Crikey, a month since the last update. Sorry.
Right we had a chat, with tea and, if I remember correctly, cake. Result.
We have decided to get EP3 finished and released ASAP. Which will probably mean early September. We have agreed the track listing now, which will be:
1. The Beguiled (featuring guest backing vocals hopefully)
2. Bad Consumer (written by E and Guy from Red Star Radio with slightly amended lyrics)
A demo of which can be found on E's myspace page.
3. A Journey of the Soul (cowritten with E's sister)
4. Spheno Palatine Gangleoneuralga
We hope (if we remember) to have go at the artwork concept this week when we meet up.
Right, I'm off to finish my vocals for the Beguiled (which we have played once at an open mic in Bridgnorth).
Later
Rollasoc
Sunday, 12 August 2007
Thursday, 12 July 2007
Ball Rolling
Quick update.
Not much to report really. I've been away on holiday to Wales / Cornwall / home, then been in bed for a few days with flu. Not good at all.
I have been re-learning (on 7 string) / transcribing to 6 string / sorting the drums on one of the ideas for an album track. Which is a start at least
We are going to get together this weekend and have a chat, hopefully with tea and biscuits, about how to take the album (mostly written, not much recorded) and EP3 (almost totally written, partially recorded) forward, plus future plans.
So more info next week I hope...
Later
Rollasoc
Not much to report really. I've been away on holiday to Wales / Cornwall / home, then been in bed for a few days with flu. Not good at all.
I have been re-learning (on 7 string) / transcribing to 6 string / sorting the drums on one of the ideas for an album track. Which is a start at least
We are going to get together this weekend and have a chat, hopefully with tea and biscuits, about how to take the album (mostly written, not much recorded) and EP3 (almost totally written, partially recorded) forward, plus future plans.
So more info next week I hope...
Later
Rollasoc
Wednesday, 20 June 2007
Stalled!
Not much to report really.
Things have mostly stalled in the last month. This is pretty much purely my fault.
After the last blog, we did get up and do some songs at an open mic night in Bridgnorth. No piccys this time.
It was an eventful night. Quiet, but there was an 18th birthday party going on. By the time we started, the birthday girl was crashed out in front of us, with a pile of sick on the floor. More sickness ensued and the young girl was then escorted off the premises by her friends and appeared to be dumped in the street outside.
This was indeed, very off putting and we managed to fluff our way through two new songs "New Opportunist" and "The Beguiled" and the track off EP1 called "Break the Casino".
I then messed up a Porcupine Tree track called "Sentimental", which I had attempted to learn earlier in the night. (Make note, don't learn songs the night you are going to perform them).
I then promptly jetted off to the states on work business work 8 days.
So that was pretty much May sorted.
This month, we have tried re-recording one of E's tunes. Not convinced successfully. We need to re-attempt it.
I've been attempting to record my parts for "The Beguiled". Again I'm not a happy bunny. So more re-recording to ensue.
The rest of this month is pretty much a no go as I've got other commitments and a holiday to contend with.
I have purposely left most of July free to get back to recording. So the next update might be a bit more positive.
On a good note, E has started another new song and is currently looking for / hoping to borrow a keyboard for some synth action. I'm liking what he has sent me so far.
Later
Rollasoc
Things have mostly stalled in the last month. This is pretty much purely my fault.
After the last blog, we did get up and do some songs at an open mic night in Bridgnorth. No piccys this time.
It was an eventful night. Quiet, but there was an 18th birthday party going on. By the time we started, the birthday girl was crashed out in front of us, with a pile of sick on the floor. More sickness ensued and the young girl was then escorted off the premises by her friends and appeared to be dumped in the street outside.
This was indeed, very off putting and we managed to fluff our way through two new songs "New Opportunist" and "The Beguiled" and the track off EP1 called "Break the Casino".
I then messed up a Porcupine Tree track called "Sentimental", which I had attempted to learn earlier in the night. (Make note, don't learn songs the night you are going to perform them).
I then promptly jetted off to the states on work business work 8 days.
So that was pretty much May sorted.
This month, we have tried re-recording one of E's tunes. Not convinced successfully. We need to re-attempt it.
I've been attempting to record my parts for "The Beguiled". Again I'm not a happy bunny. So more re-recording to ensue.
The rest of this month is pretty much a no go as I've got other commitments and a holiday to contend with.
I have purposely left most of July free to get back to recording. So the next update might be a bit more positive.
On a good note, E has started another new song and is currently looking for / hoping to borrow a keyboard for some synth action. I'm liking what he has sent me so far.
Later
Rollasoc
Sunday, 13 May 2007
Rehearsal for Moider
The stars were aligned, the gods smiled upon us, etc etc, well actually it was persipitating profusely, today we had a rehearsal.
Ttoday I popped around to E's house to record some acoustic for a new track he is working on. Currently working title E5.
After tea drinking, recording and playing with his new (rather sexy) pedal configuration, the subject of the Open Mic night at the Lounge in Bridgnorth was spoken of. E informed me he was available to play this Tuesday, so for the first time this year, we are going to play in front of an audience.
Next choice was what to play. We have settled on two brand new songs off the album and one track of EP1.
So a quick rehearsal of the three songs, with more tea drinking ensued.
So we shall be there this coming Tueday in The Lounge in Bridgnorth playing some songs. It starts around 9 ish.
I'm rather looking forward to it.
Later
Chris
Ttoday I popped around to E's house to record some acoustic for a new track he is working on. Currently working title E5.
After tea drinking, recording and playing with his new (rather sexy) pedal configuration, the subject of the Open Mic night at the Lounge in Bridgnorth was spoken of. E informed me he was available to play this Tuesday, so for the first time this year, we are going to play in front of an audience.
Next choice was what to play. We have settled on two brand new songs off the album and one track of EP1.
So a quick rehearsal of the three songs, with more tea drinking ensued.
So we shall be there this coming Tueday in The Lounge in Bridgnorth playing some songs. It starts around 9 ish.
I'm rather looking forward to it.
Later
Chris
Wednesday, 9 May 2007
Earth Intruders
Very quick update, since I've just updated the main site, archiving off the blog into separate years.
Reading the blog, all the way through, has brought back some good and bad memories over the last two and a bit years and has made me laugh about how much effort can be put into achieving so little. ha ha
Here is a bit from the very first blog I wrote in February 2005.
Feb 2005 Chris starts this blog. Currently there are several new songs in various states of completion.
1) Cases of Conscience. An instrumental which forms the starting act of a much longer piece (possibly 2 or 3 acts). Currently being recorded for release end of Feb.
2) NB. Musically mostly there, just waiting for divine lyrical inspiration. Called NB at the moment since I needed a folder to put it in and pressed those two keys. TBD
3) Sweet Lemon Mechanism. The intro is mostly there. Lyrics are started. TBD
4) Anime Girl, music and lyrics are in progress. Problem is it is starting to sound like a bad eighties rock tune. Needs major re-vamping
Here is the current state of those 4 songs.
1) Cases of Conscience. I did release a version of this in 2005. Which I love to bit, but I have re-recorded it on acoustic guitar (which it was originally written for) and using effects for the forthcoming album version. It is part of a much longer piece. Part two (Guilt of innocent blood) of which is mostly written, part three (and God will give you blood to drink) just has a bass line and some drums and part four (Curse of the cirle girls) has been written for ages. I did re-record it last week. There is one annoying squeak in it, so I might need to re-record it again.
Curse of the Circle girls was played live last December at an open mic night in Bridgnorth. Not convinced an instrumental on the Salem witch trials was the right song for a birthday party! ha ha.
2) NB, became Tabanid. Mostly finished, but has been shelved, will revisit after EP3 / album. E didn't really like the discords within it. That's the bit I like.
3) Sweet Lemon Mechanism. Is now in two parts. The first part being called Sour Grapes. This is 99% recorded. I sent E a demo of it last week, with a guide lead Ebow part and will try and record it properly this weekend. I can safely say we will probably never play this live ever..... It might be used as the intro tape though if we ever play live.
The main song though is proving tricky. I did work on it this weekend and managed some progress with it.
4) Anime Girl. I personally love playing the riff to this. The rest of the song was horrible. I've grafted the riff onto the original idea for the EP3 instrumental (which sounded far too much like Placebo so I've scrapped all the music, bar the bridge). I may still keep the title of the song, but then again I might not, depends how the music turns out (probably quite heavy since I'm playing it on my 7 string).
So not much progress on those 4 songs in 2 years (many other songs were done in those 2 years so it isn''t all doom and gloom).
I briefly mentioned in my last blog, playing songs at open mic nights. Due to work commitments, I've been going out on my own and playing a few songs at open mic nights in Bridgnorth since Christmas.
Last week, Assimilation was first aired and no one threw anything at me, so it must have been ok, plus I dragged out 21st CSM from the back catalog. The latter I really enjoyed playing live, so will play that more often.
I've also been regularly playing Apotemnophilia, GW2N and Shorewards as well as covers by Duran Duran (I kid you not), Gemma Hayes, Stiff Little Fingers, The Levellers, The Wannadies.
I may try a couple of new covers at next weeks one (maybe some prog rock, maybe a chart topping early nineties song). I'm actually almost starting to enjoy this playing live malarky.
Right bed time!
Later
Rollasoc
Reading the blog, all the way through, has brought back some good and bad memories over the last two and a bit years and has made me laugh about how much effort can be put into achieving so little. ha ha
Here is a bit from the very first blog I wrote in February 2005.
Feb 2005 Chris starts this blog. Currently there are several new songs in various states of completion.
1) Cases of Conscience. An instrumental which forms the starting act of a much longer piece (possibly 2 or 3 acts). Currently being recorded for release end of Feb.
2) NB. Musically mostly there, just waiting for divine lyrical inspiration. Called NB at the moment since I needed a folder to put it in and pressed those two keys. TBD
3) Sweet Lemon Mechanism. The intro is mostly there. Lyrics are started. TBD
4) Anime Girl, music and lyrics are in progress. Problem is it is starting to sound like a bad eighties rock tune. Needs major re-vamping
Here is the current state of those 4 songs.
1) Cases of Conscience. I did release a version of this in 2005. Which I love to bit, but I have re-recorded it on acoustic guitar (which it was originally written for) and using effects for the forthcoming album version. It is part of a much longer piece. Part two (Guilt of innocent blood) of which is mostly written, part three (and God will give you blood to drink) just has a bass line and some drums and part four (Curse of the cirle girls) has been written for ages. I did re-record it last week. There is one annoying squeak in it, so I might need to re-record it again.
Curse of the Circle girls was played live last December at an open mic night in Bridgnorth. Not convinced an instrumental on the Salem witch trials was the right song for a birthday party! ha ha.
2) NB, became Tabanid. Mostly finished, but has been shelved, will revisit after EP3 / album. E didn't really like the discords within it. That's the bit I like.
3) Sweet Lemon Mechanism. Is now in two parts. The first part being called Sour Grapes. This is 99% recorded. I sent E a demo of it last week, with a guide lead Ebow part and will try and record it properly this weekend. I can safely say we will probably never play this live ever..... It might be used as the intro tape though if we ever play live.
The main song though is proving tricky. I did work on it this weekend and managed some progress with it.
4) Anime Girl. I personally love playing the riff to this. The rest of the song was horrible. I've grafted the riff onto the original idea for the EP3 instrumental (which sounded far too much like Placebo so I've scrapped all the music, bar the bridge). I may still keep the title of the song, but then again I might not, depends how the music turns out (probably quite heavy since I'm playing it on my 7 string).
So not much progress on those 4 songs in 2 years (many other songs were done in those 2 years so it isn''t all doom and gloom).
I briefly mentioned in my last blog, playing songs at open mic nights. Due to work commitments, I've been going out on my own and playing a few songs at open mic nights in Bridgnorth since Christmas.
Last week, Assimilation was first aired and no one threw anything at me, so it must have been ok, plus I dragged out 21st CSM from the back catalog. The latter I really enjoyed playing live, so will play that more often.
I've also been regularly playing Apotemnophilia, GW2N and Shorewards as well as covers by Duran Duran (I kid you not), Gemma Hayes, Stiff Little Fingers, The Levellers, The Wannadies.
I may try a couple of new covers at next weeks one (maybe some prog rock, maybe a chart topping early nineties song). I'm actually almost starting to enjoy this playing live malarky.
Right bed time!
Later
Rollasoc
Saturday, 28 April 2007
Fear of the Blank Lyrics
Quick update to the happenings of the Thieves of Hair.
Well, today I have recorded the mandolin part for "Bad Consumer" and sent it off for E's approval (he approved). The song needs mixing, but we might in the next week put it up on myspace in its current form, so you can hear it and compare it against the version done by the Red Star Radio boys.
Edit: E has posted the song on E's Myspace site
We pretty much have three quarters of EP3 done now, it needs some things doing to the tracks we have and we need to write the obligartory instrumental for the end (I did start playing around with ideas during the week, plus E has a track on the go, which could end up instrumental).
We have finished a first draft of some lyrics for a song which at the moment appears to be called "Chemistry". It was a collaborative effort, which seemed to work nicely, given, if I'd been left to do them on my own, I'd still be looking at a blank page. I now need to record the vocal and sort out the drums.
I've made a paper spreadsheet, of what we have achieved for the album and EP3 and what needs doing. It looks like we are about half way there. So we need to step up the pace a bit to get this out sometime in the summer.
A journey of the Soul just needs a proper vocal recorded and the drums sorted. I can then start my alternative mix of it.
I have also started comping together a new track for the album, based on the original instrumental I wrote for EP3, and a riff I wrote ages ago. It'll possibly end up the heaviest Hair Thieves song since Baited Breath.
One of the new songs we are in the middle of recording, I am thinking of airing at an Open mic night in the coming week. Should be interesting. I'm also thinking of dusting off an old Hair Thieves song that has never been played live before also.
And just to slow me down, I am recording a couple of other artists over the next month or so, to get a bit more recording experience really. Hopefully, it shouldn't infringe on my Hair Thieves responsibilities too much.
Well, today I have recorded the mandolin part for "Bad Consumer" and sent it off for E's approval (he approved). The song needs mixing, but we might in the next week put it up on myspace in its current form, so you can hear it and compare it against the version done by the Red Star Radio boys.
Edit: E has posted the song on E's Myspace site
We pretty much have three quarters of EP3 done now, it needs some things doing to the tracks we have and we need to write the obligartory instrumental for the end (I did start playing around with ideas during the week, plus E has a track on the go, which could end up instrumental).
We have finished a first draft of some lyrics for a song which at the moment appears to be called "Chemistry". It was a collaborative effort, which seemed to work nicely, given, if I'd been left to do them on my own, I'd still be looking at a blank page. I now need to record the vocal and sort out the drums.
I've made a paper spreadsheet, of what we have achieved for the album and EP3 and what needs doing. It looks like we are about half way there. So we need to step up the pace a bit to get this out sometime in the summer.
A journey of the Soul just needs a proper vocal recorded and the drums sorted. I can then start my alternative mix of it.
I have also started comping together a new track for the album, based on the original instrumental I wrote for EP3, and a riff I wrote ages ago. It'll possibly end up the heaviest Hair Thieves song since Baited Breath.
One of the new songs we are in the middle of recording, I am thinking of airing at an Open mic night in the coming week. Should be interesting. I'm also thinking of dusting off an old Hair Thieves song that has never been played live before also.
And just to slow me down, I am recording a couple of other artists over the next month or so, to get a bit more recording experience really. Hopefully, it shouldn't infringe on my Hair Thieves responsibilities too much.
Bad!
Woo Hoo, after an extended wait, we have another song for public consumption.
Its called Bad Consumer and can be heard on my profile page.
This is still only at the demo stage as we haven't mixed it properly yet but it is not likely to change much when we do. The song was originally written by myself and Guy Lawton when I was still playing with Red Star Radio, and coincidentaly they have also just released their version which can be heard HERE
Feel free to compare and contrast
For those that care about these things:
E = electric, acoustic, and bass guitars.
Rollasoc = Vox, mandolin, drum programming and featuring Rolla's first ever recorded live drum playing.
If you want any more details then ask.
E.
Its called Bad Consumer and can be heard on my profile page.
This is still only at the demo stage as we haven't mixed it properly yet but it is not likely to change much when we do. The song was originally written by myself and Guy Lawton when I was still playing with Red Star Radio, and coincidentaly they have also just released their version which can be heard HERE
Feel free to compare and contrast
For those that care about these things:
E = electric, acoustic, and bass guitars.
Rollasoc = Vox, mandolin, drum programming and featuring Rolla's first ever recorded live drum playing.
If you want any more details then ask.
E.
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