This is what happened........
Friday 18th (Evening Only)
We aren't full time rockers yet, so any recording midweek or outside of holidays has to be done in the evenings. Theres no Mathew 'Barry' Reid tonight, so its just the three of us that play things on strings. Tonights aim is to add layers, textures and beef to the three songs we have previously recorded drums and guitars for: 'Pla' 'Bees' and 'King' (soon to be renamed).
We have the tools but we need cider, mulled wine and a man called Ross........
Everything seems to be going swimmingly so far during the recording even with the minor creative differences that sometimes rear their ugly head, it's still all good stuff that is happening. The whole album so far is a definate step up from the first one, then again i have to say that, in all honesty this is so much more a band album than the first one, plus its the first one with Barry Reid involved. Theres no bass yet so its tempting to beef the guitars out to compensate. I think 'Pla' is my favourite so far, the double kick on it is pretty special and goes through a lot of different moods within the song. Sticks triumphant harmonized part in the middle is so brilliant, ive been singing it ever since.
Something bizarre happens at around 2am. I had an idea for the intro to 'King', i dont know what happened but suddenly we're all on the floor (including Ross) turning knobs, dials and switches. A bit of 'internet-daddy-wizard-magic' (aka producing) and the intro is born. Its good, thats my opinion, tell me yours in 2010 please. By 3:30 ideas and madness has set in, we decide to call it a night, i couldnt even tell you the last thing we were doing. I promised Ross mulled wine though, Stick's attempt at heating it on a radiator didnt work...maybe tomorrow......
Saturday 19th (Evening Only)
More recording drums drums drums, 2 new songs to record drums for today. Recording begins at roughly 7pm, Mat lays down some delightful parts for songs with the working titles of 'I'm not your mate' and 'Shuffle' although everyone probably knows them as different song names at this point (we're yet to decide on the final names). I would describe shuffle as a restrained affair with hints of doom and maybe even an element of TREX, yes we said TREX. Im not your mate is a full on balls out rock fest, get your downpicking out boys and girls....
Mat puts in a beat in Shuffle that i didnt think would find a place on a chickenhawk album, it has and its banging..... Wait and see folks.
Next stick lays down some mighty rhythm guitar tracks, while the rest of us trade off Phil Anselmo impressions.....cue chugs.... New songs are different in styles again and will add some delightful variety to the album but it all gels great. Rhythm tracking is finished at 3:30am and its time for bed.
Sunday 20th (Allday)
After myself and the 'daddy-wizard' (Ross) had finished our delightful breakfast at a cafe bar ran by 3 camp elderly gentlemen, it was time to record more drums for the 'Slow one' (the working titles we have for these songs are very inventive). For those unaware of Ghosttown Studios, it is run in a giant room almost like a scout hut. This room + this time of year - central heating = frozen digits. Thankfully Ross has many heaters to get our bodies thawing. Barry Reid and I run through the song a good few times to make sure its bob on and Mat lays down some impressive drum tracking. Again this track is all over the place... polyrhythms, d-beats, straight forward beats. Listening to the drum tracks alone gives you a much greater sense of the power of Mat, can't wait to add guitars to this one. Oh yeah, you want a description of this one... slow, widdly, moody and face melting... I'd be an ace reviewer tut' tut'...
We have some videos of these sessions to follow, keep tuned in...
Hawk
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