In addition to having my songs up on the website, I have also put my songs up on bandcamp at:
https://almoslataan.bandcamp.com/
You get three listens there until purchase, so get your ears ready.
Author: Almos
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AlmosLataan on Bandcamp
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Reflection of Distant Eyes – Music Preview and Download
My latest song is, “Reflection of Distant Eyes”. This song is about seeing someone whose life has been enveloped in darkness, but offers a potential wayout through God and prayer.
If you enjoy the track, please consider downloading to offer some support.
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Waves – By Almos Lataan – Music Album
I have released “Waves” for download, my latest music album.
Currently it consists of three tracks:
01. Sun Becomes My Leaven02. You Opened One Eye – Classical Version
03: Now You Fall In The Shade – Classical Version
Each song comes in both MP3 and WAV formats.
The idea for the album came after editing “When I See Your Child’s Face”. After creating this track and uploading, I felt a little unhappy. The song was sickly sweet, in that the melody lacked depth and complexity. It was like the “intent memory generators” (baby goggles) scene in Donny Darko. There was no darkness. I had been using only white keys on the keyboard up until that point, and I was noticing, firstly, that the songs were always on the uplifting side of the spectrum, and also, that the song was using leading melody notes instead of using chords, and letting the melody sing for itself.
So, I adapted the song. I decided to learn how to use chords. This was a lot harder for me than writing melodies, and I have so little idea of what I am doing, that I don’t know if I’m breaking rules or what not. Everything I do and make is by ear. I don’t follow any music theory.
Once the new song began to materialize, I realised how poweful black keys and minor chords could be. They provided tension and contradiction; an ambiguity to proceedings. Eventually, I felt that I had a song with not only more sonic depth, but it also reflected my bittersweet perspectives about my positive, but long distance, relationship with my daughter, and also, lyrically, in the contrasting perspectives on life of an adult and child. I called this song, “Sun Becomes My Leaven” . I had to change some lyrics from the first song to work with the new added darkness.Once I had this initial song, I was eager to transfer my melody reverse techniques to both, “Now You Fall In The Shade”, and, “You Opened One Eye”. Both songs are lyrically quite sad or melancholic in nature, and so the introduction of minor chords worked well. In fact, I am happy with all three songs, as they only sound similar in lyrics to the originals. Combining both major and minor chords provides a totally different sound and complexity.
The third step I took with all three songs was to minimise the more electronic synthesizer sounds, and introduce classical instruments. I felt that this added further depth and emotion. There is something about classical strings which connects with the soul. I still left some electronic sounds in there, but they are subtle, there to pad, or add a little dissonance.Lyrically, the songs remained much the same, which is to say that the songs remain quite raw. The songs were all originally written in states of high emotion. I find it easier to write in these periods. The lyrics are highly personal. Although I felt in some way that perhaps I shouldn’t share my feelings, especially where others were lyrically involved, I wanted a record of this period, particularly for my daughter, and also for others.
I called the album, “Waves”, without giving much thought. But if I were to analyse, I would say that we are all on a sea, sometimes calm, and sometimes turbulent. This album represents a more turbulent time of my life. -
AlmosLataanStore Etsy Shop
I have opened an Etsy store, where, currently, I will list the majority of my items:
https://almoslataanstore.etsy.comI am going to build up this website shop at some point, but whilst I do so, Etsy is a good place to temporally list some items. Potentially, I feel that people are more comfortable connecting with an Etsy store than a relatively small website…
However, for the time being, my music is only accessible here.
At the moment I have listed my “He is Risen” prayer card, and also some B-Grade options for those looking for a cheaper deal. Click here to have a look.
Also, I see a lot of hits on my contact page, but nothing passing my anti-spam filter. If someone is genuinley trying to get in contact, then try a DM on Instagram at @almoslataan. -
Prayer Cards For Sale – Contemporary Catholic Art
I have decided to start selling prayer cards. I have one which is already on sale, and a six further cards which will be on sale shortly.
Two of the cards feature pictures from my contemporary catholic art project, “He is Risen”. The rest are utilising scenes from nature.
I have been looking for ways to combine photography with my Catholic beliefs for some time, with this particularly the case with the, “He is Risen”, project. Due to this, it felt appropriate to make the first release utilise an image from this project.Resurrection prayer card on display This image, taken from a 5×7 film negative, was initially secondary to a negative with almost the same image, but with a blue development mark down the side. Although I like that image immensely, I felt that the mark may in fact detract from the devotional aspect, particularly with relation to a prayer card. Hence, I selected the technically more perfect image.
Of course, the primary purpose of a prayer card is one of devotion, and so the text included is of paramount importance. For this card, the scripture reference chosen was Matthew 28: 5-7.
This then is inline with the image itself, referencing the moment the angel appeared to the women. Although this particular scripture reference does not name one of the women as Mary Magdalene, we know this to be true from the other scripture references.
For the prayer, I searched for something that was appropriate to the Resurrection (as I am a poor Catholic, still just trying to learn about the faith in more depth). This prayer, The Easter Prayer, by St Hippolytus of Rome, seemed to be perfect for the card. For myself, I find the prayer very invigorating in the Catholic sense. It is a prayer of victory!
I went on a similar path with the other cards I made. First looking at my images, trying to match with scripture, and then finding a prayer that was appropriate for that scripture. It has been a great process for me. Firstly, it has taught me the benefit of keeping prayer cards as meditation and contemplation items. It has also exposed me further to prayers and passages that I have not yet really spent much time with. It has also been good for humility, as I realise that many people have been using cards already, people much more advanced in faith, and much more humble than me. On that note, one of the cards I have created contains the Litany of Humility, and I need to, and will be spending much time with that particular card I think.
So, in the interests of being open about this project: I am offering single cards in the beginning, delivered from Switzerland with me going to the post office. Once I have the logistics better worked out, I will offer them in batches for a cheaper price, which should open them up to people who wish to buy for a group or event. If you would like to buy for such a scenario now, then contact me via the website form, and I will try and get something sorted.
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The Passion of the Christ – Contemporary Musical Score Album – Available For Free Download
I have made the album, “The Passion of the Christ”, available for free download.
I made this album when I was feeling dejected and rejected, and I needed something to fill my mind, a task if you will.
I was just getting into making music, and a previous short hymn I had create made me want to explore Christ’s Passion in a deeper way.
The use of synthesizers is perhaps a controversial one. My reasons were that I felt that Christ’s Passion was a dark, unsettling, sad, and disturbing time, despite it’s eventual uplifting message. I felt that synthesizers could provide that unsettling etherreal atmosphere that I was searching for.
With this in mind, I have to state:This is a contemporary interpretation of the biblical passages for Christ’s Passion.
At all points, this is supposed to be a serious, and faithful interpretation.
This is a synthesizer work, and so is very much a contemporary interpretation.
I hope that people will approach the work in good faith, in the knowledge that this is strictly a religious synth work, and will sound very different from the music we are accustomed to in Church. It is not meant for Church service. -
“He has Risen” Resurrection Fine Art Print
The “He has Risen” Resurrection fine art print arrived.
Here is a video showing the print in more detail. (For some reason on uploading to Youtube, there is a slight resolution dip at the beginning, but the video appears to correct itself after some seconds. I maye try and redo the video at some point, but for now I’m going to relax!) -
Contact Form Working
Sorry, I realised that my contact form hasn’t been working for a long time. Oops.
I have set up with a different provider, so hopefully things will now work. Just go to the Contact Page -
You Opened One Eye – Separation Song
It’s been a difficult period for me. Separation, and a poor result in custody, seemingly relating to perceptions of my health. Quite frankly, it has been a very disappointing time, one where I must remind myself not to blame people, but rather the insidious lies that currently permeate culture.
Certain ideologies, when embraced like religion, lead to polarization. They seep like poison into the heart, and affect the capacity for love, the comprehension of truth, and render eyes unable to see. The only hope to escape this bitterness that eats away at the soul is God and prayer.It is certainly a bitter time for many, one where rage and hatred dominate, and where there exists the will to see truth through the lens of solipsism and individualism, warring against laws designed to maintain life and order itself.
Ultimately, people are happy to sacrifice others (literally in many cases) for their own peaceful existence and happiness. Behaviour like this is always deplorable. We must instead seek a more noble existence, expressing a wish to become more holy if possible, bringing true inner peace.
To emphasise how far society has diverged off the path, it is possible that some who read the above paragraph will recoil at the word holy. What does this say about society?
So, really I’ve diverged a little.
“You Opened One Eye” is a song about my love for my daughter whilst undergoing a harsh separation. Really, it is a song for her. I want her to one day understand how I felt in being separated from her, so that she can know that I never abandoned her, that my hands were tied, and that I always loved her and wanted her with me.Perhaps I should have had more control when writing this. I hope that bitterness has not crept into the lyrics too much. Really, the lyrics mainly relate to anguish, and the hole in my heart when I think of how this must affect my daughter.
