I honestly can't believe my fucking luck.
My friend George was up at the flat. He had brought up a pen drive with some of my old songs that I had lost when I had got the virus and had to start everything again. I was delighted he had brought it up. I went throiugh to the computer, turned it on and logged in. Geo sat with me and we chatted. I was delighted that I was going to get to hear the songs I had lost. What a guy Geo is.
So I clicked and opened my folder. Nothing. Nothing but one folder left: 'muzik'. And it was empty. I paniced as I had the first time this had happened, and I realised again! Another virus! I am raging about this. It has either come from the Stuart song (probably attached itself during download) or from a couple of pieces of software I wanted to put on my computer. Fucking ragining.
Back to the mother fucking drawing board for me....again!
Watch this space (which is now very vacant!),
Wullae
Tuesday, 9 November 2010
You can't see by Stuart Carroll
Recorded 6th of November, started writing 7th of November.
I set up all my wires and instruments today with one intention: to complete a song with my friend Stuart Carroll.
During work on Thursday night, he had put up a new song he had written and recorded that night. The song is called 'You can't see' and is about me doing my job, and how tough it can be sometimes. I felt completely honoured that he has featured me in such a nice song. The lyrics are fantastic and he has come up with a lovely guitar tune for it, that is initially strumming and then cuts into a gentle plucking piece.
So I downloaded the tune, with Stuarts blessing, and began working on this song. I began by adding a light and slow electric lead part. I added some reverb and delay. I then began by adding some bass. I initially thought the lead should be pretty basic, but then I tried making it light and not too deep as the acoustic was quite deep. I also tried to get it to resemble the lead part I had recorded. I also wanted to recorded some vocals, just to hear us both again in a song. I added a set of vocals that sings random bits with Stuart. I only put it in one earphone and much fainter than Stuart's vocals. I then added a vocal harmony in the other earphone, again quite quiet. All was sounding good. So now I worked on drums. I didn't know whether to add drums or not at first. I messed about with loops but wasn't very good. Then I recorded my own, and sounded much better, more natural. Edited the bad boy, and that was it.
Since recording it, I have listened to it over and over again, and am really enjoying it. I hope to get it up on soundcloud soon for Stuart to hear it and everyone else. Thanks for letting me add to the song man. Been a pleasure again.
Watch this space,
Wullae
www.soundcloud.com/wullaewright
www.soundcloud.com/stuartcarrollmusic1
Go to Stuart Carroll's soundcloud to hear the original version of 'You can't see'
I set up all my wires and instruments today with one intention: to complete a song with my friend Stuart Carroll.
During work on Thursday night, he had put up a new song he had written and recorded that night. The song is called 'You can't see' and is about me doing my job, and how tough it can be sometimes. I felt completely honoured that he has featured me in such a nice song. The lyrics are fantastic and he has come up with a lovely guitar tune for it, that is initially strumming and then cuts into a gentle plucking piece.
So I downloaded the tune, with Stuarts blessing, and began working on this song. I began by adding a light and slow electric lead part. I added some reverb and delay. I then began by adding some bass. I initially thought the lead should be pretty basic, but then I tried making it light and not too deep as the acoustic was quite deep. I also tried to get it to resemble the lead part I had recorded. I also wanted to recorded some vocals, just to hear us both again in a song. I added a set of vocals that sings random bits with Stuart. I only put it in one earphone and much fainter than Stuart's vocals. I then added a vocal harmony in the other earphone, again quite quiet. All was sounding good. So now I worked on drums. I didn't know whether to add drums or not at first. I messed about with loops but wasn't very good. Then I recorded my own, and sounded much better, more natural. Edited the bad boy, and that was it.
Since recording it, I have listened to it over and over again, and am really enjoying it. I hope to get it up on soundcloud soon for Stuart to hear it and everyone else. Thanks for letting me add to the song man. Been a pleasure again.
Watch this space,
Wullae
www.soundcloud.com/wullaewright
www.soundcloud.com/stuartcarrollmusic1
Go to Stuart Carroll's soundcloud to hear the original version of 'You can't see'
Wednesday, 3 November 2010
New Versions 2010: cassette tapes from 1999-2002 artwork
Last night I thought I should have some artwork for the new version of the 'cassette tapes from 1999-2002'. So I began by drawing a tape cassette very losely and easily. Not the best drawing ever, and then messily wrotes all over it. It looks almost childish, but it does resemble some of the style of artwork I use to envisage for the music. It is also very basic and plain, which is intentional, to compliment the simplicity of the songs and recordings. So here is the new cover.
Watch this space,
Wullae
All 'New Version 2010: cassette tapes from 1999-2002' are available for free download at www.soundcloud.com/more-cassette-tapes
www.soundcloud.com/more-cassette-tapes
Saturday, 30 October 2010
Bringing back 1999
Recently the Slowly Slowly songs have taken a back seat. In it's place have been the Cassette Tapes from 1999-2002. It has, and continues to be a bit of a journey. A very good journey. An insightful journey.
I have been recording more and more of the old tapes since the last blog post, and still have about 3 or 4 more tapes left to do. It has been fantastic to hear the songs, some of them a complete surprise. Some I don't remember recording; some I am surprised at how well written they are. To have these songs that are very important to me in wav format, makes me incredibly happy.
The recording of these tapes has also allowed me to let Stuart Carroll, my friend who recorded them with me, to hear them. We fell away from one another for many years, and after contacting one another over the last year again, things have been great. It has been great sharing the memories of these tapes and recordings with Stuart and take me back to those early teenage days. The laughs, the songs, the improvising. All great.
Both Stuart and I began playing the guitar at roughly the same time. We were influenced by the same musicians, and had very similar styles of songwriting. We influenced one another and were on such a fantastic wavelength when recording. It would have been rare if we couldn't get a song completed together. We would sit for hours on end, in my tiny room, decorated in yellow paint, a drawn on carpet (by me and Stuart), radiohead and manic and phonics posters all over the place, scotland flags up, dusty tv and ceiling fan, sitting on the bunkbed - where the bottom bunk was improvised into a chair. It didn't even matter if we had strings missing on our guitars, we would always try and write something. We'd record the songs on a wee tape player, and we'd think it was magic. We had the name, 'the Heads of State' as a band name, and wanted to gig, but just never got the chance.
When hearing the songs back, now, about 10 years later, I had an idea. I wanted to start rerecording these old songs. Keeping them true to the originals. Not drums, bass, or fancy effects. Just exactly the same as the originals, but better quality. I had recently told my brother in law, Michael that I wanted to record a collection of simple acoustic songs at some point. This was perfect for that collection. All the songs mean so much, and it would be great to hear them how I intended them to be.
So a few days ago I worked out and recorded 'Living on the Edge', 'AWOL', 'Roadtrippin'' and a couple of others (guitar parts only). I left them as I had to work. Last night I worked out and recorded even more songs, including 'U.F.O', 'Superhero' and 'Jinx' (again just guitar parts). I thought about doing some vocals and getting some of these songs finished. I recorded the vocals to 'Living on the Edge' as they are quite quiet and wouldn't piss off the neighbours. Complete and sounding lovely. And then something great happened! I was overwhelmed with unimagineable delight! The neighbours went out! I have numerous songs that require very loud singing, and this was my opportunity. I tend to be very respectful to other people with my singing, but I went for it. I recorded the vocals to 'Superhero' and 'Roadtrippin'', and it felt great. It is the first time in months that I have been able to sing at full pelt. The recordings worked out well. It is very hard to record loud vocals because it can be too great for the mic and recording, and becomes a big horrid blurry mess. This didn't happen though thankfully. I also recorded 'Any Minute Now', a keyboard song. Kept it simple, and recorded the vocals too. Done. And that's it up to this point.
I intend to record the rest of the songs, and work out the rest of the original 'Cassette Tapes from 1999-2002'. I would like Stuart to work on them with me too, if he is able to.
Watch this space,
Wullae
www.soundcloud.com/cassette-tapes-from-1999
www.soundcloud.com/wullaewright
www.soundcloud.com/stuartcarrollmusic1
I have been recording more and more of the old tapes since the last blog post, and still have about 3 or 4 more tapes left to do. It has been fantastic to hear the songs, some of them a complete surprise. Some I don't remember recording; some I am surprised at how well written they are. To have these songs that are very important to me in wav format, makes me incredibly happy.
The recording of these tapes has also allowed me to let Stuart Carroll, my friend who recorded them with me, to hear them. We fell away from one another for many years, and after contacting one another over the last year again, things have been great. It has been great sharing the memories of these tapes and recordings with Stuart and take me back to those early teenage days. The laughs, the songs, the improvising. All great.
Both Stuart and I began playing the guitar at roughly the same time. We were influenced by the same musicians, and had very similar styles of songwriting. We influenced one another and were on such a fantastic wavelength when recording. It would have been rare if we couldn't get a song completed together. We would sit for hours on end, in my tiny room, decorated in yellow paint, a drawn on carpet (by me and Stuart), radiohead and manic and phonics posters all over the place, scotland flags up, dusty tv and ceiling fan, sitting on the bunkbed - where the bottom bunk was improvised into a chair. It didn't even matter if we had strings missing on our guitars, we would always try and write something. We'd record the songs on a wee tape player, and we'd think it was magic. We had the name, 'the Heads of State' as a band name, and wanted to gig, but just never got the chance.
When hearing the songs back, now, about 10 years later, I had an idea. I wanted to start rerecording these old songs. Keeping them true to the originals. Not drums, bass, or fancy effects. Just exactly the same as the originals, but better quality. I had recently told my brother in law, Michael that I wanted to record a collection of simple acoustic songs at some point. This was perfect for that collection. All the songs mean so much, and it would be great to hear them how I intended them to be.
So a few days ago I worked out and recorded 'Living on the Edge', 'AWOL', 'Roadtrippin'' and a couple of others (guitar parts only). I left them as I had to work. Last night I worked out and recorded even more songs, including 'U.F.O', 'Superhero' and 'Jinx' (again just guitar parts). I thought about doing some vocals and getting some of these songs finished. I recorded the vocals to 'Living on the Edge' as they are quite quiet and wouldn't piss off the neighbours. Complete and sounding lovely. And then something great happened! I was overwhelmed with unimagineable delight! The neighbours went out! I have numerous songs that require very loud singing, and this was my opportunity. I tend to be very respectful to other people with my singing, but I went for it. I recorded the vocals to 'Superhero' and 'Roadtrippin'', and it felt great. It is the first time in months that I have been able to sing at full pelt. The recordings worked out well. It is very hard to record loud vocals because it can be too great for the mic and recording, and becomes a big horrid blurry mess. This didn't happen though thankfully. I also recorded 'Any Minute Now', a keyboard song. Kept it simple, and recorded the vocals too. Done. And that's it up to this point.
I intend to record the rest of the songs, and work out the rest of the original 'Cassette Tapes from 1999-2002'. I would like Stuart to work on them with me too, if he is able to.
Watch this space,
Wullae
www.soundcloud.com/cassette-tapes-from-1999
www.soundcloud.com/wullaewright
www.soundcloud.com/stuartcarrollmusic1
Tuesday, 26 October 2010
www.soundcloud.com/cassette-tapes-from-1999
Here is the new soundcloud page for the cassette tapes songs:
Watch this space,
Wullae
www.soundcloud.com/wullaewright
www.soundcloud.com/cassette-tapes-from-1999
Watch this space,
Wullae
www.soundcloud.com/wullaewright
Saturday, 23 October 2010
Cassette Tapes from 1999-2002
Began putting tapes to wav on 22nd of October 2010
I turned the digits to unlock the padlock on the cupboard door and entered. I was putting my Manic Street Preachers cds back because I had just burned them all onto my computer again after losing it all to the virus.
As I was putting them back I was considering what to do today. Maybe record something? But for some reason, I just wasn't in the mood for that. So, what then? As I put the cds back, I noticed all my old tape cassettes, haphazardly lying on top of one another. I had always wanted to get them converted into mp3 or cd format. So I thought I could set up my mic and begin recording the tapes onto the computer.
After collecting the tapes from the cupboard and stumbling through with them, I set up a hifi system I have (that my wife bought me a few years back so I could listen to the tapes) and then set up my pedal and mic. I began with a tape with only three songs on it. I think it was the last cassette recordings I made before I moved into the digital age, using Making Waves.
I balanced the mic head upwards on one of my cat's small toys, next to the speaker and began recording. I recorded the three songs: 'Trip to Mars', 'After the Rush Hour's Gone' and 'Dying Rose of January'. 'Trip to Mars' includes the bass player at the time, Marc Carruthers, and all songs were recorded sometime between 2001-2002.
I then moved onto an older tape and recorded the whole thing, which was excellent. It probably pissed the neighbours off, but ah well. It felt good to record them. These recordings were done early on, maybe 1999-2000 time. The first songs was 'Induna', and I recorded them, taking me hours in total. I even managed to hoover the flat, put a washing on and hang it up, make a call to my friend Scott, and have some cereal. Some of the songs eventually put into wav format were:
Induna
Dream today of tomorrows dreams
Living on the Edge
Grow old with me; the Best is yet to be
Zikomo Kwambie
Newspaper Threat
Sleep
Dreams are in the Skies
The song 'Sleep' is a very interesting one. Stuart Carroll and I recorded this, and we just kept jamming continuously, improvising as we did it. The end of the song is my mother screaming my name, because we had been constantly playing it. The song lasts 19 minutes. A beast.
Been so good to get some of them on wav. I will make a 'cassette tapes from 1999-2002' profile for these old songs. I will also try and put more onto my computer over time.
Watch this space,
Wullae
www.soundcloud.com/wullaewright
www.twitter.com/wullaewright
I turned the digits to unlock the padlock on the cupboard door and entered. I was putting my Manic Street Preachers cds back because I had just burned them all onto my computer again after losing it all to the virus.
As I was putting them back I was considering what to do today. Maybe record something? But for some reason, I just wasn't in the mood for that. So, what then? As I put the cds back, I noticed all my old tape cassettes, haphazardly lying on top of one another. I had always wanted to get them converted into mp3 or cd format. So I thought I could set up my mic and begin recording the tapes onto the computer.
After collecting the tapes from the cupboard and stumbling through with them, I set up a hifi system I have (that my wife bought me a few years back so I could listen to the tapes) and then set up my pedal and mic. I began with a tape with only three songs on it. I think it was the last cassette recordings I made before I moved into the digital age, using Making Waves.
I balanced the mic head upwards on one of my cat's small toys, next to the speaker and began recording. I recorded the three songs: 'Trip to Mars', 'After the Rush Hour's Gone' and 'Dying Rose of January'. 'Trip to Mars' includes the bass player at the time, Marc Carruthers, and all songs were recorded sometime between 2001-2002.
I then moved onto an older tape and recorded the whole thing, which was excellent. It probably pissed the neighbours off, but ah well. It felt good to record them. These recordings were done early on, maybe 1999-2000 time. The first songs was 'Induna', and I recorded them, taking me hours in total. I even managed to hoover the flat, put a washing on and hang it up, make a call to my friend Scott, and have some cereal. Some of the songs eventually put into wav format were:
Induna
Dream today of tomorrows dreams
Living on the Edge
Grow old with me; the Best is yet to be
Zikomo Kwambie
Newspaper Threat
Sleep
Dreams are in the Skies
The song 'Sleep' is a very interesting one. Stuart Carroll and I recorded this, and we just kept jamming continuously, improvising as we did it. The end of the song is my mother screaming my name, because we had been constantly playing it. The song lasts 19 minutes. A beast.
Been so good to get some of them on wav. I will make a 'cassette tapes from 1999-2002' profile for these old songs. I will also try and put more onto my computer over time.
Watch this space,
Wullae
www.soundcloud.com/wullaewright
www.twitter.com/wullaewright
Tuesday, 19 October 2010
Let me in
I have not put up any blog posts recently. I haven't done so because with the spare time that I have had I have tried to record as much as possible and it has been an excellent time.
I sometimes feel overworked and am tired very easily. Sometimes easily irritable. But recently, just having the time to record, in a quiet room, away from all the busy things, has been very therapeutic. I have been able to record some good quality songs over the last few weeks.
I have been able to record and finish a song called 'At Rest'. The lyrics were originally going to be used with a song that I haven't recorded yet, but then one day I was recording an old blues tune I had and the chorus particularly fit well. So I recorded this song, and was not able to finish the drums on it until a few days ago. I didn't know if drums would ruin it, but it made it sound even better.
So with the new songs sitting with: 'Retrospect', 'Good times', 'Jezebel (The Painted Lady)', 'Blue Funk', and 'At Rest', I wanted to record more to join the collection of 'Slowly Slowly Catchy Monkey' songs. So I looked back over old songs I had previously recorded years ago, and found a song I had always wanted to rerecord. It is called 'Whispers to the Heart'. It is a song about how imperfect the world is.
Whispers to the Heart
I am the enigma that surrounds your shadow,
In a glass jar, protected from the rays,
All faces wash away, Under lies,
Die the sinner, and not the saint,
You're so material it's too late,
Die of greed and not of good will,
Whisper to the Heart, that time killed,
I am an ignorant zepher,
Highlighting your downfall as faith defender,
Cult personalities with stigma,
I am the anomaly of your city,
Probing the message of honesty,
100% desire of your own vain,
Die the winner, not the participant,
You're so right, today there is no wrong,
Die in lies, the truths too much,
Whispers to the Heart, in your clutch,
Whisper to the Heart,
Good will come,
Whispers to the Heart,
Time will have won,
Written in 2006, recorded originally in 2006; rerecorded in 2010
So I put the rhythm to a drum loop I had repeated, recorded easily. Had to change the timing of the song slightly, but sounds great. Then recorded the same rhythm again, a lead part throughout the song, a solo and bassline, and edited the drums. Then recorded the vocals, both background and normal. The song was recorded very quickly and sounds fantastic. Great quality.
My brother in law came up after I had finished this and lefted shortly after coming up. We sat and jammed a little and I told him of my intentions to record a cover of R.E.Ms 'Let me in' from their album 'Monster'. I think it is an amazing song, but the guitar is far too distorted and so you are unable to hear Stipe's lyrics. So I was telling him I wanted to record a version with a nice clean guitar.
I opened a new folder 'Let me in - REMcover', and began. Very quickly this came together. Two rhythm guitar pieces, one clean; one clean with delay. Then recorded a solo based on the organ piece at the end of the song. I then had to look up the lyrics on the internet on my phone, and recorded two sets of vocals. I started recording bass, but didn't think it worked too well. This was record in under an hour, and I think it sounds amazing. Very happy with the finished product.
I will hopefully put all three of these songs up on soundcloud next week. I am looking forward to doing so. And I have many more songs and ideas for songs to play around with, so I am hoping a lot more songs recording in the coming days.
Watch this space,
Wullae
www.soundcloud.com/wullaewright
I sometimes feel overworked and am tired very easily. Sometimes easily irritable. But recently, just having the time to record, in a quiet room, away from all the busy things, has been very therapeutic. I have been able to record some good quality songs over the last few weeks.
I have been able to record and finish a song called 'At Rest'. The lyrics were originally going to be used with a song that I haven't recorded yet, but then one day I was recording an old blues tune I had and the chorus particularly fit well. So I recorded this song, and was not able to finish the drums on it until a few days ago. I didn't know if drums would ruin it, but it made it sound even better.
So with the new songs sitting with: 'Retrospect', 'Good times', 'Jezebel (The Painted Lady)', 'Blue Funk', and 'At Rest', I wanted to record more to join the collection of 'Slowly Slowly Catchy Monkey' songs. So I looked back over old songs I had previously recorded years ago, and found a song I had always wanted to rerecord. It is called 'Whispers to the Heart'. It is a song about how imperfect the world is.
Whispers to the Heart
I am the enigma that surrounds your shadow,
In a glass jar, protected from the rays,
All faces wash away, Under lies,
Die the sinner, and not the saint,
You're so material it's too late,
Die of greed and not of good will,
Whisper to the Heart, that time killed,
I am an ignorant zepher,
Highlighting your downfall as faith defender,
Cult personalities with stigma,
I am the anomaly of your city,
Probing the message of honesty,
100% desire of your own vain,
Die the winner, not the participant,
You're so right, today there is no wrong,
Die in lies, the truths too much,
Whispers to the Heart, in your clutch,
Whisper to the Heart,
Good will come,
Whispers to the Heart,
Time will have won,
Written in 2006, recorded originally in 2006; rerecorded in 2010
So I put the rhythm to a drum loop I had repeated, recorded easily. Had to change the timing of the song slightly, but sounds great. Then recorded the same rhythm again, a lead part throughout the song, a solo and bassline, and edited the drums. Then recorded the vocals, both background and normal. The song was recorded very quickly and sounds fantastic. Great quality.
My brother in law came up after I had finished this and lefted shortly after coming up. We sat and jammed a little and I told him of my intentions to record a cover of R.E.Ms 'Let me in' from their album 'Monster'. I think it is an amazing song, but the guitar is far too distorted and so you are unable to hear Stipe's lyrics. So I was telling him I wanted to record a version with a nice clean guitar.
I opened a new folder 'Let me in - REMcover', and began. Very quickly this came together. Two rhythm guitar pieces, one clean; one clean with delay. Then recorded a solo based on the organ piece at the end of the song. I then had to look up the lyrics on the internet on my phone, and recorded two sets of vocals. I started recording bass, but didn't think it worked too well. This was record in under an hour, and I think it sounds amazing. Very happy with the finished product.
I will hopefully put all three of these songs up on soundcloud next week. I am looking forward to doing so. And I have many more songs and ideas for songs to play around with, so I am hoping a lot more songs recording in the coming days.
Watch this space,
Wullae
www.soundcloud.com/wullaewright
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