Mar
I was looking back through some old notes, lyrics and stuff on my iPad and found this photograph which was taken in Glasgow Central train station just before the train left for London and my first trip to West Heath Yard. Alongside the picture were some words…
Where to begin? Let’s start here, now, at Glasgow Central…
My first train journey in over ten years and I’m off down to West Hampstead, London to make a record at West Heath Yard Studio with Edwyn Collins.
I am very anxious about the whole thing because all I have is a bunch of songs, a lump in my throat and my bass guitar. I have no idea where this journey will end, who’ll be helping along the way, questions, questions, questions… I feel exactly the same as I did going back to school on that first day after the summer holidays - walking through those rusty old gates, new shoes, tie straight, head full of wonder and excitement… upward and onwards.
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
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