Lordy, lordy, lordy - Session 12

Loving these two songs at the moment, they were actually recommended to me as part of a Christmas party playlist I was working on & they ended up being my favourite tunes. I actually thought it was a pretty good playlist but it was dragged after three tunes! : ) Seems the Stones, Lou Reed & FoTC aren't what the people want. Bring on the Black eyed peas! Oh well.. fight the good fight I say.

Went to Allan's a couple of Sunday's back. Carly came & we got a 'final' mix of Jimmy Jones. She put some reverb on her vocals which I was dubious about at first as I thought it sounded great as is, but it turns out I was wrong. We also removed Mike's guide drumming which was keeping us in time & I added a whistle at the moment when the drums & bass kick in. It sounded amazing on the studio speakers but through headphones the reverb has made Carly's vocals sound like she's in a large room, there's a bit of echo going on. Regardless, I've sent through a copy to Active, will be interesting to see if I get any response. They were enthusiastic about the first version so hopefully they'll give it a whirl on one of their shows, it'll be great to finally hear one of my tunes on the wireless.

In other news I've started working on the fifth track, it's called 'Round & round' & is about just going through the motions. It's another 'nice' song, too pleasant for my liking but I'm trying not to question the songs I write. I want to play to my strengths & if that means playing these pleasant songs then that's what I'll do. I'm just trying to get better & continue growing as a singer, song writer & guitar player, there's just so much that's achievable, so much growth available, I can't ever imagine the time will come that I'll be satisfied. I've been listening to Neil Young's solo live recordings from '72 & '92. He's such a formidable player it's amazing. The things he can do are so inspiring, I look forward to the time when I can sit down with an acoustic guitar for an hour & a half & keep an audience entertained without the need for a band. Just vocal & guitar. It's going to take time but I know I have it in me.

Lordy, Lordy, Lordy - Session 11

Went to Allan's on Sunday to transfer the second tape to pro-tools. Fallen, Lover, Secret Garden & portrait. Fallen sounds great, I decided while I was there that I'm going to really try to get a string section for it. It sounds good but the rising & falling tempo of the track would benefit hugely from a string section. It could probably be covered by a synth/piano but for the recording I'll do my damndest to get the real thing. Lover sounds ok, I think everythings there but we'll have to do some magic in the mixing. Secret Garden's a bit too crunchy, I'm going to re-record the opening guitar part to get it a bit cleaner before the crunch of the chorus. On the plus, the middle section sounds great. Portrait is probably my favourite of the four tracks so far. The 12 string works beautifully, it was a god send to be able to use it for the recording. The harp, vocals & shaker all work as well. Adding the BV's will almost see the track done.

Am back there this Sunday to do some vocals, Carly's coming so we'll try to get her vocals mixed where she's happy then I'll send a copy away to Active. Sweet!

Things on my mind

Favourite tracks at the mo.. This & this.


Finally got around to picking up the Nirvana live at Reading DVD. I'd heard so much about this show, I used to think if there was one concert I could go back in time & see it would be this set. Apparantly it was legendary. Well, these are my thoughts:

1. Kurts influences were impeccable. They cover both the Wipers 'D7' & Fang's 'The money will roll right in', both fucking awesome songs & just reeking in cred.
2. 'Teen spirit' fucking rocks. There's a lot of high points in the set but starting this song with the intro to 'more than a feeling' before kicking into the actual song is genius.
3. Dave & Krist were an awesome rhythm section. Dave's playing is amazing throughout & Krist jumping around like a madman gives another focal point to the stage set-up. Kurts fairly subdued onstage demeanor is counterpointed by Krist's pogoing at stage right.
4. I see why 'Love buzz' was left off the companion CD. Shame it's such a disastor cause it's a great track.
5. Love the dancer they have throughout, although he looks exhausted by set's end.
6. Overall it's easy to see why this show is rated so highly, it's a kick ass, aggressive beast of a show. I found myself wondering what it must of sounded like to the masses back then who mostly only would've known 'teen spirit'. By the end of the show with the band covering the two songs above & ending with 'Territorial pissings' & token set destruction, it was pretty much a punk show. I wonder if they were a but miffed by the whole thing? Lucky bastard though that Kurt handed his guitar to at the end. Motherfucker.

Of the five songs I'm trying to write I have:

1. These falling leaves - Although I find it a bit twee, I just think it's too good not to keep. & a song about environmental disaster? Who doesn't want that in their set? Kurt would hate it.
2. Can't find my way home - See this post.
3. Obituary - A nice song with a morbid title. A song about the end of things, changing for the better etc. It has a nice guitar line, which I've always wanted to right into an acoustic song over a fairly basic chord sequence. I like it.
4. Lullaby - This has turned into another sweet song (something I seem to be a little too good at writing) about a father quietening a sleeping child who's wokan during the night. Againg I like it, but enough of the sweet songs already!

I haven't started a fifth yet, but I'm hoping it'll be something a bit bluesier & ballsier. I'm sick of nice songs.

Next for the album recording:

1. Transfer the second tape onto pro-tools. The tracks on there are, Secret Garden, Portrait, Lover & Hope.
2. Get some rockabilly piano on 'In the meantime'. Allan knows someone who he thinks can do this for me & he's just had a piano put in the recording room so this should be do-able. Can't wait to hear the track with piano, it's gonna rock.
3. Try to get a horn section for 'Only a fool' & trumpet solo for 'In the meantime'. I actually dreamt the trumpet solo, it's not something I'd ever have thought of, a trumpet on a rock'n'roll tune but it's intriguing enough to give it a go. I met a trumpet player a couple of years ago through my mate Dylan so when we're ready I'm going to facebook message him & see if he'd be interested in playing on a couple of tracks. No harm in asking huh?

So that's what's next for the album. Doesn't look like it'll be finished by Christmas but I'm gettinng there!

Lordy, Lordy, Lordy - Session's 9 & 10

Went to Allan's on Sunday & again yesterday evening. He's just had pro-tools installed so the majority of the time was spent transferring from tape to his laptop. On Sunday night I managed to get the main vocal & tamborine done on 'Only a fool'. I warmed up for a while & did three takes, we kept the third. It's amazing what a difference warming up can make, I've learnt that the hard way cause there's been times where I've only been able to do one take & blown my vocals on the one take, I've even done that at a gig, actually lost my voice half way through a gig. Ouch.
Otherwise we transferred Hope, In the meantime, I'll wait for you, City streets & Jimmy Jones.

Hello!

I had a look at my blog stats the other day & apparantly I've been read by people in a number of other countries around the world, so to anyone reading this blog outside of New Zealand..

Nice to have you along.

Lordy, lordy, lordy - Session 8

Went to Allan's yesterday hoping to finish all my guitar parts. Re-do the entire 'Only a fool', and a new intro for 'Secret Garden' cause the current one is too crunchy. I want a nice clean start to the song before the crunch of the chorus kicks in. Allan has just installed pro-tools so it took a while just to set everything up. We finally got under way and I managed to get 'Only a fool' down in about three hours. It included the main rhythm guitar, a second rhythm during the chorus and a solo, which is probably my favourite part of the whole thing. It's the first solo I've ever recorded and it came out pretty good, if I may say so myself! Being that we were recording to pro-tools instead of tape I was able to take a copy of the session away with me, which was handy. The guitar works not perfect, I missed the timing for the intro to the song slightly & there's some timing issue's with the solo but overall I think the songs flying, which is what I wanted for the track so I'm happy with it. I always envisioned horns on the song so I'm going to ask Allan if he know's anyone that might be able to do it cause if I can get a horn section on the song I think it could really turn into a special song & another option as a single.

So that leaves the intro to 'Secret Garden' & I also want to re-do my harmonica on 'Potrait' & will also need to have another listen to 'Lover' cause I'm not sure about that either. & that's where it's at. I'm back at Allan's this w/end so hopefully can get a bit more done then.

Is this?

The coolest band in the world right now?
The coolest woman?