Woken up by Kelly, coffee and presents. I feel it’s the only way to wake. Pressies included a fantastic book of Mick Rock’s Ziggy Stardust photos. Made me feel like putting on a leotard and dyeing my hair orange. I didn’t. Lovely b’ day breakfast then into the studio.
We were working late last night (didn’t get home till about 4ish) so feel a bit groggy and decide to walk in. Beautiful, cold sunny morning. The bright blue sky and a triple espresso are a fine substitute for sleep.
Rather surreally, the first people I see when I walk in are Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart. They look fantastic in matching black suits. Dave with superb sunglasses and Annie peroxided to perfection. They are in doing interviews and thought they’d have a look round the studio. Had a brief chat before they went off to promoland. They were really nice and friendy.
Franny suggested we print out album title suggestions on the computer and tape them up anonymously on the bathroom wall. There are quite a few up already.
Today is overdub day for the new song we tracked yesterday. Found a cracking wee hofner club bass in macari’s music shop. It’s a bit like the classic McCartney hofner bass but instead of being a violin shape it looks like a Les Paul. Really thuddy sound. Steve loved it so we had a go at replacing the existing bass with that. Worked well in some bits. But its always nice to keep as much of the original take as possible.
Franny thought the song needed a little roughed up, so disappeared for a while and came back brandishing several distortion pedals. God knows where he got them. Of course it was the most expensive one that sounded best. We added a few guitars and it started to really take shape.
Today’s down time listening has consisted of the new Fall album, My morning jacket, Big Star, Iron and Wine, Flaming Lips and the new Sigur Ros album. Iron and Wine was tops on first listen but there is a great song called Midnight in Aspen on The Fall record.
Dinner and birthday cake has left us all a bit lethargic. But as we speak Andy is gamely adding a complicated cramp inducing arpeggio guitar part to the track. Am going to go and see how he’s getting on. Back in a bit.
Back. Song is sounding beautiful. There’s not too much on it but it already sounds satisfyingly full so we want to be a bit a careful not to over egg the bread. One of the tricky things is knowing when something is finished. We’ll put down a rough mix of this and then take stock.
Must go and check the toilet wall for potential titles. That is not a euphemism. That is not an album title.
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