Tuesday 14 July 2009

To the Moon and Back

Time for another update.

The new album is shaping up in odd directions. I had planned this to be another concept album but I'm finding my current inspiration for tunesmithery is taking me all over the place. In the last couple of weeks, I've also managed to pen two fairly commercial sounding tracks which are really on the boundaries of what can be considered Prog. For one they are both too short at a radio friendly 3minutes each. Rather than try and remain a purist I think it's better to get this stuff out there.

'To the Moon and Back' was one of those magical song writing moments where you get hit by a chord phrase in your head. An hour later and I'd worked the whole song out. 8 hours later and it was recorded. I wish they could all be this quick.! I also got to borrow a gorgeous Ovation 12 string electroacoustic which sounds fabulous and takes centre stage on the track. The original idea came out of watching all the media coverage on the 40th Anniversary of the Moon Landings. I saw a piece on Neil Armstrong and how the vision of the earth from the moon had altered his life completely, maybe not necessarily in a good way.

'Heard you were going' is a bit of a dour pastiche of 'San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)' by Scott McKenzie written by John Phillips of The Mamas and Papas fame. Again I'm not sure it should be on this album, on account it sounds a little too 'Country Rock ' but it's cynicism should be fitting with the album's dark theme.

'The Dark that follows the Light' is going to be a full on Prog epic . I've promised myself it must be at least 15min long and will have some wierd and wonderful Jon Anderson 'lyrical nonsense' themes. Much work to do here.

Overall recording progress so far:

- La Iglesia - Done
- Sins of the Father - Done
- In the Sea - Done
- Evolution Railroad - Done
- To the Moon and Back - Done
- Heard you were Going (San Francisco) (WORKING TITLE)
- Who will you serve - More song writing/recording to do on this
- The Dark that follows the Light - More song writing/recording to do on this