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Ronnie’s Recording Diary
DAY 1
we cycled to studio.we were happy.we met our production assistant catherine.she's from Melbourne in Austrailasia.we set up.daragh spent 12 hours tuning his snare.he looked angry.earlier we went looking for fairy lights to set the vibe.daragh got a lamp and went back to hit his snare.ronnie and arran went all over london looking for lights but found none.we did find a big cooking pot in a bangladeshi store.in there they had jackfruits.they are like giant acorns about the size of an acoustic guitar!Ferrie tried to take the back off an orange amp but it was impossible.He also cycled 5 miles to get snare skins and strings.He got lost for a while.Ciaran our engineer had a cold.Martin our manager did a lot of sitting around
we cycled home.a lot of the streets seemed dodgy.at home we had some wine.Ferrie dressed up in Arrans clothes.we went to bed.
DAY 2
It's Ferries birthday.we cycled to studio.Arran crashed into a car.She's ok though.it was a slow crash.we started our first song.ELECTROCOIN.we had some proseco and cake for ferries birthday.Martin left to back to the other island.He'll be back at the weekend.we played electrocoin many times.on a break Arran and Ronnie found a jewellery shop that looked frozen in time.all the jewellery was covered in dust.really dirty.Daragh is wearing Karate shoes.
Ferrie is dying for a birthday pint.
DAY 3
16.24
So we woke up and cycled to the studio. We had a slow roast of vegetables in the oven all night at 50 degrees but they didnt cook fully. Bad bad oven. cheap. So its hot and we're drinking tea and coffee and lemonade and water a lot. today we did a few more takes of THIS HOT HEAT which we started yesterday. Noooow we doin' EACH AND EVERYONE OF US. Ferrie is working on getting a good acoustic guitar sound. We are now doing a folk album instead. Its hot. Hoxton hot heat. In the real world Batman hit his mother.
Daragh went to buy cowboy boots. He didnt get any. They were either two too small or two too big for his two feet his tutu and wig. He saw Gael Garcia Bernal and winked at him.
Ferrie saw Tim Burgess yesterday. I (Ronnie) saw him on monday too but he should be on tour so it might have been a lookalike. He had the same black bowl haircut though. Its not very nice.
20.12
Think we just nailed EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US. Nice distorted drums. Threw out the hi hats. Arran was quiet today but thats cos she was in an emotional cloud. She said. Ciaran asked daragh to do the peasoup hi hats. Ferrie did a crossword where peasouper was an answer. Arran said we need to do a hole in one take. Ferrie did a crossword where hole in one was an answer.
DAY 4
14.01
yeah we cycled to the studio with the click of the street in our beat.hot hoxton.cool kids.Elvis is in the building.Portuguese custard pies and coffee kick things off. Sooooo oh oh... we are now recording CARS(working title).its rockin n rollin. long pause to tune snare.daragh is now down to his underwear.ferrie is crossing words a bit of this a bit of that.arran is curling feathers for a hat
NOW WE MUST EAT.
today we are having braised cabbage with apple and celery, roast potatoes with walnuts and some haddock.mmmmmm
16.05
daragh is taking lots of photos.FERrie is playing guitar.I'm typing.Arran is maKING A hat hairslide kinda thing. Ciaran is doing a lot of cutting and chopping and cleaning and sweeping and erasing of our good and bad takes.Now back to the food.its been really good so far.yesterdays slow roast of butternut squash, peppers, nuts and garlic was only mucho fantastico! a good bottle of red would really have blown it out of the water but we're working and we're professionals. We are all eating vegetarian food cos Arran is a vetenarian. we dont do not don't miss meat yet we do not do doughnuts.
NOW we are about to start recording LETS LIGHT FIRES.
19.15
STILL about to start LETS LIGHT FIRES. spent last few hours doing a few hi hat and keyboard over dubs instead.I wasn't involved. Booorring. I asked Ciaran if I could go and have a pint. he said NO.I dropped my head. "ah please just one I won't get drunk I promise". "No" he said. "BUT i should be a bit drunk for this song, ya know for the vibe like"." Act drunk, like an actor would" he said. "I'm a method actor" I said.
It'll be 3 and a half hours before I will taste a nice cold Red Stripe
The vintage pro one synth is being tuned right now. We all must think of Michael Knight and Buddhist monks in Burma to perform this song. ohNO WAIT ITS DINNER TIME YES!
22.15
Things just got real sexy! This studio is a sauna! This rock is molten! These clothes are off this groove is on! LETS LIGHT FIRES is in the bag! Smokin!
We close the doors behind us and cycle into the cool of the night. No one said it would be easy. DAY 5 11.59
Come with me. Let me take you back to last night.
A cool night called for an even cooler beer. We saddled up and took a trip down Commercial st. The kids had been a talking bout some other kids we had to meet. We tied our horses watered and fed them, and hit the saloon. They gave us an hour we said sound.
Inside there swayed some wild turkeys. We had a beer. We had two. Mr. Bongo man discovered that he had missed David Cronenbergs wife play. We missed her too. Mr. Chef pants said had the good shit. "Good enough for Jagger and Richards" he slurred. "Good enough for Mr. Bongo man" we chanted to the tune of Countdown. "He's gaggin' for the ganja". Suddenly a cat sleaked by in a pair of human pyjamas. I think she owned the joint. She certainly walked like she owned it. We said our good byes. Adios amigo! Hola Barca! It was the end of our short stay at the long table.
The ride home was a whole different bowl of spaghetti. Ferrie got thrown by his horse. He mustn't have given him the right food. Horses are particular like that. We stopped for some cigs and liquor. A bad guy said he'd cut our faces open for hittin' on his doll. We didn't hit on his doll. We don't play it that way. He was just a silly punk. This town has all sorts.
And now! well its day five and we got the flow. We gave the horses a rest and cycled to studio. We startin' on ARMS (working title) but first we have a few things to do. Daragh has gone to get his head waxed. Ferrie has gone to get some kind of computer card thing. Ciaran is comping. Arran has gone to a charity shop to get some costumes. I hope she gets me a cravat. God knows I'll need it.
15.18
Now we ready to start ARMS(working title). We are thinking of calling it FAST FLASHES/WHO IS ISABELLA MOONLIGHT? . Arran came back with lots of scarves for us to wear. Darragh( I just noticed that I've been leaving an R ot of Darraghs name all the time.sorry) now looks like Buddha. He is shiny bald and wearing a beautiful orange and pink chiffon shawl. Its gonna guide his feet. Arran will put it on over her new 1920's dress when we commence the composition. It will guide her feet also. I now have a long black scarf draped around my shoulders and a pink one neath my shirt collar acting as a cravat caressing my neck. Oooh such soft silk! Ferrie is getting a guitar sound. Should he decide to put on the pretty turquoise tailored poncho from India then he will be Robbie Krieger from the Doors.
So its time to think Disco. Its time to take a risk. Lets get frisky lets be brisk!
17.46
So FAST FLASHES/WHO IS ISABELLA MOONLIGHT? is down. Isabella graced us with her presence. We found our essence. She doesn't walk she floats she glides and as quickly as she arrived she left. She sure is a hot dame. Wow!
so a quick shout out from the cool kids in Hoxton to the cool kids in Dublin and Galway, Copenhagen near Norway and that kid in Cannes. You are I am.
20.26
Another feast another beast to tackle. Sushi and salad corn and cob your uncle is Bob. Tasty. ELM is up next. If ever there was a song to play on a balmy friday in the city it's ELM. The tide is rising but we can all swim. She'll be safe she's with him.
00.15
If I know magic and I think I do then I'd have to say that what just happened here was magic. Yeah ELM is on tape! YEAH THAT WAS MAGIC! Yeah! but christ it didn't come easy and it didn't come quick we needed a big damn pot and a big damn stick.
We started by adding some sunglasses and scarves. We took down the lights. We took out the sunglasses. Darragh and Arran put on mascara.We felt we needed tears. Ya know for the vibe. We got stuck in a rut like a pig in muck. Ciaran went for Brian Enos Oblique Strategies. It said " DO SOMETHING BORING". Ciaran drew some lines. He decided that we weren't playing as a band but as four seperate people. "Your playing in the dark" he said. We actually were. So the lights came up. Thats better. The groove started to flow. Catherine made some peppermint tea with honey. Take five. Not quiet magic yet. Another Oblique Strategy. "FIND A SAFE PLACE AND MAKE IT YOUR ANCHOR". Darragh picked a point to look at. Focus. Focus. He got groove. He got groove. We lock in to his groove. Twenty takes later and we got magic! Done. Did that!
Get this kids. We wrapped up at 11.31 and Arran said in a panic" I gotta go now"." Why Arran" one of us said.
THIS IS WHAT SHE TOLD US
"Three weeks ago I met a fortune teller. She asked if she could read my fortune. I said no. So she gave me a crystal that she would only put in my left hand. She said "Now you know what you have to do. You have to wrap it in tissue for three weeks and then unwrap it". "So I've only 29 minutes left before the three weeks are up. I gotta go and if you're gettin wine count me in. Bye".
On the way home the moon was half in the sky with its lights half on above the Long Mile Road. We got the wine. Something was in the air and it was good. ELM in the bag! ELM on tape! and as for Arran, well that doll unwraped her crystal at 11.54. She sure is a quirky kid.
So kids do ya believe in magic? Do ya.? 'Cos we sure as hell do.! Goodnight. Take of yourselves......... and each other. DAY 6
04.20
I can't sleep. How can I if the city doesn't. Beeps and Bops. They're Bobbies not Cops. Whizz whizz zoom fills the sound of my room. The cats screetch and scratch and scrape and scrap. I need a dog to hound those muthas.
So now is a good time to get to know some of our horses. Ferries is a fiery mare. Goes by the name of Red Hurley. Good on hard ground. Loves mountains. Feed her the wrong nuts and she'll throw ya. Act like she don't know ya. Arran doesn't have a horse. She has a blue Unicorn. She flies and you must feed her with dreams at least 3 times a day. Soft spot for crystals like her owner. Her name is Skyflower. We'll get to know the other horses as details emerge. Now I really must sleep.
11.40
i'm very tired this morning. It was bright when I finally got to sleep. Those cats didn't purr those lions roared and the bobbies bopped and the sirens soared.
Another hot day in Hoxton another track to lay down. It's saturday and the kids keep on given. This square is alive. Today we startin with SHAKE SHAKE MY CEILING. I got to the studio early cos I was supposed to do a phone in with Phantom back in Dublin. It's not going to happen now. As I left the house Arran was tryin to choose between short green shorts and green heels or a bright print dress. She needs to shake it up and get down to the sexy surreal! We'll see what she arrives in. I'm sure she'll be smokin! Oh here she is! she went for the dress. smokin!<
Haven"t seen Ferrie yet. He's havin his first sleep in of the session. Every day he'S been up at 7.30 to get a permit for the stables. No permits needed on weekends. Darragh is gone off to a charity shop to get some bling.
Later to day we will record DRNB(WORKING TITLE) haha do ya get it! It's mos def a saturday night sound. It's got London town written all over it. So we need to get a grip on the grime and take a 2 step into the garage. We're calling on all you rascals in the dizzying towers of London to BANG OUT THOSE BEATS! Come on you pirates!
14.47
Myself Darragh and Arran went down Brick Lane. Little Berlin I call it. It has a squat feel. Some soul called us into a market where we found some bling animal badges. Just what the doctor ordered! I got a silver cow. Arran got a blue Unicorn! Honestly! Daragh got a black crow and a pink flamingo. The crow for in the studio the flamingo for the streets. We got Ferrie a golden Stag.For Ciaran a black Cat. He talks to cats and for Catherine a Doe.
Back in the studio we had a listen to ELM. Wow it sounds powerful. We got the shivers. Very emotional. Its one for the slow sets. There will be tears. A mascara massacre. We don't think we even wrote the song. It was in the ether and found us. Thats probably true. We'll name the animals over lunch.
17.47
Catherine named her Doe Didjeridoe. Lets tell some of her story shall we. Catherine is from Melbourne. She lived in Dublin in 2001. She is friends with Nick Seymour from Crowded House. Mr. seymour recommended Ciaran to us as an engineer. Catherine used to play rounders with the same people that Ferrie played with. It is then very possible that they played in the same game at one stage. She is now working with us as our assistant.
Did the crystal have anything to do with this?
Why did we come upon a blue Unicorn badge not long after Arran got Skyflower?
Why did we find an Australian Catherine in Miloco studios when back in Dublin Ferrie and I used to play a Finnish skittle game called Miloko while speaking in Australian accents?
Do you believe in magic? do ya? cos we sure as hell do!
20.01
Darragh named his crow Sorrow and his Flamingo Crocket. He also got a fairy on a chain and named her Fiona. I named my cow Moocow. DRNB is about to start. With or without us I think. We are all blinged up. WE GOING OUT! the London tower rascals are feeding us Grime. Grime with guts. DAY 7
1O.54
fERRIE SAW a witch this morning. On a bike. She was giving those pesky Shoreditch kids the evil eye.Its sunday morning kids! They're still out on a saturday night. Music travels faster in warm air. Last night was a struggle. DRNB(working title) did know not no flow. It could have been the temperature. Boy was it hot. The kids did burn took a wrong turn became unsettled. I started to think way to much about the song and became empty. Ya can't roll with no gas! It had its moments though. For a while little blue Unicorns danced round the room prancing from the keyboards but even Unicorns tire.Ferrie remembered seeing The Last Unicorn as a kid. He bawled he said.
Two Oblique Strategies. Mr. Eno said TAKE DEEP BREATHS and BELIEVE IN THE YOU OF NOW. We did and we tried. NO NO lets go home and we'll have a pint on the way. The Red Lion. Hoxton.
It seems like an eon ago since we slipped and slided through the Shoreditch neon flow.
...and now well we startin a fresh. Darragh just sang Redemption Song. A really good version with Ciaran on guitar. A new day a new guitar sound some fresh coffee and we're off hopefully...
12.14
Things are going a bit better but we have decided to change the guitar sound again. We want something gritty and raw. No reverb. It needs to be played like a cowboy would play it. Darragh just went to shop wearing only shorts and 3 hats. He looks like Dr. Seuss crossed with a boxer.
15.14
We stopped for beans and butter and brie and bread and drinks with colours like green and red. We spoke with Yorkshire accents. We went back to work. Think we finally got DRNB(working title). The little blue Unicorns were so excited that they started to mess with Ferries guitar playing. Red Hurley told them to calm down.
Back to the horses. Darraghs horse goes by name of Straight 8. A hot blooded black stallion. Loves to show off. Always wanted to be in dressage but could never control himself around all the mares. My horses name is Gentle Giant.He's on loan from the Kilmainham stables. Ya couldn't meet a more relaxed horse. He takes me home when I'm drunk and asleep. Better than any Sat Nav
17.52
Just took a trip down Brick Lane. We all have some time off after a long struggle with DRNB while Ciaran comps. Brick Lane on a sunday is well wild. The craziest Kookiest crookiest cats. It feels medieval down there! We gave a man in a shopping trolley a cig. He liked our hats. I bought a nice oldskool techno/electro mix cd. Darragh bought a nice ice cream and Arran bought a nice hat. Ferrie hopefully got something nice too. He strolls faster than us so he lost us. I really wanted a beer. EVERYONE IN loNDON is drinking beer right now but I'll hold out till after todays session. I'm a professional. I'll have 2 tonight I think.
Ciarans horse goes by the name of Electra. Another black horse famous for her speed. A fine filly. She's always rearing to go every morning. Neighing up at us on the third floor and if ya don't come quick she gallops up the stairs and head butts your door! Really! Catherine doesn't have a horse either but she does have a Dolphin called Brian. She can be seen on the back of brian each morning jumping up the Thames. Brian is a qualified Architect. DAY 8
14.41
Just like the Bangles said, Sunday indeed was our fun day. We recorded NOT THE GIRL with ease. The other 3 kids jammed out a lazy sunday afternoon groove. We got it on tape. It might work as an interlude. One might have a brandy and a smoke while listening to it. We left the studio at the right time hit Commercial st. and found us a castle to Climb. Grabbed us a beer and made our way up to the turrets. Up there we met Queen Ali. She gave us a few more beers we listened to some Hip Hop and talked about somethin' and nothin'. We had a view of the ocean. It was big and white. A good night for all then to bed we did fall.
So Monday morning and like any good kid with something to do would do, we took a ride into the city. London Bridge. Tower Bridge. There were 3 of us. Red Hurley was takin Ferrie to the Natural History Museum. He had a bone to pick with some Dinosaur. We were a band apart. Darragh suggested we needed refreshments so he cycled through a fountain. Bande A Part. In the studio now and we about to start Broken Nail. Just listened to NOT THE GIRL. Made me feel very sad but in a good way. Martins back. He is wearing a nice crisp white shirt. He's here to jive he looks alert.
18.02
We takin a break from BROKEN NAIL right now. It's been a slow start. We were all off. It felt like an unfinished song for a while. I really wasn/t feeling it. I didn't come here to do Karaoke but thats what it felt like. Arran told me to imagine I'm playing it on stage. Thats all it needed. I needed to get inside the mind of jealous maniac. Thats who sings it not me. Ferrie got angry with his guitar. Arran put on some fighting stilettos. tHE keyboards were distorted. The drums were dragged through the dirt. Now were talking.
20.58
We got BROKEN NAIL down.
Martin made a Bathymeter. It measures Vibes. It goes from 1 to 6. In his own words "1 is a perfect vibe. After that the vibe starts to get too heavy. Vibes are measured in Atmospheres. At 3 and a half vibes the room must be evacuated! 6 only exists for calibration purposes".He goes on "I felt that by the end of BROKEN NAIL you guys (thats us!) were just a little over 1, and that, kids, is perfectly acceptable."
We ate Vietnamese this evening IN THE courtyard outside the studio. The courtyard is great cos we get sun and air between takes. We share it with other people from other workplaces around the other place. We don't know them by name but they are all nice. They invited us for drinks in there office on Friday but we were too busy. Hoxton square is nice but at the weekend it gets really messy. Messy drunks that smell like skunks. They leave their rubbish everywhere even though there are so many bins around! Pesky Hoxton street kids. I bet there mothers don't know what they get up to! Far from Hoxton fins they were reared!
We are all relaxing right now. Ciaran is comping. People are reading books and I am writing about them reading books. Now, TIME For a peppermint tea with honey that Catherine made for me.
00.35
So we set up for LOVE LIKE NICOTINE. We will record it in hte morning. Our friend Jeni popped in to the studio. She is just back from Serbia. We went for a pint. we went home.
IT IS SO HOT!!!
So hot that we are sitting on the floor of the kitchen with the fridge door open.
IT IS SO REFRESHING!!!!
Miles Davis is in the kitchen.
Techno is in my room.
Both sound good.
tHERE IS THUNDER OUTSide.
there is lightening outside.
Both are in the sky
and it is raining. finally it is raining. DAY 9
16.34
We cycled to the studio. Started LOVE LIKE NICOTINE. For me it was the toughest one to sing so far. Took me so many takes to get the energy levels up. The others were just coasting through it. Something had to be done. Martin suggested Guarana. Catherine got some cans of Guarana. Yesterday Ferrie saw an Iguana Don. A costume was needed. I hadn't the need to dress up for the last two songs. sO on went the black leather gloves, black jacket and black sunglasses. I channeled the spirit of Trent Reznor. Ferrie put on a bandana while playing the Moog which he couldn't here. He didn't have to play much so we recorded him playing it without any of us being able to here it. ya never know something cool might come out of it. Arran wore shorts and danced a lot. Darraghs body aches from drumming every day. He needs to rub Arnica all over hismself. IT s a tropical herbal remedY.
Earlier Darragh got a taxi to the drum doctor to tune his snares for the third time. The taxi driver told him that he played bass on the NO.1 hit OUT OF TIME by CHRIS FARLOW AND THE THUNDERBIRDS in the sixties. A THUNDERBIRD DROVE HIS TAXI!!! He gave up music after the BEATLES turned hippish. He didn't dig that groove. He got in to scaffolding instead and told Darragh that he should get in to scaffolding. "Good money" he said.
So its down. Done.
We had planned on banging a piano as an over dub for ELECTROCOIN WHEN WE GO BACK TO Dublin but Arran and Ferrie found a broken one on the street. So off we all went with a laptop, a microphone, Yorkshire accents, some hats and sunglasses and the Bathymeter. We set up the the mike and started to bang the piano. The bathymeter gave a reading of 1 Atmosphere of Vibe. Perfect. A BIG JOLLY PORTuguese man with a cigar stopped and posed for photos with us. His wife and daughter took photos. It took a few takes due to wind levels.
20.33
We mellowing and grroving to TREETOPS right now. We've brought a small tree in from the courtyard and put it up on the control desk. Arran collected some Sycamore leaves from the square for us to put in our hats and headbands. I've draped my microphone in some chiffon and added some leaves and a purple feather. The lights are down. This song starts under water and ends in the trees. We will record the wind for the ending. DAY 10
13.57
So TREETOPS went smoothly. Last night. We went for pints even though we were really really tired but ya can't just get on a horse and ride 3 miles after 12 hours in the studio and then go to bed. ya neeeeed to unwind. So we went to the Strongroom to meet Bob and Derek. Bo Derek. We drank two bottles of Bitter and Twisted each. Its a really nice Scottish Pale ALE. dEREK is Scottish. He is also called Del Boy. He is our accountant. We went on to the Hoxton Bar and Grill for two pints of Kirin. Its a quite satisfying Japanese light beer. Derek advised us on our taxes. It was very interesting to here about the different rates of taxes around Europe. The Germans take 25% off the top of your profits! NO ALLOWANCES! This is all I remember. Lots of other words I don't understand were said to me. He mentioned other percentages and other countries. DRinking and talking about taxes don't really mix. This piece was meant to be educational. I'm really sorry.
We went home and had cheese with bread and worchester sauce and a can of Jamaicas finest, Red Stripe. ItIS SUCH A QUALITY Beer. Ya only get it in small bottles back on our island and its a bit expensive. Its everywhere on this island and its cheap.
Today we will record our last song LEVEL 3. We will need to think about space travelling Vikings. Arran will dress like Joan Jet and we will try to wear red and black. Then we will do over dubs and backing vocals and stuff like that for the next few days. Like that guy says in Apocalypse Now, some day this war will be over. Well some day this session will be over.
16.47
I forgot to bring my monk costume so Catherine is fashioning one out of a curtain. Darragh has put lots of green makeup on his head. He looks like a Blog Replacant. Arran has a short green dress on and has back combed her hair. She's a fiesty one now. I really wouldn't mess with her. We just heard that Daniel Beddingfield is coming in to the studio to have look. I'm not sure if we really need something like this right now. I hope he likes our costumes.
18.51
We doing LEVEL 3. Slow to start. The monk thing wasn't working. I tried singing under a blanket. No. I'm Trent Reznor again. This song has got to rock very hard. That might. Ferrie broke a string. We STOPPED. Darragh is now drumming in speedos. Its getting hot in here so take off all your clothes.
Daniel Beddingfield is not calling in now. We had set up a hidden camera to record him.
Do ya ever get nervous for no reason? Well that happened to me earlier. I got really nervous. It lasted about an hour. Maybe its the taxes. This session is going too slow. Things breaking and some technical difficulties. We also upped the tempo by 2 bpms. The vibe should be just under 3.5 atmospheres. Close to evacuation.
22.26
This kid was hot. This kid needed to be hotter. Leather gloves. On! Leather Jacket. On! Leather sunglasses. On! This kid needed to make a racket! This kid needed to attack it! To be continued... DAY 11
10.52
Bloody Ghetto Birds! Ya wait half an hour for one then five come along at the same time! Last night we were having a few cold Red Stripes by the canal outside our house. The police helicopters kept circling making a terrible ruckus! We couldn't here ourselves blink. We pondered bout whether if a pigeon is known as a flying rat then can a rat be called a walking pigeon? Do ya ever feel like you have a hat on your head when you don't? I had that feeling yesterday. I kept trying to take off my phantom hat. Yesterday was a very strange day. I think our brains are really tired. There were some low lows. Nerves for no reason and some strange thoughts. Things are usually so normal in here. Well we still on LEVEL 3. Ciaran has decided the song has to sound like two gangs fighting.
11.29
It's Catherines Birthday!! She was given a Shetland Pony called Thunder and arrived on him today! We gave her a DRN Tshirt and some Karate Slippers. and cup cakes. Martin has just left to go back to the island that we come from. Bye Martin. Catherine and Ciaran have dressed up as mean gang rockers. Ferrie is Robbie Krieger again Darragh is back in his speedos and is juggling his maracas to warm up and Arran has that mean green dress on again. I dare not look at her! We're here to fight! I'm only going to wear sunglasses. I think I'm the commentator of the gang fight.
12.45
So LEVEL 3 is going really well. It's rockin! Once we started speaking with German accents it really took off. On a break. For the next few takes we will use a different snare drum. No two gangs would ever use the same snare drum! This song is going to have two drum tracks.
15.03
LEVEL 3 is down! All our live tracking is done! 14 tracks! next few days will be over dubs. We have rest of day off now. Darragh might go to Camden. Arran will go and help her friend Tamzin set up an exhibition for tonight. FErrie isn't sure what he's doing and me either. I will follow one of the other two if they'll let me. I'm too tired to think for myself. All this singing has melted my brain. There are so many characters I need to let go. Method singing is tough. I actually DO NOT need a pint right now. I need a smoothie some ice cream and probably a few hugs.
I HAVE A LITTLE STORY FOR YOU. Bob Geldofs father used to deliver carpets to my Grandad. hE had a carpet shop in Galway. London is a very small town so I'll probably bump into him. I'll tell Bob this story too.
When do ya use 'in to' and when do ya use 'into'. I don't know. There are lots of other things I don't know. I always hated the way you were told not to start a sentence with 'but' in school. 'But' is a good way to start anything! and ya know the way 'night' is spelt 'nite'. well thats fine by me too! The teachers didn't like that. DAY 12
13.01
I AM SO HANGOVER
13.23
I didnt get ice cream or a smoothie or hugs. Just bloody pints. I wnet to Camden with Darraghwe cycled vthere. it was very stressfullly. Six or seven miles surrounded by trucks nad buses! we passed a really big building with 2 giant cat statues and big cat faces on the walls. it looked very Egyptian. It was! IT WAS CALLED LOndon house. we had a pint of Heineken import in the Lock Tavern. Ferrie was lready in CAmden. He was in Canalside bar. We met him there and had a pint of Red Stripe. We went to the Elephant Head and had a pint of Kronenberg. We went across the road to the lkasjdhgbfjlhn dlhglbnlkfnalk and had a pint of London Pride. We went t o the Diner and had burgers and chips and beer. Ferrie had a Brooklyn. Darragh had a Kirin and I had a beer called Chilli beer. A Chilli beer! what was I thinking! That doesnt go with food! Not this food! I got a BROOKLYN. Thats better. By itself the chilli beer was interesting. It had a full chilli in it. We all had double espressos. While drinking these beers in these pubs we looked at lots of these people.
We cycled back to Hoxton
We got some prosecco and went back to studio. Ciaran and Catherine were still there. We had some for her birthday. We looked at Tommy Cooper on Youtube. We cycled to a pub somewhere. Arran was there with her friends Jeni Tamzin and Deirdre. Iknow her brother Sean. Heelo Sean! We went back to our place and had some Red Stripe by the Canal. We played the Finnish stick skittle game called Miloko. I told the girls that they all had very posh accents and that that wasn't a bad thing. They are all southsiders.
I woke up this morning.
Last night Darragh spilt a can of beer in his bed.
A HA HA HA HA HA HA A A A A A HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!
14.28
Apparently its Friday. i ate lots of Melon that Darrahg brought to studio. Ferrie is drivig in the van to some town to meet his relations. Arran is maybe somewhere. When I have a head i will play guitar. Ciaran is comping. Today we will all play floor toms and kick drums as over dubs on LEVEL 3. We are doing a tribal drumming thing.
15.10
Catherine has a dose of the freckles. Two have appeared on her forehead since this morning. She thinks thinks that maybe we've put an Irish curse on her. Weve told her that she'll need some olive oil some pepper and that she'll have to go to the crossroads and play the banjo backwards. DAY 13
10.58
My writings came to a sudden halt yesterday due sleep(not enough), Booze(enough). My energy was low low low. For me yesterday was sunday and today is monday. Ciaran did lots of comping yesterday. Apparently it's now saturday. I was due to wear a monk costume today for our tribal drumming overdubs but I have had to put a stopper on that. I Ronnie will drum today.
On a more normal note Arran believes she might be turning in to a fish but she has previously put together a homeopathic cream called calendula made with calendula flowers from a garden in Bray that will counteract this transformation.
11.56
We will be drumming in the courtyard. 2 kick drums on the flat being hit with mallets and 2 snares with 2 floor toms. We getting sounds now.
13.29
So drumming almost done. We got our Macnas on! Its a small square courtyard surrounded by 3 storey buildings with many stories. Some people looked down from above. They might have been a bit annoyed. We said we'd only be half azn hour. Its probably way louder up there.
19.09
For lunch we had soup in the rain
which was a pain
cos our bread did get wet
that we ate for a bet
in the rain.
Ferrie did some overdubs
and thought about lion cubs.
I played a whole guitar track!
yakkity yak!
SHAKE SHAKE MY CEILING it was.
I played just because!
So wha!
Arran spoke with Jeni
about things there were many.
Mark Downes came along with his camera in hand.
He's from our island but lives on this land.
He filmed us at play
on this satur-day.
Interviewed us he did.
These kids sure did kid.
So now we rub a dub dub
another overdub
and think about food no we'll think about grub
Darragh will go drink
with an old flat mate I think
Will he get drunk....
of course he bloody will!
03.41
Still not sleeping. I WENT FOR 4 pints in the strongroom with Ciaran. we met Darrrrrragh and his friend Kevin there. Ferrai and AARRRAAANNN WEnt home. I HAD 3 PINTS OF Landlord and a Bitter and Twisted. andWe cycled home and on the way had a kebab. we TAlked about what we wouldnt do what we would do what we could do what we couldnt do what if we did when we did when we didnt do. WEwere not confused.
Who are your Heroes? I'm not sure. Kraftwerk maybe. should an actor be a hero? should a musician be? They should probably do something to benefit man and womankind. Like some one who invents a cure or discovers something. But I dont know, whatever like I suppose.
Category: Pets and Animals
DAY 14
12.14
So it's our last day. I'm in studio with Ciaran and Catherine bout to do guitar for ELECTROCOIN. Ferrie is down Brick Lane.He got an old Radio. We are going to use it for effects. Haven't seen Darragh and Arran yet. When I arrived Ciaran was making crazy sounds with a Putney VCS3. It's an old vintage modular synth. It doesn't have any keys but it has lots of knobs and a patch section that looks like that battle ships game. I saw some really old 70's footage of Kraftwerk using one the last day. It is cool. I should really know bout these things or at least pretend to know about them.
17.21
I put down the guitar for Electrocoin. We ate egg and bacon sandwiches. Arran played the wurlitzer at the end of FAST FLASHES/WHO IS ISABELLA MOONLIGHT. It follows my lead vocal melody It sounds really sorrowful. Thats good. I did a questionaire bout the studio. I wrote some lyrics. No one will see them for a while. I think the wurlitzer put them in my head. Cyndi Lauper said that she blows up balloons to warm up her voice so we got balloons to warm up our voices. Darragh, Ferrie and Arran just did a choir vocal for SHAKE SHAKE MY CEILING. They did a few takes in the live room then a few out in the courtyard and then a few more on the stairs. Darragh was in a shower with the door closed and was still louder than the other two.
So now Arran is doing a keyboard part for LEVEL 3. Its our last day. Feels a bit strange. We will all go out tomorrow. It would be good to go to an ice cream parlour I think. We might go to Tyyabs . It is either a really good Indian or a really good Northern Pakistani place. Either way its really good. They do a mean Mango Lassi. Catherine is making peppermint tea. Mmm! With honey please.
21.23
I was singing SHAKE SHAKE MY CEILING. It was ok. It was good but probably not good enough. Ciaran asked Brian Eno for one last time. He said "When your faced with 2 choices do both". so Ciaran had talked about how maybe I should be drunk singing this song but he wasn't sure. He got his answer. We hit the Barley Mow. one Jameson two double Le Frogs and Jagermiester later we back in tne studio. Le Frog is such a quality peat Whiskey. Idid another 5 or 6 takes. they were drunk and messy but sessleasy. A drunk man sings this song. BUT then the coolest thing happened! Darragh, ArraN Ciaran and CATHERINE all sang their versions of the song. Its ON TAPE! It sounded so cool. I never really heARD THe the song before COS I sing it. so to step outside the song waS really good. before the booze I was feeling nervous again for no reason. Just studio tiredness I suppose. SO NOW WE ARE3 GOING TO DRINK persecco to celebrate. I'm sorry for my bad spellign and greymatter during this diary. But actually its fine isnnt it. If EVERYONE SPELT THE SAME THEN WE WOULD ALL still be cavemen. DAY 1 out of studio
Category: Goals, Plans, Hopes DAY 1 outside
14.49
SO ya so wha! did an album so wha! After we left studio last night I was quiet drunk like a mouse. We went to the 10 bells on Commericial st. and met some cool cats. We told the staff we'd just made an album and that they should give us a lock in for the night. NO they said. Ah shite we said.
ssoo we went back to our place and drank cans outside and it was good. we had a good fight on wheelie chairs and listened to some nice techno. I have lots of cuts and bruises today. Arran and I went outside to watch the sunrise. I dont know if it did. We had lots of tea and one can and talked for hours about ghosts and aliens and time travel and God and watched people having morning joggs. We got a bit sunburnt .I think. went to bed around 10.30. DAY 2 out of studio
Category: Religion and Philosophy DAY 2 out of studio
02.08
Well what didnt happen!
So to recap cos I havent been at a computer in bout 36 hours. I've been writing on a pad though but my writing is very messy so it'll take a while to put it together.
oh yeah sunday night with the wheelie chairs and all that. That was lots of fun. we bashed around kitchen. up and down the tables and chairs
cups of rounds not able who cares
It should have been bed time but two cats were wired
so they stepped outside as the sun was highered?(not a word maybe so wha!)
They talked about existentialism
Shlah la lala la shism
and the planes roared and soared just like before
no sound spared they pounded we talked and poured.
Nothing serious just God, Aliens, Religion, Time Travel, Sun burn and Parallel Universes so wha!
and the joggers jogged as I would later blog.
"More tea Arran?" I slurred, "Ah ya why not" she sang like a bird
Sunglasses yes! Tea yes! One more can do we need this mess!
Ah ya why not
The spiders retreated into the cool of that days shadows.
I took a photo of my shadow
A shadow of my former self I said!
I thought I was really funny.
The art seats we saw and finally found were a big big dissapointment.
Still the jets roared.
Train of thought?
The trains took our thoughts.
They drifted and shifted by. Bye bye
We saw a UFO
or maybe a balloon that came too soon.
FRICTION! NO!
Fact. maybe.
"Another rebel thats sooooooo cheeseey"she said
" bUT I said another level. i suppose thats cheesy too. Well beure why dont you write the words then?" I said
"I will I'll write a chant" she said
If we fall asleep here we'll burn.
This night or morning needs to turn.
"Take stock lad! We need a head so that means bed"
"You're dead right beure dead right.Your not wrong!"
Sleep sleep sleep friendly hugs are for keeps
and the soul... of the train... of the thought...
lies deep in the deep. Day 2/3 out of studio
Category: Games 02.27
8 half hours later and a half sleep later 5 cats were ready to play.
a whole day! a whole day!
We took a trip down Brick Lane.Thick as one I was.
There the brickabrack nicknack crackers sold us rickitty racketers only one week before.
Expensive sandwiches so cool we couldn't eat them.
Beat it!
Lets get the fo outta eeyah!
Cycle to Soho they said.
To the French House they said.
May as well have been to the bloody moon! so far away from near and soon.
Pedal push pedal pant
these tall buildings make me feel like an ant.
Pedal push pedal push
say nathin fiend hush.
Pedal pant pedal pant
I can't I can't!
I need a pint we'll have 2 here and 2 there.
No no we'll keep going and going and going. Ah lads come on!
FIIIIIIIINALLY we got there.
The kids couldn't think without a drink.
Take two they're small not five feet tall!
We'll have 5 please
5 alive kids need 5 alive drinks.
Cidre Breton Brut Traditionnel. Oh what a serious cider! Cloudy like our heads that were mounted on our brains.
1 litre bottle by 6 divided by 5 thirsty glasses!
Did it go done the hatch like silk! Well like yeah! What it didn't do!
A fine starter to any meal. That Ricard wasn't half bad either
Downsy and Henri joined us.
" The Neachtains of Soho lads" Downsy said with a glint in his eye that suggested we take him right serious. Maths didn't matter anymore we just poured and poured.
We hit China town gave it a right whack.
So tasty I might go back.
SCallops and scuttle fish put the feet in our shuffle.
Back to the French house where they couldn't resist us. It was there headquarters during the war.
Now I'm off for a kip. I'll continue this later day 2/3/4 out of studio
Category: Life 21.36
NOW ITS THURSDAY EVENING THE SECOND NIGHT I MUST SLEEP ON THIS ISLAND. But I BHAVE TO FINISH WHAT HAPPENED to us from monday night to tuesday. You kids need the truth. Bloody bloc caps button i keep forgeting about it.
So French House. Lisa Stansfield was out side drinking beside us with who we thought was Chris Farlow from CHris Farlow and the Thunderbirds. It wasnt. Days earlier Darragh had gotten A taxi off the bass player. WEe thought there was more magic. but no. Well we'd had bout as much magic as any kids could handle.
At closing we headed to Dalsdon where there was a jazz bar called jazz bar. We met Jeni there. It was a grroovy place with soul.
The American Landlady sure was a sweetie.
I told her I was a champion farmer. She believed me.
Ifelt bad so told her that her bar was seriously on track
Good soul good rock steady I said I'd be back
So Jeni is a lovely girl
She brought us back to har gaff
We saw foxes do cart wheels
and had fruit and nut for meals
Boy oh boy I liked the leaves
We all slept there we all crashed. day 2/3/4 out of studio
Category: Automotive 11.47
ON tuesday we left jenis and headed for the tate modern
straight for the tate no kissin!
tit for tate!
see ya later mate!
If Darragh had a dog shop he'd call it Woof Trade he said
we got there and had a refreshing cola.
So modern art well where do ya start.
I stood and looked at Francis Bacons 2nd Version of Tryptych 1944.
Underneath this tryptych sat 3 little girls scribbling 3 pictures.
There was something cool about that.
They were to young to understand the hellish imagery above them.
Their pictures were a lot better than some of the stuff in this gallery too!
I saw a blank canvas with no paint on it with a slash through it.IT WAS FRAMED.
Apparently its famous
What a load of bollocks.
The artist got deeper in to the painting by slashing it rather than painting it.
Hey listen Mr. Artist, head off ya gommie!
We left the Tate and had an iCE CREAM BY THE SOUTH BANK.
strange mood there. I think we all realised this crazy album journey was finally over.
We headed to some bar to meet some friends. Had a few there.some food and headed to the Buffalo Bar to a gig. We met catherine there. She's really cool I was sad saying good bye.
We left London at 4.30 am on wednesday. Ferrie drove us all the way back to Dublin. DON't know how he did it. so tiring.
Well I GOT HOME AND MET me beure.
I was sick she was the cure.
We didnt hug we melted
and our heartbeats felt it.
12:06 PM
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