Crossfade: London, the 16th century, 2 actors & the Millenium Bridge. A love story?

Crossfade (Released 16th Oct 2025):

Please join us on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/macandgarsongs/ And Crossfade - NOW available FREE to all Ehnocloud members on Bandcamp - https://garyhurlstoneakasmilingknives1.bandcamp.com/track/crossfade

When you arrive at our Bandcamp page click on: Buy Digital Track and you will see there is no charge. If you want to support us then publicise/share if you can otherwise just enjoy.

Crossfade, as against crossfaded (something entirely different apparently) is based upon the process of creating a song which timelines a series of connected/unconnected events. Originally the intention was to try to knit together the various strands or events suggested by the words into what was intended to be a tangible, holistic, seamless story. Later we both began to recognise that this takes away some of the mystery of what might be happening and thus robs anyone listening of the fun of creating their own story with its own ending.

But … I must admit that I was not sure myself what was going on as words appeared on my desktop screen, dropping like idea-pebbles onto my word document bucket, then disappearing just as quickly as new pebbles dropped in.

The basic plot is centered around a real relationship that is taking place off-screen between two actors who are also playing the scripted parts of two people in a romantic relationship. The backdrop to the drama is set in London in locations such as St Pauls Cathedral (Then she waves, from the shadows of St Paul’s) which is in London’s north bank, a short walk over the Millenium Bridge to the south bank and the Tate Modern. The reference to the incoming tide (So stay awhile our tide’s incoming) is thus that of the Thames. 'The cut of rain, the skirls, the drumming'is a reference to the tradition of trying to unsettle the mind of an adversary and create fear through the playing of pipes (the skirl of bagpipes) and drums i.e. 'Is all I hear - is all I fear.' The song dives in and out of both realities, staged and real - onstage and off - but the overarching themes are those of hope, understanding and recociliation.

Our attempt to create a parallel between the drama of real life and that of a scripted film or play is sadly not new. We cannot claim to be the originator of the idea. Shakespear put forward a similar proposition back in the 16/17th Century with his play, ‘As you Like It.’

"All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts."

Whatever, films, plays and songs have many possible goals but amongst them, in pole positions I would argue, are storytelling and emotional connection. Our new song, Cross Fade, will attempt to explore both. The opening song passage was inspired by the work of György Ligeti (Hungary). We are experimenting using one of Ligeti's most famous pieces,'Hungarian Rock'1978 as our reference, a maelstrom of rhythm and sound-textures in which a chord pattern is repeated while variations on it are developed. Thus far we are very happy with the way this is shaping up, delighted actually.

UPDATE: Work began on the 11th September with our trusty engineer, producer, drummer and provider of tea and coffee, Basher. The first session turned into a 'where's this going' maze of possibilities after Steve, (who plays on all of our work) tracked his keys and piano parts. After this we threw away our preconceptions and just let things happen organically. The result: a total playing and production, makeover and a lot of fun as well.

The 25th Sept session pulled all the different strands together with bass and additional guitar parts added by myself. The song has moved a long way from it's original conception, the one guitar and slower tempo version, it now cruises at around 95 BPM. With hand drums, incidentals, shakers and anything else we have been able to lay our hands on added to the mix, its also quite danceable.

3rd October: Mac added vocals, we added harmonies then set to work on the first mix, agreeing what we wanted to happen and the sound we were after with producer, Basher. There will now follow a week or so of toing and froing as we agree final mix changes before the final step of mastering brings this particular musical journey to a close. We are very happy with the way things have turned out but of course it will be up to you to judge whether it has all been worthwhile, we hope so anyway. The song will be ready and released on the 16th Oct and available on Ethnocloud as well as all the other normal streaming suspects and Bandcamp by the 20th.

https://garyhurlstoneakasmilingknives1.bandcamp.com

If you are reading this then a thumbs-up and ‘cheers’ to ya from the UK.

Mac & Gar

Cross-Fade ©

‘Crossfade, cue light' - someone says, ‘we’re live’
But I know that smile, and all that it implies

Still, I’m not sure where we’re going
We walk? - Can mystery be knowing?

CH But through my shame and doubt
I will shout it out
I won’t let you down
I won’t let you down
Tonight, Tonight

We’re Freeze-framed
By the traffic and the queues
As she says
Tonight, we’ll make the news
We cannot hear and cannot see
Drowning in uncertainty
As I wonder - why - it has-to-be this way

Could seeds of hope be growing?
Let’s talk? - Is silence just our knowing?

We’re Freeze-framed
With our backs against the wall
Then she waves,
From the shadows of St Paul’s
As birds fly and birds sing
They slow dive at everything –
As I wonder – why – it-has-to-be this way

So, stay awhile our tide’s incoming
The cut of rain
The skirls, the drumming
Is all I hear - is all I fear

CH But through my shame and doubt
I will shout it out
I won’t let you down
I won’t let you down
I Won’t let you down

Tonight, Tonight, Tonight
We crossfade, we crossfade – tonight.