Recording Day 1 (BYs debut E.P.)

We clocked in a full 8 hour recording day to lay down the basics of the tracks we want to get down, drums being the focus with a guide vocal in each case, and a guitar, bass and keys. We have one track with a subtle but significant tempo change for the middle 8 for which plan A is recording "perfectly" in sections with a plan B in reserve, which will be to do a more organic live version. Everything is sounding good though and we can't wait to go back on Friday.

The main mixing desk looking into the band room, Hayley at the drums, Emma talking to Dan while he mics up

No idea what this does (something to do with sound is my guess).

Radley, the studio dog, adds to the homely feel!

The guitar room (though it says "Admin" outside the double doors!)

"Bring everything"...

Pre-recording preparation.

It's not just a matter of turning up and playing (like anything else to do with making music). "Bring EVERYTHING" the man said, the man being Dan Logan our man at the console for our upcoming recording sessions at Orchard Studios in Cheshire. With this in mind I've been prepariing some guitars, by which I mean, among other things, changing the machine heads on "Rosie" the main classical I've been using lately (the previous ones had picked up some road-damage and weren't particularly high quality) and I've been re-stringing the Firebird and, last night my lovely new (old - early 80s) Tokai Strat.

We had a final recording preparation session yesterday which meant going through some further songs for possible selection, working out ideal tempos and getting used to playing to click tracks. We also came up with some new backing vocal ideas which we're really excited about to bring new dimensions and sub-melodies to our music. We're in the studio on Wednesday. See you soon!

The old machine heads from Rosie, pretty, but crappy.

Recorded Live at "Oddie's Bar", including my miss-sung lyrics!

Lyrics...
Please be with me for ever more,
I don't want to close the door.
In the darkness, the air is still,
broken silence, like bird's song shrill.

(Chorus) Feels like sunshine,
tastes like sugar,
sounds like thunder,
'cross the water,
the rain is washing my drowning sorrow,
the bell is tolling across the river.

A rainbow painted into the sky,
air like a tower, feel the spirits slide.
A scent of Autumn, smell of decay,
The Moon relfecting my final wave.

(Chorus)

High and dry, above, deep inside, to The Earth I sacrifice,
deep into the soil my spirit slides, to The Earth I sacrifice.
(Chorus x2)

The bell is tolling, tolling, tolling, tolling. (Copyright J.Tarplee All rights reserved.)

For your pleasure...