It is almost twenty months to the day that I first announced plans for a solo album. It wasn’t supposed to take this long but, as it kind of had the status of hobby (rather than “official next release”) it always took a backseat to label duties, touring and general admin. That last one is a bit of a shame, nothing should ever come below admin but for some reason everything always does.
Anyway, it’s finally finished. We recorded the last notes on Sunday, mixed it that night and the following day, mastered it the day after that. Now it’s off to the pressing plant. I’ll write a more soul-searching piece about the album nearer to the release (still TBC but definitely some time in early 2016). I wasn’t quite as fastidious about chronicling the recording process as I have been with Bedlam Six records but below are a few shots from the sessions.
Photos From The Bedlam Six Live Stream
It worked but very nearly didn’t. Our first web-stream, beamed live from WR Audio studios in Greater Manchester. We played to a smattering of friends in front of us and hundreds of invisible people watching via the internet, tweeting in their heckles using the #BedlamStream hashtag. The online audience contained residents of the UK, USA, Spain, France, Germany and Australia (possibly more, those are the ones that tweeted in), all being very patient as we grappled with a technology completely new to us. We couldn’t have done it without the help of Martina Nie, Kris Extance (from Sessions Of March), Chris Taylor (from NoiseBoy studios) and Andrew Ab. Also let’s not forget Felix Hagan who opened the show so brilliantly (keeping his head whilst all about him were losing theirs) and Ozzy the studio dog for invading the stage at every opportunity, predictably stealing the show.
Here are some photos from the night.
New Song/Video: The Stuff Of Archive
Here is another new track from the upcoming album Gentle Songs Of Ceaseless Horror (to be released in early 2016).
“The Stuff Of Archive” is the sparsest and most melancholy number on the record and needed a simple video to reflect that.
This is certainly the simplest video I’ve ever been involved in. Over the course of the single shot we are reacquainted with the three-shirted, long-coated hero/victim from “You Did This To Me” (this time on the coast of the Isle Of Skye, far away from his nightmare basement).
The song was produced by Biff Roxby (who also played tuba) and mastered by Dan Watkins at WR Audio. The video was shot by Bryony Anderson.
Here are the lyrics:
We are the stuff of archive not of history
The sea at high tide not the stones it leaves
Something said alone
But not done
I held my breath as I reached the shore
We owe this world one death and nothing more
Thought I was home
But I was wrong
When I heard which way you’d gone
I ran all the way
Give me old friends
Over young love any day
We are the stuff of archive not of history
Not the trees that grow high but the fallen leaves
You’re on my mind
All the time
When I heard which way you’d gone
I ran all the way
Give me old friends
Over young love any day
We are the stuff of archive not of history
The more we survive the less our lives mean
What would I do
Without you?
Bedlam Six Web Concert
The Bedlam Six finally join the twenty first century with our first full band web concert, live from WR Audio studios in Greater Manchester.
We’ll be trying out new material as well as old favourites (including a few dusted off numbers from the vault).
Felix Hagan will also be playing a few solo acoustic numbers to begin the event.
The event will be broadcast live on the Debt Records Streaming Page from 9pm on Wednesday 11th November.
If you’re in the Manchester/Salford area there are a few limited places to attend in person. Just message the label via their Contact page (or get in touch with me via mine) and we’ll let you know the whereabouts.
BYOB (and maybe your own chair too!).
New acoustic album: BEDLAM SOLO
A solo acoustic collection of songs drawn from Bedlam Six albums Found Drowned (2010), Get Religion! (2011), Memoir Noir (2012) and Youth (2014) is now available to buy/download/stream from my online store as a compact disc and digital download.
This simple stripped back release is possibly one for completists rather than casual consumers – there is precious little pomp and ceremony; no production gimmicks, sumptuous arrangements or clever edits.
It’s a bare bones acoustic album that offers a glimpse at how songs start out life before getting (lovingly) manhandled by a six piece rock band.
The recordings were made at WR Audio studios and engineered by Dan Watkins.
Cover photography is by Karen McBride.
Listen here: