize several different wet media on the same stretched canvas: acrylic paint, ink, and metallic textile ink. As with all our gallery images, you can click any thumbnail to see a larger image.

www.gatewoodjournal.org/galleryzengael01.html

Labels: Visual Arts

30 September, 2006

Barry McCabe’s newest offering Beyond the Tears once again treats us to his knack for pulling wildly diverse musical influences into a cohesive work of art. The blues guitar we’ve come to expect is there, as is the Celtic folk element that surfaced most noticeably in The Peace Within. But the new disc adds subtle shadings of other genres as well; there’s much more to Barry’s music than his love for blues and his Irish roots.

Beyond the Tears is in the tradition of what we used to call a “concept album” back in the ’70s. The theme woven around the songs here is that of the quintessential misunderstood outsider, personified by “Johnny”; he is, as Barry explains in the liner notes, “the part of society and ourselves we’d rather not know about.” There’s plenty said within this set of songs about the travails of life and about how prone anyone can be to downheartedness under the right circumstances. But overall it’s a positive theme, urging us to look beyond the immediate happenings and come out the other side better and stronger.

The disc kicks off with a classic Chuck Berry riff on the Dave Edmunds-style number, “Johnny Nobody.” It’s hard to imagine anyone else being able to bring off a rocker like this while incorporating lyrics that deal with serious philosophical issues like the power of positive/negative thinking on one’s reality, but Barry handles it in understated style without ever sounding pretentious or preachy about it.

Strong Peter Green influences are evident on “In the Dead of Night” as well as “Trouble,” and both are good solid tracks with moody guitar riffs that stick in the brain long after the disc has stopped. The Celtic factor comes to the front on the instrumentals “Catch Me If You Can,” “Arthur” (my personal favorite) and “The Sunset Waltz.” There’s only one cover tune this time around (Van Morrison’s “Crazy Love”) which fits in surprisingly well with the rest of the tracks as well as giving us the opportunity to notice that Barry’s not just another guitarist - he can pull off beautiful vocals too.

The remaining tracks are more straightforward accessible rock that will likely appeal to a broad range of listeners. “Rollin’” picks up the pace on the second half of the disc; it's a freight train of a song reminiscent of some of Rory Gallagher’s high-energy numbers like “Just Hit Town.” And if the radio industry ever develops aesthetic sensibilities, the Claptonesque “I Wonder” will be all over the airwaves.

One commendable thing about Barry McCabe is that even though he’s clearly a masterful solo musician, he appreciates the nuances of ensemble playing. He's assembled a congenial group of musician friends and acquaintances to work with him on this recording, most of whom just happen to have a solid pedigree with one band or another (in this instance, Pat McManus, Horslips’ Johnny Fean, and Mark Feltham from Rory Gallagher’s band). This is in stark contrast to most solo guitarists whose egos take over the show in long, self-indulgent leads while other musicians are on the recording merely for back-up or window-dressing. You’ll hear excellent guitar solos on Barry’s discs, but they’re always tasteful and appropriate for the context; the songs are never just a showcase for his licks.

Overall, Beyond the Tears is a fine effort from an extremely dedicated and talented musician. Listeners who appreciate solid guitar work, subtly introspective lyrics, and an eclectic blend of musical styles should enjoy this disc.

The CD is available at CD Baby and Barry's website is www.barrymccabe.com.

Labels: Music

24 September, 2006

We've just added some new photos from K.C. Collins to the Gallery. Some are stills; the outdoor shots which were just added were shot in downtown Hickory, North Carolina. K.C. shoots with Nikon cameras on Ilford film most of the time, although I think a few of the color ones were shot on Fuji. You probably know this already, but in case you don't, all our gallery images are clickable to see a larger image.

Photos & Digital Art by K.C. Collins

Labels: Visual Arts

21 September, 2006

It's 10:00 a.m. There's a knock at your door. You weren't expecting anyone, so you look through the peephole and see two strangers on your doorstep. They look like a perfectly nice couple, except that one is carrying a stack of church literature and the other one has a plastic donation bucket in hand. They want to share the Good News with you and save your soul, and maybe reserve a ticket for you on the Heavenly Express (although with the amount of change rattling around in your pockets, it'll probably be coach class).

Ever wonder why no one shows up on your doorstep to tell you that you should discover your own purpose in life and take responsibility for yourself instead of depending on someone else to provide direction and salvation?

Hunter MacKenzie's latest is in our Hermetic Perspectives section: "Convert Not".

Labels: Subversive Ideas, Think Tank

20 September, 2006

A number of new photos from P.L. Miller have been added to the Gallery. These were shot over the past few months in the Craggy Mountain area of western North Carolina, just off the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville. For those who might be interested in the technical aspects, most of these were shot with a Nikon N60 using Agfa and Fuji film. A few were shot with a Canon digital camera. (As with all our Gallery images, click on any thumbnail to see a larger image which will give you much more texture and detail.) Enjoy!

P.L. Miller: Folio 3 - Gatewood Journal

Labels: Visual Arts

17 September, 2006

You're invited to participate in research on the effects of distant intention on water crystals. This is an experimental collaboration between the research of Dr. Masaru Emoto and Dr. Dean Radin of the Institute of Noetic Sciences. It's a very simple task of rating a set of images presented to you online, and takes about 10-15 minutes. You'll find more information as well as the link to get started at http://www.psiarcade.com/crystal2/intro.html.

Labels: Think Tank

10 September, 2006

A new piece added to our Wordscapes section:

"Safer" by F.X. MacKenzie.

Also, work is still in progress on P.L. Miller's Folio 3 but you can go ahead and sneak a peek now, if you like. Lots of great tree photos from the Blue Ridge area.

Labels: Site Updates

08 September, 2006