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Going in for Harp overdubs, for a single song, is easy on the gear carrying.

I don't even need a booth.

Ah the joys of harp.

So yes, there I was. Back in the studio. Recording some minor tweaks and testing ideas.

What the heck are we doing anyway?

Also, does it actually matter?

We've only just started doing the promo for Defiance.

At the studio we appear to be finishing one project and/or starting another one.

Or are we? Are they all part of the same thing? What is an album anyway?

Each of the historical formats has influenced content - the length of songs, the size/audio duration/volume of Vinyl, the infinite capacity of digital, the overwhelm of all the media all the time.

On Demand Digital Streaming is not 8 Track, CD or Vinyl. 

Access mechanisms and user behaviour. Oh My.

HBO and long format high quality TV/Cable/Streaming has kicked the movies butt. It has shifted the narrative form into longer, more complex stuff.

I'm not sure music can quite go the same way. Maybe it does. 

What is an album anyway? Is it defined by its technical limits, if so, are we in the age of the infinite album?

The Infinite Album Theory?

Theoretically an album is any collection of stuff, idependent of format.

There is a limit to the speed at which you can accomplish something worthwhile. Time is a factor in creativity, just ask a cathedral.

Therefore, if we set about making something, it will be whatever it is when we finish it and release it. I don't know what that is yet. I'm also pretty sure it doesn't matter.

Mr Wizard believes in releasing each thing as soon as it's done and despite every 'you ought to do this' thing I've been told for 'bands' I think Mr Wizard may very well be right.

My latest attempt at a video for Heavy Weather has not worked to my satisfaction.

That's two attempts so far. Meh. Blah. Argh.

If I get bored making it, I'm making the wrong thing.

If it's overly resource intensive, it's the wrong thing.

Be Practical.

Your limitations are part of your art.

Even if I had all the resources to make all of the ideas, I'd be inclined not to waste so much resource, as I have a lot of ideas, Dragons look cool and high quality CGI is expensive. 

I'll keep trying to make something as I think it is a good time for that song to be out in public.

It's OK to hit the delete key. To borrow a quote, it's not writing, it's re-writing.

Meanwhile, for the #selfpropelledartist it's time for Media Send Outs for Defiance! YAAAY!!!

10 years on, we're still in the Mail Room. It was kind of cool. Mr Wizard and me, standing in the post office, sending out CD's, talking to Frank.

Just like old times. How many more times will we send out CD's eh? 

That's the easy bit. 

Labels however? Oh Dear.

Do you have any idea how much tech skill it takes to get an uncooperative Spreadsheet, Document and Label Wizard to talk to a printer?

To further borrow a quote, from Mr Wizard, we'll worry about the Singularity and AI taking over when you can get a Mail Merge done without an advanced degree and a Support Ticket.

That's right Avery 'Wizard' and Microsoft Word/Excel, I'm talking to YOU.

I've been reviewing the video for 5D and listening to the new tracks.

The 5D video needs a colour grade so I'll be learning a new skill. The new tracks need a mix.

If we're diligent and a bit lucky we might see a second release this year.

I decided to get a ride into the Townie show, the chap who took me was very kind, I thought I'd reciprocate with a CD.

No CD Player.

At the studio the other day, I gave Ben a copy of Defiance.

'Is it on streaming?' he asked (yes, spotify etc).

No CD Player.

Yep. As I thought. RIP CD's.

Which means, just like Vinyl, we can expect an imminent CD revival (OH WOW CD's! How retro!!! The quality of the sound is AMAZEBALLS!).

I have said before that we have pressed our last CD's. Bluetooth and the mobile phone. Digital. Streaming. Youtube. Get used to it. The future is with us.

I am so totally going to wind up pressing more CD's aren't I? Yeah the universe has a sense of humour.

Guitar Gremlins

Last night at the Townie was an unexpected pleasure. Jo was with us and we road tested material we've been working on in the studio. I got most of the words right.

Full props to Rosie, who was beset by guitar gremlins. You name it, it went wrong. String breaks.

Other Guitar Things That I Don't Quite Grasp.

He was in the eerie calm of someone Taking Care Of Business whilst interacting with sTRONG eNTROPIC fORCES.

The Townie now has Nice Carpet. Maybe it was static?

The respect of Phone Face

3 songs after arrival, bending to your phone to Facebook it, blog it, tweet it and/or filming us for your mates who are not there is terrific advertising. thank you.

At one point I actually picked up my phone too, as I was starting to feel left out. 

Sooner or later we'll work out that documenting every event will require more data storage than the sum of an infinite universe, thereby proving that we do not in fact exist but are merely part of the Social Media of a hyper advanced species in an alternate dimension.

Yep, you are the Sims.

The phone has become such an important item, it reminds me of the 'joybuzzer' from a Norman Spinrad sci fi book.

5D Editing

Looks like I have enough to start editing 5D. I'd like to add a few more visual elements as well.

With the additional synch issue (see previous post) I'll be at this for a little extra time.

Let's record some more

This weeks recording session was surprising. I didn't realise how ready they were to do something. I thought we'd finish the overdubs for 5D and maybe do the electric version of Pirouette, which seemed to be pointing the way towards some new fun sounds.

It appears I havent learned as much from the chaotic forces as I thought I had. They don't just disrupt, they also create.

The practicalities of last weeks recording were the overdubs plus 3 new songs that need a mix and another bunch in the queue for recording.

Focusing on practical, doable things, is a great way of getting things done.

Thanks to everyone who came out last night and to all our Cellar Dwellers, and a special shout out to our mates in Fishers, we miss you too.

We're very fortunate to be able to do a fill in spot at the townie tonight. This'll be for us.

Good time to try the new songs.

It's been a year since we were in Indianapolis making Defiance.

We've recorded since, but this was the first time we've been back in a studio proper.

We finished the overdubs for 5D yesterday and I made a rookie mistake.

Thanks to Pete at Rentacam for looking after us, I have a brilliant camera.

I forgot to check the Mic settings for the handle mounted shotgun mic and so I filmed all of the overdubs yesterday without the camera sound.

Synchronising these to the master takes will take extra time as a result.

Rookie mistake. Don't go hire the pro camera unless you're going to do Pro work flow.

ARRRRRGH!! No one to blame but me and I like me, but I am not letting myself entirely off the hook here, I'll be the one doing the synch.

ARGH!

Last time I got a focus bit wrong and I was...err...focused on the focus and... (sigh).

It was a solid day yesterday. 5D is almost complete. Editing it will now obviously take me longer (ARRRRRRGHH!!!) and we've moved on to Brand New Songs. 

Each of these things we try takes time. This is the good bit. No rush. Check the dang mic settings. We got the overdubs done, got the kit in place and today will be all about new stuff.

I'm posting some live bits to FB, check it there. I haven't got the cross posting software worked out yet. It's on the To Do List. Meanwhile do the FB if you wanna see our day progress. It'll be a long one today, and a good one.