The Psychedelic Mandala

[audio:krass.mp3]

Would psychedelia and zen (or whatever connotations these two may carry) go together in any way? – I wondered, I feared, I pondered.

Before starting this project, at times I really felt insecure, or was afraid to become too grandiose about the synthesis of two seemingly disparate matters intended here.

But then it occurred to me that at least within one person this very synthesis already existed – in me. If it’s possible for me to understand, it should be possible for others, too.

What I still found missing was a distinct sign on the material plane – a symbol. I tried to paint one (though it’s completely amateurish), simply coloring patterns from a book about Mandalas. So may I introduce to you –

The Psychedelic Mandala! (or a strange wheel of fortune)

Musically, I also dare to post a more edgy improvisation here (which is quite natural to me and fits the concept – but it’s not meditative!). I gave it the German name “krass”, meaning extreme or harsh or stark. There are a few passages where the vehicle seems to veer off the road, but soon gets back on track again.

Although these may be considered flaws, and although there’s a crackling noise whose origin is a mystery to me, I personally like this “krass”. But I had to overcome my tendency to put it aside and spare you…

Well, some might enjoy it anyway.

Guitar & gear: Gibson Les Paul Special, Vox AC 50, BSM Treble booster, Crackling Demon

3 Replies to “The Psychedelic Mandala”

  1. Yes, it reminds me of a ‘strange wheel of fortune’ as you say. The guitar piece made me think/feel three things:
    1. There is order even in apparent chaos
    2. There is no such thing as ‘a mistake’
    3. yuo say it is not ‘meditative’, but when it is all over, there is a calm that is very noticeable, as a result of having been through all the ‘noise’ before. And that is meditation.

  2. thank you for doing away with my doubts about the music. now I know the crackling demon led me the right way.
    “there is no such thing as a mistake” is a quote, intentional or not, of a Miles Davis sentence. I adore Miles Davis! And I dig all of his music.
    Elspeth, apparently you have just the same understanding of meditation as I have. At times it’s not at all soothing.

  3. Elspeth’s comments were very good and i agree. i can add it feel rough to me in comparison to some of your other stuff, but rough in a good way, edgy-rough.

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