24th September 2009

The journal entries dried up a bit after that last one, didn’t they? I’ve been living in Manchester in a largely internet-free world for the last few months, working on various tracks and ideas. This has led to good things, such as the next album being finished. It’s not going to be released just yet, but here are some details…

Title: Safernoc

Tracklist:
01. Send More Bees
02. Night Train
03. Barghest
04. Marown Dhoo
05. Savernake
06. Kelpie
07. Cwn Anwnn
08. Moss
09. Vantage Point
10. Timber Wolf
11. Aqueduct
12. Beddgelert

The album is a lot more like Purlieu than Vacuum Road Songs, but not massively like either. Influences include Edgard Varése, John Cage, Phillip Glass, Max Richter, Luc Ferrari and Marcus Schmickler for a lot of the album, although it’s not all in a pseudo-classical vein – there are a couple of moments like Savernake, and even a couple of tracks which head into styles I’ve never touched on before.

I’m off to start the artwork now. Get ready for this one, it’s so far ahead of the previous two you’ll barely know it’s me. I can’t wait to let everyone hear it!

23rd February 2009

One of the joys of not setting a specific brief for a record is in being able to use whatever samples I like, which is how Purlieu started, and why it didn’t seem too forced. The use of dogs and glass in Savernake has surprised everyone who listened to it, it seems, but I enjoy that. Similarly, I’ve been using a nice, wide number of sources elsewhere in my new material, including seagulls, a river and a train – but it works. There are lots of other sounds (including a return of the piano, which was barely used on Vacuum Road Songs, despite its liberal use on Purlieu).

I’ve been referencing some influences rarely seen in my music lately, including Cage, Varése, Richter and a host of other people using sparse arrangements, strings, piano, electronics in their rawest form and so on. So the album isn’t going to be all techno.

Ideas flowing… things to look up to get an idea of where this may be heading… Barghest, Marown Dhoo, Savernake, Little river…

17th February 2009

Re-arrival. Second Thought is back! It’s been three years since the last new material (Rooftops), and all has been quiet, apart from the somewhat subdued Vacuum Road Songs release (those reviews will be turning up this year, honest!). What’s been happening? And why?

Well, first up, there was Dead Hymns. Those familiar with the concepts behind Purlieu and Vacuum Road Songs will be aware that there were two more albums that followed the ‘story’, to be called Dead Hymns (continuing from the passing out at the end of VRS and travelling through one’s own personal hell…) and Crib Goch (… to reawakening and peace). Then I realised things were just getting FAR too literal. Vacuum Road Songs itself seemed to be stooped too much in story for my liking, in hindsight – it hangs together more awkwardly as an album, with short seguing environments linking otherwise unrelated tracks or chapters or whatever. Elsewhere in my life, I’ll be honest, I’m not especially happy. It’s the jolly world of post-university bullshit, with nothing really going quite to plan. I need to make music that makes me happy, not 60 minute noisescapes with horror film soundtrack strings, distortion, screaming, guitar solos, industrial grinding and other fucked up mess. Dead Hymns is on hold indefinitely. I don’t want to become a prog rock star, so I’m just carrying on producing without the need for continuity and story.

And so, Second Thought album 3 mk ii begins. Armed with inspiration from recent new FSOL material, a shedload of new influences to really get into and lovely new visions and ideas, I’m recording again. No searching through old tracks to find material of worth, no leaving tracks out because they don’t fully fit the concept of the album, just making good music. The album is going to fit together nicely with some atmospheric bits and artwork and allsorts, but it’s just going to be a lot more fun to make.

The first track is called Savernake. It’s very techno. It can be found here. I like it. I hope you do too. There’ll be more journal entries soon.

Top five albums of recent times:

Underworld – Oblivion With Bells
Hell Is For Heroes – Hell Is For Heroes
The Future Sound of London – Environments II
Norma Jean – Redeemer
Goldmund – Cordorouy Road

xxx

5th February 2008

After much titting about, Vacuum Road Songs will be available from May, internationally. That’s right, those of you not lucky enough to catch the pre-release last year will be able to pick up a copy properly from May. Thank God that’s over. Hopefully there’ll be some nice reviews here and there soon.

I’ve taken another long break from the music recently, but am very much back on track with it now. You’ll probably notice a little section on the new site called Dead Hymns, which is pretty empty but should have some clues to what’s going to happen in the future. Not to jump too ahead of the game, of course, but it’s nice to have stuff to look forward to. Stephen and mine’s band collapsed some time ago and I’m not as interested in pursuing that line of music just at the minute anyway. You can listen to some of his solo music here, though, and you should as it’s excellent.

I hope everyone likes the new design on the website. It too has been a long time coming. There’s lots of new stuff to discover so take a look around.

In six months time I may be living in London. This should open up some new routes for me, personally and musically. On a similar note, I’m now writing for Sandman Magazine in Leeds, my first review should be in the March issue. I’ll keep everyone informed of that, anyway.

Music I’ve been enjoying lately that you should check out:

Murcof – Cosmos
Goldmund – Corduroy Road
Encomiast – Espera
Logreybeam – It’s All Just Another Aspect Of Mannerism
Nurse With Wound – Thunder Perfect Mind
Simian Mobile Disco – Attack Decay Release Sustain
Erik Satie – Piano Works
The Divine Comedy – A Short Album About Love

xxx

13th May 2007

Oooh it’s been a while. The last few months have been absolutely ridiculous, in the best and worst possible ways. Nightclubs and sex and alcohol and other incredibly sleazy stuff. And that all puttered out once university began scaring me with the prospect of finishing. I’ve spent the last month or so doing research and essays and generally catching up on all the shit I’d missed from all the debauchery. Still, it’s all over now – ish. Got a week of presentations, shows and whatnot to design and… well, present and show. But the writing’s out of the way, so I’m taking a moment to reflect on what’s going on. I’ve put together a record label with a couple of friends. Jerky Oats Records. And the first release is a little album called Vacuum Road Songs, which you may have noticed is on the front page as being released sometime in the future. That’s all fun, anyway, and there’s goingto be a rather interesting promotional campaign which I’ll inform you all of at a later date. Meantime, that’s available in the Second Thought Shop for the bafflingly low sum of £5.00 (with an extra £1.00 for international shipping). So get your pennies out, kids, it’s been a long time coming and will hopefully be worth the wait.

What does the future hold? Well, the follow-up is on its way. I’m maybe a third of the way through the recording process. It’s going to be very different from what I’ve done in the past. You may not recognise it as Second Thought. I like to keep people on their toes. I’d also like to mention an artist called Vincent Giard, who is currently going to be helping with the cover art for the record. That’s right, no photos. That’s a vague clue as to the theme of the album…

The band with Ste is sort of making progress. Pissed off at new rave, electro indie and the rest of the utter toss that pollutes the NME and indie clubs at the moment, we’re making a stand and starting no rave. Those familiar with Lydia Lunch and James Chance will understand where Ste got the name from. It looks like I could be playing bass on a lot of it, which is a change from my initial role as ‘lead guitarist’ in mine and Ste’s band. I’m hoping to maybe start doing some DJing in Leeds at some point, maybe have an idea or two about where to do so. I’ll keep you informed.

Nostalgia and anti-nostalgia: removed all the old cack from the discography (let’s be honest, everything before Purlieu was fairly dire), and added a page with all my collaborative and production work, as it’s been nice looking back over the stuff I’ve worked on with people. It’s nice getting back to music in all of its forms, as I’ve been through a fair few ‘can’t be arsed’ moments in the past year…

Recently been listening to: Wire, Manicured Noise, The Pop Group, Ludus, Tears For Fears, Kraftwerk, Television, early Pulp, Pan Sonic, Thursday, Million Dead, Nine Inch Nails, Magazine, Michael Jackson, Every Time I Die, Brett Anderson, Merzbow, Ben Frost, Gregg Jackson and Travis.

xxx

4th December 2006

Remix a track provided, give reasons for the remix and why you believe it’s marketable. Luckily enough, the track I chose is going to be the next single by the band. Unluckily, the deadline to get it considered by the label was the end of November. That’s not going to stop me, though.

Anyway, I present you with my latest university coursework:

Seafood – Little Pieces (Second Thought Remix)

It’s a bit different to what you might be expecting.

And I’m really proud of it.

xxx

15th October 2006

It’s been a while, hasn’t it? What’s going on, then?

Haven’t worked on anything with Claire since the last update about her – funny how people change and move on, isn’t it? Still, I’ve been working on music nonetheless. A few sketches here and there have been recorded, work on Vacuum Road Songs’ follow-up has definitely begun although that’s so far away it’s not worth talking about, really. Elsewhere, I’m working on some stuff with Ste again. No idea where it’s going, who’s leading the project, what it’ll sound like. Taking in our influences of late, it’ll be anything from britpop to post-punk to post-hardcore/emo to shoegaze stuff. So like I say, no idea.

I suppose I should also mention that some of my stuff was played on BBC Radio 6Music. That, in itself, I thought was pretty great, but it was played by The Future Sound of London. I’m not going to witter about it, simply because having your all-time favourite band and number one influence play your material on national radio isn’t something that can really be explained in words. But hey. They managed to fuck up the title of the song. 😉

Finally, Vacuum Road Songs is seeing a probable release in the new year. For my university dissertation I’m working with Joe, Nate and Andy on setting up a record label, which will include recording bands, releasing CDs, promotion and live stuff. One ofthe releases is planned to be Second Thought’s new album, and thank God!

University is, at last, being really good to me in this way. Also this year I’m studying the origins of electronic music: musique concrete and early synth-based stuff, so far, and recording from a similar perspective; I’m also doing a songwriting module and remixing a track by a not entirely unknown indie band in a more electro style. So it could all turn out very interesting indeed.

xxx

13th February 2006

Had a bit of an – well, ephiphany is probably the wrong word, but you get my drift. For the first time, my course has directly influenced the music I’m making, and I’m planning to get back to work on Vacuum Road Songs. I suppose I’ve always been unhappy with it, but now I actually want to get on with it and make myself happy with the final thing. I’ve been doing some work in Logic and Reaktor and now fancy doing something very synth based. Inspired by this, I’ve been listening to Incunabula and Amber by Autechre, and Underworld’s moodier stuff – particularly Luetin and the new LovelyBrokenThing EP. I haven’t done anything as ‘straight up’ as these in ages, it’s all been twisted ambient, breakbeat or IDM stuff, so maybe doing something a little more techno-based might be a nice change. I’m also wanting to trim a couple of tracks off the album, as I’m not sure how happy I genuinely am with them. This is going to be interesting.

xxx

27th January 2006

Last night was the second rehearsal of the year. We were both knackered, so admittedly little was done. However, between us wenow have a melodica (which I kept calling a harmonium) and a ukulele, so the amount of textures available is rising. We began to re-record the bass part of Yorkshire Bank with my new bass, but that sort of cocked up a few times, so a bit of a waste there, really. Claire’s written a harmonium part for the song, though, and we’re replacing one of the synths on Postal Service Song with the harmonium too.

Running through the songs, Claire’s up for adding to a really old 2T track of mine, originally called Struxsture, which is a particularly eerie organ and clicks type glitch thing. Completely out of mood with the rest of our tracks, but the production style’s similar, and it’ll end the EP nicely.

The tracklist is, currently:

001. Yorkshire Bank
002. Ross Song
003. Postal Service Song
004. Jazzy/Spanish Song
005. Claire Song
006. Weird/fucked up organ Song

We might be putting in Bob Dylan Song in there, but maybe not. Still, it’s only a minute long, so fingers crossed and all that.

18th January 2006

First rehearsal was fun, productive and odd. We’re still going down the drinking = good line of things, helping us*cough*Claire*cough* get over certain confidence issues, but hey. We wrote a song which came out rather nicely, starting off with a particularly unusual jazzy guitar part from Claire, which I then transformed into something that sounded more than a little Spanish. Possibly be able to use Andy’s classical guitar for that. Weshallsee. We’ve been totting up the songs, and the tracklist stands at a rather half-finished: Postal Service song, Yorkshire Bank, Ross song, Claire song, jazzy track, experimental track, Bob Dylan song, and one that Claire’s not played yet because she forgot it. That’s eight tracks, though, which is pretty good going. Now to actually get them recorded. Ha.

In other news, The Bassment is now closed, which puts a rather large knife in our plans for putting on a night there, so back to the drawing board.

Have been working on some music with my housemate, Andy, too. There’s a chord sequence he’s been working on for ages, and I worked a chorus round it, and we’re recording that into some sort of song or other. My new bass is on it and everything.

Anyway, more updates soon no doubt.

xxx