Friday, August 28, 2009
Blue Steel
Hi everyone,
We kicked this week off with one of our favourite pastimes as a band - photo shoots. As much as we all begrudge having our photo taken I think we brought it, with a few blue steel moments from some of the guys. We started the shoot in a studio in the Valley on Sunday afternoon before going out on location on Monday. We were up bright and early to take in the glorious views at Mt Glorious, followed by other locations at Paddington and the Valley and finished the day with a sunset shot at Nudgee Beach. Monday's shoot was coupled with a record temperature of 36 degrees! Needless to say we weren't really dressed for summer, but comfort must sometimes be sacrificed for style, or so I've been told...
Another thing that has been hard to take this week is being an Aussie Sports Fan, with the simultaneous loss of the Bledisloe and the Ashes. Losers in both hemispheres!
Anyway, we are pretty busy now putting the finishing touches to the album, with the songs being mastered in the US and deciding on final details like artwork and agreeing on an album title. We'll get back into rehearsals soon enough - with the focus on Homebake in December. Hope to catch you there.
Stay Free.
JC
We kicked this week off with one of our favourite pastimes as a band - photo shoots. As much as we all begrudge having our photo taken I think we brought it, with a few blue steel moments from some of the guys. We started the shoot in a studio in the Valley on Sunday afternoon before going out on location on Monday. We were up bright and early to take in the glorious views at Mt Glorious, followed by other locations at Paddington and the Valley and finished the day with a sunset shot at Nudgee Beach. Monday's shoot was coupled with a record temperature of 36 degrees! Needless to say we weren't really dressed for summer, but comfort must sometimes be sacrificed for style, or so I've been told...
Another thing that has been hard to take this week is being an Aussie Sports Fan, with the simultaneous loss of the Bledisloe and the Ashes. Losers in both hemispheres!
Anyway, we are pretty busy now putting the finishing touches to the album, with the songs being mastered in the US and deciding on final details like artwork and agreeing on an album title. We'll get back into rehearsals soon enough - with the focus on Homebake in December. Hope to catch you there.
Stay Free.
JC
Labels: ashes, bledisloe, homebake, losers, mastering, new album, photo shoot, studio
Thursday, August 20, 2009
And we're done!
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
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
Thursday, July 30, 2009
This bird has almost flown
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.
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.
Labels: busking, festival, golf, grass, mixing, splendour, studio
Monday, July 20, 2009
We are on a schedule!!
Wow…it's one month into the recording pretty much. We better get started. We have not done a thing at all yet apart from talk about what we are wearing on Fridays, surfing, eating, drinking, sleeping and playing golf.
“Time is money!” I keep saying, but they simply won't listen. I have beaten them black and blue and chased them around the golf course, and soiled their fancy clothes whence I tackled them onto the cold dewy grass. They just won't listen.
“WE ARE ON A SCHEDULE. WE HAVE TO MAKE THE BEST ALBUM EVER OF ALL TIME!!!!” I shout to Cogsy and DZ when they’re in the green room at Lennox Heads. They just won't listen.
Nick knows it’s all fruitless now, so we will have to employ some locals to do the job for us. We have left it all too late. All applicants please apply to this address.
Actually, whoops, that was just a dream.
It’s actually going really well. BETTER THAN WELL! We’ve done heaps…. A couple more weeks of recording to go, then mixing, then hopefully all of you rabbits can hear something. As long as the powers that be don’t lose the finished product in the mail.
Bernard and I were actually talking about it the other day, and the first thought that came into our mind when we heard about the Tsunami warning was that everything would be washed away. It would be tragic that there was no evidence left of what we have been working hard to complete. It turned out we were safe, and that I needn’t have slept in my wetsuit with a surfboard strapped to my leg.
It seems that we have entered into overdub and credit wars. Everybody wants to be credited for everything. No egos allowed here. Actually they were crushed years ago…. But still, in the current race …Currently JC is Prime Chime Contributer Collins, Bernard is Dr Q Chord, Cogsy is Thelonius Feedback, DZ is Hurdy Gurdy Middleton, and I am the Master of all Sub-harmonic Vocals and just the general wizardry that you all know that I am brilliant at.
It certainly is cold though, so every morning we have our personal hand warming specialist drop through our room, and they nimble up our fingers for the day to get ready for work. Mine just left… so typing is not too hard this morning..
One more week til Splendour…… hopefully we can lure some of the people performing to come and contribute something interesting. Let's say…..Paul Dempsey on spoons, or something like that. There are many options, and we have worked out a secret method of luring them all into our studio. Beer! Amazing huh?
Anyhow, I am off now to do some yoga, and to swim with the dolphins. It truly is a beautiful morning down here.
We are genuinely excited about how this record is coming together, and can't wait to be able to share it with the cosmos.
So for now… I shall stop wasting your precious time. Go and wash your cat or put up your Christmas tree, and hug the person next to you for me and whisper in their ear…..”not long til the new 'Fingers album now”
Over and Out.
Ian
“Time is money!” I keep saying, but they simply won't listen. I have beaten them black and blue and chased them around the golf course, and soiled their fancy clothes whence I tackled them onto the cold dewy grass. They just won't listen.
“WE ARE ON A SCHEDULE. WE HAVE TO MAKE THE BEST ALBUM EVER OF ALL TIME!!!!” I shout to Cogsy and DZ when they’re in the green room at Lennox Heads. They just won't listen.
Nick knows it’s all fruitless now, so we will have to employ some locals to do the job for us. We have left it all too late. All applicants please apply to this address.
Actually, whoops, that was just a dream.
It’s actually going really well. BETTER THAN WELL! We’ve done heaps…. A couple more weeks of recording to go, then mixing, then hopefully all of you rabbits can hear something. As long as the powers that be don’t lose the finished product in the mail.
Bernard and I were actually talking about it the other day, and the first thought that came into our mind when we heard about the Tsunami warning was that everything would be washed away. It would be tragic that there was no evidence left of what we have been working hard to complete. It turned out we were safe, and that I needn’t have slept in my wetsuit with a surfboard strapped to my leg.
It seems that we have entered into overdub and credit wars. Everybody wants to be credited for everything. No egos allowed here. Actually they were crushed years ago…. But still, in the current race …Currently JC is Prime Chime Contributer Collins, Bernard is Dr Q Chord, Cogsy is Thelonius Feedback, DZ is Hurdy Gurdy Middleton, and I am the Master of all Sub-harmonic Vocals and just the general wizardry that you all know that I am brilliant at.
It certainly is cold though, so every morning we have our personal hand warming specialist drop through our room, and they nimble up our fingers for the day to get ready for work. Mine just left… so typing is not too hard this morning..
One more week til Splendour…… hopefully we can lure some of the people performing to come and contribute something interesting. Let's say…..Paul Dempsey on spoons, or something like that. There are many options, and we have worked out a secret method of luring them all into our studio. Beer! Amazing huh?
Anyhow, I am off now to do some yoga, and to swim with the dolphins. It truly is a beautiful morning down here.
We are genuinely excited about how this record is coming together, and can't wait to be able to share it with the cosmos.
So for now… I shall stop wasting your precious time. Go and wash your cat or put up your Christmas tree, and hug the person next to you for me and whisper in their ear…..”not long til the new 'Fingers album now”
Over and Out.
Ian
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