Falling Over Backwards

The Keyboard Era

2010-02-24T17:23:00.000-08:00

I have taken a week off work, and one of my projects is to transfer a lot of old original compositions onto my computer. Many of these tracks only exist on rather ancient cassette tapes, so I thought it was about time I preserved them! I have uploaded six keyboard tracks that I recorded in the 1980s to share with everyone. These are all instrumentals and in the classical/prog style. Sorry about the background hiss, but I hope you enjoy some of the music! It's probably the most complex stuff I have ever written.

Voices from the Ruins

The Dance of the Moth and the Flame

Prelude in A Flat Minor

Trembling Heart

The Dream of Eblis

Through the Glade

Long Time Gone

2009-08-03T16:16:00.000-07:00

Just a quick hello to anyone still checking in here to let you know that I am now living in Canada once again. I made the move from England in the second week of July and am currently searching quite frantically for work. One positive development for any fans of my music: I've hooked up with a great singer, multi-instrumentalist in Guelph, Ontario, and we are hoping to start performing live gigs within a couple of months! I will try to provide an update when this is closer to actually happening. Until then, thanks to everyone who has visited for your patience and loyalty. (I don't even have my own computer or Internet connection yet, so you will have to be patient a bit longer for any new uploads!)

Get my music for free on Last FM

2008-10-11T14:04:00.000-07:00

I have uploaded high quality mp3 files of all the songs from "Beyond the Wall of Sleep" onto Last FM. This is probably the easiest way to get the music, as you don't have to navigate through the MegaUpload pages. The downloads are free, but I'm supposed to get paid some kind of royalty each time songs are played or downloaded. I'll also be uploading some as yet unposted tracks soon. Anyway, give it a try by clicking HERE.

Literary Pursuits

2008-09-06T11:53:00.000-07:00

From "Untitled," by Roger Humphreys

Haven't created any new music to post in quite a while, so I thought I might include a "clipping" from a story I've been working on. (Click on "Untitled," above.) Ideally, this will eventually spin itself out into a novel length work, but I have no idea how long that might take! I've been very inspired lately by a late-Victorian author I've "discovered" named Mary Cholmondeley. She's the first writer that I've found who holds my attention as thoroughly as Thomas Hardy, though her style is totally unique. Below is one of my favourite quotes from her novel, Diana Tempest:

"But still more bewildering is the way in which we live years and years with ourselves in an entire ignorance of the powers that lie dormant beneath the surface of character. The day comes when vital forces of which we know nothing arise within us, and break like glass the even tenor of our lives. The quiet hours, the regulated thoughts, the peaceful aspiration after things but little set above us, where are they? The angel with the sword drives us out of our Eden to shiver in the wilderness of an entirely changed existence, unrecognisable by ourselves, though perhaps lived in the same external groove, the same divisions of time, among the same faces as before."

Archaeology (Dust to Dust)

2008-05-27T03:12:00.000-07:00

Here's one from the vaults. Sorry about the very poor sound quality, but this was recorded in my parents' basement when I was all of 15 years old, I think. It was my first band (called VIRGO) and some older friend of the bass player came over with a two-track reel-to-reel machine and a couple of dynamic microphones to record us with. If you're wondering why the vocals sound so good it's because they're provided by my older brother John, not me! Our drummer Dave Houghton wrote the lyrics, and I think the music was mainly written collaboratively between my brother and I. I'm playing acoustic guitar on it, as far as I can remember. Anyway, the songs we came up with back then were cool, and will likely be of interest to the Genesis fans out there. There's five more track like this, so please comment f you want to hear more. (Link below)

http://www.box.net/shared/9f3mpf4ocw

"Beyond the Wall of Sleep" re-upped

2008-01-30T23:03:00.000-08:00

I have no idea who the sorry soul was who deleted my album from Rapidshare, but I'm glad someone called it to my attention. I've re-upped the file on Megaupload, so we'll see how long that lasts! Link is in the same location below the cover art. Thanks for your continued support and interest.

"Flying" (Deleted track from "Beyond the Wall of Sleep")

2008-01-27T09:03:00.000-08:00

This song was recorded at the end of the "Beyond the Wall of Sleep" recording sessions, but I thought it was a bit heavy for inclusion. (My big moment on wah-wah guitar!) In hindsight, I think I should have included it in place of "A Month in the Country," which sounds rather boring to my ears now. I think the lyrics on this track are good. They were inspired by a Clark Ashton Smith short story. Never known what to do with this leftover, so I'm sharing it for free. Link below:

http://www.box.net/shared/fsun84facw

Something for the fans

2008-01-07T13:40:00.000-08:00

I've really been encouraged by all the kind, positive comments left about my first album. By way of thanks, I'm posting a link to a song that I wrote a few years ago with words by Teresa K Aslanian from Norway. I'm hoping to record a collaborative album with Teresa this summer. We've actually just finished writing a new song together! Anyway, if you like "Trespass" era Genesis, you might enjoy "Wallflower." (Link below) Thanks again!

http://www.box.net/shared/qq0n3ewkc8

Roger Humphreys: Beyond the Wall of Sleep (1996)

2007-12-03T12:28:00.000-08:00

This is a place where ideas, opinions and artistic creations will be shared freely. In this opening post, I invite you to download my 1996 Folk/Psych album "Beyond the Wall of Sleep." (12 tracks, zipped folder.) Other music files, poetry and writings will soon follow.

Download Link:

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=CYVDHLLG