a blog that isn’t selling anything part 2

so i'm finding myself at a little bit of a loose end at the moment .. pending the release of the new miserylab album ..

so I've taken the opportunity to underwhelm you with some more of my own self importance ..

I wonder sometimes if it's necessary to agree with my view on the world in order to enjoy [?] miserylab .. there appears to be two kinds of people - those who never refer to the lyrics and those who concur and greatly appreciate them ..

I've never had a negative or critical remark made regarding my standing - in some peculiar way I find that disappointing ..

although relatively speaking the pace at which I write the lyrics has significantly increased - it's still the longest and hardest part of the songwriting process .. I sometimes feel I've created a rod for my own back .. the temptation to throw in some poetic ambiguous line .. "the soul of my despair - mist and shadows everywhere" .. can be quite overwhelming ..

apart from anything else - my intellectual understanding of the things I write about - I have to confess - is nowhere near what it should be .. and my view of how fucked up everything is - is pretty much instinctive as opposed to well informed ..

it's also very important to me - to convey miserylab in a very ordinary language .. there can be a tendency for politically motivated artists to be tediously contrived - highbrowed .. just pseudo intellectual babble - littered with references to which we know nothing about .. this is something I vigorously try to avoid ..

I'm no different from any of you - most of the criticisms regarding apathy and indifference are as much a critique of myself as they are of anybody else .. I would love to be able to say that I spend my evening plotting the next liberation of caged animals - or taking direct action against some unethical corporation .. but alas I don't - I sit at home wishing I had more money in order to buy things and wondering what pizza to order [ yes - still vegetarian but only aspiring to be vegan ] .. what is wrong with us all .. ? .. I wonder ?

I'm not trying to inspire change in people or their perceptions of the world .. and it's a good job - relatively speaking nobody is listening or even aware that I'm talking - I can't even convince rosetta fans to give miserylab a chance - let alone rid them of indifference and apathy with regard to to anything of significant importance ..

jesus ..

--

a response to some points made with regard to my previous blog .. [ technical ]

I'm still using my pro-tools tdm system that I've had for about ten years .. my power mac is now dedicated simply for this task - and it's still running mac os 8.6 .. this system is more than adequate for what I'm doing at the moment - I used to struggle more when I was doing mixes for artists who'd send me a 48-track mix of a song ! .. beside I've 'acquired' an astonishingly large library of tdm processors for my system - it would take me years to re-acquire if I was to upgrade ..

I probably spent about a day finalising the fundamental sounds with regard to both albums prior to the writing process .. the drum machine is software based as is the bass .. the drums were created by combining a number of samples - balancing them - re-sampling them - then running them via a software drum machine ..

with regards to continuity and mixing .. the vocals drums and bass processes in the final mix stage are the same on every track and apart from the vocals they retain the same output levels in the mixes ..

it would always drive me close to insanity - when I would play mixes side by side and one was noticeable weaker or less dynamic - because I had used different sounds and processes .. so now - all compression and limiting is consistent - with the exception of 'release' which I always ensure is tempo relevant ..

there are pros and cons to this method - as there are to experimenting with numerous sounds .. for years I was an obsessive 'knob-twiddler' and it may have produced some interesting results .. but it always made me indecisive - constantly thinking that there's a better combination of sounds to be found .. if only I'm prepared to spend another four days working on this hi hat ..

it's just not for me anymore ..

porl

12:16 PM - 4 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

a blog that isn’t selling anything ...

I've read and considered with great interest over many months peoples views and thoughts regarding miserylab .. therefore I thought it might be of some momentary interest if I was to explain some aspects of miserylab in detail ..

firstly - and most importantly - there is no oversight ..

take the original strapline :

bleak but melodic .. post punk - new wave - retrospective with a dissenting voice ..

the keyword is retrospective .. miserylab isn't about experimentation or new concepts - neither is it about pushing boundaries .. it is simply nostalgia ..

there are a number of purposeful limitations that I have imposed on myself .. which I will explain .. but first - how many of you have become totally immersed in the sound of a bands debut album - only to be somewhat disappointed by their second ? - inevitably with the success of a first album comes a larger budget and the involvement of influential producers - plus there is often a tendency for an artist to become a little complacent and the second album can often be indulgent - grandoise and lack many of those raw characteristics that the first one contained .. there can even be an element of trying to reach a wider audience which then possibly compromises and dilutes ..

even if I was to just mention interpol and swr at this point - most of what I have said in my opinion would apply .. I wanted to hear more tracks like roland and sister .. but we end up with tracks more diversely acceptable in the hope of being radio friendly .. I should have also mentioned editors ..

I digress .. back to miserylab .. there is a purposeful methodology - those self imposed rules - for each album - I only ever use one particular drum machine sound - with a relentless unchanging two-bar loop .. only ever use one bass synthesiser and only one bank of additional keyboard sounds .. of the guitars that I have - I only use one .. a shergold masquerader which is authentic to the period which inspires miserylab - and technically by no means my best .. I don't even use a guitar tuner - I tune by ear which I think adds imperfections and natural chorusing / resonances ..

I no longer over-produce anything - even more so with adtwcc - no reverb effects on either the vocals or drum machine ...

miserylab is about creating with limitation .. this ensures more effort on the side of songwriting and performance in the studio - which in the past has taken a backseat to my obsession with production .. no distortion whatsoever not even on the guitars ..

all this impacts enormously on my productivity in a very positive way .. no dilemmas .. could I make the bass more powerful - should I use a different sound ? should the snare drum be bigger ? .. these things can or did dog me for weeks .. especially when trying to compile an album - and sitting tracks side by side .. but no longer ..

miserylab is formulaic - arguably partially contrived .. but to me it works .. I know exactly what I want it to be .. it has a sonic and visual identity - I have no interest in it ever being eclectic .. it will never be a melodic chameleon .. it is linear and consistant .. but purposefully so ..

If I find myself overwhelmed by further self importance any time soon .. I may talk a little about the politics lyrics and imagery of miserylab .. and my disappointment with many rosetta stone fans ..

I respect and welcome all your views - good or bad ..

porl

9:51 AM - 4 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

free download available now : new single : up in arms ...

the new single up in arms is now available for free download ..

click on the unhappy capitalist ...




the track doesn't feature on the new album : released 5th november ...

10:20 AM - 3 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

free download and other thoughts ..

so the six new songs have been on myspace for a day or so ..

although they've certainly had a good few many listens - I rather hope the lack of feedback isn't a reflection of indifference .. I maybe tempted to pull the album or release it as download only ..

also the running order of tracks isn't what I had planned - but as some of you may know the new music player has been plagued with problems - it's a miracle I managed to get them on at all ...

I still stand by the fact that - be there tomorrow - is still my strongest track .. but this new album as a whole feels fuller - more dynamically consistant .. I'd prefer if you listened to the title track - a death we can cure - and - imaginary friend - first .. to me at least these are stand out tracks ..

so to recap the fourteen track album is released via miserylab.com on november fifth .. 150 copies on CD with members of the database getting details first ..


_ free download single _

an exclusive track not included on the new album will be available shortly for free download - the track is called - up in arms .. you can preview it on the gydget ..

more details soon ..

12:14 PM - 4 Comments - 8 Kudos - Add Comment

six new tracks for preview ...

I've uploaded six tracks from the forthcoming album ..

a death that we can cure ..

let me know your thoughts ?

more info later ...

porl

5:05 PM - 2 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

update and widget application

the version of 'will we ever learn' .. for download - will only be available for a couple more days .. the track has been remixed and rebalanced - in keeping with the rest of the forthcoming album 'a death that we can cure' ..

the album and artwork are complete .. mastered and ready to go into production .. the packaging this time around will include more artwork and lyrics in a transparent spined jewel case .. some of you were under the impression that function creep was a CD-R .. which it wasn't .. I'm assuming this probably had something to do with the minimalistic appearance ..

I've created an application that some of you may wish to add to your profiles or blogs .. it's like a mini version of miserylab.com ..

more news soon ..

porl

12:21 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

information and update : new album

so I've been thinking about how the release of the album is going to work ..

as promised those who have joined the database will be given priority - therefore on the 5th november they will receive a link in an email to a private page with purchase details .. people are still welcome to join the database - click here ... 24 hours later I will post the details on myspace and miserylab.com for non-members ...

I'm currently sat listening to the first test mix of the album - for the first time on a domestic hi-fi .. and I'm pleasantly relieved .. I had been concerned that I wouldn't be able to equal some of the songs on 'function creep' .. but I feel that 'a death that we can cure' is possibly stronger and more consistent - I only hope that you'll feel the same way ... on another point - I was shocked to discover that it has an entire running time of 59.36 ..

It's too early to add tracks to myspace - but I will add six full tracks - as and when it feels right ..

other thoughts - I loathe the term 'street team' and also tend to think they are more appropriate to 'gigging' acts .. but I have pondered it - and it has been suggested in messages I've received .. I'm not particularly sure what incentives I could offer - what I do know for sure is - it's bordering on the impossible promoting miserylab - even amongst rosetta fans .. and I could certainly do with some help or suggestions ..

I've been uncharacteristically positive of late [blame kathryn] - it's probably about time I had a bit of grumble - so here it is .. I've discovered a couple of people trying to sell copies of 'function creep' at prices reaching 120 euros ..  now let me make one thing clear - I have no problem whatsoever with people selling records CD's merchandise which have over time become collectors items and are no longer cherished or wanted by the owner .. I see many rosetta items on ebay for example - that I know will have been originally bought without the foresight of how valuable they may become in the future ..

the difference with 'function creep' is profit-savvy people have bought it - with no intention other than to sell it on at a profit due to the rariety .. now imagine how it feels - spending every day writing and recording for six months - producing a cd -  only to see the buyer who has contributed nothing - sell it on for ten times the price .. therefore as the owner and seller of miserylab product - I will consider anyone doing this in the future - as being in breach of the 'assumed' reason for purchase - and I will do as I see fit .. and saying you don't like the album is not an excuse when there are 6 preview tracks in full to consider before buying ..

music as a vocation and economically is dying - we all - and I include myself - pretty much expect music to be free .. I genuinely don't know how it is going to financially sustain itself in the years to come ..

add this banner ..



here's the code ...
<a href="http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vd3d3Lm1pc2VyeWxhYi5jb20="><img src="http://twisted.org.uk/~porl/graphic/banner-advertisement.png"></a><br>

porl

10:53 AM - 6 Comments - 8 Kudos - Add Comment

new album : a death that we can cure ...

7:56 AM - 3 Comments - 6 Kudos - Add Comment

new single available now .. preview on myspace ...

the new single : will we ever learn .. is now available for download

you can preview the track here on my miserylab myspace profile



available in CD quality audio wav file .. and 320kbps mp3 [highest quality]

download it now from miserylab.com ...

let me know what you think .. this is a pre-release taster from the forthcoming album release scheduled for september 2008 ...

porl

4:15 AM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

deletions and new releases ...

as some of you will be aware - I'm currently very busy working on a new album .. which I hope to release in september ..

I'm about halfway through the writing and recording - and on impulse I've decided to release a single in advance ..

the track will be available to preview here on myspace - it will be a digital download in CD quality audio ..

the track is called 'will we ever learn' .. as always your comments good or very good would be appreciated - and will act as a good indicator as to whether I'm drifting direction or not ...

anyway - everything should be in place by this time tomorrow if not sooner .. keep checking ..

I am also about to delete 'be there tomorrow [extended version]' .. anyone who still wishes to purchase should do so immediately .. as it won't be there tomorrow ..

see what I did there ?

porl

4:25 AM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment