Booooo!

we tried to mix the album, but the studio we’d hired kept having technical problems – crashing desks, computers, ProTools…. you name it.

Eventually we had to cancel the sessions! Rather disappointing… The plan now is to start mixing all over again from the 12th April in a different studio.

The good news is that it’s still sounding excellent, and it’s a reflection of everyone’s passion and dedication to the album that we weren’t prepared to settle for second best. Roll on spring! x… Read the rest

We start mixing tomorrow!

AGHGHGH!

exciting.… Read the rest

So my very dear friend Tom McQ has asked me to play at his wonderful Stoned On Love Festival at Camden Dingwalls on Sunday 21st February. I had said I’d hold off on gigs until the album’s done, but I just can’t say no to such an amazing event, so I’ll be there with bells on.

Tickets are only £6 for a whole days worth of amazing music from such talented people as Molotov Jukebox, Legs Eleven and Gideon Conn. Do grab a couple now from here:

http://www.wegottickets.com/event/64635… Read the rest

Plenty of people have been asking about what’s going to happen when the record’s done, so I thought I’d write a blog about it.

We’re due to start mixing towards the end of this month, so hopefully we’ll have all the finished mixes in our hands by the beginning of March. After that we’ve got some meetings to set up – I’m not technically linked to a label yet, so we’ll probably be trying to find one that feels right. They need to like me, I need to like them, and we’d share the same vision for the music. There’s also publishing, live agents, press/pr, legal stuff to consider.

Basically we’ll see how it goes – I really want to get going with showing it to the world, but the time has to be right. It’s possible it might not be released until the summer or autumn, with single releases, … Read the rest

Overdubs are continuing at pace! Last Sunday we were working on those two close cousins of each other  – sax and choir – and BOY what a day that was.

Firstly, Tom Harrison did some incredible stuff with the sax. We only used it sparingly, but what we’re putting on is exactly right – some fabulously breathy stuff on The Light, and beefing up another couple of tracks.

At about 4:30pm the choir started filtering in, and I have to say it might be the best session of my life. 15 beautiful voices from 15 beautiful faces belting out Feet Don’t Fail Me Now in perfect harmony left me speechless. And such lovely people too. My sincerest thanks to both old close friends and The Choir Brigade who kindly made up most of the group and performed so professionally. I was really quite overcome….… Read the rest

I’m going to pre-date this – ah the power of the blogger! To pretend I’m good enough to actually update often enough!

Just wanted to report on the first weekend of overdubs I did with Phill and wonderful assistant engineer / all-round-superhero Tom Loffman.

PIANO! I frickin love pianos. love em. Majestic instruments. The instrument equivalent of a horse I’ve always thought… Elegant, beautiful, often black and very occasionally white, quite heavy etc etc. I did a few things myself and then enlisted the help of a wonderful new musician friend – Kevin Pollard. Like everyone who seems to be involved in this project his talents are only matched by his lovely nature. Fantastic player, fantastic bloke. He kindly did some piano on Inside My Mind and Be With Me Once More and some hammond on Many Fish To Fry. VERY nice!

The rest of the weekend was made up … Read the rest

A quick word about this rhythm section.

I’ve been playing with Harry Mead for some time now in different projects, and I never stop being amazed at what an incredible drummer he is. His playing is a lot like his personality – unpretentious, considerate, professional and deeply soulful. He’s really stepped up to the mark on this record.

John Parker has had no end of praises for his work with Nizlopi, so it’s great to find out he’s not only worthy of the praise but extremely modest about it. It’s been a real privilege to both have him play on the album, and get to know him. He’s not just talented at playing the double bass, but talented at being a great human too.

Hopefully, we’ll all go out and play it live sometime, but that’s another story altogether…..… Read the rest