|
|
May already and I've not finished the album!!!!
But the end is in sight. Mike and I have started work on the keyboards, which is the last major part of the jigsaw.
It's difficult to explain why the album is taking quite so long, but you'd be amazed how much time everything takes - especially when it's sandwiched between holding down a job, fitting in gigs and generally living a life.
I'm really excited about how it's all sounding. Everyone who contributes to the project has brought something fresh to the party, and although they're still recognisably the songs I started out with, I'd never have imagined they'd sound quite this good.
Still got to fit in mixing mastering etc, but looking good for an October release, and promo discussions already underway.
Despite my not really looking for any at the moment, a steady steam of gigs seems to be appearing. All still acoustic at this stage - which I'm quite enjoying. Adding a few more numbers into the set to vary things a little, so expect some surprises.
Will get to a full electric band at some point, but not in any hurry at the moment.
More soon
Alan
|
|
Hi there,
Just catching my breath after the frenetic activity of the last few weeks. 'Dancing with Ghosts' is finally out, the press machine is starting to kick in, the songs are being played on the radio - and best of all - we got to go out and play a few gigs.
This was quite an operation to pull off. Previously I've had the benefit of a larger organisation to help me sort these things out, but here I was pretty much on my own. First off many, many, thanks to Arena and Magenta for allowing me the privilege of playing to their audiences. I'm really lucky to have the benefit of their friendship.
The big step was heading off with Arena to 'Spirit of 66' in Verviers, Belgium and 'De Pul' in Uden, NL. These are both venues I've played at on more than one occasion before in a previous existence. I knew we'd get a fair hearing from those audiences, and I wasn't disappointed. Even so it was tremendous to get the sort of reaction we did. I drove something like 800 miles in three days, but every single one was worth it for the sense of validation we got playing to such appreciative audiences. And the merch sales kept up well enough for me to keep Mark and I (and Esther, Mark's other half who ended up runniing the Merch desk) in food and beer throughout : . Special thanks need to go to Arena's crew, who went out of their way to look after us like we were part of the family.
A couple of weekends later and a slightly different set-up. It had proved logistically impractical to do this on the Arena dates, but with Magenta I was determined to unveil a full four-piece incarnation of the 'Sensational Alan Reed Exeperience.' Re-joining us on guitar was Callum McCallum. Callum and I have known eachother since secondary school, and played together in a school band originally called 'Enchephalitis Lethargica' (Sleeping Sickness), but which ended up monickered 'Trance Macabre'. We were both obsessed with Gabriel-era Genesis at the time and used to play a lot of interwoven 12-string duets. He was the first person I thought of when I decided to do this acoustic project.
Joining us on acoustic bass guitar and electric double-bass was Jennifer Clark. Jennifer is a pro session player based in Glasgow who works in a variety of situations, but is notably the live bass player for scottish singer-songwriter 'Horse'. We were introduced to eachother online via a mutual friend, just as I'd reached the conclusion I might need a double-bass player for some of the songs on the EP. We had met exactly once - in a pub in Glasgow - about a month before the gigs. We hadn't actually played with eachother until the day before. In fact the first full rehearsal of 'The Experience' was on the day of the first gig at The Peel!!!!!!!
That said, it was clear from the off that this was a bit special. We all gelled immediately and the electric double-bass in particular added a distinctive weapon to our armoury. Bowed and de-tuned, it sounds remarkably like bass pedals!!!
So, off to The Peel, and despite a few technical issues that delayed both Magenta and ourselves (luckily the legendary Les Patterson was on hand to sort things out) we even managed a soundcheck before the big night. And what a night. We couldn't have asked for a better audience for our 'debut'. My hats off to all of you who attended. On-stage I really felt that we'd moved up a gear.
Bilston the following night was a similar revelation. Much less pressured for time on this occasion, and with a much roomier stage we felt settled and ready for what turned out to be another fabulous audience reaction. For reasons I never quite understood, P****s never played the Robin, but I have to say it's one of the best venues I've come across in the UK. I hope we get the chance to go back.
Back to a duo for The Musician in Leicester and Danfest - a frankly ambitious line-up of bands in a small, but perfectly-formed venue. With Mark and I needing very little in the way of technical support - and as first band of the evening slot - this was a far easier proposition for us than most of the bands who were there. It was all a bit chaotic to be honest, but we had a ball. We missed the fullness of sound we'd had with the extended line-up, but we now felt like seasoned performers with the set, and had possibly our most relaxed gig. Good crown participation too!!
Another milestone has been reached. With eight gigs under my belt as a solo performer, I can now say I'm getting used to the idea and enjoying it immensely. It's different to what I did before, but I think it's growing on me
No more gigs on the horizon until the CRS awards night in Wath on March 3rd (with Magenta) - but then I do have the small matter of an album to finish!!! Oh, and Mr Nolan's on my case about 'SHE' in Cheltenham in February (tickets already selling very well!!!)
|
|
OK Folks?!
One week till release of 'Dancing with Ghosts' - and what a week it is.
Digital preview copies have been doing the rounds and I already have some radio-play and interviews under my belt. Response so far has been extremely positive, and I'm grateful that people seem to have 'got' what I'm trying to do so far.
CDs are on their way to retailers, and those who pre-ordered from www.themerchdesk.com should have their copies BEFORE the official release date. Those who ordered digital copies via BANDCAMP will also get theirs before Nov 7th.
It's busy on the gigging front too, with Mark and I taking to the stage supporting the might Arena at Spirit of 66 in Verviers, B, and De Pul, NL, this coming Friday and Saturday. We've got two more gigs with those lovely Magenta people too - The Peel in Kingston, and Robin2 in Bilston. These gigs will hopefully see the debut of an extended four-piece version of 'The Sensational Alan Reed Experience'. Callum McCallum will return on guitar duties, and we'll be joined on bass by Jennifer Clark. Jennifer added upright and acoustic bass to some of the tunes on 'Dancing with Ghosts'. She's a top session player across the rock, jazz and classical worlds, and is a regular member of the touring band of scottish singer-songwriter Horse.
so.. it's all go..
Looking forward to seeing some of you at gigs, and hearing what you think of the EP. At some point I may even finish that album I'm working on :-)
Alan
|
|
Well folks, it's less than a month till you get to hear the very first fruits of my solo labours.
Dancing with Ghosts has been mastered, and is off being turned into shiny plastic discs for you to buy and love.
This is really quite a turning point for me. Although it's not a full album - and three of the songs are re-workings of stuff I've previously recorded in a former life - it feels like it properly marks the start of something new. To quote The Waterboys..'The New Life starts today!'
The idea of the EP is deceptively simple - to re-visit some old songs and strip them down to their absolute basics. There's no real prog frippery. Just voice, acoustic guitars and bass, with a smattering of keyboards. I'm pleased with how they've turned out, and it's allowed me to feel a fresh connection with songs like 'Sanctuary' which recent events had made well-nigh impossible.
For those of you who prefer a rockier approach - don't worry too much. Despite the acoustic flavour I've not turned into a folkie, or the Brit-prog Billy Bragg. 'First in a Field of One' has more than its fair share of noisy drums and guitars. There's less instrumental self-indulgence than is usually associated with 'prog', but it's still got some tasty playing on it.
I'm still not sure how far I'l take the acoustic side of things. I'm doing a number of gigs this way - and it's certainly logistically less complex than a full band. But I like a bit of 'rawk' too, so don't be surprised if I start turning up with a more conventional band at some point. I may even re-visit some of the P****S back-catalogue too, seeing as it's currently unavailable, and my former colleagues seem intent on pretending the last 25 years never happened!
Anyway - onwards and upwards
Alan
|
|
Well folks, it's less than a month till you get to hear the very first fruits of my solo labours.
Dancing with Ghosts has been mastered, and is off being turned into shiny plastic discs for you to buy and love.
This is really quite a turning point for me. Although it's not a full album - and three of the songs are re-workings of stuff I've previously recorded in a former life - it feels like it properly marks the start of something new. To quote The Waterboys..'The New Life starts today!'
The idea of the EP is deceptively simple - to re-visit some old songs and strip them down to their absolute basics. There's no real prog frippery. Just voice, acoustic guitars and bass, with a smattering of keyboards. I'm pleased with how they've turned out, and it's allowed me to feel a fresh connection with songs like 'Sanctuary' which recent events had made well-nigh impossible.
For those of you who prefer a rockier approach - don't worry too much. Despite the acoustic flavour I've not turned into a folkie, or the Brit-prog Billy Bragg. 'First in a Field of One' has more than its fair share of noisy drums and guitars. There's less instrumental self-indulgence than is usually associated with 'prog', but it's still got some tasty playing on it.
I'm still not sure how far I'l take the acoustic side of things. I'm doing a number of gigs this way - and it's certainly logistically less complex than a full band. But I like a bit of 'rawk' too, so don't be surprised if I start turning up with a more conventional band at some point. I may even re-visit some of the P****S back-catalogue too, seeing as it's currently unavailable, and my former colleagues seem intent on pretending the last 25 years never happened!
Anyway - onwards and upwards
Alan
|
|
OK - a bit of bad news. Due to my own ineptitude in these matters - and the requirements of my 'day' job - I'm going to have to delay the release of 'Dancing with Ghosts' by a couple of weeks. The technicalities of manufacture, and my being away at an in-opportune moment, means that I need a little more time to get everything ready for despatch. The new release date is Monday, November 7th.
With any luck, those who've pre-ordered will get them before that, but as I don't like making promises I can't keep this will now be the official date!
Sorry everyone
Alan
|
|
Summer's over
Or it least it feels that way!!!
I'm back from my holidays and am just realising how much I've got to do to keep pace with the schedule I've set myself for the rest of the year and beyond. In a couple of weeks I'll be back in the Netherlands for the one-off performance of 'SHE' at De Boerderij in Zoetermeer. Please come along if you can, It's quite a show with some rather fine songs and stellar performances from the whole cast - even me!! 
Even before that I'm most of the way through finalising the tracks for the acoustic EP, 'Dancing with Ghosts', which is still scheduled for October 24th -in time for the live dates with Arena and Magenta. I'm rather pleased with how this is turning out, and I hope you will be too! There's just so much to do organising your own release - of which the recording and mixing is perhaps the easiest part. It's the first time I've had to do all this myself, and it's a steep learning curve.
'First in a Field of One' has taken a bit of a back seat for the last monty or so, due to holidays and other commitments, but I hope to get back into that very soon. The back of the album is broken, but there's still so much to do. It gets quite frustrating at times knowing the end is in sight, but still not being as close as you'd like. But - as a former label boss said of P****s' legendarily slow recording process - 'it'll be ready when it's ready!'
I'll be taking the 'Darkness' download off the site shortly in favour of something else quite soon - so if you haven't had a listen already, then please do so soon. Interested to hear your comments.
Anyway - more soon. Must get off and tick some more things off the to-do list
Alan
|
|
Welcome to the website!
It's taken me a while to get round to this - and to be honest I was putting it off. But now the moment has come where Facebook etc just weren't really enough and I needed a place of my own on the web.
It's nothing fancy - you won't find much interactivity here - I just don't have the time or the inclination. My time is pushed enough with trying to get the album done But I promise to keep the site up to date so it's THE place to come for accurate and up-to-date information. I still have a lot to learn about how to programme the site, so bear with me while I get the visual side a little more interesting. In the run-up to the Autumn dates, I'll be adding a webshop facility so you can pre-order 'Dancing with Ghosts', buy t-shirts etc. And as a special welcome gift I've already added a download of an early rough mix of the beginning section of a track called 'Darkness has spoken'. This is the longest and most traditionally 'prog' track on the album. I think you'll like it. All the best, Alan
|
 |
|
