G'day Good People,

So...a Mexicana, a Jamaican, an Englishwoman, an American, an Irishman and five Australian musicians walk into a bar... sounds like a joke but this is exactly what happened last week when we were 'busy' making our new record in Sydney. And after the splendid hospitality of our new best friends at The Rose in Chippendale, nobody walked out, we crawled. This is nothing to be proud of but definitely a night of note. The only recommendation I have is that if you make your way into the Rose, and George offers you one of his 'hot nuts', don't be tempted to taste them.

I am now on a plane high above the Central Coast, making my way home to sunny Queensland after we put the finishing touches on our new record at 301 in Sydney over the last few weeks. We spent much of the time cheering on Nick DiDia as he put together what I think are the best mixes that we have had so far in our career. We also spent a large amount of the time helping Cogs through his hallucinations that his 'ideas' were the ones that made it on to the record. It really is amazing what vodka, slipped into early morning herbal tea can do can do to facilitate the 'belief' process. If you see him, just smile and wave, so to speak.

To be honest, I am still sporting a hangover after a few of us headed out on Saturday night to celebrate my 40th birthday. That's right. It's hard to believe isn't it? That someone so chiselled, so vibrant, so well... handsome, could have aged so gracefully. I put it down to my Irish ancesters and the beauty secrets I picked up from Leo Sayer at the ACMF Ball in Sydney last week. As far as presents go, I was pretty impressed. Amongst other things... books, a balloon ride, both full sets of original Kiss cards from my oldest friend Foggers (he was living with me at the time when my girlfriend used part of my set to steady an uneven fridge!!!!!), some monkey cuff links and probably the most useful present of all from the Middleton family... a MIRROR. Darius has always been my favourite and will now remain so for a long, long time. As most of you know it will come in for some serious use. And thanks to you all for the wonderful messages of support, congratulation, applause and encouragement that you left on the forum. I feel so blessed to have such genuine, sincere, affectionate and unsarcastic goodwill directed my way.

So, it looks like our new album is pretty much ready to roll. There are a few final mix and mastering type things to take care of, but overall we know what is going to be on there, in what order and what it sounds like. To me, it feels like we have made the record we have been trying to for quite a while. It feels like our most fully realised album since ON5 and I don't remember as much satisfaction amongst the band at the conclusion of an album making process. So now starts the process of working out how to present these songs live. It should be fairly simple as most of them were recorded as live tracks anyway. But it might take us a while to find a Q Chord player who has not only the right chops, but also the right hair and dance moves. Auditions could last for weeks!!

Until then folks, hang in there...we'll see you soon.

Love
BF

Hi all,

At the moment I'm sitting at home on the Sunshine Coast after being banished from the studio for, from what I can interpret, "having too many good ideas". What really happened was, I stopped letting other people take credit for my ideas (eg. Cogs: "Hey Bern/Dz/Hoggy/JC, can you mention that vocal idea for this song's outro to Nick (producer) when you go into the control room?"...next thing I know Nick says to me, "Hey Cogs, Bern/Dz/Hoggy/JC just had this great idea for the outro") and I started claiming some points. No, it wasn't for the sake of racking up credits on the sleeve of the CD, it was because I'd gone too long without warranted recognition. As a great Australian one-hit-wonder band of the seventies once said, "What about me, it isn't fair, I've had enough now I want my share". But now I stand banished so I've started shooting my new reality show tentatively titled- 'The Amazing Me'. First episode coming soon. You wait til you see the Cogs wakes up and washes his face scene...brilliant television.

But seriously, young Darius, Bern and the Hog are in Sydney mixing the new album at the moment. They started on Monday and yeah baby, I could feel the world lift when the final mixes of the first two tracks were dropped on to quarter inch. JC and I (otherwise known as Australia's finest rhythm section) are home tending to family commitments and trying to reduce the amount of cooks in the control room. We're hoping to get there next Monday. I talked to Bern through his lawyers yesterday and he said that all's going well. The stylish and laid back Daniel Denholm (Composer, Producer, Arranger and Engineer) has arranged strings that will be recorded on Friday. Yes, you may feel the world lift then as well. Bern's main dilemma though was: should his birthday on the 15th be celebrated in pirate fancy dress or 18th century classical composer fancy dress? You may agree, and sorry Bern, but I can't really see the difference. A pirate is an 18th century composer who has lost a leg and an eye from drinking too much. But, let's give him some credit. He is a perfectionist. You'll find out in a few months when the album comes out.

Anyway, hope you're all well out there in non-rock-star world. As Jeff Fenech once said, I (we) luv youse all.

Catch you soon.

P.S. thanks for all the Splendour-goers who sang for us the other night. It sounds amazing in the track. You wait til you hear it, you'll be loving yourselves sick.

Luv,
Cogs

A warm greeting to you, one and all. It would seem the pages are turning on this record, guitars are spectacular, vocals are stunning, drums and bass are superb, and let me say right now... the Splendor crowd of 2009 were absolutely mind blowing (those who were there will know what I mean).

This album has been a very enjoyable process, from start to where I sit right now.... on the couch listening to some final touches being made to the songs. I have finally got the Hurdy Gurdy onto a song (it really makes it, of course), my dulcet vocals really shine, JC's Chimes tinkle beauty onto a couple of tracks, Cog's orchestral playing is absorbing, and Bern's crooning is.....well....crooning.

We have enjoyed having our studio crew dressed each and every day in their labcoats, and of course Nick continues to set the bar high every Friday (Gentleman's Friday).

Last Friday saw us doing a little busking outside The Great Northern Hotel. Not something we have done in the past, but something we may do again, purely because it was so much bloody fun. Nathan, I've been trying to find you, to give you our earnings... as promised. If I can't find you, I will be swinging the earnings into a charity.

As expected, Hog, Cogs and I tore up the surf out front of where we are staying, myself relishing the 2ft waves on a longboard... to the other guys' envy. Every few day, Bern, JC, Nick and I swing the golf clubs before the studio... and I'm sad to report I have not aquired the winning medal once... not bloody once, though I persist.

We leave this lovely place in a few days with fond memories and a pretty special album. A few of us are heading to Sydney to begin the mixing process, to be joined by the rest shortly after. To be honest, we will have time on our hands... Nick has the project well and truly under control. I think I'm ready to hand over the reins.

So, send me a line, let me know your innermost, darkest secrets, and I'll lend you an ear. I may even offer councel, for a small fee of course. The 'Fingers have often taken my services up, and will be more than happy to offer testimony.

Until next we meet,
Senor Darius El Guapo
Out.