As you know from past updates, there’s one matter I’ve been battling: the last set of lyrics I need to write to finish the new album. It’s been quite a process. I was thinking about what might help me out with the lyrics, what was missing, what could help set the mood? I decided to add percussion, thinking that maybe what was holding me back was a lack of a pulse. I didn’t want it too driving and rock-n-roll, because that would overpower the minimal and subtle nature of the track. I gave Brian my ideas and let him at it. His first recording was wonderfully performed, a good start, but a bit more than I wanted. I pitch-shifting one of the drums down an octave, and slowed another to half speed, to give him an idea of what I was imagining. I’ll admit that I can be vague with my instructions; when we’re in the same room together we can hash it out with gesticulations and brain-storming. But I’m in Portland and Brian is recording in New York City, so in this case I took his ideas and shaped them into a rough mix. He took that as a clearer direction, and gave me more tracks to work with. Fortunately, each drum is separately mic’d, I can edit, change volumes, drop things out at certain places and shape it into what I’m imagining.

There’s a specific drummer I had in mind, and I think Brian captured that mood. Can anybody guess who that drummer is?

Having the percussion, as well as discussions with Dani, helped move the lyrics along. I came up with a topic that gives the character a core and motivation for her actions. I’m at version 32c of the lyrics, and I think they’re close, which is good because it’s just a month until Dani’s in town to record “the stars” and “does anything remain?” (I’ve remixed “on some faraway beach” from the BLOOD ON THE SNOW ep a bit, it’s her third song on the album.)

I’m taking Tuesday off to record guide vocals, so she’ll have them in hand before I head to Tucson to catch Steve Roach’s live performance. Here is mix #17 for you. Percussion from 2:00 – 4:00; it’s probably a bit loud in the mix, I won’t know for sure until the vocals are recorded.

Enjoy