It's all too much - or - I need a brain

'scuse the stressed, verbose, typed (and probably misspelt), mental disgorgement hereafter.

I am one. One. and not a very conscientious one either. I keep making awful decisions: like blogging - or rather multiple blogging. One blog I could cope with. Two, maybe. But I have three on blogger, two on sites I belong to, and another two for the band. I say 'the band', but as the band was originally just me I guess they're mine too. Definitely, as nobody else seems interested in taking them over. And the thing about blogs is that they contain personal writing. Not, I'm sure, that in the grand scheme of things the writing is in the slightest bit worthy. But it's mine, and some of it is mildly amusing. To me at any rate.

So what on earth do I do with them all? Merging them would seem ideal, but there's another problem rears its ugly head: personas. I'm me here, but in two of them I write under a different name. So who am I? And who cares?

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Web Sites! I was told the other day that the Kamakura site was old fashioned and needed sorting. what type of sorting it needed wasn't forthcoming. Slag me off if you want to, but at least give me some idea of why. old fashioned just doesn't cut it. What does it mean? The site didn't have a tweed background, and there wasn't even a hint of an aspidistra anywhere in sight.

So I've put up a temporary site instead. From it you can visit one of the many blogs, buy the album, and contact us. One day - sooner rather than much later - there will be a proper site in its place. One day. Then I have another couple of sites to update, too.

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After the artwork problems were sorted out earlier today the album - Dealing With Liquids - is being replicated. Probably as I type. I can't wait, and though I know the material too well to want to listen to it again I am drooling to slip a real honest to goodness replicated CD into the player. There could well be other bodily fluids involved too! ;)

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I'm away to slip under the duvet and fly off to dreamland. Night y'all.

Struggle

It's a bloody struggle, that's what it is at the moment. Too much to do and neither the hours in the day nor the drive to get it all done. Frankly, I don't know what's come over me (no lewd jokes please). I seem to have drifted off into a headspace that is ruled by 'Meh'. I used to be full of get up and go but it's leached away into a mental subsoil ... which is crazy!

All the excuses under the sun can't detract from the fact that we now have a finished master ready to be replicated and sold. It is what we've always wanted. What we've always dreamed of. Yet no we have it I can't get it together to finished the artwork and send it off.

I've got through all the other stuff you have to do to release a CD. Joined the PPL, got ISRCs for the tracks. Hunted around and got a distribution deal with CDBaby.com. Yet the last step is proving the hardest.

On reflection it's more than likely that I din't want to do it because it'll mean I then have no excuse ... and what happens if it's actually crap? I know it isn't. Actually, I know it's not just good, it's very good. But then what?

So you have a CD .... Then you have to make people aware of it and get them to buy a copy - and that is the process I'm terrified of. I'm not, and never have been, a salesman: it's just not in my nature. We need a manager and we need an agent to get us gigs. NOW!

#Heartfelt sigh#

Ah well, I'm sure it'll all be okay in the end. Or, as Mick says, "It's always darkest before dawn."

Ave all.

'Dealing With Liquids' is mastered!

Finally we have a master, and I can honestly say that it's good!

I've been in awe of Pink Floyd ever since I first heard 'Dark Side of the Moon' back in my sister's flat when I was a teen. 'Wish You Were Here' is probably the most influential album I've ever heard. So it was with utter delight that I found www.tubemastering.com. Tube Mastering's Andy Jackson is one of Dave Gilmour's engineers and a bloody brilliant mastering engineer. I know this because we now have an album he's mastered, and it's so much better than any of the mixes we attempted to master. Crystal clarity and fidelity at even the quietest volume.

It's true that if you master yourself it saves money. But I think that it's a false economy, especially if it's your first album. The one niggle I had was that we couldn't attend the session and had to trust he'd be true to the material. But it didn't matter. The result is amazing. Okay, so that's a personal opinion. :)

Now we have to get the artwork finished and the replication dealt with.

Final Push

Fingers crossed, this week sees the end to the recording. We've got all the tracks at the 'close to final mix' stage and now it remains to get us all together and tweak them.

Then it's off to the mastering house ... which, no doubt, is going to cause yet another row. Mastering is expensive, but vital. Yet who do you go to? I quite like the sound of 'Streaky'. I don't know him - but he has mastered for Kasabian. Then there's 'Swift'. I don't know them either. It's all bit of a lottery.

The title - at present - is 'Dealing With Liquids.' Don't ask me why, it's Mick's idea - though it's growing on me. The cover is close to done. All except the blurb for the inside. And then there's the question of lyrics. Do people still like to read lyrics?

Then we have to get the IRSC track numbers and find a good place to have the CDs replicated. It's going to be hideously expensive but worth it!

Wave & stuff

Google's Wave has kicked off with a limited public trial of 100,000 people who can each invite 5 others to join up. Not that you'll have a lot of success, but if you want to ask for an invitation then click the title link above to apply. It looks like the future of interactive communication and collaboration is finally here! Or so Google say.

'Piece of the Heat' is sounding bloody brilliant, thanks to Mick's hard work and my whining at him when he gets carried away. I think - yes, occasionally I do - that he is going to be a seriously sought after producer once the album is released.

Cheers all,

Nick

Mick's ill. :(

Poor Mick. After flogging all the way over to the studio by train and bus I had to drive him home after only an hour. He's running a temperature and had a headache that was verging on migraine. Since he was in London on Tuesday I can only keep my fingers crossed that it isn't bloody swine flu ... and, if it is swine flu, that I haven't got it.

Oh yeah, on the way home I was listening to radio four who were saying that: those in the know reckon that the second phase of the swine flu pandemic has just kicked off. So, that's cheery, then! ;)

Recording News

The recording of the album, which, to me had seemed as slow as a fly caught in amber, has, over the last week, sped up incredibly. We now realise that we have some really good tracks, and because of that we have extra super-duper added impetus to get it finished. I know that it's easy for me to say they're good, but in fact, and without hubris, they actually are. Damn good. Fucking good, even. ;)

I'm totally psyched!

A fresh start!

So ... it appears that I've neglected this blog for four years. 4 YEARS!!! *Nick looks askance and wonders if he's entirely lost his marbles* I almost can't believe it, but knowing myself and my skittish flibbertigibbet nature, I suppose I'm not too shocked.

The last thing we did in 2005, was play the Pestalozzi Festival, in Sussex. That gig was supposed to be the start of a tour, but it was not to be. At the time we didn't have a manager, or the knowledge of how to push ourselves as an Independent act. We still don't have a manager, but we do now have the knowledge to get cracking!

We've written a lot of new material, and are in the final stages of recording our first album. Though we are still debating its name I can say we are releasing both on physical CD, and digital download through our own label and CD Baby.

Mick is also going to be adding to the blog on a regular basis.

Back in the land of the the hoity toity

I've just spent the weekend in Yorkshire, land of my 'roots', celebrating my Aunt's 90th Birthday.
She is remarkable, still as bright as a button and with a memory that puts mine to shame.
The cousins had organised a real family get together with 45 people. They were amazed that the southern contingent (Suki, Ben and I) actually bothered to come, and I was amazed that I recognised so many of them, since I hadn't seen most in 20 years.
Getting to know Ben was great too. Strange to have a nephew who is 29 and you don't really know. Now I do, and thoroughly approve.
To cap it all Suki put me in touch with Mike who I hadn't seen in 10 years. Good stuff.
I feel like the wind has blown Mary Poppins in the window.

A bit of a do

I've finally converted the Global Fusion Gig to MP3's. All 11 tracks are now up for aficionado's to peruse... So that would be me then.

Now all I have to do is choose the best song and create a video for it from... erm... a static wide shot. Could be interesting (Why did I ever leave the film industry? Why didn't I start performing 20 years ago? Oh foolish man).

The plan (or so I'm told) is to get an agent to find us gigs. Good idea! Let's give a total stranger 10% because we're all worried about picking up the phone. I must find some balls... Hmm.

My determination for the next year is to play Glastonbury, and Jools Holland. I also want to tour europe. I shall do this.

There's nothing like a positive mental attitude, unless of course you happen to be mental, in which case buy thorazine... I can't find a thorazine shop in the yellow pages.

The cage

The cage of life surrounds us all,
From kingly court to shanty town,
The debts we owe no matter what,
Are burdens none the less.

Yet we strive to better live,
The western mind a mortgage bid,
The car, the house, the credit cards:
Whilst children elsewhere starve.

Is it fair? Well no it’s not,
But frankly we all have our lot:
The bills to pay, the boss to please;
Often on bended knee.

Would I change? Would I fuck!
I don’t want to live in old mud huts.
Bulldozed down by tyrant lunes,
In far off sunnier climes

I want to live the life I want,
B&Q paint on prefabbed crap,
Gawking at Big Brothers shite,
A couch potatoes feeble cry!

I’m not happy, I’m not sad,
I’m just pissed off fucking mad,
Lets face facts, if we don’t change now:
We are all of us going to die!

Sooner rather than later.

The beginning is nigh

It's whatever time it is, and in ten minutes I am leaving to go to a final rehearsal and then the GIG.

God knows what happens then. Back to reality I suppose. It's meant to be fun... A laugh. Why is it then that I feel like I'm off for a date with Madame Guillotine! Odd that.

Also it's damn hot and I'm sweating, though I'm not sure if it's from the heat or nerves.

Fingers and other bits crossed.

A Band is a damn good thing

Today for the first time I played with the complete band, had a small glimpse of what my music could be and ended up one very happy man.
Though I can't honestly say we're ready for this gig (even with a year's rehearsal with a full band I'd probably have reservations) I can say we're going to give it out best and it should blow a few people away.
I still can't quite work out why all these people are doing this. It can't be for the money.
None the less, playing is the ultimate legal high. So glad I can partake.
The only slight downer is that my strumming hand is hurting. Hopefully with some TLC it'll be better by Friday.

Ego's Suck

'nuff said.

Another day...

Another full rehearsal, with some dreadful blunders, yet all in all 'it' is getting there. Mick fixed his Sound Canvas (dry Joint) and I have decided to use a kazoo rather than Harmonica on 'Train'... Possibly?
One of the festival organisers want me to send a stage plan. Hah! Oh, and they can't find the contract.
I'm getting a stye, which has to be stress... Or nerves... Or possibly terror. And, and it's all for one hours 'something'... Then what?
Tomorrow David joins in. Oh joy.
Bed.

Light at the end of the tunnel?

A huge weight off my mind now I've told Grant about the KTwins no go. He, friend that he is, has been totally understanding. I would probably have pouted and moaned a lot.
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Having now rehearsed every day for the last week I can finally see where it could go, and it's starting to get exciting.
We have a set of eleven songs, which are pretty much the way I want them...
The only problem with intense rehearsal with just a keyboard player, is that when the full band gets together the dynamic is going to change, especially with a drummer (can't wait). On the one hand this is good, but from the POV that we only have the one full 'in studio' rehearsal, and the gig is in a week, it is frightening me a little.
The gig cometh all too soon.
What I am determined to do is carry on afterwards. I love playing live... After the event I can't wait to do it again, it's just the angst leading up to it I hate.
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The set list in running order:
Love song
Sincerity machine
Piece of the heat
Train
Gin or Ginseng
Life
Blonde Hair
Sally
Spring of Teal
Superman
Friends of the Earth

White Rabbit

No time, No time.
From worrying about no work I'm now panicked because not only is there work, but I have to rehearse as well. Getting home at ten and vegging out to a meal and the tube is not condusive to a happy fufilled life methinks.
I've finally plucked up the courage to tell my twin I can't perform with him. He's going to be mad, but I'm only a bear with a small brain.
The rehearsals are going OK. Some nights are unfortunately better than others. I can't let it be a random roll of the dice, it's just got to get better day on day. The set now seems solid, and works, which is good... Now if I can only remember the lyrics...
My 'piece' in the local rag came out. I've been told I look like 'Donovan'. Pah.
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Three nights ago I hit a Badger on the top road. I stopped and went to look, but it had vanished. I only hope that he/she is ok, though I can't truthfully believe it. Even though I slammed on the brakes I must have been doing 35mph.
I keep thinking I should have done something else. If I'd have swerved and run off the road I would have trashed the car, but it only cost £230, which is less than the vets bills might have been.
Poor Badger.

Too much

It's all too much.
I finally get a chance to do something I've been dreaming of doing forever and a day, and I'm terrified... Or am I just stupid? Moot point really. I either do or I don't. If I don't I'll regret it until the day I die and look like a total cunt to boot: If I do I'll probably peg out from the stress. I think it's called Hobson's choice. Fuck Hobson.
Hey ho. Bring on the stress.

Old New Labour Anew - Again

Once more into the breech... Though given a fair method of voting (proportional representation) the political landscape would be very different, you can only admire the front that is the chimeric Tony/Gordon beast. All hail the beast I say. Or should it be 'better the beast you know'?
Having voted for the 'nice' party I can't say I expected to be on the winning side, though given the choices on offer with UKIP being the only 'outsider' on offer, nice was the only path to wander. The alternatives I might have gone for such as the 'Official Monster Raving Luny Party' or 'The Green Party weren't on offer. Damn shame that.
I do feel a tad sorry for Michael Howard. Poor. poor chap. Fangs for the memories.
Hey ho.

A New Pope

Well there it is. We have a 78 year old Benedict XVI. And will he be a wise and worldy man? Nope (it rhymes). Though I'm sure he is wonderful if you know him personally, and probably blind enough not to question discrepancies in the petty cash, I very much doubt he really knows what goes on in the real world. Certainly if he continues in the conservative mean of John Paul II and carries on forbidding the use of condoms he will be doing the planet no favours.

"Dear brothers and sisters after the great Pope, John Paul II, the cardinals have elected me, a simple and humble worker in the Lord's vineyard."

Does the Lord really consider Earth a Vineyard I wonder?