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October 5,
2005
My friend
William Topley (the guy who sang on Denver Sun off
Third World) came round couple of days ago. I was playing him Barock
on my guitar (not the recorded version) and he started singing along with
it. I really liked what he sang. Next thing you know we are working an
arrangement to this tune and I completely ignored the fact this piece was
already done. Not long after that I turn the gear on and we are recording
it. I programmed a simple drum beat, laid down the guitar without thinking,
put a bass on and then he sang. The whole thing didn't take more than an
hour. I then drove him to the station and he went home. What I have is a
beautiful track which I dare say I am proud of. I will not change it except
for getting rid of little noises etc. We call this 'house work' in the
trade. I am such a fan of
William Topley. The great thing is we are also
great friends. So Barock was is D minor, I then changed it to E
minor. Now it is back to D minor again but with a completely different
arrangement and with vocals. Only God knows what it will be next. Sometimes
you need to try everything or all options before you know. Other times I
guess you just know. Yesterday I was doing the 'house work' with headphones
while Pablo was playing with my guitar. That didn't bother me. I actually
like it when he storms in while I am working. But today I see my guitar is
covered in chocolate (I can tell because I have licked it). It still sounds
good even though the strings look a little weary. I have decided I am not
changing the strings on this guitar until the album is over (kind of like
deciding not to shave until such and such. Now when I see guys with long
beards I wonder what they are waiting for). I am having a great time with
this record. I'll keep you posted.
October 9,
2005
I have made a big decision.
Since I started the Fourth Wall diary I have felt a stronger bond
with all of you. I feel like I am writing to a friend and sharing my journey
with you which is quite an intimate experience. The title of this album is
Fourth Wall. What does this mean to me? It means looking at you and
perhaps showing you parts of me I wouldn't want you or anyone to know. Kind
of like showing you my hand but not necessarily telling you how I am going
to play it. It means showing you who I really am which includes some of my
strengths and weaknesses. When people make records they show themselves the
way they would like to be seen; a kind of fabrication or manipulation of
character. What you never see (or hear) is the way it really is or what is
behind the gloss, mixing, muting, comping, enhancement etc. Photographers
and graphic artists use a similar type of wizardry to manufacture images for
hiding defects and to highlight (and sometimes completely fabricate)
strengths. In the world we live in I get the impression we don't need to be
lied to anymore. I think people want and need to see things the way they
really are. Kind of like the polar opposite to the eighties when we were
happy to be stimulated by fabrication (or lies). This brings me to my point.
I feel uncomfortable sharing these thoughts with you without you hearing the
way this album is being made. You deserve more. I want to take this a step
further by sharing the musical process with you, cracks and all. I am not
worried about you hearing a track and then not buying the album because if
you really want to know, I am not doing this for the money. I am genuinely
just trying to grow as a musician and make a connection with you on many
levels (although of course I wouldn't complain if you did buy it later).
What I intend to do, should you be interested, is share the journey with you
on a regular basis so you can really see and hear how music develops and
what we do to arrive at a conclusion. It might interest you to know, for
example, that the rough version of a track is often better or more sincere
than the final released version. Many artists don't see this because when
they are so deep into a piece of music they often lose touch with its
essence by concentrating too much on perfection (I have been guilty of this
many times). Artists sometimes underestimate the way a listener processes
music. Because non musicians don't understand the 'mechanics' of music they
can only like something for what it is. We are guilty of losing touch with
this. To put it clearly, musicians and artists become too anal with
recording, thereby concealing all contact with the more genuine qualities of
a piece of music which include innocence, vulnerability, pleasure and pain.
All these elements very often get lost in the mix which can only let the
listener down. A similarity you might relate to is when you see a picture of
yourself (and rip it up) and think it's horrible when in fact to anyone else
it's beautiful and vice versa. This is a very common problem with musicians,
a bunch of extremely vain, introspective ****ers. I think you deserve to see
this album the way it really is. I want to do this so you can make up your
mind which "picture" you prefer before it might end up on the editing floor.
Do you see my point? I hope so. The first tune I want to break the fourth
wall with is Barock. I know this is a crap title, but as you know it
is a working one only. In a few days I will then show you how this piece
works with
William Topley singing on it with an entirely different
arrangement. A few weeks later it might change again and so on. I will send
you the track I did with Rufus and Misty. I will continue doing this until
you get bored with it because I won't. Maybe this album will never end, much
in t same way my musical journey will last as long as I do. You are
welcome to join me in this struggle at any point and get off any time you
like.
I do hope you
get something out of this and please feel free to make any comments. I
always value your thoughts.
Listen to 'Barock'
October 11,
2005
It's a strange but liberating feeling knowing that some of you have now
heard a rough recording I have done (Barock). As you can hear, the
second part is unfinished. These sound like two completely different pieces
to me and yet are reliant on each other. I will continue to work on the
second part and let you hear it when I have put something together. But for
now I will leave it and come back to it later confident that there is
something there worth pursuing. I have just done a rough mix of the other
version of Barock with
William Topley. He has written some stunning
lyrics so the song is now called Lyres String. (A lyre is a kind of
baroque harp). I really like this little tune and feel tempted to have both
versions on the album. Maybe the original Barock will be the reprise
of Lyres String which could come near the end of the album. We'll
see. Lyres String will be available to hear on the site on Friday
when I'll also post the lyrics. When you've heard it let me know what you
think.
October 14,
2005
Thank you all so much for sharing your thoughts on Barock with me (I
do hate this title!). I am really pleased to see there are some new members
to this site. You are all very welcome to this little world we have and I am
sure you are going to make some good friends. I have been reading your
thoughts on this tune. I am happy to see most of you like it but at the same
time it must be known I welcome criticism of any kind. I am not looking for
praise. Just a dialogue. Like I said in an earlier note you are welcome to
come and go as you please. I am showing you my hand while not necessarily
telling you how I am going to play it. I am sharing my thought process with
you and you are sharing yours with mine. This is interaction.
So here is my second
instalment. I am sure you will be able to spot the main theme coming from
Barock. This new version illustrates what can happen when an idea is
approached from a completely different angle. Knowing which style to
interpret my music is part of the struggle. There is no right or wrong way
to arrange (unless of course you are Bach, Mozart, Satie etc.) In this case
I have turned this into a song with the help of
William. I
like to think of all my pieces potentially being songs and this one is no
exception. I am so thrilled at the opportunity to collaborate with
William. He is
becoming very much a part of my sound. I absolutely love his voice and his
lyrics are perfect for this tune. You might think differently which is fine.
This is after all the whole point of this exercise. To give you a choice.
And a voice. I really hope you get something out of Lyres String. I
will have some new music for you next week.
(I am thinking of changing
the title of Barock to Lyres String Reprise; to give the
impression the instrumental version is taken from the song and not the other
way round)
The Lyres String (lyrics by
William Topley.
The lyrics do not match entirely with the track - remember it is a work
in progress!)
I don't want to hear the lyres string tonight
Let the night birds tongue fall quiet
I don't want to ring the fool's bell tonight
Or to feast by fire bright
For I've betrayed what I held most tight
I don't want to roll the whales bones tonight
Wear the falconer's blinkers tight
I don't want to taste her cold steel tonight
Hear the sirens' moon song bright
For I've been told that I don't belong
It's been hard believing
For I've been held through a trial so long
I've gone past forgiveness
Summer's light held a honeyed song
I've been asked in but I don't belong
Possessor, Aggressor
You dive like a ray through the fathoms of night
Still breathing, and deceiving,
Said I writhe in my cell to her demon's delight
Pretender, Surrender
She's been slaking the thirst of her heretic heart
If she wants you, she'll take you
You'll be walking the coals of her fire's delight
And she will leave you cold in the pearly light
Well I don't want to raid the King's cage tonight
Let the castle keep sleep tight
I don't hasten to steal your Queen's jewels tonight
To fly Africa's coast so wild
For I've been cold and I've fled the night
I know it's hard believing
For I've betrayed what I held most tight
Listen to 'The Lyres String'
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