Christopher Stewart / Poligraf

« One Of A Kind » is the (belated) Club release for April 2020. essentially written in one day on March 6, 2013, this upbeat folk pop summer song is about meeting someone who turns out to have special significance in one's life, and eventually becoming so close as to form a kind of unit with them. ultimately, it's also about how every encounter, whether apparently desirable or otherwise, actually contributes to one's growth and to finding one's place in the grand scheme of things. § verse 1 i was lonely you were alone silent city no comfort zone smiles in a faceless fight one for the song two for the road please tag along we'll share the load hope in a heartless plight verse 2 faithful come hell or high water under the spell we're together birds in a painless flight if you don't mind i'll hold your hand we're gonna find the promised land steps at a trackless height verse 3 this adventure was no mistake here's the future that was at stake wind in a fearless kite we're the dreamers of the big dream all members of one winning team stars in a moonless night pre-chorus our worlds collide no battles of pride oh don't go we're good for the ride across the great divide unexpected you you paint my sky blue you know i am grateful too for all you do chorus i see you you see me delightful chemistry we are one of a kind i wished you you hoped me look at you smile at me no way justice is blind

« Starscaping » is the Club release for March 2020. The opening chapter of « Written In The Stars, » the piece is essentially an introduction to the whole suite. A slow cresendo that begins with an atmospheric impression of an evening in nature, the composition presents the sonic elements that will constitute the auditory experience throught the whole storyline. Soundscapes, sound effects, and electronic drum sounds augment the typical progressive rock instrumentation as the music builds momentum and reaches its culmination, setting the scene for the narrative to begin.

know this melancholy that's leaving you forlorn and that lonesome worry stinging your peace like thorn have no reality aside from when you mourn and for all their glory their fruits will be Stillborn § « Stillborn » is the Monthly Release for February 2020. the piece is the second chapter of a composition called « Written In The Stars » which loosely tells the story of a person mourning the unexpected and untimely ending of an undertaking that was very dear to them. in the storyline, the function of the piece is to suggest the dramatic event that led to the grieving process, the unsuccessful endeavour which is symbolized by a stillborn child. the chapter sets the scene as the protagonist, having left the city at the end of day, muses about the deceased infant while getting ready for a lonely night of mourning in nature. the music strides forward as the protagonist transitions from a city dweller frame of mind to an introspective state, all the while advancing deeper into the wilderness. as the piece concludes, memories give way to reflection as the griever becomes enthralled by the surroundings and the starry skies. at its origin, back in July 2017, the composition was intended as an experimental research and development exercise, with the aim of reaching new creative spaces. the composition blends stylistic elements borrowed from many genres ranging from urban to progressive. the music pulses to the beat of electronic and acoustic drum sounds, and is augmented by excerpts of poetry readings. this is a video for the single version of the piece. hopefully, when the recording of the whole of « Written In The Stars » is complete, and as means and resources allow, a proper conceptual video, or more likely a short film, will be released. meanwhile, i hope you enjoy the new music ! ❤ thank you for your support ! ❤ § 👍 attributions 👍 a list of the media files used in the making of this video is available here : https://poligraf.tumblr.com/post/610963848609120256/stillborn-attributions § 🎧 download link 🎧 https://poligraf.bandcamp.com/track/stillborn § you're invited to subscribe to the ★ Monthly Release Club ★ to instantly get every composition i release, along with Club Exclusives and bonus materials such as demos, videos, lyrics and other works in progress : https://poligraf.bandcamp.com/monthly-release-club among other privileges, Club Members have access to the contents of the « Upcoming Releases » and « Creative Process » series at least one month before the general public. § ★ connect via social networks ★ https://www.facebook.com/christopher.andrew.stewart https://www.facebook.com/poligraf https://twitter.com/poligraf https://instagram.com/p0l16r4f/ https://www.youtube.com/c/P0L16R4F/ http://stewart-explorations.net § #stillborn #music #newmusic #bandcamp #funk #urban #electronicdrums #progressive #alternative #eclectic #poetry #crushed #experimental

unforeseen collapsing personal catastrophe the dust settling you've done more than enough retreat to the margin not a day for dashes just rest and imagine Rising From The Ashes § « Rising From The Ashes » is the Monthly Release for January 2020. a restless instrumental that evolved from an unusual chord progression i stumbled upon while noodling on the nylon guitar. it evokes the indomitable loving energy that animates all that is alive, and which seemingly never stops surging and thriving onward even when the unthinkable happens and demise appears unavoidable. the artwork was inspired by photographs of signs of life returning after the Australian bushfires. no picks were used during the making of this recording, which is a first for me for this type of composition. after a lifetime believing that it was necessary to use a pick to achieve a certain level of virtuosity on the electric guitar, I had an epiphany over the holidays. while discovering the works of Matteo Mancuso, it became obvious that this limitation was only conceptual and didn’t actually exist. ❤ thank you for your support ! ❤ § 🎧 download link 🎧 https://poligraf.bandcamp.com/track/rising-from-the-ashes § you're invited to subscribe to the ★ Monthly Release Club ★ to instantly get every composition i release, along with Club Exclusives and bonus materials such as demos, videos, lyrics and other works in progress : https://poligraf.bandcamp.com/monthly-release-club among other privileges, Club Members have access to the contents of the « Upcoming Releases » and « Creative Process » series at least one month before the general public. § ★ connect via social networks ★ https://www.facebook.com/christopher.andrew.stewart https://www.facebook.com/poligraf https://twitter.com/poligraf https://instagram.com/p0l16r4f/ https://www.youtube.com/c/P0L16R4F/ http://stewart-explorations.net/ § #rock #instrumental #electricguitar #progrock #guitar #fingerstyle #bandcamp #music #progressiverock #clavinet #electricpiano #rhodes #mellotron #forestfires #bushfires #rebirth #signsoflife #proggy #progressivemusic #progressive #eclectic #cakewalk #musicproducer #musiclife #recording #musicmaking #musicmakers #musiccreator

do not fearful become because of that one scaith however the outcome the hands of time will swathe and wash away the dust while in respite you bathe in tomorrow you'll trust and take that Leap Of Faith § this instrumental stems from a simple progression on the nylon guitar that slowly builds and then explores a variety of landscapes. gentle and simple at its beginning, the music becomes more dramatic as the leap gets nearer. once the safety of the solid ground is left behind, it then gains the confidence to be more adventurous, until it reaches the grand moment of vindication wherein faith is justified by the unforeseeable increase in freedom that couldn’t have been gained otherwise. from there on, it experiences the joyous fun once more before returning to its original peaceful state. i have a definite fondness for the piece as it often starts playing in my mind when i'm in doubt about particular courses of action that seem to entail some form of danger... it sings « just take the leap » hope you enjoy it as much as i do ! ❤ thank you for your support ! ❤ § 🎧 download link 🎧 https://poligraf.bandcamp.com/track/leap-of-faith § you're invited to subscribe to the ★ Monthly Release Club ★ to instantly get every composition i release, along with Club Exclusives and bonus materials such as demos, videos, lyrics and other works in progress : https://poligraf.bandcamp.com/monthly-release-club among other privileges, Club Members have access to the contents of the « Upcoming Releases » and « Creative Process » series at least one month before the general public. § ★ connect via social networks ★ https://www.facebook.com/christopher.andrew.stewart https://www.facebook.com/poligraf https://twitter.com/poligraf https://instagram.com/p0l16r4f/ https://www.youtube.com/c/P0L16R4F/ http://stewart-explorations.net/ § #rock #electricguitar #faith #guitar #instrumental #nylonguitar #progressiverock #progrock #quebec #vdq

« The Dam » is a 22-minute long suite in 8 movements that uses the metaphor of water flowing from source to ocean as a canvas to depict a life-changing experience. As its title suggests, the focus of the composition is directed on one major obstacle, symbolized by a dam on a river, which the protagonist, who is also the narrator, has to conquer if they are to reach their intended destination. The storyline is inspired by my own struggle to reach the goal of earning a living through my artistic output so as to dedicate myself fully to my musical and literary undertakings.

« The Door Of The Law » is a suite comprising six chapters inspired by « A Parable About A Parable » from Robert Anton Wilson’s « Quantum Psychology. » The allegory tells the story of a young man studying Zen who finds himself profoundly disturbed after reading « Before The Law, » a mystifying parable that can be found near the end of Franz Kafka’s masterpiece « The Trial. » Feeling that he will never understand Zen until he first understands this strange tale, the student goes to his roshi and tells him Kafka’s story of the man who waited at the Door of the Law — the door that existed only for him but would not admit him, and was closed when death would no longer allow him to enter. ________________________________________________________________________________ 1. Prologue {instrumental} ________________________________________________________________________________ 2. Plight Please help me Oh Roshi won't you help me to see Pray tell me What is the point of this story To my progress necessary Mercy me This parable is a mystery Haunting me Distracting me from my study In meditation it disturbs me ________________________________________________________________________________ 3. Parable Once was a man who had made it Up all the way to the Door of the Law No obstacle had made him quit No one burden had caused him to withdraw There was a guard ... standing tall Right on the path leading to the entrance Duty was his to keep the wall And greet the man who would seek admittance The sentry said "I cannot let you in At this moment but in time you might see The day when your prize you're allowed to win Permission to move onward and past me" Thus the man sat and waited on and on Day after day hopefully restlessly Staying up late and waking before dawn Struggling to retain his sanity Out of patience the man would take his chance And his way in he would attempt to buy But the other would not alter his stance No matter how often the first one would try "It is no use giving your properties" The sentinel responded politely "I only consent to your briberies So you do not give up hope entirely" (or : lose hope entirely) Then came a day when the man felt too old Fearful that death was about to claim him Resigned himself having spent all his gold Took one deep breath and expelled one last whim "Pray tell me whom else might this door enthrall So many years flew by in mystery I have been told that the Law is for all How come no one made it here but just me ?" "I will explain" said the guard in return "This door was made for no one but for thee As you now die your last spark I thus spurn The door I close and complete my duty" ________________________________________________________________________________ 4. Pedagogue Now I see Dear Simon why you looked so weary Don't worry I will explain the allegory And from its bind you will be free Come with me I know just the thing needed for thee Follow me The meditation hall holds the key But the answer is one you must see ________________________________________________________________________________ 5. Awakening {instrumental} ________________________________________________________________________________ 6. Epilogue There is no wall confining you There used to be, but you've left it behind There is no guard here to stop you The one you fear is a voice you designed There is no door in front of you The one you see is only in your mind There is no law preventing you To live you dream free yourself from your bind

Fourth episode of the adventures of Jack Babbitt, lepufologist. The full title is "Lepufology 401. Responding To An Invasion." Lepufology is a word coined by Robert Anton Wilson in his book “Quantum Psychology,” and it means “study of rabbit-related UFO encounters.” For more details, including a synopsis of the episode, please see : http://poligraf.tumblr.com/music/albums/thelepufologyproject

Third episode of the adventures of Jack Babbitt, lepufologist. The full title is “Lepufology 301 - Racing Spacecrafts.” Lepufology is a word coined by Robert Anton Wilson in his book “Quantum Psychology,” and it means “study of rabbit-related UFO encounters.” For more details, including a synopsis of the episode, please see : http://poligraf.tumblr.com/music/albums/thelepufologyproject

Second episode of the adventures of Jack Babbitt, lepufologist. The full title is “Lepufology 201 - Investigating Burrows.” Lepufology is a word coined by Robert Anton Wilson in his book “Quantum Psychology,” and it means “study of rabbit-related UFO encounters.” For more details, including a synopsis of the episode, please see : http://poligraf.tumblr.com/music/albums/thelepufologyproject

The first episode of the adventures of Jack Babbitt, lepufologist. The full title is “Lepufology 101 - Identifying Alien Leporids.” Lepufology is a word coined by Robert Anton Wilson in his book “Quantum Psychology,” and it means “study of rabbit-related UFO encounters.” For more details, including a synopsis of the episode, please see : http://poligraf.tumblr.com/music/albums/thelepufologyproject

« Leftoverturned » is a rehash of ideas already introduced in « 1000 Radios » or discarded from the piece’s writing sessions. The instrumental depicts the vanquishing of the countless questions presented in « Samsara. » The first part is entitled « No More Questions. » Given its structure and contents, the second part could have been named « Informaëlstrom II, » but because of the undeniable influence of Modest Mussorgsky’s « Night on Bald Mountain, » the full title finally evolved into « Atmospheric Disturbance Over Balkanian Mountain. » Here's the associated poetry : I had set out to understand Which thoughts were best to be untwirled Which lines were fit to make the strand Which words were apt to free the world As I advanced onto the quest No issue left me unconcerned No question was left unaddressed No single stone was left unturned Just driven on by a feeling Proverbial mental splinter I never knew needed healing Explored ahead ever faster The hands of time were overruled Future and past blended and burned Nobody could have had me fooled The learned became the unlearned Until one day I encountered Round a corner of my psyche Childhood events that had triggered An invisible injury And there and then I understood My quest had been for disclosure Of the wound that I had withstood That robbed me of my composure At first I blamed the offenders Until I came to recognize Playing our parts we were actors We had not written my demise Although that much had become clear Most of the mystery remained Of how I could rid me of fear And of all that which had me pained So on the path I walked along Sincerely seeking the answer Frequently deaf to my own song To hear despair and desire Arcane knowledge for you I yearned As I explored ever further The parts of me that had been burned The heart that had learned to wither And how often unwittingly I strove against the unfolding Of a process so fittingly That mostly needed allowing Onward I was driven by will Guided by natural justice All that time directing the bill So it could school its apprentice I scythe the sheaves and dig the roots In my garden of souvenirs The time has come to reap the fruits Of endeavors over the years On the threshold of a new life The world I sought sincere I pray One of love and of freedom rife Almost in reach won't go away The play complete the actors bow The school is out the lessons learned It has happened don't ask me how Countless questions leftoverturned

The Idler was born of a combination of concepts discovered while exploring various domains of knowledge during the second half of the 1990s and the beginning of the 2000s. « The idler who does not arise when it is time to arise, who is full of sloth though young and strong, who is lazy and weak in thought and mind, does not find the path to insight. » – The Dhammapada I was developing an interest in Buddhism, and from the works of Jung, in the concepts of synchronicity, and the collective and individual unconscious, in particular in their various manifestations as guide to personal evolution : « L’exigence de l’inconscient serait donc l’exigence de cette évolution, l’inconscient se rappelle à nous pour réaliser ce processus d’individuation, ce processus d’éveil. » – C.G. Jung I wondered what would happen to an individual utterly oblivious to signs, or intentionally inertial. So I imagined a confrontation between a fictional character, The Idler, and their unconscious. Frustrated by the indifference of its protégé when facing dreams, somatic troubles, preoccupations, and other such signs, the unconscious takes human form in order to convince The Idler of the necessity of evolution, not only on the material plane, but also with respect with his emotive, affective, intellectual, and spiritual dimensions. ____________________________________________________________ Lyrics : « I don’t have the time » is the lie I will not believe Coming from you the alibi Will not deceive « I have no control over it » I will not allow As objection to disbelief « I just can’t change » is this hell You just don’t leave While heaven is ignored you’ll keep Facing the heat Until this point you will admit I will uphold my aim You let your own inertia Ignite the flame Distract yourself in the tasks of the day Don’t lie I know you’re only idling Divert yourself in the taste of the day You know I know you are only hiding Angels timely sent Keep getting lost in the noise that is maze Blind to dreams even deaf to body Fate is left to the hands of the clock

Demo recorded in October & November 2007 as a requirement for our participation in the CONGA 2008, a local contest for emergent bands. The track is an instrumental. Here's the associated poetry : Tell me when are these times that I have dreams about Are they mere memories of better days gone by Unsubstantial fancies fated to fade away Or horizons waiting to be arisen to ? And the fire I felt when this hope was brand new When not even Everest could have kept me from you Has it burned its brightest or just given a hint Does it smolder for chance or consume its last fuel ? And the bridge you promised would serve as my footing Had I strayed from the path or was my step unsure Perchance that fall was meant to complete my healing So I'd see for myself what my strength could endure ? Weren't you the blue bird that had awaken me As I laid in the cold suffering of torment Sung me out of starving, loathing and lethargy Invited me to rise and resume my ascent ? As I now look forward to more of your magic Contemplating what so far had kept me bemused Just ahead are the times I have dreamt ecstatic I see the horizons and I am reinfused