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Ascent

by Cork / Sharman

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The Garden 12:47
The sallow moon, like Death's pale mistress, Waxed her path across the tortured Night. The Garden, lost and wrapped in fragrance, whispered scented light. Like dreams, too real, forgotten moments Press and claw to gain an empty peace; While clothed and robed in dark amazement, ill-omened clouds increase..... Upon his distant shoulders, falls the blood of heavy thoughts; As through his prescient streets, he screams; In grim procession, the dim impressions fold. Dictated by an Age to come: an aeon passing by; A King whose cavalcade is Death; his fears deceive, with no reprieve. For daring to be whole.....A vision flown in dual wonder, Prostrate at the threshold of the World; A Dragon-path of voiceless torment; a fire tongue unfurled. He knows the hands that flail his back; Has seen them all too clear - they are his own. All is forewarned; foreseen, revealed, Yet somehow still unknown. While talking through his sorrow, Still he ides the glowing swan. A self-imprisoned Lord of Light; Self-revealed; self concealed Word..... So as the dawn-maid's crystal curtain Forms in subtle shades across the hills, The Garden, soft, drifts into morning; leaves him, silent, still. Deep dreams have left their echoes' scar Within his conscious waking to the Dream; As now a Man with Man his constant goal; Life's consistent theme...........
3.
Anima 08:33
From Circe's golden ethos, clothed, And garlanded in Orchid's tears She sails, a sister of the sun, From far beyond her years..... I see a rising castle, silver towered, Majestic in the moonlight; A misty lady in my arms, Giving me her goodnight.... Was she a lady, I a lord In castle courts our consort kept - A knightly bow, so, nightly warm; The karmic course cast as we slept? To bring our flesh to meet again In time, for ever changing all; Continued life through shifting scenes; I reach my hand to heed your call...... You dressed in Siren's murder robes, And drowned me naked in my dreams.... I should take my time; captive, cautious and calm. Measure every step - but it's out of my hands...... A web of dreams her secret spins, though now no secret to my days. A million faces hide her smile; a single kiss betrays her... She draws me on along the ridge, to the place where men must choose The no-thing suck of the abyss, or else the Question one pursues.... And so I crossed her body's bridge, Unsure of what I had begun there.... I should take my time; captive, cautious and calm, Measure every step - but it's out of my hands........
4.
Across the thunder rolling skies, lightning flashes; catches eyes. Climactic darkness, roaring fear, as in the dark a wild dog starts to bark.... Deep within the cold embrace of stonewall confines; choking space, The sad man stares into his eyes, in which his life cuts deeper than the knife.... The torment over for a while, in vain he blinks and tries to smile. Trained in torturer's routines, he has no fear to find his conscience near... And now in silence - hermit's peace - from his prison-self released; Straw sharp pricking ecstasy. There is no rest; for fortunes of the blessed.... So rise the mountains to the skies; so burns the beacon in his eyes; So flies the eagle - she see flies. Come now the bridegroom for the bride..... Laying ghosts in the teeming dark. Lost children playing in the park. Only hold to what is yours to hold; your years are growing old.... Clawing madly at the screaming rack, your throat is dry, your voice begins to crack As you call your strangled prayers to deaf ears, your blood will fall like tears....... But still alone yet not alone, You strip the ego to the bone, And fling the changeling from the nest; And still you climb beyond the Realms of Time..... And Love-blood warms a failing heart; Redeem the nature born apart; To suffer is tot burn away the chaff And watch the grain grow perfect into day.... So rise the mountains to the skies; so burns the beacon in his eyes; So flies the eagle - she see flies. Come now the bridegroom for the bride..... Across the soaring mountain skies, Idols crashing, smashing lies; the dream-king passes to the gate - In his hand a single grain of sand...... And silent music thunders loud; a silent man in screaming crowds A sad man, poet, martyr, saint, holds a hand and smiles....................
5.
Hear me, Nodens, God of the Great Depths, See me, standing here silent in sounds; Called to wonder at your themes Of endless roads that end in daybreak's call. I have flowed on never ending, Chasing choices over the hills. Now I stand at dawn's gold shoulder, Fighting wills that urge me to my fall Away from nowhere - far from all I claim....... Passion taught me to this moment - emptied every stream. Filled with hope my burning progress - on towards the Dream.... Forward now, there can be no holding; Be it hell now or heaven to come That takes my hand and calls me onwards; Leads me beyond the last uncertain mile. Horror shakes my dwarfed attainments, Falling from me in an autumn of fear. Naked soul, raw-stripped surrender; Shall I hear the City of Pyramids smile? I look for signs of shines of camel-clawed stars.... And the Priestess of the Shining Star - glows faintly to my gaze; Penetrates but little dark, while aims confuse my Ways With every step the time draws nearer; the time to crash or claim. And every pace tears pieces from me, sets flesh and heart to flame - And onwards to the grim Divider; the choice is coming plain; A power over every power or else dissolve your Name.... And now as goals set flight like rainsplash, I cannot choose alone. But Dawn and Night now tear me from me...Please - who will take me home?

about

This is the Cork/Sharman 2012 CD remastered for digital download. The album is the original 'Caduceus' set list from the 1970's, comprising 'Cross The Abyss', 'The Garden', Anima', and 'The Ascent Of Mt Carmel'. The album also includes a bonus track of a version of 'Crossing The Abyss' with vocals, as it was originally written. The album is 65 1/2 minutes long. Caduceus was a 1970's prog rock band founded by Richard Cork (keyboards), and featuring Neil (Bill) Booker (Guitars), Charlie Foley (Bass), Ian Laycock (Lead Vocals), and Colin Sharman (Drums, Percussion). Later on Ian left the band and was replaced for a while by Christian Avalon on lead vocals. Christian subsequently also departed, then the vocals were shared between Neil, Charlie, and Richard. This album is a faithful recreation of that original setlist by Richard Cork, and Colin Sharman. In the 'Bonus Items' section of this listing, Pages 8,9,10 & 11 are a history of Caduceus, written by the original Lead Vocalist Ian Laycock. The original album CD sleeve and 12 page booklet are available to download for free from the 'Bonus Items' link, enjoy!!!

credits

released January 8, 2021

Richard Cork: Hammond XK-1 & Yamaha Organs; Mellotron; Roland SN1000 Synth; Stagg Bass; Gibson, Hohner & Westfield Guitars; E-bow; Danalecto & Jim Dunlop Pedals. Colin Sharman; Gretsch Drums, Zildjian Cymbals, Percussion.

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Temenos UK

Temenos is multi instrumentalist/vocalist Richard Cork and drummer/percussionist Colin Sharman, plus various guests. Richard and Colin first played together in Caduceus in the 1970's, and came together again to create Temenos in 2008. Temenos have released 7 studio albums, plus Richard and Colin have recreated the original Caduceus set list in the albums 'Ascent', and 'Avalon'. ... more

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