Progress on the album has been slow over the past few weeks, mainly due to the recent good weather meaning that more time has been spent trying to get our garden in shape. I have way too many projects on the go.
My MIDI keyboard also died a death a few weeks ago and it's taken me this long to get it fixed, which has delayed some of the keyboard tracks.
In the meantime, in desperation for some inspiration I picked up my old 12 string, threw some open chord janglings together. Em, C, G, A. A couple of hours later and I had the basis of a new track. Hoorah, writer's block is removed. Really pleased with how this is sounding. It's a like a cross between an Oasis track and Green Day. Very different to my usual stuff and not very prog like. Much more commercial which is good and bad.. In the process of recording the last two tracks, I seem to have developed a vocal style which I'm quite enjoying. This album is going to sound very vocally different to the last. Bit more hard edged and a touch more gravelly. The danger of course is lapsing into a Joe Cocker impersonation but I suppose there could be bigger crosses to bear.
As well as having fun with the singing I've rediscovered the joy of a guitar I haven't played for about 2 years or so, namely my Epiphone Dot. This grumpy instrument refuses to stay in tune for more than 20mins at a time but when it's finally in the zone, it sounds fabulous. It's the only electric I've played where you can happily play open string chordings with an overdriven sound and don't get lost in the mush.
I've given it a starring role in the this latest track. Also making a return is the sound of the Hammond courtesy of NI's amazing B4 II. I've got the modulation wheel to trigger the virtual 'Leslie' and it's all sounding very Jon Lord.
So onwards and upwards.... I hope to have this one cracked by the weekend. I think I need about 3 more tracks to complete the album.
I'm also thinking about posting up one of the tracks on here to give a taste of what's coming........
