Beau Peep Notice Board
Beau Peep Notice Board => Outpourings => Topic started by: Malc on December 26, 2014, 07:50:28 AM
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I didn't want to say anything before, you were all so jolly >:(
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What's up mate?
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He's saying what the rest of us, well me at any rate, are thinking.
364 days to go till it all happens again.
:(
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Well, while I sympathise with Malc's sentiment, I had a fine Christmas. There were eight of us around the dinner table and that's pretty much my entire family. My son's lovely partner had her own family commitments and couldn't make it and I do have a couple of (geographically) distant cousins but, basically, the whole Kettle clan was in attendance. That's probably why the occasion is less stressful for me---I don't have thirty siblings, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, aunts and uncles to shop for. Or even acknowledge. Hah!
Memories of loved ones, who are no longer around, are dealt with by an inward smile, followed by some warming drinks, a daft quiz game and lots of laughs. That's Christmas.
I was back at work today, writing some scripts about Colonel Escargot talking to his psychiatrist.
This may, or not be, significant...
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A number of years ago I made the decision to stop drinking, except for when I was on holiday in Crete for some reason, and since then my Christmas seems to mainly consist of picking up sober relatives in my car, waiting several hours and then dropping off drunken relatives, and this year was by that standard very pleasant, only one drunk to get home and that was a short walk [it would have been a lot shorter without the weaving].
My wife continues to make progress health wise so I am in a happy place until fate notices and makes it otherwise [insert sister-in-law joke of your own here]. Had a great time reading new [used] Beau Peep books, discovered I had omitted to purchase book 10 which I need to rectify, and got my regular big chunk of my Daughter's homemade Christmas cake which carries it's own "don't eat and drive" warning...awesome!
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I'm getting worse as I'm getting older. I'm back in Oz at the moment, spending quality time with my two lads here. Unfortunately it's apparent that they're very much doing their own thing, which is natural, though they did spare time to be with their old dad *snif* on Christmas Eve for dinner at the pub.
My oldest is in Bristol, and he made his way back to Kilmarnock to spend time with his mum for Christmas, but I wanted to make sure I was with these two here for this Christmas at least because the way things are going it might be the last we'll spend together for a while - the older one is now a 3rd year electrical apprentice and very heavily involved with his girlfriend and I can see an engagement on the horizon before too long. The youngest bemoans the fact that his brother and playmate isn't around so much these days, but he wouldn't mind a serious relationship either. Not that he's short of female company, judging by the occasional lovebites.
I'm planning to be back in the UK before too long, but at the moment I'm heavily into recording my album. I'm going to be a rock star, I've decided, probably target the indie market, as there's not much call for fat over 50s just breaking in to the biz.
But seriously, I'm recording tracks at the moment, and writing new ones as I go. I've had to force myself to do it by finding and booking a studio, and jumping in the deep end. I thought I'd get a bit of stick and be treated like a silly arse, but the guy I'm working with seems to dig what I'm doing and treats me with respect, so that's a bonus. It's a bit weird recording in the sub tropics, the heat is stifling, and I find it hard to concentrate on anything - music or drawing, but I'm putting it all down to life's rich tapestry. I'm changing my shirt twice a day on average, but last night there was a fantastic monsoon and the temperature dropped to a pleasant 15 degrees or so.
I know you lot are suffering freezing temperatures and snow, and I hate to over-egg this pudding, but I would rather be there. I don't mind rugging up to keep the cold out, but the house I'm staying in has no air conditioning, so I work with a ceiling fan and a pedestal fan blowing full blast to keep cool.
Australia is worse than the UK for Xmas. The bloody country stops at the beginning of December until the beginning of February, it seems as everybody shuts up shop - the TV goes into what they call the "non ratings period", in other words they put any old sh*te on until the competition starts again (for which they have to actually buy new shows).
These odd new faces start showing up to read the news whilst the regulars disappear for a month or more, and they're often better than the useless pr*cks who do the job most of the year. Australia has very much adopted the US attitude to TV, and it's riddled with personality-less coiffured grinning baboons.
Yesterday I drove past a shopping mall and there was a queue out the door waiting for the main supermarket to open. When the auto shutters went up, they flooded in like they'd been marooned on Mars for a year, the shops had only been shut for one day, and people were nearly weeping as they surveyed this cathedral of well stocked shelves and fresh fruit and veg.
I went to my usual coffee shop this morning after a two day hiatus, and it was like being let out of jail. Everything slowly getting back to a semblance of normality.
I have a very good friend who loves Christmas. She buys presents throughout the year when they're at bargain prices so she can fill stockings for her nearest and dearest which she stores for months, and by December 5th her house is like Santa's Grotto. Lights strung everywhere, tree decorated, bless her. Then after Christmas, when the decorations are all back in the loft, she goes into a state of depression for weeks. So who's REALLY got the healthy attitude, her or me?
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Malc, I'd love it if we could share even a snippet of your new album on here. I'm not asking for free downloads or anything---just a wee sample when you've got everything down as you want it. I wish you huge success and I'm both envious and delighted you took the step.
My pal, the rock star! Sounds good.
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It will be my pleasure :D
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And you should write the Queen's Christmas Speech next year.
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I would write it, but I doubt if she would, er .. . speech it.
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Malc, do you still have your recording of the song I wrote for you, "If You See Kaye"?
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I cancelled that project, owing to potential intellectual copyright conflicts. ;D
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Malc, do you still have your recording of the song I wrote for you, "If You See Kaye"?
;D ;D ;D
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Here's the rough mix of "Crossroads", hopefully you can all access it via Drop Box.
The final mix probably won't be for a few weeks as I'm keen to get onto other songs, and the tech/engineer likes to fiddle around with it on his own first and present me with his version. Then I get to "tweak".
Or, as usually happens, I change the whole damn thing.
So in this version all levels are wrong (vocals too high, bass not beefy enough) but have a listen.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/u44tsxi85juwicb/the%20Crossroads%2008.01.15.mp3?dl=0 (https://www.dropbox.com/s/u44tsxi85juwicb/the%20Crossroads%2008.01.15.mp3?dl=0)
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Superb stuff, Malc. Love the jangly treble of the guitars, reminded me a bit of Wilko Johnson in parts. Very impressive.
As a guy who's been playing guitar since age 12, I now feel it only fair to hate your obvious over abundance of talents.
Next dive, I'm staying down. >:(
Pst...more please. ;)
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Thanks Sandy, 12 seems to be the typical age for guitar players - me too.
In the final mix I'm determined to un-jangle the guitars a little, make the bass more bass-y, relegate my voice so it doesn't stick out like dog's balls and re-do the bass's introduction.
The engineer wanted to know what sound I was going for? I said "Neil Young". He said "you mentioned doing a couple of ballads too" I said, "yes, Neil Young again".
I wish I was Neil Young. Wilko is good too, mind.
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That's brilliant, Malc! The guitar work is superb. When you throw in the fact that you had the best cartoon in Private Eye this week, you have become seriously annoying.
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I'm tempted to send them another one
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Here's the rough mix of "Crossroads", hopefully you can all access it via Drop Box.
The final mix probably won't be for a few weeks as I'm keen to get onto other songs, and the tech/engineer likes to fiddle around with it on his own first and present me with his version. Then I get to "tweak".
Or, as usually happens, I change the whole damn thing.
So in this version all levels are wrong (vocals too high, bass not beefy enough) but have a listen.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/u44tsxi85juwicb/the%20Crossroads%2008.01.15.mp3?dl=0 (https://www.dropbox.com/s/u44tsxi85juwicb/the%20Crossroads%2008.01.15.mp3?dl=0)
I shall have to wait until Wednesday to download this as I am over 100% of my monthly limit so have been put on slow down. (I had three kids home over the holidays). As I am starting an online course on Monday for a new job it couldn't have happened at a worse time - I offered to pay them for twice to double the GB this month but they are not able to do that - "here's my money, I want to buy more of your GB" - No we can only sell our GB to people who haven't got them which is why we pay all this money to advertise to sell our GB- not to you they said. I find that ridiculous.
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It's madness. And in Canadia too . . .
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That tune's great, Malc. reminds me of an old Cream number.
(Mind you, I have to say the last time I fell over and banged my knee at the crossroads, I didn't make quite such a song and dance about it... As for trying to hitch a ride, someone should simply have called an ambulance)
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Yep - that'll do. Ink it in...
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I must say that was a lot more sounds than I was expecting from one person. How many instruments did you put in that piece? It's very clever how you can do one part on your own without hearing the other parts that you will do later.
That was just like a real professional number - well done Malc.
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Thanks Diane.
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I don't know if anyone ever watches the programme "Classis Albums" (that is if the abroad contingent can access get BBC 4), but it's a great programme. They always a have a short bit in it that goes through the mixing desk, and you get to hear some bits of the tracks as they were laid down. It is absolutely fascinating to hear it stripped back to separate channels and how it all comes together as a complete track.
Maybe it's just me, but if I were the BBC, I'd put out more programmes like that. Fascinating stuff.
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Yes, I love that programme.
The engineer bloke I'm working with will give you chapter and verse on all the classic albums, he seems to know what each musician did and when on every song since the sixties.
The Beatles first recorded on two track tape machines (in other words, two Beatles to each microphone, so to speak), and the resulting recordings are testimony to their talent, musicianship and hundreds of hours rehearsal. Then there are the newly released acapella tapes of Marvin Gaye and his flawless singing.
Those guys came up the hard way, and just as I can admire Ed Sheeran, the recording industry isn't replete with towering natural talent unaided by Autotune and echo chamber.
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http://youtu.be/byqTGIkmgAQ (http://youtu.be/byqTGIkmgAQ)
Try the above, Malc.
Not a huge fan of Adele, but what a voice. Don't know if it's really true acapella, as I suspect it's been done by software that lifts out the vocal track, but no matter, I think it's excellent. YouTube is great for vocal/guitar only stuff. There's a lot of Brian May guitar tracks split down as well.
I've always said that true talent is a basic thing. Give a guy/lassie and a piano/guitar and I'll gladly listen for hours. I actually went to see Ed Sheeran in concert, a few months back and didn't know what to expect. Phenomenal. His style was brilliant and I loved the looping. Great singer too, of course.
A lot of things I could give up in this life...music isn't one of them.
:)
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Adele is superb too, and to make a crass point - she's doing it without the sex tapes and bootie shots.
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Yeah.
Adele and Subo...keeping it real.
Thankfully.
;D