Studio Diary - Evil Update

I'm not entirely sure what has become of the original demo.

We're 3 minutes into the track now, and those demo bits are yet to kick in. Let alone the vocals!

But on the bright side, we have instead a Goldsmith-Herrmann movie theme, a manic Arabic orchestral thing, and about three tempo changes. Altogether, yet another piece of music shamelessly campaigning to open the album.

Of course it's all about to settle back into a "song" now (not for want of trying!) ..

Studio Diary - Evil

Gawd, and I thought Title Track was the big production on the new album.

Studio Diary - The Great Wash

The Great Wash is not something I use all the time.

In fact I try never to use it. Only because it sounds so good on everything, that pretty soon you start not to notice it.

But in this case, I damn well used it, and there was no other way. Brill was actually written using the wash many years ago. The chords sounded interesting enough not to need much embellishment. Of course things rarely stay that way in Tunisia, and there are two countermelodies going on now, but the great wash is unmistakeable.

In a less roundabout way of saying, Brill is nearing completion ..

Studio Diary - Dammit Jim

Accidentally wrote and recorded the opening track of the new album.

All I was really trying to do was flesh out the intro to Brill. But, as usual, one thing led to another, and well bugger me if I didn't end up with an ambient sci-fi theme on my hands!

Not complaining.

Have to get back to what I was supposed to be doing, Brill Part 2 (as it is now) ..

Studio Diary - The Drone

Pieced together the introductory drone for Brill.

And then realised, after locking down Title Track exactly to the original vision, I have no idea how to arrange this one.

Studio Diary - Beating, Not Drumming

After a week or so of work in the studio .. Title Track now has a completed arrangement and revamped ending.

Plus the drums have been tracked! It's an intense waltz that runs at a relaxed pace. So a fine challenge for the poor chump on drums.

Next up is the single edit, guitars and bass, plus pre-production on the next track on the electric tie rack, Brill.

Studio Diary - Magic Note

Work on Title Track continues. Stumbled on the magic note that glues together the restatement of the intro with the bridge. Which all follows the typically Tunisian middle section which I'm yet to flesh out. Except in the single edit where there'll be no room for the middle section or the second intro.

It's wrecking my head.

G.A.S.

GAS update.

After careful deliberation (and playing musical chairs more than actual guitar), I've decided on my dream strat configurations - for now. And I'm putting them together. We'll see how long they last, but I've got a fairly good feeling about it this time..

First is the old Strat Elite body.

This one was modified to take a normal tremelo bridge - I tried the original freeflyte tremelo for a while, and couldn't get on with it. An American Standard tremelo bridge is on the way from the US. I've refinished the body just now in what they call Cardinal Red Metallic (fairly close to Gilmour's Candy Apple Red). And the battery compartment at the back is perfect for the EMG DG-20 pickup set!

The neck is a '92 American Standard with a 9.5" radius. As much as I prefer a vintage v-neck, I'm happy to avoid fretting out where these EMGs are concerned.

Next is the Japanese '54 reissue.

This one was refinished in Ice Blue (as it said on the can) and will be matched with gold hardware and Fender Custom 54 pickups. Master tone control with neck pickup blend control, and star wiring. I've tried these pickups in a few guitars, and was fairly keen to use them with the full vintage string spacing.

Gosh, imagine a world where you can just pick up a guitar and *play* without feeling the need to mod it!

Title Track (next album)

I found myself listening to the Yes "Big Generator" sessions again.

It's fascinating to hear the Trevor Horn-produced works-in-progress. The basic tracks are there, the frilly bits around the edges are still being worked out, the possibilities are endless, and it's fairly clear that nobody yet has figured out (or agreed) where or how to stop.

There I found a slightly disturbing parallel with the Title Track of the next Tunisia album. I'm recording it. Still. Have been for months.

At least in my case, the benevolent dictatorship of Tunisia is doing exactly what it wants!

Marit Larsen - Under The Surface

Now I don't normally do this. Actually I never do this. Especially on a website that's supposed to be all about my music.

But I've recently come across one of the greatest albums I've ever heard.

Under The Surface has completely swept me away.

Marit Larsen seems to know exactly how to wrap up a wonderful melody with magical chords, and that's before she gets to the knockout blow later on in the song. And she does it again and again.

For me, it's about as good as it gets.

If you haven't heard her yet, check out her MySpace page..

Two False Idols live debut last Sunday!

OK, maybe not the live debut. Certainly the first time we played so much of it back to back. And without fifteen other instruments on each song!

Big thanks to everyone who came along. Highlights included Captain Caper, featuring Schindleria Praematurus snuck into the middle bit (we're oh so clever). Plus the secret encore later in the night (tell me more, tell me more!)

Setlist: Great Divide, Enough About You, Fat Old Sun, Captain Caper, Space Oddity, Over, If You Knew, Psycho Killer, Look Away, Your Move

Special thanks to Peter The Phantom Guitar Player.

Enter.. The Blog

Hello and welcome. This is a test post really, but stay tuned for groundbreaking stuff shortly..