Hey I’m back, it took a while longer than expected. Like all best laid plans my intentions of recording a load of new material after writing that last update didn’t quite come off. Life got in the way as it’s wont to do I suppose and it never worked out. I did do a load of acoustic demos of new ideas and partially finished songs recently but they’re not quite ready to share just yet. So why am I writing this update wasting your time and mine you may think? Despair not my friends, I’ve dug into the back catalogue and found something I think you might enjoy. I hope you will anyway.

It’s some vintage Shed Music, if you don’t know about the whole Shed Music thing please check out this previous post. The track is called “Bring It All Back Home” it’s a bit funky, a bit hip hop and like all shed music more than a little bit mental. It’s packed with speech samples from various films and tv programs, I won’t list them all you can have fun picking them out as they go past. There’s even a bit of singing in parts as well, you’ll hear my voice popping up at times. As I think I mentioned in my previous post about “Special?!” I’ve tried many times over the years to get into scratching and DJ-ing but to be honest I’m shit at it. More of that is in evidence here sorry hehehe

This was recorded around 2001 I think, hard to remember exactly now but I’d just set up my first little home studio. I still have some of that kit like outboard compressors and effects but most of it has been updated and replaced since. Back then I recorded everything to a Fostex digital 8-track from my old analogue desk and mixed things in real time but now things mostly revolve around the computer for me, as they do in many studios. I was late moving over to the digital side of things and I still like the reassuring sound of tape reels whirring away but digital recording is so convenient I must confess. The instrumentation on this little ditty is not too complicated really, here’s a breakdown:

• Programmed beats and samples from the computer
• Bass guitar, my Music Man 5 string (love that thing)
• Yamaha acoustic guitar
• Fender Telecaster electric guitar put through a small Marshall amp
• An electric piano
• My girly singing voice recorded with an SM58
• My attempts as scratching with speech samples

Listening to this now it stands up surprisingly well considering it was one of my first bedroom recordings. I think the bass is a bit heavy probably on the kick drum but being a bass player I have a tendency to push the bottom end a lot. Everyone loves bass right? They’d better if they come round here. They could have a Lionel Blair cut like mine lol that’s an incredibly English joke, apologies to international readers. Here’s a YouTube clip of the old beer ad I’m referring to. Enjoy

So that’s about it for now, I will endeavour to be back with you very shortly. I might post one of those acoustic demos for your approval. It also looks like I may be working with a funk/soul band in London doing some production. I’m very excited about that but I don’t have the details and it’s not concrete yet. I’ll let you know as soon as I can. take care everyone hope you enjoy the track and I’ll see you very soon.

Dan

 

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