Feb
Just me sitting at home in Argyll on a very rainy Wednesday singing If I Had Wings…
Feb
Progress Report
The world of Linden is swimming along very nicely at the moment - all pretty boring back room stuff and not worth going in to too much detail (mostly mastering and artwork kinda stuff). But with each new task complete, we get one step closer to the release of the album and even although it’s been pissing down for days in Argyll my happy mood will not be shaken… Hello Bleached Highlights, piss off rain!!
Feb
To Whom It May Concern
To Whom It May Concern at BBC Radio Scotland,
Why have you decided to axe The Janice Forsyth Saturday Morning Radio Show - one of only a couple of programmes that broadcast music during the day - a show that regularly plays and supports artists from across the Scottish music scene (both old and new)?
I love my local radio station, I love the balance it has between music, news, sport and chat and am a regular daytime listener but please, please, please do not sacrifice a wonderfully eclectic music and chat show for yet even more sport on a Saturday - The Janice Forsyth Show is a welcome break amongst the sports shows already being broadcast throughout Saturday. How much sport can a nation take!?!
Please let me know where to send my next demo tape for your consideration as I love having my music played on my national radio station - always a proud moment in my house…
Yours Faithfully, Joe McAlinden (musician and sports fan).
Feb
First Podcast on Mixcloud
Sitting in rural Argyll listening to a few tunes that felt good on the First of February Two Thousand and Twelve - something old, something new, nothing borrowed, something blue - all 12 tracks compiled to form my first ever Cloudcast (so I’m told!). There’s a bit of Gil, Love, Dennis, The Mary Chain and plenty more all lifted from the vaults of the McAlinden private collection. Have a wee listen xx.
Jan
decisions decisions
I’m back home in Argyll now having finished mixing all of Bleached Highlights and it’s the first time I’ve been able to listen to all ten songs back to back. I now have to sort the running order of the album for Monday so that AED can push on with manufacturing. I’m really struggling trying to put these songs in an order that feels good for vinyl (five tracks each side) and also works for compact disc. Maybe I should do two!!
Jan
Mix diary two
Ok, so we’re half way through Thursday and we’ve just managed to finalise the mix on Home From Home. It sounds pretty great… One song - sea shanty to pop in three movements.
Next on the list - Round And Round - a track on which I play the Wurlitzer, bass and do a bit of singing, Mr Cook is on drumming duties and James Walbourne completes the trio on guitar. It’s a tidy sound.
I’ll let you know how we get on…
Jan
Mix diary one
Now back at Edwyn’s relaxing after a busy day in the studio.
We made good progress, mixing two and a half tracks - I Just Wanna Be Here (when I’m somewhere else), Bleached Highlights and Home From Home. In the morning hopefully the half track will become one after a few tweaks and a listen with fresh ears - it’s all sounding pretty great in my humble opinion and everyone seems more than happy with the results so far.
On the way home we stopped off for some pizza and are now sitting with a glass of red watching outtakes from Curb Your Enthusiasm… It’s a tough life.
Jan
Last night I flew down from Argyll to join Edwyn and Seb at West Heath Yard in London to help finalise the mixes for Bleached Highlights. So far we’ve finished Written, I Just Wanna Be Here(when I’m somewhere else), Bleached Highlights… And a half-price box of Family Circle biscuits! Our aim is to get all ten tracks done and dusted by close of play on Friday. Good luck studio xx
Jan
Bleached Highlights - The Final Mix
Work will begin in earnest this coming Monday on the final few mixes for Bleached Highlights…
Edwyn and Seb will start mixing on Monday and by the end of the week hopefully Bleached Highlights will be complete. Tracks include Brown Bird Singing, If I Had Wings, There’s Something About You, Name, I Just Wanna Be Here(When I’m Somewhere Else), Written, Home From Home, Something Wonderful, Round & Round and Bleached Highlights.
When we finished the recording process in December, I decided not to bring any rough mixes back home to Argyll so you have no idea how excited I am to hear these tracks all over again… lots of guitars, vocals, bass, drums, saxophones, strings, harmonies, rhodes, pianos, melodies and the West Heath magic of Jackson Gold & Edwyn Collins…
I’ve fallen in love with music all over again xx
Jan
Let’s begin
Over the next few months and during the build up to the release of Bleached Highlights this site will grow and grow as I plan to keep you up-to-date with all developments in camp Linden. This is a very exciting time for me as I have a single out just now, an album thats almost finished being mixed, some fabulous Jim Lambie artwork and track of the month for January 2012 on BBC Radio Scotland… God bless music xx.
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