7.23.2007

Seven New Songs: 'Cool World'



Songs:

1 - Rushing, Blushing and Reality-Crushing [2:08]
2 - Accidental Semi-Pig [1:35]
3 - Lamebrain's Sad Silly Song [0:58]

4 - Happy with You World [1:20]

5 - Wrong Lane [1:03]

6 - Martyr in the Wrong Arena [1:36]

7 - On a Monday He Stepped Out of His Grave and Went to Work [2:57]


Log
:
I recorded this little lo-fi sucker for a friend of mine, Dirk in Amsterdam (cheers mate). It's a bit of a concept album, mixing biographical elements with a harsh critique (clothed in harmonic sarcasm) on our modern day hedonism and escapism.
It was recorded between Tuesday, July 17 and Tuesday, July 24, 2007. It's got seven songs that were all primarily recorded on my Tascam 8-track and edited in Audacity, sometimes adding extra tracks.

Session Date: July, Tuesday 17 till Tuesday 24, 2007

Recording Gear:
Tascam 488 MKII, PC using Audacity, Behringer C-1 condensator mic, semi SM-58 mic, dictaphone

Music Gear: Ibanez electric guitar, Squier bass, Takamine acoustic guitar, eggs, shaker, wind-organ

7.08.2007

Quick and Drowning in Cult: 'Snapfastener Pre-Breakfast Kick'



Song:
Snapfastener Pre-Breakfast Kick

Session Date: July 7-8, 2007

Recording Gear: Tascam 4588 MKII used as a mixer, PC with Audacity, Behringer C-1 condensator mic for guitar, cheap dynamic mic for vocals

Music Gear: Ibanez electric guitar, Vox AD15VT amp, Squier bass, conga's with paint-brushes

Log: The title is admittedly slightly Pollardish.
Played a guitar with the Vox's tremolo; played them old conga's with one euro paint-brushes bought at Xenos (flung quite a bit of delay over that track). That was yesterday. Wrote the lyrics this morning and recorded the vocals in the afternoon: 2 times the same part plus a higher voice. Used some reverb and delay over the first two vocal tracks. Mastering: Compression, hard limiter... You know how it goes.

Lyrics: Straightforward and shy at the same time / I die in the midst of a telephonic poll / Hey sandgirl, Stop lookin' at me! / I'm just a stand-in for the better part of me / Stop cookin', We're all gonna die / I'd like to order an airballoon - oh my!

7.06.2007

Plain, Simple and Possibly Beautiful: 'Diarrhoea'



Song: Diarrhoea

Session Date: Friday July 6, 2007

Recording Gear: Tascam 488 MKII used as mixer, PC using Audacity, Behringer C1 condensator mic for guitar, cheap brandless dynamic mic for vocals

Music Gear: Old Yairi guitar in alternative tuning, Vox AD15VT amp

Log: Alternatively tuned my old Spanish guitar and plugged it into the Vox. Put the Behringer C-1 in front of it. Used the amps' tremolo. Strummed around.
Grabbed an old cheap mic that my wife once bought for singing in a band called 'Fudge' (long, long ago). Invented some lyrics, sang, didn't bother 'bout perfecting it so sticked with the first track. Put some classical delay over the vocals as well as some reverb. Duplicated the vocal track and ran a high pass filter over the dub.
Mastered the whole thing. There you are. Plain and simple.

Lyrics: You found me high and dabbling in plastic truths / Got no reply / You let me go lo[o]se / Stepped into the world with a broken radio / Lookin' for a girl that would speak and make me slow / There was anguish / I was sandwiched / Between hope and bitter curse I pronounced / Over myself and over her / So we drowned / I didn't get it / I didn't know how love would feel / Thought it was just diarrhoea / It never made me kneel / There was sorrow / No tomorrow / But you have led us along paths unknown / Taking out this heart of stone

7.03.2007

Dreamy Alt Country: 'Closing Up the Hatred Chapters'



Song:
Closing Up the Hatred Chapters

Session Date: Tuesday, July 3, 2007

Recording Gear: Tascam 488 MKII used as a mixer, PC using Audacity, Behringer C-1 condensator mic for instruments, semi SM-58 mic for vocals

Music Gear: Takamine acoustic guitar, eggs, shaker, Squier bass

Log: I wrote this song the day before yesterday, at least the chords and the melody, in about five minutes. Today I decided to record it. Invented the lyrics on the roll as I usually do.
Mixing the song took quite some time. I used a classic decay effect over the vocals, amongst others.

Lyrics: If you take me to the perfect storm / Where hearts are warm / And we get harmed.. / Don't believe that it comes today! / When it comes it will rain and rain / If you draw me to those poison eyes / I'd rather die / Than to hear him speak / But you gave me the words of truth / When you come, you renew my youth / The starlight shines again / The parlour is my friend / And I will close up all these chapters again

About Me

Christian, husband, theologian, singer-songwriter. I don't like dogs. I do love cats, especially my own cat, Nino (although the cat regards itself more as being my wife's cat..).