Messages

Ey?

Pretty please Mikey and Rick??
Come on back chaps!
Just one little biscuit and a nice cup of tea?

In the words of Mrs Doyle: Go on, go on, go on, go on, go on,go on,go on,go on.......


Incidentally, biscuits are all good. But can we also have a selection of nibbles on offer  too, for those who have a more savoury disposition? It takes all types! I'll put the kettle on.

....if you only used it to get your ears on EIMA in a hurry and don't want to start paying for the service you'll need to be cancelling it pretty soon.  

Good call Ped, I would have forgotten all about that...until it showed up on the bank statement.

But it raises the thornier issue for me of who is actually signing the lead vocals on a song-by-song, part-by-part basis throughout EIMA. I hear a lot of obvious Dec, but nevertheless often find myself confused when trying to pick between him, Jem, and JM ...

Then again, I'm usually just wallowing in the music, not dissecting it  

WORD!  

I'm thinking... Jem, would it be possible to note who sings what when the lyrics arrive at the website? Or would it be too much?  

I seem to remember Jem saying he was taking much more of a back seat in the singing duties and letting Dec and JM do the lion's share, but I reckon I can hear Jem all OVER the album. I also have trouble sometimes distinguishing Jem from Jon Mitchell due to what I think is rather tasty use of formant changing on the vocals in places, sometimes Jem's voice sounds gruffer, and in other cases it sounds very sweet.

Brilliant piccies Witchy - I especially love the cropped close-ups.

It's wierd as non of the samples on the Moog site seem to have that speaker-rattling, chest inploding WHUUMMPF! that I hear on  albums like Genesis' Seconds Out. The samples seem to have a fizzy top end, which I know could be tamed by closing the filter, or EQ, but it sounds a bit thin and not very authentic to my ears. I've got a Taurus sound on my Trinity which sounds fatter and more realistic I reckon. But I can't see Moog coming out with a retro product that doesn't sound the DB's, so all I can put it down to is a poor set of demo samples.

Any owners of the real set of vintage Taurus pedals on the forum who could compare the demo samples?

EDIT - I have just listened with a better set of headphones, and my impression is that it a bit better than I originally thought, but still a poor relation to the Nords and Novations of today  in terms of delivering a mega bottom end .

Hope everything's OK Mikey - couldn't tell from your email if you were being serious or scarky.
Give us a heads-up  (if it's discussable of course)

Cheers Chap
Sawtoof

Johnny Rotten will end up doing adverts for butter.

He's such a tart isn't he?  
Country Life...Pah!
Has he not heard of Lurpak?  

3/4 of a gig refers the gig IQ did without Pete last Saturday.

Yes, I have got a proper job. My mind is full of ideas of what I want to do there. I can't wait to get stuck in.

No, I haven't got some big gig. I've done that and that box is ticked.

Of course I can't speak for Jem and the boys but I really do hope that I will keep some creative input into Frost. As I have siad before, I'm stopping gigging because I think there are many other things a band can do with a band. Frost* is perhaps most widely known for it's youtube videos. Who would have thought this would be the case 5 years ago? With each video reaching 1000s of peeps I would think this is as important as gigging for spreading the word of Frost.

I think we are not to far away from a band being a collection of musicians that are linked by a concept, not by a record deal, that work outside of the album/tour framework, that produce and distribute their music themselves. Their fanbase will be worldwide, despite the size of following. They will perform to their fans not only by gig but through cable TV shows and internet concerts, thus reaching their total fanbase. Their success will be defined by how different they are, not by conformity. (sound familiar?)

It is this type of stuff I want to be involved in.

Andy, your way of thinking sounds an exciting and fresh approach to getting your music to the audience, and seems to dovetail with Jems recent thoughts on the same subject.

But it got me thinking about the state of the niche music market in general. It may be that a by-product of this kind of business model is that it may level the playing field a bit between more established bands/musicians who have the time, experience and contacts to promote themselves properly, and up and coming 'hobbyist' or part-time bands who can't devote time to touring and promotion because of the day job getting in the way.

So in that respect, it might mix things up a little which hopefully will be for the good.
It seems to me that because of the more niche appeal of prog, a lot of bands currently on the scene - even the well known ones - may fall into the 'part-time' category anyway.

The only thing is, if this way of working becomes more prevalent, will it affect the viability of the 'full time' bands on the level of, say, Spocks Beard or Porcupine Tree, (who's main source of income is the conventional cycle of album sales, merch and touring)? Marillion seem to have a more adventurous business model though, with the pre orders for forthcoming albums, fan conventions and their Front Row Club releases.

But looking way down the line, if cyber-performance on YouTube as opposed to live performance in a venue becomes the norm, what happens to bands who are trying to do this full time for a living, or musicians who have spread their talents around several projects such as yourself Andy, or JJ and JM?. Won't they see their ability to generate income and make a living from recording or performing their music diminish?

Or have I got the wrong end of the stick, and there's not much of an income to be made from it these days anyway?  I'm not trying to be negative BTW, 'cos I think what you say makes perfect sense - and lets face it, a lot of the changes you propose are a way overdue anyway and the music biz may not have much of a choice to resist. It's just that the Devil's Advocate in me won't shut up!

All Power to the Professor of Prog! (not to mention funk and punk).
Oh, and will the gents tailors of Kidderminster be having a run on tweed jackets with leather elbow pads?

All the very best for the future Andy.

Saw Nik Kershaw play an acoustic set a few days ago. Fantastic guitar player, good set of lungs (although, I admit his vocal style is an acquired taste, sort of American/cockney in a Dick Van Dyke stylee) and a wonderfully self deprecating sense of humour. He also did a storming version of Stevie's 'Sir Duke' building the whole backing track using his guitar and a Loop Station stomp box. If you can get past 'The One And Only', I can highly recommend seeing him live.

You'll be truly missed Andy, and it will be a bittersweet experience to witness the BOTY CRS gig in January. But in the long term I'm chuffed that you have a new vehicle for your talents, and I'm really looking forward to what comes next - both from yourself and from Frost*.

Plus,  if you ever get sick of stick twiddling, you can convincingly play guitar  and keys with as much skill and inventiveness as you bring to the drum kit.

I hate you.
In a big blubbery fan boy kind of way.  

:cry:
It looks like I wont be able to attend the party .. I just got the official word that the time off from work isnt available. First come, first serve policy and I wasnt in the line fast enough when I decided to go.

But I have Rosfest to look forward to.. I'll have an extra-special good view this year and there will be lots of pictures  

You will be missed Slugster! We'll have to take loads of pics and vids for you!

SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIALIDOCIOUS

Mr lawnmower - were you the chap in the EIMA tshirt? I did try to catch you as you walked past me but the crowd was moving at a fair clip.

i thought marillion were very poor at Bournemouth. Perhaps its because we werent in the main crowd but it seemed very lacklustre to me. There was no bopping for heavens sake !

hope things perk up tomorrow in London.

I fear Nottingham will have completely perked them out!