Retrospect, Good Times and Jezebel (The Painted Lady)

Written 5, 6 and 7 of October and recorded 6 and 7 of October, 2010.

With working hours becoming cut, I have had more time at home. So today, I decided to record. I wanted to put lyrics to some of the recordings I made in relation to the Slowly Slowy Catchy Monkey blog post.

I began by editing Watercolour Memories. I had recorded some vocals for this a few days ago which sound good. I had also added saxophone solos to it, but didn't quite think they worked, so took them out. Listening throughout the edited song, it is excellent; however the vocals leave a hissing noise behind the song. I don't think i'll edit it further, but that does bug me a little.

So I began putting lyrics that I wrote when I was in a hairdressers, waiting for my wife. It is called 'Retrospect', and is about someone reviewing the relationship they used to be in and realising what they had and how they were a fool.

Retrospect

In retrospect,
I wish it hadn't ended,
The way it had,
Full of vehement,
Vexed and vocal,
The regret i bare,
So great, so sad,
Oh happiness gone away,

In retrospect,
I bit the hand that feeds,
Walk over now broken memories,
Burned the bridges to your heart,
And desimated our beliefs,
I don't even know where to start,
Or where it ended,
As the rain pours down the window
Each droplet reminds of each minute together,
And as it runs, so too, does the pain,
Because you, were my life

Written 29th september 2010 in a hair salon off alexandra parade waiting for my wife to get a hair cut.

So I sat down and began recording some vocals to the upbeat acoustic song with the emotional verse. I had to rerecord the vocals a few times, but I like the melody for the song. The end version is quite good, but I feel the song feels empty and I want to put more in it. Just don't know what.

I then started another new recording. I wanted to get away from using the acoustic. Felt it was moving away from the sound that 'Blue Funk' has kindly created for me. So I began rerecording an old bass riff; a pure funky, lengthy riff, full of surprises. It was formly a song with no singing, called 'Song for Franklin'.

I scanned over different drum beats I had downloaded, trying to find the right one to start with. I found a scrath vinyl sound and though that might work quite well. So I looped it, and went to record. But I wanted to jazz the song up. So I found a slow cymbal jazz beat, and thought i'd make a slow, slap bass introduction, lasting about a minute. False looring into the song. Sounds great. Added a little clean lead part, and sounds good and smooth.

I then put up the scrath loop and began recording the bass riff. Made a few mistakes and finally got the bass riff I needed. Perfect. The original song had a wah wah guitar funk riff, so I didn't mess around with that. Just recorded it the way it should be. Sounded good, mostly. Was then selecting back through my Zoom pedal to get a clean sound again when i found a cool distortion sound. So impromptu made a riff on the spot. Haphazardly recorded it, and sounds excellent.

I edited the song and left it. Next day on 7th of October, I went back to the recording. I began editing numerous drum beats and loops throughout the song that was formerly 'Song for Franklin'. I got all the drums done, and it sounds excellent. Took hours though. I then also added a clavi, piano and set of vocals. The vocals are good, but could be better. I finished editing the song, and put the lyrics to it I wrote on the 30th of September called 'Good Times'.

Good Times

I feel happy again,
Got my hair sitting the way i want,
Got my new bag on my shoulder,

And even though the air is cold, the sun shines, its brilliant shine,

I feel content in my bubble,
No ones glares can crack, no smirks can pop,
Warm and fuzzy, that's what they call it,

Like a dandelion playing in the sun,

Adieu, the bad times,
Hello again, to the good times,

Written 30th Sept 2010 in the back of a taxi.

I then edited all the sound levels on the new songs I have been recording including: Blue Funk, Retrospect, Watercolour Memories and Good Times.

I then began recording something new after I had finished. It was an old tune that sounded excellent before. A cool guitar funk song. So I began recording this. Adjusted tones on my guitar and fx pedal and recorded 4 different guitar riffs, used 3 of them; recorded a new funky bass riff; edited drums to lay this all down to, and cut up and edited them. I also recorded a quiet set vocals and messed about with them. I put two of the same set of vocals next to one another, slightly out of time, and the song has a 'Hendrix' feel to it that I like. Used lyrics I hadn't finished about prostitution entitled 'Jezebel (The Painted Lady)'.

Jezebel (The Painted Lady)

The Painted Lady,
Jezebel,
She preaches on the pavement,
She tries to tease you baby,

The Painted Lady,
Jezebel,
She pays for the taxi by giving head,
Walks the streets in them 4 inch high, pink heels,

Written 28th of September, 2010.

I also worked a little on the artwork, changing the title to 'Slowly, Slowly, Catchy, Monkey' and using different fonts and images.

Been busy and using my free time on the music. It has been very refreshing, and great to be able to work on a new, upbeat sound.

Watch this space,
Wullae

All songs will be available to download from soundcloud soon.

www.soundcloud.com/wullaewright