Get all 25 Bob Drake releases available on Bandcamp and save 50%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of The Room in the Tower, There Was Once a Road (two minimalist pieces), Legendary Lore Of The Holy Wells Of England, Planets and Animals, Two Tales of Uncanny Visitations, Suite for Notation Software, What Day Is It? (Expanded Edition), 2 Improvisations dans une Eglise, and 17 more.
1. |
Isola dei Lupi
02:15
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Isola dei Lupi has not a very large surface area,
yet it’s confounded all efforts to make inventory
of its terraced lanes and stairways,
shady arches and dripping grottoes.
And all the statues represent anthropomorphic wolves…
Possibly a metaphor for something
but on the other hand it could all be taken literally.
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2. |
Howling Courtyard
01:33
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A sparkling rill
accompanies the stairway flanked by cypresses
into a courtyard
where residents convene
in order to engage in howls.
Cloisters round the courtyard
amplify the howls
from whence they echo
across the land.
And from the courtyard
any one of many paths may be taken.
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3. |
Hollowfang's Tower
01:54
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Strike off a branch of hazel wood
or any other kind of tree
either a straight or bent will do
the fires and the perfumes are prepared in advance
in Hollowfang’s tower.
Present the branch to unknown perfumes
up in the turret.
To one of the branch’s extremities
shall be attached a polyhedral prism
by means of sap from a moon plant.
Peirce the branch through its entire length
without breaking it or without splitting
with a thin, magnetic wire.
Finding the tower is not so hard
it’s on the highest lofty stony terrace
upon Isola dei Lupi,
with clouds of strange perfumes issuing
out of the turret.
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4. |
Villa dell'Orsata
02:06
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On the cool shady side of the lake
is a house with a unique architectural feature.
Situated on a high narrow ledge
with its back against a vertical wooded cliff -
the Villa dell’Orsata.
The two wings of this house are joined
by an open arcaded loggia
against the back wall of which
a diverted mountain stream pours down
over carved stonework and brick.
Tremulous with moss and ferns
gushing out again
on the other side beneath a stone balustrade
splashing in to the lake far below.
The bare, empty vaulted rooms
all reverberate with this torrent
the whole house saturated with its green coolness and spray
and the caretakers are not allowed to leave
they’re sworn to secrecy
but hints have leaked out about
what lumbers in on hot Summer days to keep cool.
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5. |
Saint Marten's
01:05
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The cottage
devoid of all décor
except the rustic wood figurine
of a shaggy marten
opulently garbed
upon its hind legs
reading from a book
held in one paw
signaling with the other
in a manner defying mundane interpretation.
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6. |
Spotty Under the Trees
01:38
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Spotty is plainly undistressed at his portliness
increasing from resting
under the trees
every day while the Sun cooks the island
snacking on nuts and berries by a cool shady pool.
And in the coolness of the dusk
he’ll arise and fluff up his fur
and collect a big basket of fruit
as his contribution
to the collective evening meal.
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7. |
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8. |
The Bridge to Nowhere
03:16
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They call it “the bridge”
‘cause that’s what it is
it’s a bridge alright
and it’s there day and night
at least it oughtta be
physics says we can’t be certain
but one thing’s for sure,
as a connection it’s hurtin’
‘cause the ends of the bridge don’t connect anywhere
they’re just stickin’ out in the middle of the air
don’t take it if you wanna get somewhere
‘cause this is the bridge to nowhere.
Someone started to build it
a long long time ago
and then they must have changed their minds
maybe they ran out of dough.
Or maybe they realized
the destinations they had chosen
to connect with a bridge
in no traveler elicited a yen.
‘Cause the ends of the bridge
don’t connect anywhere
they’re just stickin’ out in the middle of the air
don’t take it if you wanna get somewhere
‘cause this is the bridge to nowhere.
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9. |
Sleepy Critter
02:25
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Frayed and worn
dragging along stony paths
seeking
repose
so sleepy tongue and tail a’dragging
with the hottest hours yet approaching
fur’s already so hot
it smells like burning sugar.
Tried to blink his eyes
winds and streams abated
time tilted
nothing stirred.
Unfortunately that includes our little friend’s waning respiration.
Draped across the stones on the quincunx
in the blazing sun
framed by cypress
one might have thought
some some discarded pelt.
“...finally found a place to sleep...it seems so easy now….”
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10. |
The Endless Silent Rain
02:25
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Extending over millions of square miles
at the bottom of the sea
are a variety of oozes
consisting of microscopic remains
of one-celled animals
which have been raining down for millenia
and accumulating.
In addition to these microscopic shells
there are other ingredients too:
volcanic ash and meteoric dust
and grains of sand borne on lonely whispering winds
from far away deserts
which fall into the sea and slowly sink
miles and miles to the bottom.
Slowly endlessly and silently
attaining depths of thousands of feet,
pterapod and globigerinian
radiolarian and diatomaceous
are some of the common types of ooze.
And every moment of each passing day
this silent rain continues.
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11. |
Cereal and When
02:06
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I received a TV show
from whence I do not know
and its dual hosts resembled vinyl oven gloves;
one bright blue, one purple, and they
politely introduced themselves as Cereal and When.
Casually explaining the greatest mysteries directly to my soul.
Cereal and When
will I see you again or was that the only episode you filmed?
Though it’s true I was half asleep
it couldn’t have been no accident
to have been the only recipient of
Cereal and When
dreaming in my den.
I proclaim it thusly for I’ve writ it with my pen.
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12. |
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The defensive spray of spilogale putorius (the spotted skunk)
is different from mephitis mephitis (the striped skunk)
in that it does not have the thioacetates,
and also a moderate concentration of 2-phenylethanylthiols.
Clear and limpid fluid
golden or light amber color
its specific gravity is less than water
and humans can detect it at concentrations of
10 parts per billion.
2 major thiols of striped skunk,
isoamyl and crotyl mercaptans,
are also two main components in the spray of
the spotted skunk.
Later research shows the spray of striped skunk
has seven volatile components
in greater that one percent abundance:
three of them are thiols,
three of them thioacetate derivatives of these thiols,
and the final compound has been found to be
an alkaloid: 2 methyl quinoline.
Neutralizing the scent of spray of skunk
necessitates changing of the thiols
into other substances which have little or no odor
which can be accomplished:
oxidizing the thiols into sulfonic acids can easily do this.
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13. |
Psychic Photography
02:22
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Psychic photography
is a fun and practical hobby
you don’t need a camera
just some unexposed photographic plates
press them against your head
or lay hands upon them
concentrating on what kind of image
you would like to form on the plate
send them off to the developer
and if your mediumistic gift is great
you’ll get the usual snaps of
ectoplasm, forgotten ancestors, or
scenes of vaguely Biblical cast.
Many and various shady means
of producing phony photos of phantoms
are employed by the fakes
but don’t let that get you down.
Though fallen out of fashion
don’t be sad, don’t go wailin’ and gnashin’
put away all the cameras
get some old silver nitrate glass plates
and try some psychic photography.
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14. |
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I beheld a multitude of which I also was a constituent
standing in countless queues
we’d no idea why but I surmised we had all died
at that moment someone approached and handed me this
“self explanatory” memo:
1:The monsters lose their malice
2: The thunder becomes harmonious
3: The three-headed dog barks thrice
4: Odic lamps are lighted at the corners of the circle
5: Now is the time for manifestations and enchantment.
6: Awakening of the DIAPHANE
7: Lo and behold all your fantastic impossible things
8: The banishment of fear, as well.
9: Shall be revealed when you have understood the rest
10: And the light issues forth from the darkness
And that was it. “Self-Explanatory” proclaimed the title.
They took it for granted we’ll all understand it
but I didn’t. So they said
‘oh, this will help’
Get a load of this – the “Supplementary Memo”:
“ALL AGES HAVE PASSED, AND ALL THINGS,
YET THEY ARE STILL TO COME”.
And as if that wasn’t good enough:
“THE UNIVERSE IS JUST ONE PARTICLE
COMPRISING OUR LIVING SHAPE SHIFTER
WHO’S AS HANDSOME OF A CRITTER
AS YOU’D EVER DREAM.”
Like unto a scintillating radiant sea-serpent of the air
of ever-changing shape and colours
giving rise to time and space.
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15. |
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On the eastern-most tip of the island
(if you have the map, that would be the nose)
is another tower resembling that of Hollowfang’s
at least from the exterior.
The thing about this one is the staircase
with a golden rail winding round the inside
its terminus is presumably somewhere
in some lofty zone, whereabouts unknown.
Greyfoot and pals were having a picnic
next to the tower and took a look inside
all their fuzzy muzzles fell open in amazement.
Gazing upwards inside of the tower
it appeared to climb up without an end
this intrigued them because from the outside
one might have guess 30 metres.
Greyfoot announced that he was going up.
Much to the incredulity of his pals
rushing home to gather provisions
stuffing a satchel with scones and bitter
then ambling his way back to the tower
snuffling down a beer and a scone or two
finally approaching the staircase
felt a definite thrill
and put a paw on the rail
it felt cool and smooth
and commenced his ascension
oh so slowly.
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16. |
Isola dei Lupi (reprise)
02:33
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Isola dei Lupi has not a very large surface area
yet its density per square meter
of captivating features and creatures
is unparalleled.
The Villa dell Orsata
all green and dripping and cool
resonating with its internal torrent.
Spotty is snacking,
and from the turret of Hollowfang’s tower
issue strange perfumes.
And from the courtyard
howls echo across the island.
So study this map
and if you come back
you’ll know where to find
what you’re looking for.
Now it’s time to say goodbye….
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