Jazz Band Mastering Marathon / October 15 2008
I have an attended mastering session booked in tomorrow.
A jazz band contacted me a few weeks ago wanting to come in to the studio and master an album of traditional swing numbers. They have stipulated it be an attended session and are adamant it will take three or four days.
Apparently there are about twenty tracks, [...]
Starmaker / September 15 2008
I recorded Reg and his drums yesterday.
It was an easy job: I simply used a spaced pair of AKG414’s on the whole kit and close-miked the bass drum with a D112. In spite of what he had been telling me, Reg doesn’t play very loudly – in fact, he hardly touches the skins – so [...]
Cherry Outburst / August 22 2008
What is that constant ridiculous sound in the background of the Verve’s new single Love Is Noise? It sounds like a herd of geese. It makes Audrey bark like some kind of crazy female madman every time it is played on XFM. It ruins what is otherwise quite an average song.
Actually, I would rather like [...]
Hip Hop Pensioner Turns Blue / August 10 2008
‘Reg, I’m sorry if I upset you the other day.’ I felt so bad, I had gone round to my elderly friend’s - the erstwhile alien abductee’s – house to apologise for being so rude to him.
He told me not to worry about it. ‘Anyway, what do you reckon, eh?’
‘What’s that, Reginald?’
‘I’ve bought a drumkit! [...]
Bass Player Acquired / July 11 2008
I have an announcement to make:
Enormous now have a bass player. Yay!
His name is Steve.
During the rehearsal on Saturday, which was, in effect, an audition, it took only ten minutes and a quick run-through of That Girl Again and Let’s Run Away Together for Graham, Ash, Paul and me to realise that he was the [...]
Mood Swings and Elevators / June 15 2008
Punk drummer Sonny Starr paid the studio a visit yesterday. I was incredibly busy as usual and did not have the time to pay him much attention or to patronise him in the way to which he has become accustomed.
After he’d finished telling me about how he’d had a ‘right good blow-job’ from a member [...]
Avon Calling / May 12 2008
I have just been invited by Sonny Starr via a late-night telephone conversation (I was actually in bed – early riser me, I need my beauty sleep) to play guitar on the new Dysons album and European tour. I declined the offer.
‘It’s a turgid dirge, Sonny,’ I explained when he asked me why I wouldn’t [...]
Be Fruitful / April 21 2008
Five blueberry smoothies – that’s the best way of curing a hangover; the best one I have so far discovered, anyway. Add a little vodka to each one and within twenty minutes you’ll be feeling marvellous.
I tried working in the studio, playing guitar on some of the new Nelson Galaxy stuff, but I could not [...]
Singer/Guitarist Wanted / April 13 2008
I am not advertising for new band members again, far from it. I simply wanted to say that I am a singer/guitarist and today I am feeling very wanted. Thank you.
On the Fantastic hi-fi today:
Aladdin Sane - David Bowie
Bass Player Still Wanted / April 5 2008
I have had several enquiries from people regarding the bass player position in Enormous. Unfortunately, none have been suitable so far.
I feel I must point out that we are looking for someone who can not only play the bass guitar but also someone who knows what such an instrument actually is. (Morag from South Wales: [...]
