31.3.05
30.3.05
24.3.05
"TALK TO ME"
In the continuing efforts to make the Hypefactor record even more perfect, our bassist, Charles, brought his sweet rig to the cage last night to tighten up LENINGRAD like it was no one's business. It's not the easiest song, and we had some weird digital difficulties, but by the time the night was over, we had his parts recorded. We still have some more work to do with him, but it's worth the effort cause he, like Robin and Ash did at the writing stage, really brings the material up to a new level. Kudos and much appreciation to Mr. Chas.
Despite cockteased appearances by the drummer and the photographer, neither lady showed, but Chaminade's answer to a gay Bill and Ted, Mattagement and Ash braved the harsh weather to keep us company as well. And welcome company they were. Sadly, little Nine Inch Nails was dicussed, but Revenge Of The Sith is a topic we are all on the same page for at the moment. IM me if you need to know the whole Sifo Dyas thing...
Also, I, for the record now state in front of you all that I am begging you Ash to put some of the Ass Cobra vocal auditions as hidden tracks on the final CD. PLEASE. Priceless. Talk to ME, indeed.
Anyway, some HF tracks are going out for mixes EARLY NEXT WEEK, (Brandt). People are anxious to mix. I like the enthusiasm. I'm still keeping the mixers as a surprise..for now.
In the meantime, I am happy to say I secured our next remix gig today. Now, I know I said I was going to stay clear of all things industrial in my remixing future after the Saintface one I am on at the moment, but an opportunity was brought to my attention by Brandt that I just had to go after. Well, it's set. More soon on this, but we're remixing a classic band. the aggression had a small, but pivitol connection to this band around the time of the first album. All will be revealed, soon...
F
Despite cockteased appearances by the drummer and the photographer, neither lady showed, but Chaminade's answer to a gay Bill and Ted, Mattagement and Ash braved the harsh weather to keep us company as well. And welcome company they were. Sadly, little Nine Inch Nails was dicussed, but Revenge Of The Sith is a topic we are all on the same page for at the moment. IM me if you need to know the whole Sifo Dyas thing...
Also, I, for the record now state in front of you all that I am begging you Ash to put some of the Ass Cobra vocal auditions as hidden tracks on the final CD. PLEASE. Priceless. Talk to ME, indeed.
Anyway, some HF tracks are going out for mixes EARLY NEXT WEEK, (Brandt). People are anxious to mix. I like the enthusiasm. I'm still keeping the mixers as a surprise..for now.
In the meantime, I am happy to say I secured our next remix gig today. Now, I know I said I was going to stay clear of all things industrial in my remixing future after the Saintface one I am on at the moment, but an opportunity was brought to my attention by Brandt that I just had to go after. Well, it's set. More soon on this, but we're remixing a classic band. the aggression had a small, but pivitol connection to this band around the time of the first album. All will be revealed, soon...
F
20.3.05
Black By Popular Demand
For the record, not only do I not agree with Ash's "parody" comment below (and by the way, Mister Repeato posted it 3 times and I had to edit them down), I find myself loving the NIN single more and more. Some will agree. Ash will of course compare it to something he believes to be a part of "popular music", which will give me a good laugh (I.e. comparing Johnny Marr to Aerosmith), when Ash should embrace the fact that he is blissfully ignorant of current commercial trends (or maybe, like Dan Hamill, that's a clever ruse and we're just a bunch of suckers). Embrace ignorance goddammit, it's one of the reasons you actually write and play good music. I also find Ash's comments Ironic, though don't take that to mean I think he is a parody in any way shape or form. If anything, I find him too progressive for his own good ;-)
Meanwhile, in the musical world, momentum is slowly gained on the Hypefactor record. Mixers have been chosen, deals are being made and Brandt is prepping the mix files. Like most of my favourite bands as of late, part of the HF record will be finished in Los Angeles, CA, which ironically, is where the bulk of the record was arranged (well, mostly on planes to and from L.A.) and is where the lyrics were mostly written. I still have a slim hope another mixer, my dream mixer, will take a crack at some of these tracks, but scheduling poses a supposed problem. I call it "pussbomb". Yeah, you heard me!
The last piece of the puzzle will be resolved this Wed when Mr. Charles makes his long awaited return to the again re-arranged Bridcage to lay his bass styles over the last of the HF songs. As I believe I have written before, it was decided awhile ago to have him come in and replace the rest of the rythmn bass to give the record some consistancy. The album, as written is a bass mess in that most of the basslines were performed by either myself, Ash or Robin. Sometimes there are up to three different bassists in one song! Charles can take all that good stuff and make it great and consistant. The record needs that. Plus, he does a super job and he makes me laugh. This is a pre-requisite.
In other news, I again ran into the drummer the other day on my corner. She makes me laugh too. Love her.
Meanwhile, with Brandt in the kitching prepping the mixes, the main studio was wide open, so I'm currently filling it working on the remix I was born to do: Saintface's HAND ON MY HEART. Easily one of my favourite Saintface songs ever, I have been chomping at the bit to remix this for awhile. I've been seeing Peter quite a bit lately, and he was finally able to get the parts together. I've been doing a lot of industrial remixes of late (Implant, Chemlab) so to have the chance to do a remix for something not only non-industrial, but for my favourite band has really re-energized me. It's coming along really well, and I'm dead excited for this. Possiboy too excited as I went and found Peter yesterday to tell him about it. Sleepy from having played a gig in Boston the night before, he said to me "dude, don't tell me, let me be surprised". However, I think he is excited as well. Stay tuned.
See the RING2. The original aggression singer wrote it. That should be enough for you to go.
F
Meanwhile, in the musical world, momentum is slowly gained on the Hypefactor record. Mixers have been chosen, deals are being made and Brandt is prepping the mix files. Like most of my favourite bands as of late, part of the HF record will be finished in Los Angeles, CA, which ironically, is where the bulk of the record was arranged (well, mostly on planes to and from L.A.) and is where the lyrics were mostly written. I still have a slim hope another mixer, my dream mixer, will take a crack at some of these tracks, but scheduling poses a supposed problem. I call it "pussbomb". Yeah, you heard me!
The last piece of the puzzle will be resolved this Wed when Mr. Charles makes his long awaited return to the again re-arranged Bridcage to lay his bass styles over the last of the HF songs. As I believe I have written before, it was decided awhile ago to have him come in and replace the rest of the rythmn bass to give the record some consistancy. The album, as written is a bass mess in that most of the basslines were performed by either myself, Ash or Robin. Sometimes there are up to three different bassists in one song! Charles can take all that good stuff and make it great and consistant. The record needs that. Plus, he does a super job and he makes me laugh. This is a pre-requisite.
In other news, I again ran into the drummer the other day on my corner. She makes me laugh too. Love her.
Meanwhile, with Brandt in the kitching prepping the mixes, the main studio was wide open, so I'm currently filling it working on the remix I was born to do: Saintface's HAND ON MY HEART. Easily one of my favourite Saintface songs ever, I have been chomping at the bit to remix this for awhile. I've been seeing Peter quite a bit lately, and he was finally able to get the parts together. I've been doing a lot of industrial remixes of late (Implant, Chemlab) so to have the chance to do a remix for something not only non-industrial, but for my favourite band has really re-energized me. It's coming along really well, and I'm dead excited for this. Possiboy too excited as I went and found Peter yesterday to tell him about it. Sleepy from having played a gig in Boston the night before, he said to me "dude, don't tell me, let me be surprised". However, I think he is excited as well. Stay tuned.
See the RING2. The original aggression singer wrote it. That should be enough for you to go.
F
18.3.05
Back by Popular Demand
http://www.nin.com/current/index.html
Click on little video icon...
Ready????
"YOU'RE A PARODY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Ash.
Click on little video icon...
Ready????
"YOU'RE A PARODY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Ash.
12.3.05
Nailed!
A lot of my favourite bands are returning to the public eye this year, like Oasis, New Order, etc, but honestly the band I'm most interested in seeing the return of is Nine Inch Nails. I'm less curious about the music itself (which will hopefully be good) than I am about seeing how a plantinum selling niche band led by an auteur fits in today's ultra conservative, corporate owned musical landscape. It'll be interesting to see if he can push people's buttons again, cause an artist like Trent in today's tight ass climate could be a lot of fun to watch. However, while I'm sure hoping that the music is brutal, we've had Nu Metal in between NIN albums and the level for "hard" records has been watered down significantly. And blame Trent! I truly believe he is partially responsible for Nu Metal. Instead of the so-called Industrial Revolution that was supposed to come with NIN's success, we have been treated for the last x amount of years by bands who combined metal riffs and electronics into...well...the worst shit since Hair Metal!
Anyhow, my instincts suggest Trent is more content riding under the public radar and creating music he finds satisfying than he is ruffling the feathers of corporate giants like he did on DOWNWARD SPIRAL. Hopefully there is a maturity to the music that I felt was lacking last time. Business wise, I think this is going to be just like his last album, a great first week of sales that taper off pretty quick, but another hugely successful world tour. I've heard a few of the new tracks and I've liked what I've heard thus far. It's fast, catchy and simple. It would be career suicide for the man to go and do another two CD album and I'm hoping that this new album is a short burst of extremely well produced pissed off-ness. Granted, he's gonna be 40 this year. 40!! My God, has it been 13 years since he was "26 years on my way to hell"? Incredible
I think performance is now Trent's bread and butter and he has truly morphed into his heroes Pink Floyd and David Bowie in that the only people interested in the new material is the hardcore fan base, but the general population will pay good money to see Trent perform. Unlike many top acts, NIN spends tons on their live show, and each tour is a true spectacle in which you leave having gotten your money's worth. From the first time I saw them open for Peter Murphy at the Ritz to the last time in Madison Square Garden (famous for when Ash suggested I might have had a stroke cause that was the early signs on my Bell's Palsy, thanks guy), NIN has never put on a bad show. It's funny how the industrial kids all make fun of Trent or write him off, but the second a track leaks online or tickets go onsale for a show, everyone is there en masse ready to see and hear the man in action.
I'm a loyal fan. I'll buy the album, I'll see the show (Thanks Matt), and I'll be seeing how the world reacts to it.
F
Anyhow, my instincts suggest Trent is more content riding under the public radar and creating music he finds satisfying than he is ruffling the feathers of corporate giants like he did on DOWNWARD SPIRAL. Hopefully there is a maturity to the music that I felt was lacking last time. Business wise, I think this is going to be just like his last album, a great first week of sales that taper off pretty quick, but another hugely successful world tour. I've heard a few of the new tracks and I've liked what I've heard thus far. It's fast, catchy and simple. It would be career suicide for the man to go and do another two CD album and I'm hoping that this new album is a short burst of extremely well produced pissed off-ness. Granted, he's gonna be 40 this year. 40!! My God, has it been 13 years since he was "26 years on my way to hell"? Incredible
I think performance is now Trent's bread and butter and he has truly morphed into his heroes Pink Floyd and David Bowie in that the only people interested in the new material is the hardcore fan base, but the general population will pay good money to see Trent perform. Unlike many top acts, NIN spends tons on their live show, and each tour is a true spectacle in which you leave having gotten your money's worth. From the first time I saw them open for Peter Murphy at the Ritz to the last time in Madison Square Garden (famous for when Ash suggested I might have had a stroke cause that was the early signs on my Bell's Palsy, thanks guy), NIN has never put on a bad show. It's funny how the industrial kids all make fun of Trent or write him off, but the second a track leaks online or tickets go onsale for a show, everyone is there en masse ready to see and hear the man in action.
I'm a loyal fan. I'll buy the album, I'll see the show (Thanks Matt), and I'll be seeing how the world reacts to it.
F
10.3.05
Dear...
Dear Stephen Chow:
Back in February on this very blog I gave your KUNG FU HUSTLE a very lukewarm review. I felt it lacked in development and didn't have enough of your presence througout the film. What I may have failed to mention was that I watched it on a PAL bootleg on my laptop late at night from my couch. Recently, while during one of my routine patrols of the Chinatown DVD stores, I was able to obtain an official VCD of the film. Tonight, surrounded by G and Lurch (who were IN the movie theatre watching your KING OF COMEDY all those years ago), we ate some fish and chips and pausing only to flick on the O.C. to see the massively fucking incredible REVENGE OF THE SITH trailer, and watched a nice, clean properly subtitled copy of KUNG FU HUSTLE.
Well, I was wrong. Your movie is hilarious and awesome and makes a lot more sense with clear subtitles and picture. It's a wonderful homage to the genre and you have truly pushed the Kung Fu movie into the 21st Century. The FX were hilarious and the lads and I laughed quite a lot. I missed a lot of the subtlties the first time around and I commend you for being so thoughtful with the details. I stand by statement that SHAOLIN SOCCER is better film and HUSTLE could have used a little more of you in it, but it's a great film. I strongly urge all of you to go see it when it opens in this country next month.
Sincerely,
Frank Jeffrey
P.S. I would again like to apologize for my total fanboy behaviour when we met in San Diego back in 2002. I geeked massively and you were very nice and I'm sorry I was just very surprised to meet you, thanks.
Back in February on this very blog I gave your KUNG FU HUSTLE a very lukewarm review. I felt it lacked in development and didn't have enough of your presence througout the film. What I may have failed to mention was that I watched it on a PAL bootleg on my laptop late at night from my couch. Recently, while during one of my routine patrols of the Chinatown DVD stores, I was able to obtain an official VCD of the film. Tonight, surrounded by G and Lurch (who were IN the movie theatre watching your KING OF COMEDY all those years ago), we ate some fish and chips and pausing only to flick on the O.C. to see the massively fucking incredible REVENGE OF THE SITH trailer, and watched a nice, clean properly subtitled copy of KUNG FU HUSTLE.
Well, I was wrong. Your movie is hilarious and awesome and makes a lot more sense with clear subtitles and picture. It's a wonderful homage to the genre and you have truly pushed the Kung Fu movie into the 21st Century. The FX were hilarious and the lads and I laughed quite a lot. I missed a lot of the subtlties the first time around and I commend you for being so thoughtful with the details. I stand by statement that SHAOLIN SOCCER is better film and HUSTLE could have used a little more of you in it, but it's a great film. I strongly urge all of you to go see it when it opens in this country next month.
Sincerely,
Frank Jeffrey
P.S. I would again like to apologize for my total fanboy behaviour when we met in San Diego back in 2002. I geeked massively and you were very nice and I'm sorry I was just very surprised to meet you, thanks.
6.3.05
"NO MILK"
Mattagement is upset there haven't been any recent posts, but despite what you may think, as I told him, I don't blog for the sake of blogging. Plus, I was ill for most of the week, thus giving me very little to report. I've been very active on getting the Chemlab remixes going, which is really just about sending remix kits out, following up with people, etc. During my illness, I was able to focus on my own remix for the record, which is now finally finished and something I'm quite happy with. Brandt was helpful with mix notes, and Jared really liked it, so I'm a happy camper. For those of you familiar with the OXIDIZER album, there's a suture, titled Angel Eclipsia, which came together thanks to Jamie Duffy isolating one part of a song that wasn't used for the album and playing guitar over it and throwing in some new loops I had done. It's a great bit on the record. I took the parts to that tune, slowed them to half speed, and re-constructed a new 2-minute plus noise piece with vocals Jared did but never made the final cut. It's noisy and fresh and I'm really happy with it. You'll hear it soon enough.
The MOG related records are the focus of a lot of behind the scenes wrangling as well. The decision has been made to have the HF album mixed by someone on the outside, as we've come to the realization that the task needs to be handled by someone more capable and seasoned for this kind of record. My dream mixer for this record is not available so I've been tossing around some ideas. One mixer has been approached, so we'll see where this winds up. But you reach a point where action has to be taken and taken seriously or the music begins to get moldy and dated and the band loses any kind of momentum. I've seen that happen too many times in other bands and movement is needed. The aggression remix record is also a priority, and I'm just waiting on two remixes before closing the book on this record. It's gonna be a stormer of a record and I think it's gonna deliver big time.
For you industrial kids: Marc Heal, he of Cubanate and C-Tec fame, is here in my great City on holiday and was kind enough to give a ring to see if we could hang out. Now, Marc is the kinda guy I have a lot of time for, so everything was dropped and we spent many many many hours last night catching up at his posh hotel. I hadn't seen him in about 3 years, so we had plenty to talk about. He looks fit, is in fantastic spirits and is very happy and always charming and fun to spend time with. We traded enough stories to fill volumes and volumes of Industrial Bibles, and lemme tell you kids now, don't believe everything you read on the message boards. Trust me. Anyhow, I'm hopeful we'll be hearing more from this talented bloke in the near future.
In closing, I am enjoying the recent round of press coverage New Order and Joy Division have been enjoying. i don't need to get into the importance of these guys to my musical life. My signficant other, in particular, likes going through all these articles and photos so she can list the similarities between myself my bass hero, Mr. Peter Hook. Today she told me in an article how Hooky has specific instructions for his tea..which is the title of todays entry. Now if you know me...there's great irony to that.
F
The MOG related records are the focus of a lot of behind the scenes wrangling as well. The decision has been made to have the HF album mixed by someone on the outside, as we've come to the realization that the task needs to be handled by someone more capable and seasoned for this kind of record. My dream mixer for this record is not available so I've been tossing around some ideas. One mixer has been approached, so we'll see where this winds up. But you reach a point where action has to be taken and taken seriously or the music begins to get moldy and dated and the band loses any kind of momentum. I've seen that happen too many times in other bands and movement is needed. The aggression remix record is also a priority, and I'm just waiting on two remixes before closing the book on this record. It's gonna be a stormer of a record and I think it's gonna deliver big time.
For you industrial kids: Marc Heal, he of Cubanate and C-Tec fame, is here in my great City on holiday and was kind enough to give a ring to see if we could hang out. Now, Marc is the kinda guy I have a lot of time for, so everything was dropped and we spent many many many hours last night catching up at his posh hotel. I hadn't seen him in about 3 years, so we had plenty to talk about. He looks fit, is in fantastic spirits and is very happy and always charming and fun to spend time with. We traded enough stories to fill volumes and volumes of Industrial Bibles, and lemme tell you kids now, don't believe everything you read on the message boards. Trust me. Anyhow, I'm hopeful we'll be hearing more from this talented bloke in the near future.
In closing, I am enjoying the recent round of press coverage New Order and Joy Division have been enjoying. i don't need to get into the importance of these guys to my musical life. My signficant other, in particular, likes going through all these articles and photos so she can list the similarities between myself my bass hero, Mr. Peter Hook. Today she told me in an article how Hooky has specific instructions for his tea..which is the title of todays entry. Now if you know me...there's great irony to that.
F