Lost Friends and B Side Vol 2
Round 2 here we go. It wasn't supposed to be like this, I was supposed to make significant progeess on Lives Part 3, but everyone apart from me went on holiday. I wasn't even planning on putting another collection together this year at least, but then after a significant part of my holiday had gone I looked at what I had and realised I was 2 songs short of of an album. Moreover the songs I had been working on were quite synthy. I rummaged through the folders and found the final two tracks to work on to stay on theme and here we are.
7 Days (Live, but not quite live version) - This is one of the first pop songs I ever wrote and sang on. It's been in the live set since I've been playing live and over the years has mutated into a completely different beast (well I think it has). Listening back to the original I can hear how unconfident I was as a singer and how much I loved putting reverb and delay on everything. I still love putting reverb and delay on everything, but I'm a bit more spartan with its use. One of my favourite songs I've ever done.
Terror House - The Terror House is building in Budapest which is part museum, part art installation all about the occupation of Hungary from 1944 (by the Germans) till 1991 (By the Russians). It was a sobering experience, the last room was called the Hall of Collaberators (I think), it was quite a site. In it was a giant map of central Europe with Hungary in the middle, on the map was a large selection of pins with string attached to them. At the other end of the string was a laminated biography of someone who worked for the Russians during the occupation, it had a picture, a description of what they did and an address of where they currently lived. I knew there was a song there somewhere.
Stealth Bomber (Remix) - Another oldie from the Tripple Point State Album. I was going to do a remix project under the name of Tokyo Sexwhale (great name I know) a few years ago, but never got round to finishing it, a couple of the tracks on this collection are what's left of that project. I really like this song but was never pleased with any of the results from that album really, so I thought I'd have another go. A lot happier with this version, which, I think, retains the spirit of the the original whilst improving upon almost every aspect of it.
Douglas Adams (feat Bainy) - So this is an interesting one, back in the 2000's I was in a number of bands as guitarist one of the bands I was in had a lovely chap by the name of Stephen Bain, we recorded a few tracks for the band we were in and then I asked him to sing on a track I had recorded, title as of yet undetermined. We recorded his vocals and thought nothing of if. The track was quite guitary and rocky. Then one bored weekend I thought I'd try and remix it into something completely different. This is the result, it's way better than the first version and like nothing like either of us had done previously. I sent it to him just before I finished this album and asked if he was happy for me to use it, he was, as he should be.
Brand New Day - This started out as curious old beast a song with lyrics I'm very pleased with. The contrast of the happy chorus with generally miserable verses is a favourite device of mine. The music took quite a bit of work, it was pushing the 8 minute mark at one point, you'll be pleased to hear I chopped out all the rapping (not by me, but still.) and tried experimenting with some new software on the backing vocals, add to that a brand new third verse and here we are.
Movement - This was going to be part of the second Runciter album. the original has Laura from Runciter giving it a decent go, however all I had was a poorly record MP3 of that version so I basically had to start again from scratch. From a music point of view I wanted to see if I could succesfully transition from electronic to live instruments, quite pleased with that. The lyrics remind of a specific time in my life when this seemed to be my favourite topic. A misery time capsule if you like.
Test Pilot - I left the UK in 2020 (yes right in the middle of Covid) for, of all places, China. This is song about how it felt to move half way round the world and be to speak without any of the language and still be able to communicate reasonably effectively. Four years I was there, goodness me.
Great Sound - So this is one that didn't quite make it on the Rock, Pop and Misery album. Supposed to slot in at the end of the rock section with a deliberate change half way through from rock to electro to merge nicely with the next section of the album. We decided to go with something more prog and over the top, it felt right. Going back to this was quite a task, I had to re-record all the guitars, which meant trying to work out what FX I'd used 20 years ago and work out what Joff had played on the original. Took a while but this version is way better put together than the first time out. Used play this live for a time as well. We knew how to clear a room and no mistake.
Hardware - Now this a very old one. Meant to go on Triple Point State, it was an experiment in programming all of my hardware synths and drum machines and just setting them off and recording them all at once and seeing what happens. This aparently.
The Lost Fade - Two things about this track, the drums and percussion and the lyrics. This one took a while because of the drums, they took ages, lots and lots of percussion left right and centre. I wanted to sort of make sound like the biggest drum section on the planet. Moderately succesful I would say. The lyrics I binned and wrote again from scratch. Wanted to do something about seeing an object or memento from a holiday of previous relationship and what positive memories that could spark. The majority of us on planet Earth are able to look back on past experiences and say smile whilst thinking "You complete idiot".
As per usual this last bit is all about the gear I used making this. It'll probably be quite vague because I've sold a load of it and a load is sitting in a loft in Nottingham.
Fender, PRS, Cort & Charvel electric guitars.
Ibanez, ESP & Yamaha bass guitars.
Yamaha & Ozarc acoustic guitars.
SE electronic & UAD microphones.
Line 6, Fractal audio & mooer FX
Dave Smith, Oberhiem, EMU, Access, Make Noise, Bastl, Korg, Roland, Benringer, IK Multimedia, Novation, Ashun, Modal, Walforf, Plankton Electronics synths.
Recorded using RME audio interfaces in Cubase.
Mastered in Wavelab.
I used a ton of plug ins over the years so just go with Arturia and Plugin Alliance for the majority with a special shout out to Rapid by Parawave, what a lovely synth that is.
Till next time
Rich
09/2025