The great news is that because I’ve had about 300 break ups (with the same woman), I’ve got quite a lot to write about. So about a week before Christmas I decided to take a few much needed weeks off and work on the songs. I’m writing more than I’ve written in years, and the recording is going really well at EdgeTracks Studio. EdgeTracks Studio happens to be where ever my laptop and guitars are; mostly a mixture of my bedroom, living area and the bathroom. Bathrooms always have great acoustics, plus I sing pretty well in the shower.

What I did not expect to happen was that I’d have so much material. When I stopped and actually gave some time to the project, I realised I had just over 40 songs that I wanted to record. That was being fairly critical of the stuff that didn’t make it too. Not all of that is going to end up seeing the light of day, I’m sure (although I’d love it if I pull it off). What it does mean is that I’ll probably end up with 15 – 20 songs, POSSIBLY ready in January. Slowly but surely the tracks are coming together, lyrics are getting refined, guitar parts are evolving. I’ve programmed a LOT of the album so far, often just to map out the structure of the song.

What’s happened since that is that some of the sounds are so realistic, I was steaming ahead with a mind to keeping them. Even some guitar lines were just virtual instruments. In the mix, they sounded realistic.

That said, in my heart (which has been stored in a lead box for quite a while just in case), I knew I wasn’t really feeling that. It’s hard to be proud of recording songs when the only thing you’ve done is click a few buttons. It’s almost too perfect. Just last week I watched ‘Back and Forth‘ – a documentary about the making of Foo Fighters latest album. A back to basics album (plus an amazing producer). Even though it’s a bit painful to watch people who hired the best reel to reel tape machines, and Butch Vig, talk about how computers make everything ‘too perfect’ (Spinal Tap moment…), where money and time is no object…. IGNORING ALL THAT – it made me realise I’m a musician, and have been all my life, so not to rely too heavily on computers and technology. I record on a computer and program in some drums because it’s where I’m at, I don’t have a band at the moment. I’ll program an orchestra in because it’s cheaper with great results. Everything else should be played for real, where possible.

Great. Now I have more work to do…. if you can call playing music ‘work’.

Album tasters coming up as soon as I’m happy.

Over and out.

With a working title of ‘Feral’ (which won’t stay… sorry), it’s looking set to be a 3 minute mashup of electro harshness and 70′s style rock riffery! Hopefully I’ll convey the fact that this song broke my heart to write (and is continuing to do so!) in the vocal perfomance. Although I’m pretty sure most stuff I’ve done has had me right on the edge.

You can listen to a quick sample just here!