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The Audiophile Strikes Back - great moments in making a Stormcellar album.

Howdy Folks.

It's been an interesting time. I find myself attempting to muster the better angels of my nature when negotiating with people of good will.

I am learning to assert myself in a positive way.

Here's a helpful diagram.

Now there are many things I would like to object to George Lucas about

but I don't think I can blame him for his DDS tape units.

We recorded the Kansas City stuff on Ex-Skywalker Sound units and I think they may have an almost unique sonic characteristic.

How can a digital system have a unique sonic characteristic? Well you got me stumped there. Maybe it's the compression. Why dont we ask Darth Audio?

'Cellar dwellers from way back might know of the disasters we had with Analogue on our Spacejunk EP. Great sound but the machines ran at variable speeds (LOL, here's a flashback video, back when phone cameras weren't HD OOH ANTIQUE!)

We used a combo of 1/2 inch and 1 inch tape. The tape was old stock, it disintegrated, particles just showered off it as we hit playback. We had to re-record half of it back in the studio. DISASTER!!

BUT! The best take of Sweet Misery, with all that glorious AIR was one take that made it. Oh how good it was.

Yep, we're OK with Disaster.

So now it's Off to the Manual and maybe a call to some Old Nerds. Heh. I shall consult the Tech Elders.

Let the listening begin - reviewing the Kansas City recordings.

Howdy Folks. We had a very pleasant evening at the Kiama Jazz & Blues Fest with some good friends, cheers to Gubby, Ross and JF.

Today, Fedex arrived with:

Yep, the Kansas City recordings are finally here.

There's been quite some contention regarding these files as it's the first album where someone else has mixed our songs without our input.

As point man on this, I have to say it's been...interesting.

Even more interesting will be the results from the listening sessions that will occur independently as each of the 'cellar fellers listens and makes notes.

At least that's how we did it for the last 7 Albums, reviewing and tweaking the tracks well before the final mix and certainly well before the 'mastering'.

In this case we've been presented with someone-elses final vision of our work. A most peculiar outcome.

That's not to say it's necessarily a bad outcome, but there may very well be some artistic choices that the band would not have made and that's going to prove...interesting.

Over the years we have established our own preferences, and there's nothing wrong with that. Nor is there anything wrong with trying something different, but that's up to us. Not anyone else.

I truly wonder how this is all going to pan out.

Never boring in the stormcellar that's fer sure :-) I'll know more in a few days when the gentlemen have reviewed and responded.

Yikes!

Breaking News - SEAL TEAM X rescues Stormcellar Album from Wild Tribesmen of Kansas

We might be the first band to actually have our album rescued by a genuine Navy SEAL. Thank you Mr X, whoever you are.

I'd like to tell you more of the story of the Kansas City Album, but sadly it's classified.

I could tell you but then I'd have to erase your mind

OMG thris is thrilling and exciting. What's gonna happen next?

The best solo's aren't always on the record - some bootleg stormcellar

Howdy Folks.

One of the things I dig is that I get to listen to guide tracks whilst songs are being worked on. that's awesome.

We record a lot of the guides but theres a strict vow of secrecy. What goes on at rehearsal stays at rehearsal, because, well, you need the safety to fail sometimes. And that can be awkward.

but then there are those times when you accidentally do something cool and no one is around to witness it :-)

We were jamming on something with a Canned Heat vibe, but on this day, some time back. Rosie nailed a solo in style and i got a crappy recording of it, but we listen to it in wonder. For example, I wonder how he's going to repeat that when we record it.

LOL

I made a vid.