Music Submission: New Album Release - PLEASURE CENTER - Benjamin Russell Hello from Montreal! Here's release #1 for 2024, a solo album. "PLEASURE CENTER is wonderful and full of surprises. As a long time fan, songs have a new flair. The title track is brilliant..." - Jeff Burson, Synthscape show, Big Satsuma Radio "...his best album yet...electro – pop/pop/rock at its finest...leaves the listener a little bit breathless...full of soul...incredible melodic songs...wonderful title track...“Dreams Across The Sky”...sublime...the wonderful “Beautiful”...the far too short “Monday” is incredibly moving...rewards its listeners with so many levels of great music and lyrics. It is a great album." - Aaron Badgley, Spill Magazine ----- Meet the Singularity! Benjamin Russell's most ambitious album yet, PLEASURE CENTER defies easy classification. What is this genre? "Freeform," says Russell. Weaving threads of electronic, acoustic, pop, dance, soul, jazz, and classical into what has now become his signature style, the album explores themes of love, social commentary, warnings, hope and gratitude. It includes his first ever release sung in French, with words by Benjamin Russell and Alain-Yves Pigeon, a Euro-pop nod to his hit from the 80s. From the start of Russell's career, he embraced technology. As a folk singer in the 70's, he lusted after synthesizers. His first vinyl release (the Double A Side) in the early 80's blended drum machines, synths and electric guitars. The album containing MIRACLE, for which he was nominated MOST PROMISING VOCALIST in the 80's, was a meeting of man and machine - his live solo shows featured himself, his guitar and banks of synths and drum machines. Here's the question: is the title song a warning or an exhortation to plug into the matrix? You decide. INFLUENCES/SOUNDS LIKE: David Bowie Gabriels OMD Tony Bennett FCC CLEAN CANCON: 100% Album: PLEASURE CENTER UPC: 198026565297 Genre: Electro Pop Freeform Artist: Benjamin Russell Record Label: TCBE Records Release Date: February 7, 2024 BANDCAMP: https://benjaminrussell.bandcamp.com/album/pleasure-center-2024 Everywhere online: https://songwhip.com/benjaminrussell/pleasure-center ----- Direct download links: MP3 (192kpbs): https://www.tcbe.ca/media_content/Benjamin_Russell_-_PLEASURE_CENTER_album_-_MP3_192.zip MP3 (320kpbs): https://www.tcbe.ca/media_content/Benjamin_Russell_-_PLEASURE_CENTER_album_-_Mp3_320.zip WAV: https://www.tcbe.ca/media_content/Benjamin_Russell_-_PLEASURE_CENTER_album_-_WAV.zip PRESS PACK (High and Low resolution images, complete album info, lyrics) https://www.tcbe.ca/media_content/PRESS_PACK_Benjamin_Russell_-_PLEASURE_CENTER_album_2024.zip ----- Further information about this and other upcoming releases can be found on the TCBE Records website link: https://www.benjamin-russell.com/tcbe2022/ I am available for internet interviews. Let me know if you'd like a tag. I can provide download codes for exclusive giveaways. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help you with this or anything else you might need. Benjamin Russell benjamin.russell@videotron.ca https://www.benjamin-russell.com Socials: https://linktr.ee/benjaminrussell_mtl ----- THE SONGS 01 - PLEASURE CENTER BPM: 113 SOUNDS LIKE: Thomas Dolby, Kraftwerk, Pete Shelley, Howard Jones ISRC: CARI82400001 Written by Elyce and Benjamin Russell About: Fascinated by "The Singularity" since hearing Ray Kurzweil's prophecy that man and machine will merge by 2040, it's hard to tell if Russell is promoting the idea or warning against it. What do you think? --- 02 - TELL THE TRUTH BPM: 100 SOUNDS LIKE: Tears For Fears, Sparks, Thomas Dolby ISRC: CARI82400002 Written by Elyce and Benjamin Russell About: "Talking about truth is like trying to handle an atom with a pair of pliers." - Benjamin Russell Written in the 90's, this song gestated a long time before emerging on this album. --- 03 - DREAMS ACROSS THE SKY BPM: 120 SOUNDS LIKE: Altered Images, Herb Alpert ISRC: CARI82400003 Written by Elyce and Benjamin Russell About: It's pure fun, positive and makes you want to get up and dance. --- 04 - GASLIGHT BPM: 120 SOUNDS LIKE: ABC, Haircut 100 ISRC: CARI82400004 Written by Elyce and Benjamin Russell About: Does anyone get out of this life without having been "gaslighted"? We hope so but there's a lot of it going around these polarized days. --- 05 - VALE OF PAIN BPM: 75 SOUNDS LIKE: Jeff Buckley ISRC: CARI82400005 Written by Elyce and Benjamin Russell Music Video: https://youtu.be/rPRbn_txHz0?si=dMZ-ci7E5196Dhyz About: The generational divide has flipped. Cat Stevens wrote "Father and Son" where the son tries to get his father to understand his point of view. Here, a father attempts the reverse. --- 06 - BEAUTIFUL BPM: 80 SOUNDS LIKE: David Bowie, Harmonium ISRC: CARI82400006 Written by Elyce and Benjamin Russell Music Video: https://youtu.be/4FJZfyyG368 About: The 2023 ice storm in Montreal left people in the dark for days. Luckily acoustic guitars don't need electricity. This song of a love that endures was born by candle light. --- 07 - WILL THE ALIENS SAVE US? BPM: 120 SOUNDS LIKE: Flash and the Pan ISRC: CARI82400007 Written by Elyce and Benjamin Russell Music Video: https://youtu.be/7a5yDpcfUWQ About: What happens if the weather keeps changing and the wars spread? Will we survive? We keep hearing about UFO's. Maybe if the aliens are nice, they can solve our problems for us. What are the chances? --- 08 - LOVE DIMENSION (Pod Mix) BPM: 82 SOUNDS LIKE: Thompson Twins ISRC: CARI82400008 Written by Elyce and Benjamin Russell Music Video: https://youtu.be/7a5yDpcfUWQ About: "There's a little part of me that some people never do see." This is a song of hope - there's another side to humans that often gets overlooked in the rush to the future. --- 09 - CE MIRACLE QU'EST L'AMOUR BPM: 130 SOUNDS LIKE: Johnny Hallyday, Richard Séguin ISRC: CARI82400009 Music by Benjamin Russell Paroles de Benjamin Russell et Alain-Yves Pigeon About: It is fitting that Benjamin Russell's first French release is this entirely reworked version of MIRACLE, his hit from the 80's. Love is the miracle he found when he first arrived in Montreal, love for Elyce, the city and the French language. Lyricist Alain-Yves Pigeon has helped create the perfect libretto. --- 10 - YOU CAN'T HEAR ME 2024 BPM: 122 SOUNDS LIKE: Gene Loves Jezebel ISRC: CARI82400010 Written by Benjamin Russell About: Life can be complicated. There are so many choices and the easier technology makes it for us, the more anxious we are and the less time there seems to be to get everything done, including relationships. --- 11 - MONDAY BPM: 75 SOUNDS LIKE: Satie, Debussy, Dvorak, Synthwave ISRC: CARI82400011 Written Benjamin Russell About: Benjamin Russell's love of classical music began with a Dvorak record, a gift from his grandmother. In a first for him, this instrumental composition delivers peace in a chamber arrangement of piano, violin and cello. Don't worry, if classical isn't your thing, it's over quickly at a minute and 26 seconds! --- 12 - WHY AM I? BPM: 100 SOUNDS LIKE: Simple Minds ISRC: CARI82400012 Written Elyce and Benjamin Russell About: Looking inward while navigating the outer world, Russell explores the ultimate question in this thoughtful song to close the album. --- BONUS - LOVE DIMENSION (EXTENDED VAN ALLEN BELT MIX) BPM: 82 ISRC: CARI82400013 Written Elyce and Benjamin Russell About: How do you find the love dimension? You might need to navigate dangerous radiation fields until you break through. This bonus track is only available with the purchase of the album on Bandcamp. --- LYRICS ----- PLEASURE CENTER - lyrics by Elyce and Benjamin Russell They hooked up their brains to their pleasure centers Turned the dials and they went bananas It could have been more A singular moment and we can't go back Every wish is granted but there's one thing we lack Remember these words Pinching to zoom before you can talk Learn to like and follow before you can walk Being groomed for sex as soon as you can text Jaded, bored and anxious you're gonna miss what's next They hooked up their brains to their pleasure centers Losing sight of anything that matters Virtually human Watch the unboxing, pretend it's your gift Shopping on line gives you a lift Start your own channel using A.I. Join the flood of influence - at least you can try You know the matrix isn't so bad Welcome to the best life you never had No more limits, age or disease Change your gender whenever you please Throw off your darkness, put on bright Colours and dance and sing In your virtual world You're anything - you're anything - you're anything - you're nothing They hooked up their brains to their pleasure centers ---- TELL THE TRUTH - lyrics by Elyce and Benjamin Russell There's something wrong between us and I've got an idea why I think it started long ago in a little white lie I wanted to protect you, that's what I told myself Instead I hurt you deeper than you've ever felt Now I'm sorry I didn't... Tell the truth, tell the truth Though it is so hard to do When you're not sure what is true But it's what you've got to do Tell the truth, tell the truth False foundations will not stand Hey, look where you can land, as now I understand Tell the truth I should have known better - I always thought I did We both know covered tracks don't stay forever hid And now I face the music though I flinch in pain I know I've got to tell the truth to put us right again Now I'm sorry I didn't... Tell the truth, tell the truth Dig deep down and you'll see You're starting to believe words you meant to deceive Tell the truth, tell the truth And it will set you free Lies distort reality, hey, take a look at me And tell the truth Something told me, something told me But I didn't listen to the voice inside Now something's shown me, something's shown me Tell the truth... ----- DREAMS ACROSS THE SKY - lyrics by Benjamin Russell There's a light breeze blowing The wind is sowing Dreams across the sky And there's no way of knowing Which way it's going No need to know why Let go the cords that are holding you down Recline on the wind as you leave the ground When you arrive, you'll see where you're bound You don't even have to try Dreams across the sky When tunnel vision daymare Timeline's got you where You don't know what's real When for lack of a guide All symbols collide Anger's what you feel Your past is an anchor holding you down Tug on the chain and you'll be gone Your future awaits you farther on What's done is closed and sealed Dreams across the sky Don't waste your time hanging around Recline on the wind as you leave the ground When you arrive, you'll see where you're bound You don't even have to try Mmmm There's a light breeze blowing The wind is sowing Dreams across the sky And there's no way of knowing Which way it's going No need to know why Dreams across the sky ----- GASLIGHT - lyrics by Elyce and Benjamin Russell Chorus: Gaslight, gaslighting G-g-g gaslight, gaslighting I'm bird's eye above Yeah, bird's eye - I can see What you're doing Chorus You can't hide From this bird's eye You're just trying to get control Chorus One day you're gonna wake up You'll feel the pain you've caused 'Cause it comes back Yeah it comes back You can't escape that And you can't get away with... Chorus You can't get away with Chorus Gaslight ----- Vale Of Pain - lyrics by Elyce and Benjamin Russell Took a wrong turn on an astral plane Landed here in this vale of pain And I don't know how but I forgot my name Lost my bearings so here I remain In this vale of pain Now children grow, pushing up too fast Innocence can never last And they grow cold, point and blame So unfair - no love remains In this vale of pain Vale of pain, vale of pain Veiled remarks become lies - so bold Until today, they were never told It was never, never plain Took a wrong turn on an astral plane Landed here in this vale of pain And I don't know what you hope to gain What a shame to love in vain In this vale of pain Vale of pain, vale of pain Vale of pain, vale of pain Vale of pain ----- BEAUTIFUL - lyrics by Elyce and Benjamin Russell I'm here lying with you Wondering where the time's got to You say I'm more beautiful More than ever, how wonderful 'Cause I feel that way about you It is a mystery How I found you - you found me Sunlight radiant through your hair Somehow I knew you'd always be there And I knew you felt that too Beautiful - you're beautiful Always I hid what's me Who I was they couldn't see And I found it hard to trust But you showed me that I must And now I'm free to believe Beautiful - you're beautiful ----- WILL THE ALIENS SAVE US? - lyrics by Elyce and Benjamin Russell Will the aliens save us When they fly in In their UFO? Can they fix the mess we're in? Give us the answers in what they show? I don't know Help me pack for the end of the world I can't decide what to take on the ship When the aliens save us And take us to our brand new home There won't be any buffalo to roam there I'll tell you that I don't know It sounds like people are looking for a new god "God is dead," that's what they said Some begged and pled But that concept has lost all cred Where does that leave us? Will they aliens save us When they come in their UFO? Will the aliens save us? Save us! ----- LOVE DIMENSION - lyrics by Elyce and Benjamin Russell Meet me in the love dimension I want to touch more Than your mind and your body You're heading in the right direction I can see and hear, I can feel you near I can touch you in the Love dimension, love Living in the love dimension There's a little part of me That some people never do see They could join us in this love adventure But their eyes are closed, only heaven knows Why they can't see this Love dimension, love dimension Love dimension - it's a state of mind You can get there most any time If you want to (do you want to?) yeah Love dimension - it's a miracle Invisible but it's beautiful I've been blessed by love I've been kissed by love And I love to love you Love, love, love, love dimension (Break) Love, love, love, love Love dimension ----- CE MIRACLE QU'EST L'AMOUR – paroles de Benjamin Russell et Alain-Yves Pigeon L’amour est un miracle, moi j’y crois Oui l’amour est un miracle, avec toi En harmonie – euphorie Je me sens invincible dans tes bras Et je suis compris, la comme ça Finis les pleurs, quel bonheur Dieu merci de cette joie Merci à toi pour tous ces beaux jours Dieu merci de cette joie Merci à toi pour ce miracle qu'est l’amour Je me souviens - les jours tristes, sans foi Je ne peux oublier, tout changé, tu dis n'aimer que moi N’aimer que moi Dieu merci… ----- YOU CAN'T HEAR ME - lyrics by Benjamin Russell Can you hear me? Your life is (so) complicated So confusing, does it make sense? Pushed and pulled, you think it's fated You don't control it, you feel so tense You've got needs, so many desires You've got license, but are you free? You're suspended on unseen wires I want to tell you, but you can't hear me So easy - it could be So simple - here's the key So easy - it could be So simple - but you can't hear me You need life not simulation It's so important - why can't you see? You must look with imagination I want to tell you, but you can't hear me He, she, they, me All need to be free He, she, they, me All need - but you can't hear me So easy - it could be So simple - here's the key So easy - it could be So simple - but you can't hear me ----- MONDAY - instrumental ----- WHY AM I? - lyrics by Elyce and Benjamin Russell Sun sets somewhere on mountains by the seaAnd I wish I were there - maybe then I'd feel freeLook in the night sky - see the light of a starAnd I wonder if I will ever know where we are Why am I feeling this way? Why am I feeling this way? Why am I?Whether chained to our home or wanderlustAre we just being the way that we must?If it all seems hard or way too easyIs it only destiny? Why am I feeling this way? Why am I feeling this way? Why am I?Whether life seems hard or way too easyIs it only destiny? Why am I feeling this way? Why am I feeling this way? Why am I? -----