Be sure to catch David and an eclectic collection of guest DJs streaming 24/7 on NYTheSpirit.com. Experience music unique to David Marsden and his tenure at CFNY-FM–music that defines not only an era, but a lifetime.
Typically, David presents a live show from 8PM until midnight on Saturday and Sunday nights; but, you just never know when he’ll pop in during the week.
Here’s the list until midnight, thanks to post 10PM efforts by JerusalemSlim. David actually went live up until 1AM, but neither of us old farts made it that late. If you have any songs to add, please let us know.
Al Stewart – Lord Grenville
Band feat. The Staples – The Weight (live at Last Waltz)
Beth Hart – Lay Your Hands On Me
Big Brother & The Holding Company – Summertime
Big Mama Thornton – Sometimes I Have A Heartache
Bobby Bland – Ain’t No Sunshine
Boy Harsher – Morphine
David Bowie – Rebel Rebel (Soulwax club mix)
Diodes – Tired Of Waking Up Tired
Doors – Ghost Song
Dr. John – Cruella DeVille
Earons – Land of Hunger (extended version)
Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush – Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)
Frank Zappa – Dancin’ Fool
Gary Moore – With Love (Remember)
Golden Earring – Radar Love
Grace Jones – Slave To The Rhythm (12″ mix)
Imagination Machine – True (May The Road Rise)
John Hiatt – Old People
Kate Bush – Running Up That Hill (extended mix)
Krueger Band – Krueger Motel
Leonard Cohen – A Thousand Kisses Deep
Leon Russell – This Masquerade
Midge Ure – If I Was
Mighty Lemon Drops – Inside Out
Manchester United F.C. – Come On You Reds
Marianne Faithfull – Sister Morphine
Mission – Tower Of Strength
Molly Johnson – Boogie Street
Otis Spann – Ain’t Nobody’s Business
Pinetop Perkins – Grinding Man
Pink Floyd – Another Brick In The Wall (Part 2)
Psychedelic Furs – President Gas
Queen – My Melancholy Blues
Rob Stuart – A Beautiful Thing
Rod Stewart – What A Wonderful World
Roy Orbison – Dream Baby (How Long Must I Dream) (live)
Sam Cooke – Chain Gang
Scritti Politti – Absolute (extended version)
SLAVE To The SQUAREwave – Something’s Kind Of Weird
Small Faces – Itchycoo Park
Specials – We Sell Hope
Spoons – Talk Back
Steve Forbert – Song For The South (Time’s Gonna Take Me Back)
T. Rex – The Slider
Visage – The Damned Don’t Cry (extended)
Be sure to catch David and an eclectic collection of guest DJs streaming 24/7 on NYTheSpirit.com. Experience music unique to David Marsden and his tenure at CFNY-FM–music that defines not only an era, but a lifetime.
Typically, David presents a live show from 8PM until midnight on Saturday and Sunday nights; but, you just never know when he’ll pop in during the week.
Here’s the complete list, thanks to much-appreciated post-10PM assistance from TheBarron:
69 Eyes – Gothic Girl
Blackmore’s Night – Wish You Were Here
Boomtown Rats – Back To Boomtown (remix)
Boy Harsher – Morphine
Clash – The Magnificent Seven
David Bowie – Sound & Vision (David Richards 1991 Remix)
Dee Long – Good Night Universe
DJ Champion – Resistance (Skool)
Electronic Dream Factory – So, What Of Tomorrow (Original version)
Frank Zappa – Cheap Thrills
Frank Zappa & The Mothers – Montana
Genesis – The Musical Box
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five – The Message Cutting Edge’s Old School mix)
Health – Hurt Yourself
Interview – St. Jean Wires
Jordan John – Funky, Funky, Funky
Kevin Ayers & 747 – The Confessions Of Dr. Dream (Doctor Dream Theme)
Kissing The Pink – One Step
Lemon Jelly – Elements
Lindsey Buckingham – Holiday Road
Lloyd Cole & The Commotions – Brand New Friend (Long Remix)
Madness – Yesterday’s Men (Extended Version)
Pet Shop Boys – Go West
Pink Floyd – Welcome To The Machine
Prince – Rocknroll Loveaffair
Prodigy/Pop Will Eat Itself – Their Law
Propellerheads feat. Shirley Bassey – History Repeating
Quicksilver Messenger Service – Fresh Air
Rammstein – Radio
Rob Stuart – A Beautiful Thing
Rolling Stones – Sympathy For The Devil (The Neptunes remix)
Scissor Sisters – Invisible Light (Boys Noize remix)
Simple Minds – New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84) (German 12” Remix)
SLAVE to the SQUAREwave – Bonnie And Clyde
SLAVE To The SQUAREwave – Get Out Of My House
Spoons – Life On Demand
Stranglers – You’ll Always Reap What You Sow
Sylvester – Do You Wanna Funk?
Tame Impala – Let It Happen
Ultravox – White China
Wall Of Voodoo – Mexican Radio
Wingtips – Deaf Pursuit
Wombats – Give Me A Try (Don Diablo remix)
Be sure to catch David and an eclectic collection of guest DJs streaming 24/7 on NYTheSpirit.com. Experience music unique to David Marsden and his tenure at CFNY-FM–music that defines not only an era, but a lifetime.
Typically, David presents a live show from 8PM until midnight on Saturday and Sunday nights; but, you just never know when he’ll pop in during the week.
David lovingly dedicated the second half of his 4-hour live set to Pride, in honor of Pride Month. Here’s the complete list, thanks to always much-appreciated late night assistance from TheBarron:
Alan Parsons Project – A Dream Within A Dream (1987 remix)
Alan Parsons Project – The Raven (1987 remix)
Albert King/Roebuck Staples/Steve Cropper – Opus De Soul
Allan Rayman – Crush
B.B. King/Bobby “Blue” Bland feat. Viola Jackson – Medley: The Thrill Is Gone/I Ain’t Gonna Be The First To Cry
Baby Boomers – I Am What I Am
Beloved – Sweet Harmony
Bobby “Blue” Bland – Sunday Morning Love
Chameleons – Swamp Thing
Common/John Legend – Glory (From The Motion Picture Selma)
Conjure One – Center Of The Sun (Solarstones Chilled Out Remix)
David Bowie – Blackstar
David Bowie – Boys Keep Swinging
David Bowie – Farewell Speech (Live)
David Bowie – Queen Bitch
Dee Long – Good Night Universe
Elliot Murphy – Anastasia
Etta James/Dr. John – I’d Rather Go Blind
Hedwig & The Angry Inch – The Origin Of Love
Ian Hunter – Ships (live)
Impellitteri – Over The Rainbow
J.J. Cale – After Midnight
Jackie Shane – Any Other Way
Julian Troiano – Try
Kate Bush – The Dreaming
Lotus Eaters – The First Picture Of You
Mike Oldfield – Five Miles Out
Parachute Club – Rise Up (World Pride 2014)
Peter Schilling – The Different Story (World Of Lust And Crime)
Pink Floyd – Us And Them
Queen – These Are The Days Of Our Lives
Ray Charles/Johnny Mathis – Over The Rainbow
Rob Stuart – A Beautiful Thing
Rocky Horror Picture Show – Sweet Transvestite
Rod Stewart – The Killing Of Georgie (Parts l & ll)
Roger Waters – The Tide Is Turning (After Live Aid)
Roy Orbison/k.d. lang – Crying
Scissor Sisters – Return To Oz
Shirley Bassey – If You Don’t Understand
SLAVE to the SQUAREwave – Starrs (Ambient Vocal Mix)
Smiths – Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me
Sound Of Contact – Pale Blue Dot
Spoons – New Day New World
This Mortal Coil – Song To The Siren
Tom Robinson – Atmospherics: Listen To The Radio
Van Morrison – Madame George
Willy DeVille – I Call Your Name
Be sure to catch David and an eclectic collection of guest DJs streaming 24/7 on NYTheSpirit.com. Experience music unique to David Marsden and his tenure at CFNY-FM–music that defines not only an era, but a lifetime.
Typically, David presents a live show from 8PM until midnight on Saturday and Sunday nights; but, you just never know when he’ll pop in during the week.
Here’s the complete list thanks to post-10PM assistance from JerusalemSlim:
54-40 – How’s Your Day Going?
Allen Toussaint Orchestra – Close Encounters Of The Third Kind
Arkitex – If A Tree Falls In The Forest
Art Of Noise – Beat Box
Bruce Springsteen – Secret Garden (Jerry Maguire version)
City Boy – 5000 Years / Don’t Know Can’t Tell
Concrete Blonde – Crystal Blue
Cowboy Junkies – Sweet Jane (Natural Born Killers version)
Crowbar – Oh, What A Feeling
Cure – Just Like Heaven
Dee Long – Good Night Universe
Echo & The Bunnymen – Lips Like Sugar
Elvis Costello – Alison
Flesh For Lulu – I Go Crazy (extended remix)
Frankie Goes To Hollywood – Rage Hard (Broad)
Imagination Machine – A Northern Evening
Jeff Wayne feat. Liam Neeson, Gary Barlow – Eve Of The War
Jerry Lee Lewis – Cold Cold Heart
Jordan John – Funky, Funky, Funky
Laid Back – Sunshine Reggae (12″ version)
Lou Reed – Ride Sally Ride
Lovin’ Spoonful – Summer In The City
Martha & The Muffins – Black Stations / White Stations
Martha & Muffins – Echo Beach (30th Anniversary version)
Matthews’ Southern Comfort – Woodstock
Midge Ure – If I Was (Extended Mix)
Moody Blues – Are You Sitting Comfortably?
New Order – True Faith (Shep Pettibone 12” Remix)
Primal Scream – Loaded (Farley Mix)
Project Pitchfork – Karma Monster
Radio Ad (1985) – CFNY’s High Frequency Anti-Mosquito Tone
Rammstein – Radio
Richard O’Brien, Little Neil & Patricia Quinn – Time Warp x 2
Rob Stuart – A Beautiful Thing
Roxy Music – Angel Eyes (12″ mix)
Simple Minds – Promised You A Miracle
SLAVE To The SQUAREwave – Something’s Kind Of Weird
SLAVE To The SQUAREwave – Worlds Away
Smiths – How Soon Is Now
Style Council – Long Hot Summer
Talking Heads – Once In A Lifetime (extended mix)
Thomas Dolby – She Blinded Me With Science
Timmy Jay – Dread Not
Tom Robinson – War Baby
Tubes – Boy Crazy
Be sure to catch David and an eclectic collection of guest DJs streaming 24/7 on NYTheSpirit.com. Experience music unique to David Marsden and his tenure at CFNY-FM–music that defines not only an era, but a lifetime.
Typically, David presents a live show from 8PM until midnight on Saturday and Sunday nights; but, you just never know when he’ll pop in during the week.
Here’s the complete list, thanks to much-appreciated late night assistance from JerusalemSlim:
A Man Called Adam w/ Eddie Parker – Easter Song
Alan Parsons Project – Sirius/Eye In The Sky
Alex Bollard & The London Starlight Orchestra – Suicide Is Painless
B.B. King & Etta James – There’s Something On Your Mind
Beautiful South – Dream A Little Dream
Beth Hart – Caught Out In The Rain
Blackie and the Rodeo Kings – I’d Have To Be A Stone
Bloomfield/Kooper – Dear Mr. Fantasy
Bruce Springsteen – Sad Eyes
Cocteau Twins – Pandora (For Cindy)
David Bowie – Changes
Dee Long – Diamond Rain
Eric Clapton – My Father’s Eyes
Jeff Beck – Blues De Luxe
Krueger Band – Fire and Rain (?)
Lemon Pipers – Green Tambourine
Mark Knopfler – The Long Road
Molly Johnson – Boogie Street
Moody Blues – Tuesday Afternoon
Nobby Clegg & The Civilians – Me Dad a.k.a. My Old Man
Pink Floyd – Astronomy Domine
Rob Stuart – A Beautiful Thing
Rolling Stones – Memory Motel
Rory Gallagher – A Million Miles Away (BBC session)
Rory Gallagher & Jack Bruce – Born Under A Bad Sign (live)
Rupert Hine – I Hang Onto My Vertigo
Sinead O’Connor – Nothing Compares 2 U
Smiths – How Soon Is Now
Stevie Ray Vaughan – Little Wing (live)
Strawbs – Benedictus
Supertramp – Brother Where You Bound
Toni Childs – The Dead Are Dancing
Underworld – Dune
Unheilig – Unter Deiner Flagge
Van Morrison – T.B. Sheets
Willie Nelson – Rainy Night In Georgia
Be sure to catch David and an eclectic collection of guest DJs streaming 24/7 on NYTheSpirit.com. Experience music unique to David Marsden and his tenure at CFNY-FM–music that defines not only an era, but a lifetime.
Typically, David presents a live show from 8PM until midnight on Saturday and Sunday nights; but, you just never know when he’ll pop in during the week.
Here’s the complete list, thanks to always-appreciated late night assistance from TheBarron:
A-Ha – Crying In The Rain
Aphrodite’s Child – Marie Jolie
Be Bop Deluxe – Dance Of The Uncle Sam Humanoids
Be Bop Deluxe – Dancing In The Moonlight (All Alone)
Be Bop Deluxe – Honeymoon On Mars
Be Bop Deluxe – Lost In The Neon World
Be Bop Deluxe – Modern Radio
Boomtown Rats – Rat Trap
Conjure One feat. Sinead O’Connor – Tears From The Moon
Cut Copy – Need You Now
Dee Long – Good Night Universe
Deftones – Drive
Divine – Shoot Your Shot
Farm – All Together Now
Fleece – Riverside
Frankie Goes To Hollywood – Welcome To The Pleasuredome
Funkadelic & Soul Clap feat. Sly Stone – In Da Kar (Efunk mix)
Heaven 17 – Let Me Go (12″ Extended Version)
Japan – Life In Tokyo
Jordan John – Make Way For The Funk Parade
Kim Mitchell/Barenaked Ladies – Diamonds Diamonds
Luciano Pavarotti/Eric Clapton – Holy Mother
Lyric Dubee – Colour
Malcolm McLaren – Madam Butterfly (Un Bel Di Vedremo)
Nash The Slash – Dance After Curfew
Peter Gabriel – Big Time
Pink Floyd – Pigs (Three Different Ones)
Prince – Purple Rain
Project Pitchfork – Timekiller (And One Remix)
Rammstein – Deutschland
Rob Stuart – A Beautiful Thing
Sigue Sigue Sputnik – Atari Baby
Silencers – Painted Moon (Extended 12” Mix)
SLAVE To The SQUAREwave – Bonnie And Clyde
Soul Asylum – Black Gold
Spoons – Life On Demand
Talking Heads – Once In A Lifetime
Tony Malone – The World’s A Speeding Train
Ultravox – Brilliant (extended remix)
Vicious Pink – Cccan’t You See (French extended mix)
Was (Not Was) – Walk The Dinosaur
Yazoo – Nobody’s Diary
Yello – The Race
Be sure to catch David and an eclectic collection of guest DJs streaming 24/7 on NYTheSpirit.com. Experience music unique to David Marsden and his tenure at CFNY-FM–music that defines not only an era, but a lifetime.
Typically, David presents a live show from 8PM until midnight on Saturday and Sunday nights; but, you just never know when he’ll pop in during the week.
Here is the complete list, thanks to ever-efficient post-10PM help from JerusalemSlim. David graciously gave us a warm and wonderful Dr. John memorial/celebration at the 10PM hour.
Al Stewart – Roads To Moscow
Band feat. Bob Dylan, Dr. John et al – I Shall Be Released (live at Last Waltz)
Barclay James Harvest – Mocking Bird
Bill Nelson – Contemplation
Brandon Flowers – I Can Change
Chalk Circle – 20th Century Boy
David Bowie – Life On Mars?
David Gray – Babylon
David Usher – Black Black Heart
Dee Long – Good Night Universe
Dr. John – Basin Street Blues
Dr. John – Dis, Dat or D’udda
Dr. John – Gris-Gris Gumbo Ya Ya
Dr. John – I Walk On Guilded Splinters
Dr. John – In My Solitude
Dr. John – Right Place, Wrong Time
Dr. John – Such A Night (live)
Dr. John – Time For A Change
Dr. John & Etta James – I’d Rather Go Blind (live)
Dr. John & Mavis Staples – Lay My Burden Down
Dr. John & Odetta – Brother, Can You Spare A Dime?
Eno/Cale – Spinning Away
Front 242 – Welcome To Paradise
Gary Numan – Cars (Razormaid Remix)
Grace Jones – The Apple Stretching
Iggy Pop – Bang Bang
Imagination Machine – True (May The Road Rise) (Abbey Road Mix)
INXS – Original Sin
Jam – Town Called Malice
Jefferson Airplane – Wooden Ships
Molly Johnson – Boogie Street
Moody Blues – I Know You’re Out There Somewhere
New Order – Tutti Frutti
Passenger – Caravan
Pink Floyd – Louder Than Words
Pink Floyd – Us And Them
Rob Stuart – A Beautiful Thing
Roger Waters – The Tide Is Turning
SLAVE To The SQUAREwave – Casino
Spoons – Nova Heart (Dark Before Dawn Mix)
Villains – Wendy’s Melody
War On Drugs – Thinking Of A Place
Be sure to catch David and an eclectic collection of guest DJs streaming 24/7 on NYTheSpirit.com. Experience music unique to David Marsden and his tenure at CFNY-FM–music that defines not only an era, but a lifetime.
Typically, David presents a live show from 8PM until midnight on Saturday and Sunday nights; but, you just never know when he’ll pop in during the week.
Here is the complete list, with thanks to TheBarron for covering the second half of the show:
54-40 – How’s Your Day Going?
Alphaville – Big In Japan
Beloved – Sweet Harmony
Blancmange – Blind Vision (12″ mix)
Concrete Blonde – Joey
Dave Stewart feat. Colin Blunstone – What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted
David Bowie – The Man Who Sold The World
David Gilmour – Rattle That Lock
Dee Long – Good Night Universe
ELO – Mr. Blue Sky
Farm – All Together Now
Frankie Goes To Hollywood – Rage Hard (Broad)
Gary Moore – Parisienne Walkways
Genesis – Cinema Show
Imagination Machine – A Northern Evening (Abbey Road Mix)
Japan – Transmission
Jimi Hendrix – Voodoo Chile Blues
John Foxx – Drive
Jools Holland – When Did You Leave Heaven?
Madness – Michael Caine
Madness – Our House (Extended Dance Mix)
Martha & The Muffins – Black Stations / White Stations
Midge Ure – Breathe
Moral Support – Living With Passion
Payolas – Eyes Of A Stranger
Phil Lynott – Solo In Soho
Pink Floyd – High Hopes
Primal Scream – Loaded (Farley Mix)
Psychedelic Furs – President Gas
Rob Stuart – A Beautiful Thing
Rockets – On The Road Again
Simple Minds – Don’t You (Forget About Me) (extended remix)
Simply Red – Holding Back The Years (DMC Remix)
SLAVE To The SQUAREwave – Worlds Away
Specials – We Sell Hope
Spoons – Landing Lights
Stranglers – You’ll Always Reap What You Sow
Tom Robinson – War Baby (12″ version)
Underworld – Cups (Salt City Orchestra remix)
Yello – Desire (Club mix)
I’ve had the enormous pleasure of being introduced to the delightful electronic music of Brian Dickson, a.k.a. Colony Three. I was asked to review a collection of 10 tracks titled Ergosphere. Wikipedia defines the word ergosphere as “…a region located outside a rotating black hole’s outer event horizon. Its name was proposed by Remo Ruffini and John Archibald Wheeler during the Les Houches lectures in 1971 and is derived from the Greek word ergon, which means ‘work.’”
This listening experience allowed me to take a remarkable journey that I look forward to revisiting time and time again; I know that I will hear more and experience different sensations with each opportunity.
The first five tracks lull us as listeners into a sense of peace and well-being—a journey that is both pleasant and without a hint of danger. Suddenly, with the opening strains of “Bad Gram,” the mood changes and we are thrust into a metropolis of sights and sounds that are both confusing and terrifying. As the music gathers steam, we are subjected to the aural awakening of the “fight or flight” instinct.
“Random Sparks” brings us back to a safe haven, giving us hope that there will be no other dangerous interludes until we reach the conclusion of our travels. But, just as suddenly as we feel that sense of calm, we are reminded by the dire melodies in “Collider” that the dangers we face are still all too real.
In the end, the pace of the excursion slows down, the dangers melt away, and again we begin to feel that perhaps this odyssey will have a positive completion after all. “Winds of Elysium Planitia” puts me in mind of The Man Who Fell To Earth when we are given glimpses of Thomas Jerome Newton’s suffering family back on his native planet. The final track, similar in scope by looking back on the previous tracks, evoke feelings of both relief and sadness—relief that the trip is over and we are still breathing, and sadness, because of a nagging feeling that the world will somehow be forever different.
I am so pleased to have had a chance to interview Brian Dickson to provide some first-hand insight into the origins of this lush collection’s creation. I hope you will enjoy reading what I learned about this man and what he has to say about his exquisite music.
MissParker: I can sit here and list all of the influences that I hear in this brilliant music—from Brian Eno to Gary Numan to Underworld to Jean-Michel Jarre…but my opinions would be irrelevant. Let’s hear it from you–who are your influences and why? BD: I’d say my biggest influencers are Tangerine Dream and Jean-Michel Jarre. In the early 80s I lived in a very remote northern town so my exposure to music was mostly through the one local radio station that played top 40 pop and country music. One day, I was digging through my older brother’s stuff and came across a cassette of Force Majeure, and listening to it was a life-changing epiphany. I’d never had an emotional response to music until hearing this. It wasn’t the harsh “bleeps & bloops” synthesizers that I’d heard in so many b-movies and radio shows, but instead an incredible audio landscape that took me on a fantastical journey. I became obsessed with finding more music like this and pretty much anything that pushed boundaries.
Thanks to radio shows like CBC’s “Brave New Waves” with Brent Bambury and CFNY (under the tenure of David Marsden), a whole new world of musical influence was made possible. Listening to bootleg cassette copies of CFNY played a large part in me moving to Toronto.
MissParker: I’m terrified of flying, but I do it out of necessity. Listening to “Approach” made me smile because it actually reminds me of the airplane’s approach to the runway for a landing. What is the true meaning behind that song? BD: First, I love hearing about how you interpreted this song as it was always a dream of mine to create something that sparks the listeners’ imagination.
Certain sounds or songs create a type of visualization for me. When composing, I often start with a single sound and build on it, twisting and overlaying a few other sounds. At some point a scene forms in my mind and I often end up naming the track whatever was in this imaginary scene. In this case I had come up with the album name “Ergosphere” and thought it fitting that this song would be the approach into the Ergosphere and beyond.
MissParker: “Indifference Waves” has a lovely build-up to the brief spoken word segment. It puts me in mind of Gary Numan when he was
(c) Brian Dickson
experimenting with techno in the 90s and ended up keeping it as his signature sound. Then it takes off into a fabulous confluence of electronics and raw drumbeat. I love that combination. What inspired it? BD: “Indifference Waves” was born of a sample from a 1964 episode of Danger Man in which John Drake (played by the outstanding Patrick McGoohan) finds himself in a surreal village called Colony Three. Many speculate that this episode was the precursor to the iconic science-fiction series The Prisoner which finds McGoohan imprisoned in a mysterious village where everyone is known only as a number.
“Indifference” describes my interpretation of The Prisoner, which is the importance of questioning the status quo. I’m finding that naming the songs is almost as much fun as making them!
MissParker: There seem to be very brief, if any, breaks between most of the tracks. Was this collection meant to flow like a single soundtrack, or are the songs meant to stand on their own? BD: Some of Ergosphere was composed with no gaps between the tracks, but I’ve found that some streaming platforms or audio playback software inject small breaks between songs. Spotify seems to play the album “gapless” while others are hit and miss. I’ve noted that artists like Jean-Michel Jarre now release large single track “continuous play” version of their albums to avoid this issue. I personally love continuous play albums as they seem keep the listener’s imagination and mood flowing throughout.
MissParker: I played a lot of Jean-Michel Jarre in the late 90s early 00s when I was a corporate trainer. I used his music specifically to soothe my classes while they were testing on the stuff that I’d taught them. I hear some of his influence in “Flight to Tadoule.” What is your take on Jarre’s music? Did he inspire you to create your own version of electronica and how? BD: Jean Michel-Jarre is influential on almost everything I produce. In my opinion, Jarre has found the precise balance of classical composure and technology. His bold approach to musical and performance experimentation is inspirational. I was fortunate enough to go to Jarre’s amazing 2017 performance in Toronto and it was better than I could’ve ever imagined.
Jarre inspired me to start simple and build on it. If I ever got the chance to speak with Jarre, I always imagine that his advice would be “There’s no wrong way to do it.” Sometimes when working on a track I will literally ask myself, “What would Jarre do at this point?” which always seems to get me past the block.
MissParker: “Clearwater” has a remarkable intro that flows seamlessly from the close of “Flight to Tadoule.” It reminds me of a DJ making the perfect segue between songs during a radio broadcast. Were the two songs created in tandem purposely? BD: Unbeknownst to everyone (until now) “Clearwater” and “Flight to Tadoule” were composed in memory of my mother and father. My mother lived her final years in Clearwater, a scenic town in the interior of British Columbia, Canada. Her last years there were the happiest of her life and it was always a pleasure to see her so happy there. One of my fondest memories of my father was when he took me on a flight in a Cessna to a very remote northern community called Tadoule Lake. I felt it fitting to have these songs sound very different on their own but also be somewhat connected.
MissParker: Up until “Bad Gram,” the songs seem to have a laid back and dreamy quality to them. Then all of a sudden we’re thrown into a random foot chase with pursuers hot on our heels. The urgency carries over into “Influence,” although not as intense. What brings on this change of mood? BD: I really enjoy your interpretation of “Bad Gram,” and I think I hit the mark on this one! As the song was being composed, I started imagining a scene from a Michael Mann movie, like some of the amazing instrumentals that Jan Hammer had done for Miami Vice. After the lulling jazz-bar sounds of “Daydream on Pacific Avenue” I wanted to create an unexpected spike of adrenaline for the listener to snap them back to the rest of the album.
MissParker: I mentioned in the introduction how some of this collection reminded me of David Bowie in “The Man Who Fell To Earth.” My only complaint about the film is that 45 years later, the soundtrack (which Bowie did NOT compose) presents as a bit “cheesy.” Your music on Ergosphere, however, is as timeless as space itself. That said, did you have a “movie” playing in your head when you created these tracks? BD: That is another really big compliment on many levels! I didn’t set out with a movie in mind for the overall album, and I think the timeless aspect is a result of a personal preference I have for simplicity in both the composure and instruments being used. My good friend Rob Stuart (of SLAVE to the SQUAREwave) and I discuss this philosophy at length, that so many of the timeless classics were created using equipment that was greatly limited by today’s standards. I believe these limits are what ultimately demanded the most creativity and best performances from the artists at the time. I used to think that because I had a 16-track recorder, I needed to make use of them all. (Maybe to get my money’s worth?) Now, my studio has the ability to mix and record over 1,000 tracks, but I generally use 10 tracks for most songs, which encourages me to focus on melody and dynamics.
(c) Brian Dickson
MissParker: Is all of the writing and production solely yours, or do you have people that you collaborate with? BD: For my first album, I made a conscious decision to go it alone as I ultimately wanted to own the outcome and find my own groove, so to speak. I did the writing and recording over the course of a few months. While the composing and recording was the fun and easy part, I was really struggling when it came time to master the album. Mastering is the final step in the process where the entire album is stitched-together and balanced for harmonics and volume levels. I’m thankful for being able to lean on Rob Stuart for advice during this journey as he has decades of experience in music composure and production. These great conversations turned have led to Rob and I collaborating on some new tracks.
It’s early days but we are both really excited about the outcomes and are looking forward to sharing them.
MissParker: Do you perform live? If so, where can people have the pleasure of being enveloped by your music in a live performance? BD: I haven’t spent the time yet to research live performance in this genre…I’ve simply been having too much fun creating the music! I think my gateway into live performance would be through that previously mentioned collaboration. It would be the experience of a lifetime no matter what the venue.
Missparker: Where can people sample and ultimately purchase your music? BD: For the latest information about Colony Three and to sample new music in the making, visit:
Colony Three music is available on all of the major streaming and download services including Amazon, Spotify, Apple Music, Google Play, and YouTube:
Missparker: Thank you so much for taking the time to share your music and your thoughts with us. BD: Thank you for your support and for such a thought-provoking and fun interview experience!
I love your site and what you’re doing for all artists both new and established!
Be sure to catch David and an eclectic collection of guest DJs streaming 24/7 on NYTheSpirit.com. Experience music unique to David Marsden and his tenure at CFNY-FM–music that defines not only an era, but a lifetime.
Typically, David presents a live show from 8PM until midnight on Saturday and Sunday nights; but, you just never know when he’ll pop in during the week.
Here is the complete list, thanks to much-appreciated after 10 pm assistance from JerusalemSlim:
Al Kooper & Shuggie Otis – 12:15 Slow Goonbash Blues
Arcade Fire – We Exist
B.B. King & Etta James – There Is Something On Your Mind
Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band – Turn The Page (live)
Bruce Springsteen – The Ghost Of Tom Joad
Chicago – Colour My World
Cure – Pictures Of You
David Johansen & The Harry Smiths – James Alley Blues
Dee Long – Good Night Universe
Delerium – Consensual Worlds
Godley & Creme – Snack Attack
Goldfrapp – Ride A White Horse
Imagination Machine – True (May The Road Rise)
James Cotton – Walkin’ Blues
Jive Bunny – Swing The Mood
Joe Bonamassa – Bird On A Wire
John Mayall – Rocket In The Pocket
Jordan John – Make Way For The Funk Parade
J.S. Ondara – Lebanon
Koko Taylor – I’m A Woman
Kraftwerk – The Model
Leon Redbone & Ringo Starr – My Little Grass Shack
Lorraine Segato – Times Like This
Lyric Dubee – Wake Up
Manfred Mann’s Earth Band – Blinded By The Light
Mike Posner – January 11, 2017
Motels – Suddenly Last Summer
O.C. Smith – The Son Of Hickory Holler’s Tramp
Pink Floyd – Comfortably Numb
Pogues – Summer In Siam
Righteous Brothers – Unchained Melody
Rob Stuart – A Beautiful Thing
Rocky Horror Picture Show Cast – Time Warp
Santana – Samba Pa Ti
Simple Minds – Don’t You (Forget About Me)
Streetheart – Nature’s Way
Taj Mahal – Six Days On The Road
Take 6 feat. Aaron Neville – Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans
Talking Heads – I Zimbra
Tears For Fears – Change
Terry Draper – Afternoon In Amsterdam
Thunderclap Newman – Something In The Air
Traffic – John Barleycorn Must Die
Violent Kin – The Honesty
Wallflowers feat. Mick Jones – Reboot The Mission
Zucchero feat. John Lee Hooker – Ali D’Oro
David Marsden streaming live via the Internet. Join the fun and get some interesting (and always entertaining) information at the forum on Marsden Global.
Rave and Roll Blog 