A long lost rambler

This is my favourite picture by Modigliani,my favourite artist.I thought there should be some colour to liven up my dull post!


Well hello there. What can a boy say that ain’t been said between the lines already, when there is gaping holes and reams left unwritten?

Been too long since I last blogged and originally it was my best laid plan to properly document the evolution of our latest record. As ever though, my best intentions fall when there’s too many stars to clutch at at once.

I will, however, try to correct these mistakes both here and in the near future.

Recording has been going well, our first batch nearly finished and the single all but done. I think those faithful few of you that have weathered the storm of non-communication will be in for a treat when you hear what’s been brought to life in these last few months.

We’ve done five songs so far, all possible singles. Any of you that have kindly come to see us play over the last eight months or so may remember our opener ‘Up in Flames’ (toying with some brackets for this one)(I love song titles with brackets)(it’s like pass the parcel).Anyway ‘Up In Flames (What you gonna do?) is pretty much as modern Motown as you far as you can go has a killer piano riff and dancing strings akin to ‘This Ol’ Heart Of Mine’ by the Isleys. It’s almost exactly 3mins long.

Then we’ve got ‘White Russian Doll’ which for me is pretty much as close as you can get to my perfect Smiths/Northern Soul cross over. man, you should hear Mr Atkins and Rusty groove on this one. And then you should hear Ivor’s guitar tapestry. And then you should hear Ali’s multi layered sexy vocals. and that’s before for we get to the almost Baroque piano and strings (the best strings I’ve written, i reckon). Believe me, when you hear this, it’ll knock your socks off. It’s a dancer.

I think some previous bloggers have mentioned ‘Woah Billy!’ which I can revealwill be our next single.probably the biggest sound we’ve achieved so far and a big ballsy step forward for us. I’ll look forward to hearing what you’ve got to say about it.

What’s left? Oh yeah, ‘That’s When Trouble Begins’, which is quite west coast pop but also stomping in the chorus.’Probably the most straight forward pop we’ll get (good weird chords in the middle, mind).

And lastly ‘Upon Hilly Fields’ which is quite Neil Young and quite Wichita Lineman and quite Dirrrrrrty Old Town and immensely pretty and there’s newsflash in my chest and and what’s breaking is my heart ten times a minute.

So there’s my quick update,I expect us back in the Studio pretty damn soon to do the darker side of the album.

I think you’ll be pleased.This time we’ve tried to be a lot more direct, I’ve tried to write much better songs and everyone’s playing has improved ten-fold. When we started this, the intention was always to be classic and lasting and we’re some way towards that now.I don’t don’t really expect us to be cutting edge or particularly groundbreaking, but I do expect us to be brilliant and mean something to people.

Next time I’ll tell you about Brian Wilson’s strings, frozen rivers and Britney’s desk.

Lots of love from Andrew xxx