Currently sat in my band's studio, been writing for the new album for the last 2 months or so pretty solidly. Laying pretty low at the minute, so nothing to show for a long time.
Think filthy dubstep pop dance mixed with rock and drum and bass and you're round abouts there!
Spent a few hours listening through my latest band sessions last night, as twisted and punky and generally as insane as ever, but with really good guitar tone, some great drum fills (where I just stop playing guitar and let the rest of the band through, which I should do more often as it's far more dynamic), these bizarre electro drums on the keyboards, and what sounds like much harder, rockier versions of our staple songs due to the lack of any guitar effects whatsoever. I normally use a Whammy for this sort of cross between RATM, The Horrors and The Pixies, but without it, the guitar is in its normal register but with fat, bassy, deep mahogany tone of my lovely Ibanez Prestige sabre, so it sounds pretty rocking, much dirtier and grittier. Love it. Just need to overdub vocals because of that stupid venue manager losing all the microphone clips.
Thought I would rename the topic to match with the Illustrator Club.
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StayDead wrote:
This isn't Gaf where being a Junior Member means you're opinion is worth strawberry float all, this is GRCade where nobody has a decent opinion.
What was the recording set up like? It doesn't sound like you're quite getting the signal levels that you could be, even though I'm pretty sure there's a hefty amount of compression going on there.
Also, is your snare drum your average wide build type? I used to be in a death metal band and I bought a brass deep snare drum which is about as deep as it is wide. It gave a harsher sound and is more suited to your type of music. Also, tighten it up a little.
It's a shame about the singer as he sounds pretty good.
recording set up - we basically had a mic on every drum, 2 overheads, and 2 mics on every amp Drums went down first, then we just layered all the other instruments, but basically on all the songs apart from warp storm, the studio was using all old gear
As for the snare, it's a Tama 14x8 birch, i'd have to say it sounds pretty trebly on some of the tracks but its very good live, i usually screw around with tuning, sometimes its a bit off
Singer has a good voice,but he has a problem with his ego, doesnt drink/smoke/whatever, it was hard trying to have a laugh with him, he was always too uptight and eventually we'd had enough of it
anyway man, thanks for listening and thanks again for the input
I've just been spraying the artwork on my first demo album, after spending ages making a stencil from a poly pocket. I sellotaped it onto my PC screen, then went around the outline, then cut out the outline with a craft knife. Then it was spray time - I bought this spray-on enamel paint (black) - it looks pretty cool in a dirty, grimy sort of way.
I've now got black bogeys from the paint - I hope I'm going to be alright!
I designed the artwork in Photoshop by myself - using a ZX Spectrum emulator to get the scanline effect & typeface, then taking pics of the screen (several, from slightly different angles), then used Photoshop's Distort to re-align them to one another, then experimented with blend modes. The slight differences in each image causes these nifty interference bands (because of the scanlines).
I also used that Arcade Font Engine that was posted here a while ago, for the spine title. Gradius III, I believe.
I got it all printed in my local uni's reprographics dept for really cheap and it looks pretty professional.
It's a cool effect, nice work. I gotta say though, my dad once told me that labelling CDs any other way than with a fine, consistent ink is not a good idea because it makes the disk unbalanced - so it might wobble too much in some CD drives (depending on how the CD is held) and cause disk read errors. Yours might be just about balanced enough to get away with it. If you just test it a bunch of times on different players then I doubt it will be a problem.
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StayDead wrote:
This isn't Gaf where being a Junior Member means you're opinion is worth strawberry float all, this is GRCade where nobody has a decent opinion.
It's a cool effect, nice work. I gotta say though, my dad once told me that labelling CDs any other way than with a fine, consistent ink is not a good idea because it makes the disk unbalanced - so it might wobble too much in some CD drives (depending on how the CD is held) and cause disk read errors. Yours might be just about balanced enough to get away with it. If you just test it a bunch of times on different players then I doubt it will be a problem.
I tested it in a cheap £20 ghetto blaster, so if it works in that, then it'll work on anything!
I also did the burn after the spraying, so if the paint did interfere with the surface, then at least the burn is onto those interferences (I'm not sure how sound that logic is, but they play OK). I let the paint rain down as a fine, consistent mist from a height of about 2ft.
I also burned at the slowest speed available (8x) for extra compatibility.
Also, the discs have a printable surface, so I guess it's designed to take a solvent-based lacquer.
I did wonder about the balance issue you speak of, though...
I've put up a new version of an older song called Pure Ode (with better vocals and some more ambience). It still needs some things done to it (since completing it, I've already got a little checklist of things I've noticed that need tweaking, but it's almost there).
Aw, c'mon dudes - indulge me! Humour me! Just give me your feedback - especially Pure Ode. It's my favourite - musically it's just two arpeggiated chords repeated over and over, but I'm proud about how the arrangement builds around that 'framework' and is constantly changing. I'm always squeezing my mixes to bursting point with extra sounds, melodies, etc, and this is no exception.
Also (and I'd say this even if I never wrote it - the only song of mine I am sure of that), it's got a charming melody once it gets into the chorus.
Deeply personal and introspective lyrics about my tendency to always think the worst possible thing in any situation (or as I put it in the song, 'sabotage every silver lining'. Seriously it disturbs me sometimes - real dark, horrid things. As reassured as I am that I don't really want any of these terrible things to happen (to me or friends/family) - it really gets to me. Seriously evil strawberry floated up thoughts sometimes, and I wonder why they come. My mind is programmed to destroy all lovely mental images. The more positive and good an event is, the more it wants to destroy it beyond all recognition. I've imagined some dark gooseberry fool, guys.
I'm only speculating (hence the 'hint of cod psychology' line) but when I read up on a mental disorder called pure-O, it was like "OMG, that's ME! Everything! Check! Check!" - so my own diagnosis, but I am totally convinced.
I'm not a fool or hypochondriac, but I've also self-diagnosed some kind of autistic spectrum disorder. I just imagine me as a kid and think "Totally".
Love of routine - hate of last minute plan changes (to the point where I'm shouting and punching walls), early obsession with objects, mechanisms, collecting things (I still won't let my mum chuck out my Gamesmasters in the attic, and I got stamps, Pogs, stickers (I had an obsession with completing sets - I bought a lot of gooseberry fool Manga videos in the 90s just because I had to have the ENTIRE Cyberpunk collection). Always offending people without getting how or why - just my tone of voice when I reply. Before I used to have trouble telling if someone was angry, but I'm smart enough to see now. Always preferred solitude, at my computer writing programs, etc, never fit in with any of the school cliques - I could never think of anything to say to them.
Without boasting, I've got a few almost savant-like qualities. Nothing like Rainman, but an EXCELLENT memory (fairly regularly I remember people in the street long after they've even forgotten my face let alone name or anything else, recite covnersations from years ago word for word, always correcting people quoting shows - especially stuff like I'm Alan Partridge or Bottom where I think I have the entire scripts committed to memory), the ability to mentally dissect systems and see how it works clearly in my head and just 'get' it straight off. I was drawn to electronics, computers, etc since about 4. I was obsessed with Lego. I'd build the most intricate things in Lego Technic, real complex mechanisms, etc. I can also teach myself pretty much anything I want to learn (that's how I'm managing to stay on top - I'm smart enough to recognise and alter unproductive behaviour patterns). I'm a completely self-taught computer programmer, digital artist and music writer/producer, have a fascination with the grammatical structures of other languages (yet cannot stick at one long enough to be able to say anything useful).
But with my criminally short attention span it's hard for me to put any of it to use. I'm also a TERRIBLE timekeeper. Cannot arrive on time for anything!
I can also see music in my head - my mixing skill increased greatly when I cottonned onto this. I could 'see' holes in the mix where something needs to go, or see where two things clash, etc. It's a picture and if I ensure a neat image with hard edges then it's a treble heavy mix - bassyness and muddiness equates to a Gaussian blur on the image with soft unclear edges, things overlapping and interfering, etc. My best mixes are the ones where I can see a soft fuzzy backdrop with sharp edged holes 'punched' through it, revealing something brighter, sharper, intricately textured in the holes, while the soft bits massage your ears everywhere the other sounds aren't (if you get me). Sort of equating to a nice, persistent, all-encompassing ambience without obscuring the little details.
Also, I had the best spelling in my year when I was 8, but if you showed me a word I'd never seen before (no matter how phonetically obvious) I'd be stuck. The word was 'genuine' and I said 'jinny' I think. My only failing on that test.
I develop obsessions and fixations quickly and they are strong. Particularly when I discover a new musical act that I really like. My most recent is Kate Bush - by fluke on the radio last summer I heard Running Up That Hill (never heard it before) and thought "Blimey, Kate Bush does stuff like this?!". So I did some investigation and discovered 2 of my favourite albums of all time! That's a big event for me, because of my dislike of the unfamiliar, I don't receive many artists well. I've only got... (counts) five (including Bush now) artists who I'd say I was a diehard fan of (I'm very fussy so it's really only Radiohead, Bjork, Bushmeister, Portishead and Pink Floyd that I listen to in entirety on a consistent and regular basis). It's been years since my last musical 'acquisition' and it will probably be years 'til the next. With all these, it's been like an overnight thing - hear something I like, next day I'm going through their whole back catalogue, fully obsessed. But this one was quickest by far, absolutely no 'growing' period.
The Dreaming and Hounds Of Love were so refreshing, eccentric... different - yet full of hooks and pretty darn good lyrics for such catchy pop (even though some songs, like Waking The Witch and Under Ice are pure darkness). I am now obsessed with The Bushmeister - listen to her every day and constantly find her influences worming their way into my music (more call and response-type vocal structures, use of sound effects relevant to the subject matter, greater use of effects like phasing on vocals, the really close, claustrophobic reverb (I used to think the bigger the better, like all my songs were taking place in the Grand Canyon), less emphasis on treble (The Dreaming doesn't feature a SINGLE cymbal if memory serves).
That last one was a real eye (ear?) opener. EQ the mix slightly muffled at the very top, add a bit of boost in the mid-to-high-mid region and rely less on tinny percussion. It never occurred to me before! But I prefer it in many cases now thanks to that crazy mould-breaking bitch!!! I like the analoguey 'tactical muddiness' as I call it - how the EQ has been applied less surgically: sounds seem like they've been allowed to bleed into one another slightly, making the edges slightly fuzzier, gives a more 'heavy headed' sound (as best as I can put it) - more body, not 100% comfortably sat in the mix, a little crowded and dense sounding. I use improvised shakers loads now, but hardly cymbals now. Just a nice non-abrasive shuffling - lightly in the mix.
And her drum sound. Whether it's organic (Dreaming) or machine (Hounds), both those albums have such a gorgeous drum sound! Plenty of space is given so they can breathe. Really full-bodied and punchy - 80s as hell, but in a good way! The snare on Running Up That Hill! The huge Celtic drum circlejerk on Jig Of Life! The pounding toms on Sat In Your Lap (hell of a way to open an album - sets the scene for Kate's 'Kid A' (as The Dreaming was, really) perfectly (only for the album to end with a braying donkey - seriously)!
The beats are usually repetitive as hell, but I can't hold that against them - it usually works really well. Simple, reliable, with a weighty, beefy oomphiness. My fave is Waking The Witch. The same loop over and over but I find something compelling about it - it's really pushing the song along with its insistent 3 rapid kicks and 1 slamming snare pattern - unwavering throughout! I have a mini orgasm every snare hit!!!
So, just to say:
If your image of her is Wuthering Heights you're DEAD WRONG! She had a brilliant experimental stage in the early 80s - and I was appalled that this amazing music appeared to be the best kept secret in music for nigh-on a quarter of a century! HOW DID I MISS THIS?!?! Seriously guys, what the strawberry float?! I could have grown up with this gooseberry fool!!!!
If you're in the dark - get those 2 albums and just try them out! You might be as pleasantly surprised as I was! I honestly wouldn't have known it or believed it this time last year!!!
Listen to this crazy-ass gooseberry fool! This be one crazy genius bitch!!!!
That cheesy keyboard brass stabs sounds like it ought to be on a Kwik Save ad in the 80s, but it... just... WORKS! The 'gimme gimme' bit at 1:39!! GENIUS!!
Earl Grey and I seem to have a lot in common except my dark/negative interpretation of everything ever I managed to quell over the past few years and now I'm just generally anxious in unfamiliar situations/circumstances/places and have some kind of cyclothemic depression pattern.. It seems to come with teaching and somewhat forcing yourself to appreciate your own qualities and the benefits of what you do have. I still have a lot of social mental blocks though which are strawberry floating annoying.
I am a diagnosed autistic although you would probably never know if I didn't tell you, because I try really hard to deal with it and am on the higher end of the spectrum. I'm far more social than some totally "ordinary" people I know are in that I do go pubbing, on nights out, host parties, perform etc.
And I am still the worst person at keeping time EVER because I get distracted by sensory hyperactivity every 2 seconds to the extent that I can't even remember what I read/wrote 10 seconds ago.. hence the tl;dr syndrome.
Musical update: I'm working on sonic art installations using an Arduino micro-controller to set up interactive I/O.
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StayDead wrote:
This isn't Gaf where being a Junior Member means you're opinion is worth strawberry float all, this is GRCade where nobody has a decent opinion.
You realize that you're "misunderstood" on this forum, right?
So, Sat In Your Lap isn't full of AMAZE OBTAIN?
Because it really is, you know...
*Highlighting another 'thing' that I 'do' that I think is actually pretty amusing. Inspired by "Shine Get", but (obviously) using 'obtain' along with a word for yet more clumsy Engrish-based tomfoolery.
The good news is I've been off the smoke (all kinds) for 2 weeks today! And I've had, like, half a line of M-cat twice in that period. And that was because it was on offer and I needed to stay awake (my sleep pattern's all over the shop - nicotine withdrawal?)
Also, we might have our first gig in around 5 weeks. I'll keep you posted and be sure to have someone videoing...
Aw, c'mon dudes - indulge me! Humour me! Just give me your feedback - especially Pure Ode. It's my favourite - musically it's just two arpeggiated chords repeated over and over, but I'm proud about how the arrangement builds around that 'framework' and is constantly changing. I'm always squeezing my mixes to bursting point with extra sounds, melodies, etc, and this is no exception.
Ok, Earl, despite the fact that I distinctly remember not liking you for some reason, I had a listen. Here's my thoughts.
Firstly. I don't like this kind of music. Really not my thing. But putting that aside I think they're well interesting, well-constructed, songs. Highlights for me were Pure Ode and Editorial, both very strong tracks - kinda like New Order meets The Smiths. After the first three tunes it all started sounding a bit samey, but that could just be down to my aversion to electro pop/rock. Regardless, you definitely have talent. Hope you manage to make something of it!
I'm sorry I have somehow managed to get under your skin to the extent that you actually made a mental note of my name, though.
I've had my fair share of forum arguments, but - to be honest - it means so little I can't even remember who the dispute was with, come the next day, let alone take it to another thread.
But I've always prided myself on the idea that all my songs are different - I never try to follow a template. Maybe it's just that there's lots of piano, but it's always good to have other, more objective feedback.
Like I said I can't really remember why I associate your name with negative thoughts lol. Last time I posted on GR was years ago. Maybe something to do with you being racist? Really not sure.
Anyway. I'm always up for giving feedback on musical endeavours. I like listening to proper grass roots indie stuff. Write a lot of songs myself and I know how irritating it can be getting honest critique. Especially if, like me, you assume your friends are just saying its good because they're your friends.
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Just need to overdub vocals because of that stupid venue manager losing all the microphone clips. 
