Recording starts tomorrow!
I’m excited to say I will officially begin recording my new album tomorrow. I am going to put down backing tracks for 3-4 songs, with musicians Matthew Seligman (bass), Kevin Armstrong (guitar), Neil MacColl (guitar), and Liam Genockey (drums.) This will not necessarily be the lineup for the whole album, and I hope to collaborate with several more musicians over the course of the album, but reuniting with good friends like Matthew and Kevin seems like a great place to start.
I have never worked with Neil directly before, but he played on a couple of Eddi Reader songs I love, ‘What You Do With What You’ve Got’ (which I mixed) and ‘Kiteflyer’s Hill.’ One of the songs I’ve written requires an arrangement of two nylons string acoustic guitars so I asked Kevin who he recommended, Neil’s name came up and it makes perfect sense.
Liam has played with both Kevin and Matthew in the past. I was familiar with his work with Robert Wyatt, one of my all-time heroes (never heard Soft Machine’s ‘The Moon In June’? You don’t know what you’re missing!) The pedigree of these two should give my album a good luck charm.
Of the dozen or so songs I have close to completion, these ones are a natural set in terms of the feel. The songs seem to fall into three distinct groups. Which gets me to thinking about novel ways to approach this album…. three EPs that appear sequentially but combine together into one body of work? Oh how I envy writers who can embark on a novel, a collection of short stories, or an entire series. And these days there’s absolutely no reason a musician needs to be constricted to the tired old single/album format. There are so many other possibilities!
So I won’t be recording this album in a single chunk. I think the years of insane hours, all-night sessions and perpetual mixing and remixing are behind me. Many artists/bands have to commit to a contiguous chunk of time to record, due to touring schedules and record label marketing windows. I’m delighted to have that burden off my shoulders, and feel very fortunate. I may take breaks for other projects, or just to step back and clear my head with a little family time or traveling. I have no clear idea of how long it will be before I release anything, or what form it may take. And I’m trying hard not to feel intimidated by the fact it’s something like 15 years since I released a new studio album; or that expectations are extremely high. But I know for sure that it’s going to be a grand adventure.
Watch this space…..
Recording begins! So exciting! 12 songs near completion?! Wow, we’ve never had a studio album from you with so many new tracks. You’ve clearly been either saving these gems up over the years or have been on a creative tear in recent months. One way or another, I hope the initial recording sessions go very well. It sounds like you’ll be in great company…
Rock the boat, baby!
Beech
Huzzah! Was wondering if you were ever going to start a new album. Very excited.
Have a blast today, man! Remember to breathe occasionally and just enjoy the heck out of it.
I look forward to the day when I not only can hear new tunes, but also scour new lyrics, searching for the phrase “spam tin.”
What news! What a way to start September! The Moon in June was on the wireless last night – thanks to the ever-excellent Stuart Maconie’s Freak Show on BBC 6Music, available all week on Listen Again – which must augur well for the project.
The stars are in conjunction and the muse is sipping tea on the sofa. Write, said Fred.
Another step closer!
How about releasing them a track at a time. Each time you finish one just shoot it over to iTunes. Once you have enough for an EP or LP get it pressed up then shoot it over to CDBaby for physical sales.
I know that was simplifying a very conplex and time comsuming process but you get the drift.
Whatever you do, we’re waiting!
Cheers,
Jon
this is some Fantastic Labor Day news!
have fun! and thanks for keeping us updated!
Fantastic news, I look forward to hearing the new songs, whenever that may be.
*Forms queue*
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y7/scaryduck/queue-1.jpg
This is great news! Please take all the time in the world knowing that your loyal fan base all over the world will be very excited to get to listen to your latest material.
Good luck and all the best to you and the wonderful people that will help you to fulfill your work.
-Thorsten
Great! So glad to hear the news.
I hope you will sell downloads yourself (in addition to the CD) so that we have the option of funnelling a better percentage to you than a label would.
I recently rediscovered The Flat Earth and am feeling the Dolby love.
–Mike
Great news! Best of luck with the upcoming projects.
Cheers!
Brian
Great news Thomas, i look forward to hearing the finished product. Good luck with the project, and i hope you can showcase it in a live set real soon.
Great news and good luck with the recording Thomas. What a fantastic lineup you’ve put together for these first sessions. Inspiring. I recall seeing Liam drumming with Robert Wyatt for a BBC special a couple of years ago. In fact there is a youtube video of the title track from the programme here:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=0Q7gSzJquW8
Simply Gorgeous!
Are they joining you aboard your boat for these sessions or are you recording somewhere else?
Cheers,
Andrew
This is great news Thomas! I like your lineup of musicians as well. I found this clip where Liam is playing on a classic track.
Gerry Rafferty Baker Street
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgbGaYTkkPU
How funny! I had just embedded that Baker Street video into my blog on Saturday (feeling very nostalgic and sad about Gerry Rafferty.) What a wonderful connection between musicians and music I love! Thanks for that gem of information, csajdak.
Let me simply echo the excitement of all the other posters and bate my breath.
“three EPs that appear sequentially but combine together into one body of work”
I belive Ben Fold did just that two years ago.
Great news! Can’t wait to see/hear what comes. Looking forward to updates on the recording process here, too.
Have great fun with this!
–Mykal
Thomas, you may not think so, but you tell stories in your albums whether you are conscious of it or not. I saw all of TGAOW and most of The Flat Earth as novellas – woven story telling around central themes. Maybe it was just me?
Point being go ahead and group them into EPs and don’t worry about padding out any one of them to reach that traditional album length of 45 minutes.
Take your time, breathe often, enjoy the ride and where it takes you – we’re not going anywhere.
Ah, found the ‘End’ key! Not quite used to this laptop yet, hee hee.
Also, I’m typing in the dark, and can barely see a darned thing.
Mea culpa!
Your sort of ‘separate yet together’ idea for your partially-
recorded music sounds fascinating, Thomas. It’s great that you
have total freedom now, to do things any old way you please, and
I’m soitanly [think 'Three Stooges', giggle] looking forward to
contemplating the similarities and the differences between the
‘chapters’, so to speak, unless you decide to go in a different
direction, which would be cool too.
A toast to utter musical freedom!! Hope recording is going
Got the studio finished, did you? We’re all
swimmingly.
curious. Details, s’il vous plait!
Peace, Kara
can’t wait to hear! -but no pressure!
…
…
anything?
So Thomas, how’s the recording going? Desperate for news!