October ends...

Well here we are, it's Halloween, the clocks have changed once more and we are on the cusp of November. An entertaining trip to Yorkshire was had by 75% of the family over half-term and after many years of trying (and failing); I eventually spent some time in Harrogate (what a nice place).

Now the girl is back at school and today I went over to Keith's for some music making of a different process than we used to employ.

Previously, we would write a song thus:
He would be struck by inspiration (or falling masonry) and would record a 'demo' of the music and then send it to me.
I'd listen to it and as soon as I had some more inspiration (or similar masonry), I'd start writing the lyrics.
Then, ah then; I'd get to try to sing it properly to Keith a few days later when we got together once more. (During some counselling it was revealed to me that I like, enjoy and seek making large gestures of the "I bought you this diamond ring" type. Revealing the lyrics in this way always fed into this odd 'need' in me to do such pathetic things).
Anyway, once I'd sung it to him a few times, we would 'cut' a rough track and then my initial part would be over (for a time).
Keith would then - possibly to the annoyance of Keith's wife Jackie - lay down more tracks when on his own (lead, rhythm and bass guitars and other such licks, as well as sundry noises and harmonies that he thought would sound good) and then on our next meeting I'd record a final (hopefully 'polished') vocal performance.

In this way, the song would take shape and be recorded in an orderly method (dovetailing into my CDO - OCD has the letters in the wrong order). But Keith has evolved in many ways in the last few years, and among them is his taste for making and recording music. His involvement with 'Junkbox' has seen him hone his skills in a variety of directions and he now has a taste for a more organic process.

Thus when I'd written the lyrics for our latest song 'The Ledge' (an early version can be seen here www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCfKi36jM50) we got together today to record it.
This time we recorded a rough 'template' track (guitar and two voices); then laid down some individual tracks using this first one as a guide.
Then we adjusted the mix a little prior to more voices, harmonies and some guitar being added.
Each 'take' was slightly different from the last and as we were both present throughout this initial process, we could adjust the song as we went along. 

​In fact, this current mix is different in some major ways to the first 'finished' one and the different process was involving and brought a different angle to our creative process.

I always enjoyed the creative process, this added to it and I could add comments and ideas to the process which would have a distinct effect on the resulting music.

So, when it is ready to be let loose in society, we will no doubt upload it to SoundCloud (the music that has been re-mastered and already uploaded can be found here: soundcloud.com/undertowmusicpage)

So I've been listening to 'A Boat of you' whilst I've been creating this blog and, I have to say; I rather like the 'new mix'. My voice is not as good as I'd like it to be but it's easy to listen too and has a nice refrain.

Go on.

Check it out....

​Stay safe, keep reading...