Chapter 2 : Going For The One

In « Going For The One, » we meet Jake Harvey, one of the key political players of the era, and members of his entourage.

At the beginning of the chapter, the former businessman is settling in his executive suite for a determining weekend in Triton Aeolus.…

The Bookcast

I was more than surprised this morning when I googled the terms “bookcast” and “bookcasting.” I had imagined that what I was expecting to see in the results would have been common practice in this day and age, and yet I actually saw very little of what I had in mind. Moreover, I couldn't find entries for the words in Wikipedia, nor in the Wiktionary. In fact, this is the best definition I stumbled upon :

« The goal of a bookcast…

« Perseverance » is the fourth of the series of segues composed to join the tracks of an album together into one continuous piece of music.

Each of the junctions highlights a specific quality or knowledge that turned out to be crucial to the completion of a project that demanded many years of sustained striving. As the title indicates, « Perseverance » evokes the capacity to keep going at those times when efforts seem insufficient,…

« Understanding » is the third segue in the series that I have written as a means of combining earlier compositions into a conceptual piece of nearly one hour in duration.

Each of the miniature musical junctions emphasizes a particular lesson that was learned over the course of a demanding quest, proving essential to the success of the endeavour. In the case of « Understanding, » the acquired knowledge concerns what I refer…

you so wanted to be yourself

« Vigilance » is the second of a series of short segues that I have composed in order to combine already existing pieces into one larger, continuous whole.

Each of the segues highlights a quality or an ability cultivated along a difficult journey, contributing to the successful completion of the challenge.

Again, I won’t reveal the title of the parts, nor of the completed collage, hoping to keep the surprise…

In Buddhist culture, there exists the core notion of the three poisons, which are considered to be the cause of all sufferings.

In English, the poisons are generally translated as confusion, desire, and hatred, or variations of these terms.

In my experience, while confusion and hatred are generally grasped correctly, the poison of desire is often misunderstood.

In short, confusion refers to the mistaken notion that individuals exist in separation…

« Purposefulness » is the first of a series of short segues that I have put together in the hopes of joining existing compositions into one continuous piece of music.

In order to preserve the surprise, I won't disclose the details of the other compositions, nor the title of the overall resulting piece. Those of you familiar with the repertoire of Poligraf will possibly recognize some of the themes that are revisited in…

The third part of « Juggernaut, » entitled « Procession, » evokes the arrival of the crushing force before it unleashes into a frenzy of steamrolling.

The title and music of this section are both inspired by the origin of the word. From Wikipedia :

The English loanword juggernaut in the sense of "a huge wagon…

« Integration » is the seventh and final chapter of « The Chrome Lake. »

This instrumental section starts on a chaotic solo piano part which is soon backed up by the rhythm section that plays up the oddness and dissonance. The intent here is to convey the impression of having too many pieces to fit in a puzzle, combined with an urge to complete it.

The disarray slowly gives way to order and steady forward…

« Steamroller » is the fourth chapter of « Juggernaut. » In the storyline of the suite, it represents the apex of pain, and the metanoia.

The instrumental is one of the most busy pieces of music that I’ve written up to now, and features a personal record for odd meters with an organ riff in 23. It is intended to hit hard and convey a feeling of inexorable mercilessness.

I have no plans to augment the…

« Introspection II » is the fifth section, and second with vocals, of « The Chrome Lake. »

The chapter is an almost-but-not-identical twin to « Introspection I. » And again, the subject matter is pretty much self-explanatory.

Here are the lyrics :

I see you feel restrained, mechanized, dehumanized

I see you feel estranged, incomplete, dissatisfied

Anything for a refuge, an island…

[« Kalachakra sand mandala » ]

Since July 6, 2011, the 76th birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, a Kalachakra for World Peace is offered in the heart of the US capital, Washington, DC. His Holiness offers this…

In « Surface, » the sixth chapter of « The Dam, » the protagonist/narrator is gradually returning to activity after having transformed into who they feel like being. Ultimately, they reach the surface where a new existence properly begins.

In the storyline, this step marks the end of a long process of metamorphosis wherein one has endured many hardships and shed that which belongs to their former way of being. Once released…

« Introspection I » is the third part of « The Chrome Lake, » and its first section with vocals.

As implied by the title, the piece is about looking into oneself. More precisely, it speaks of having the courage to look at the places which have been hurt, despite the pain, for this is part of the healing process.

The chorus hints at the empowerment that comes from exposing oneself, including one's areas of…

Back in 1998, I underwent a very peculiar experience, indeed, thus far at least, a once-in-a-lifetime event, which opened many doors for me and confirmed some of the directions I had previously chosen.

In time, I came to consider this occurrence as an instance of satori, a sudden momentary flash of enlightenment if you will, the intensity of which still resonates with me to this very day.

Satori is a Japanese Buddhist term for enlightenment that…

everyday was the same

but she wouldn't notice

oblivious to the game

that had become practice



well, many times she had

but she couldn't stand it

it always felt so bad

better to deny it



rising up as a ghost

toilet, table and toast

iron, shower and post

conform, comply and coast



first stumper of the day

what to wear to the store

while lessons on the way

keep knocking at the door



off to the…

The seventh chapter of « The Dam » is entitled « Flow » and presents the situation once the obstacle has been overcome, the dam has been levelled, and the test has successfully been passed.

The protagonist/narrator is now moving forward into the dream, responding to the calling of the ocean.

The lyrics are almost complete, although I'm not quite satisfied with parts of the choruses.

Have I…