There are six pieces of time in this collection, four with words and music and two instrumental productions without words. These are all a product of my past thoroughly steeped in the present and offered as a future communication to you, the listener. And, with any luck, you will welcome them and include them as a part of your past.

Most were created this year but one was inspired by an undated lyric fragment which was likely written, handwritten in all caps for some reason, in the late 90's. The final instrumental was essentially completed in 2018. Everything was then gathered and worked on together throughout 2022 and finished, for the most part, in late summer.

As mentioned, this collection (like the music in Why I'm Here, released in March of 2021) [1] has been steeped and informed by present situations and circumstances. These strange, concerning and potentially dangerous times infuse my creative activities. And how could they not? Even so, I feel an apology may be in order ahead of the rather depressing rant that follows.

Truly, upon waking in the morning, I often find myself wondering if the recent events I've experienced or heard about have actually happened ... maybe this is all some disturbing dream. I feel awake but I must be still dreaming ... Has that ever happened to you? You know? I mean really, how have we let this happen? Is all of this craziness really going on?

Sure, some might say it’s always been crazy. It's just the nature of the human condition. Or is that just an excuse to continue carrying on in this way without thinking or caring? My late mother-in-law used to say that every generation thinks theirs will be the last. And there may be some truth to that. Consider this from 16th century philosopher Alessandro Piccolomini: "The world grows older and grows worse from generation to generation." [2] He died in 1579. It's an ancient story.

But here in 2022, this 21st century pandemic has revealed many societal flaws and vulnerabilities and brought many significant issues to light, issues that many were either not aware of (really?) or somehow managed to selfishly ignore anyway (really?). So any call for a return to ‘normal’ seems misguided. It’s a kind of wishful and nostalgic state of mind that bypasses our shared responsibilities and leaves out our need to care for one another and respect the environment we are a part of and live in.

This normality that popular sentiment longs for embraces a willful ignorance skillfully fueled by an out of control growth economy where inequality and destruction are sources for profit. We have been trained to be loyal cogs and consumers distracted and placed in competition with each other as we continue toward a potentially disastrous future. There are so many sad clowns preparing so many lovely distractions that deflect us from the truth. Oh right, we’re post-truth now. "We’re in a giant car heading towards a brick wall and everyone’s arguing over where they’re going to sit… " [3] Do we really want to get back in that car and keep driving?

I may have emerged from this submarine I've been in for the last couple of years but I'm still looking for hope. Hope that we'll start working together and try and set things right. One group I've supported for decades is Ecojustice. [4] Ecojustice has been fighting for a better environmental future since the early 1990s. Check out their history and what they're currrently working on: amazing work. [5] I will provide additional support by donating any proceeds made from the sale of this music to Ecojustice.

Hope you enjoy my work.

Take air.

freemoth
[1] freemoth.bandcamp.com/album/why-im-here
[2] LibQuotes libquotes.com/alessandro-piccolomini
[3] "Why we can’t lose hope: Dr. David Suzuki speaks out" by Glenn Scherer on 11 September 2017 news.mongabay.com/2017/09/why-we-cant-lose-hope-dr-david-suzuki-speaks-out/
[4] ecojustice.ca
[5] ecojustice.ca/cases/