As mentioned in a few posts below, Mastermind has contributed an exclusive, brand new instrumental track to our current label, Lion Music’s Japanese earthquake and tsunami benefit album which was released on CD Friday June 17, 2011. This is a two CD package with a plethora of artists from the Lion Music label and more, consisting entirely of tracks created and donated specifically for this effort.

We are honored to be a part of this project as the fans in Japan have been very good to Mastermind over the years. I personally was horrified when I first heard the news as I have maintained many friendships in Japan and am still in close contact with a few. Watching the images come in from these devastating events literally keep me awake at night. I was quite relieved to learn over time, none of my friends were hurt, but not everyone was so lucky.

Our track “Time Stands Still” was written and recorded in April 2011 specifically at Lion’s request for this album. At first I felt something dark and tragic might be appropriate as that was how these events made me feel… but then I thought, why add to the misery? So what we came up with is more upbeat and positive, but you can feel the tension grow as it builds to the moment when… time stands still.   I can only imagine the horror.

You will have to buy the CD (or download it [legally, hopefully]) to understand what I am describing. In a technical sense, like the earliest Mastermind recordings, it was just Rich and Bill (yours truly) in the studio together. This was the fastest way to get it together and, as I’ve hinted around at in earlier postings, another step towards a new musical future. I will say that if you are a fan of the Excelsior! album, then this track should appeal to you.

In any case, it is a worthy cause and all proceeds from the album sales will be donated to the Japanese Red Cross. We hope you will choose to help out by checking out our latest musical offering. Our hearts go out to the suffering in Japan. Japanese are a strong people and shall recover, but there is a long way to go yet. This effort may not turn the tide of history, but every little bit helps. Won’t you help out by purchasing a copy?   Thank you. -Bill

http://www.lionmusic.com/cd/embracethesun.htm
http://www.facebook.com/lionmusicjapanbenefit

Check out this 5 star review on YTSEJAM.

Order yours now from CDBaby.

While recording a new Mastermind track exclusively for the upcoming Lion Music Japanese tsunami benefit album I was reminded of another track we recorded many moons ago. An instrumental entitled “Miles To Go Before I Sleep” exclusive to the 3rd Cyclops Records (UK) label sampler and never released anywhere else. It seems as relevant to us now as it did 15 years ago. Since it’s a youtube world, here’s a quick video to keep your eyes happy as well…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9VhJWwHo8Q

We have now made this track available again for the first time since 1996 on our bandcamp download page… http://mastermind.bandcamp.com/track/miles-to-go-before-i-sleep

We hope you enjoy it and also hope you will check out the tsunami benefit album, primarily because it is a very worthy endeavor! But also because, much like this track, it is another exclusive instrumental piece we are quite pleased with and want you to hear. It might almost seem like these one-off recordings mark turning points in our musical direction… could be!