weird scenes inside the gold mine » music

Backpacking “Hawkwind & Montreal”

admin — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 20:03:39 +0000

Long Board Blues

In the summer of 1998, I was in the process of recording my first record album.

I was signed to ‘Amato Disco’ and had to travel down to London for recording sessions. Meanwhile, my partner was becoming frustrated with living in rural Herefordhsire, so I suggested she take ‘time out’ and join a friend who was about to explore Canada after finishing University.

Contact was extremely difficult due to the vast distance between us, there were no mobile phones and no permanent address. After a couple of weeks I really missed her company and asked if I could join them, I’d probably not been the best boyfriend leading up to that time and was completely engrossed in my music so I considered myself lucky when the answer eventually came back “Yes”.

I managed to quickly scrape together the cash, and within a week, the tickets were bought, passport renewed and backpack borrowed from my brother.

Hawkwind & The Wrong Backpack

Silver Machine

On the flight across, members of legendary space-rock band ‘Hawkwind’ were on the flight, and their groupies were getting drunk. We chatted about how I’d seen their tape reels when working at Rockfield Studios, and I handed them a demo tape of a friend’s band.

We touched down in Toronto and I helped an elderly lady with her luggage off the carousel, spotting my bag I heaved it onto my back and set off. The coach soon departed for the city centre, I was greeted with cross town traffic, bumper to bumper.

The wide busy lanes reached out to the impressive hazy skyscraper horizon. I alighted at the busy downtown district and, racing through busy streets of suited office workers, with my heavy backpack on, beads of sweat dripped from my forehead. Would I make the last train to Montreal to meet my partner? She was keen to move on and I had no ‘plan B’ if we didn’t meet.

I missed the last train.. and the last bus. I resigned myself to catching the midnight coach and left a message with my partner’s youth hostel to inform her of the delay.

At the ticket office, I reached into the backpack to retrieve my wallet, but in its place there was a beige bikini top? It was an identical bag but with a Maple Leaf sewn on to the front – the thing had been on my back since the Airport..

Old Montreal

I had collected someone else’s backpack!

Luckily, I had several hours before my new departure time, enough time to travel back to the terminal and swap it for the right one. As I approached lost property, I was unnerved to see Hawkwind waiting there, thankfully not for the bag I had picked up. The band’s guitars had gone missing.

Montreal

I finally caught my midnight bus, and I awoke to a huge and intense sunrise as we cruised into the Montreal suburbs. I flicked through the radio stations on my Walkman for company, and as daylight broke, the neon signs blurred through the misty windows of the coach.

I’d finally made it, but my thoughts were now focused on whether my partner would be waiting at the station.

Montreal Sunset

To my great relief, my partner arrived at the bus station with a large smile, it was such a relief to see her standing there. We then began the short walk back to the youth hostel.

The hostel was a basement of a hotel, and as I descended into the darkness of the male dorm, a smell of sweaty feet and ‘other odours’ overwhelmed me. Bodies lay beneath a stillness of bed sheets in the crisp Canadian heat. My first job was to open a tiny window hidden behind security bars; the morning sunlight, and warm summer air, christened the stale fausty room!

The streets were full of French influenced architecture, it really did feel quite European in the suburb we stayed in. The French speaking people were warm and friendly, they seemed interested in the English music scene.

Heatwave

There was a heatwave in Canada that year, and I discovered that you could run a cold tap as long as you liked in Montreal and it would still run warm, but I soon acclimatised to the heat. The city was alive, and waiting to be explored!

We toured bars and clubs at night, from dingy rock venues to dodgy hip hop joints, where the local rude-boys carried walking sticks and danced around them.

Jello Jazz Bar

We visited some funky bars, playing cutting edge house music and drum & bass! Montreal is a diverse musical city. Rockefeller Skank by ‘Fatboy Slim’ had just been released and it could be heard everywhere.

One memorable night, we visited the infamous Jello jazz bar. We danced some salsa with two American ‘gals’ from Montana who were getting into the spirit, there was a feeling of camaraderie among the backpackers, and Charli had attracted some attention from a crazy Mexican guy.

We toured the city by day, sampling crepes and sipping coffee at the foot of skyscrapers, we walked parks and viewed the city from up high. But time was passing, and we decided to head back to Toronto.

Rockfield Studios

admin — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:47:05 +0000

Coach House, Rockfield

Upon leaving high school, my dream was to work in a recording studio, so I decided to approach local studio owner ‘Kingsley Ward’ for a work placement. It was extremely difficult to get work in this field, but after a patient autumn, I eventually received a call, asking me if I could start for a trial.

The day of my interview, the singer from Neds Atomic Dustbin walked across the courtyard, eating a banana, I knew this was the place to be! I was also shown the piano that Freddie Mercury composed Bohemian Rhapsody on while ‘bumming’ around the studios during the 1970s.

The place was rambling, and the outside farmyard views could not prepare you for the ’state of the art’ studios inside. To a 16 year old lad, It was like being inside a space control centre.

The Charlatans

The Charalatans (With Rob Collins)

I started off as a trainee tape operator, with one of my favourite indie bands of the time ‘The Charlatans’. I can remember sitting in awe of the band, being asked to make tea & coffee for band members and the producer. I was a bit panic stricken as I couldn’t remember all the different requests; some with sugar, some without, white, black, strong, weak, and so on. I delivered the tray shaking slightly, sitting there watching them drink my brew.

It was like a dream working those early days, moving the lead weight tape reels around, narrowly escaping getting crushed by the portable sound proof walls, setting up microphones, watching and listening to the endless rehearsals and band banter.

The band were great to work for, and It was really exciting and new going into the studios early mornings, to prepare for the band, and U2 acclaimed producer ‘FLUD’.

In Between 10th & 11th

The album we worked on was ‘In Between 10th & 11th’, and although the studio takes were raw and rocky, the finished product was mixed down very synthy.

In Between 10th & 11th

It’s still one of my all time top albums, I just love the lyrics and memories it brings back, seeing Tim singing with his jumper sleeves pulled over his hands, perched on a chair, not to mention watching Rob Collins hammering the Hammond organ.

These were the people I’d spent my school days emulating. So to have Tim Burgess ask me where I bought my shirt and jeans from, was slightly surreal – especially when I had to reply “the Bullring Shopping Centre Tim!”.

I remember one time, being totally bollocked by FLUD, for playing my own dance music demo over the studio speakers, just as the band were rolling in for a days recording. It was my first effort at ‘Rave music’ created on a Commodore Amiga, that track ended up getting played on Radio.

The band returned to Rockfield in later years, and Woodside Studios down the road to record subsequent albums. I took a copy of my first white label record down for Tim some years later; when he was getting into DJing.

It was not long after Rob Collins had died tragically in a car accident. I met the band for a drink in the Nags Head pub in Monmouth. The band were sitting on a table in front of a signed picture on the wall, which showed them posing with Rob. The atmosphere was a bit sombre as we sat there sipping our beers, Rob was much missed, but I am sure he was around ‘in spirit’. I still see the band on the odd oaccasion, and it’s nice to see they’re still the same old ‘down-to-earth’ group of guys that I remember from my days at Rockfield.

Black Sabbath Practical Joke

Black Sabbath

By the time Black Sabbath came to work at Rockfield I had reached seventeen, the L.A. riots had kicked off and Freddie Mercury had died. Both events were watched in the studios by bands recording there at the time.

I don’t think I really understood the importance of Black Sabbath back then, and being into rave, indie and techno music, heavy metal was not something that really inspired me. Their eerie sounds would drift out of the studios, as I waited in the winter darkness for my brother to collect me in his battered old Ford Escort.

I wasn’t supposed to be working with the band, however, on this occasion, I was lounging on the sofa while the band were telling dodgy stories of their hedonistic days. I had gained a reputation as a ‘space-cadet’ by the band, as I didn’t really say much and often drifted into my own little world.

Tony Iommi asked me if I could go and check the large, powerful speakers in the sound proofed studio in front of the mixing console. I trotted down and my voice came over the main studio speakers, “what do you want me to do?” Tony’s voice came back over the monitor speakers, “there’s a buzz coming out of that speaker, can you check it please mate?”

I crouched down and listened, but nothing… “can”t hear anything!” I said, “get closer, there’s definitely something buzzing” Tony replied, as I moved my head closer to the speaker, Tony twanged his electric guitar and the chords wailed into my ears, leaving me partially defended for the rest of the week.

Paris Angels – Not From Paris And Not Angelic

Paris Angels

Some of the bands I worked with at Rockfield were: The Charlatans, Black Sabbath, The Damned, Crush, Naked Truth, Clannad, Kinky Machine, Paris Angels, Pop Will Eat Itself, Saw Doctors, X.T.C., Rumblefish and various other soloists.

The Paris Angels were another favourite band of the time, these guys were from the “MadchEster” indie scene and we got on really well, there were a lot of them, and certain band members were often up to mischief, the ‘NME acclaimed’ drummer was usually after Marlboro Reds!

At the time I was making loads of demos and one was a remix of ‘Perfume’; their first single. I can recall me playing it to band as they sat there in total silence. It was so crap, I basically sampled their track, reversed it over a drum machine beat and added some American football commentary. I think I actually saw some tumble weeds pass by, until the singer piped up in her Mancunian tone “aw, that’s really good that Nick…” I stopped the cassette and popped it back in my bag feeling chuffed I’d played them my edit.

They were often back and forth to Manchester. The sad thing is, that E.P. they were working on never made it to release, they were really very talented but a little unorganised, much to the frustration of the Sound Engineer at the time. I seem to remember him puffing on a lot of roll ups.

Their track ‘Perfume’ is possibly one of my all time top songs from that era.

Captain Sensible & The Damned

The Damned

I knew about one Damned song but not much else, so when I was told I would be working with them I couldn’t really relate at the time.

Captain Sensible once got into a discussion with me about evolution, he asked me if I knew anything about it, I said “not really” so he explained the theory of evolution. I probably had ‘which rave I would be attending next’ on my mind though.

I walked into the living quarter early one morning to discover pellet holes in the walls. The clock on the wall had pellet holes in the plastic cover too. I took the clock off the wall and the pellets rolled around inside like a cheap travel game, I think Mr Sensible had gone crazy with a ball bearing gun the night before. This kind of behaviour was normal for some bands. He must have been quite bored, or maybe angry (I remember PWEI smashing up a guitar for fun).

Music Calling

Towards the end of my time at Rockfield, I found myself drifting into my own music more and more, I ended up day dreaming about being in the band rather than behind the mixing desk.

I was getting a little stuck for things to do, and so I decided to remix some late 70′s Hawkwind and Bad Manners, during studio ‘down time’. Bands came and went and I was starting to dream of pastures new. Rockfield was an experience that I will always remember, and I feel lucky, and grateful, to have lived that dream.

The Stone Roses

After I left, Oasis and The Stone Roses recorded some of their best material at the studios, and I still keep an eye out for albums being recorded there now. We often saw Ian Brown and The Gallagher’s around Monmouth.

I once spotted Shaun Ryder and Kermit from ‘Black Grape’ driving a VW Beetle, lost, up Symonds Yat West (where I lived at the time), windscreen wipers on full speed with their faces peering out over the bonnet into the gloomy darkness.

In my opinion, Rockfield is one of the finest recording studios in the world. It is in an idyllic location, has warm friendly professional staff and boasts a rich musical heritage. I hope that the studios remain popular and stay vibrant and ‘used’, they have already helped shape Britain’s audio identity, and the bands just keep rolling in through the doors.

‘Woman’ Released On ‘Music For The People’ Records

admin — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 00:47:39 +0000

Woman 2009 Edition

Well it’s finally arrived!!! After a few months of twiddling and reworking… ‘Woman (She Want My Money)’ is winging its way around the globe again on home grown label ‘Music For The People’.

‘Woman’ was first conceived back in 1997/98 when I was living in Symonds Yat West, England. I was signed to D*Fusion Records in London and had already released ‘Long Board Blues’. The MD liked the ‘Woman’ demo and I spent several days in an East End studio working on an acid jazz ‘live’ mix with an Italian house music producer named Marco.

The mixes were raw and funky, created on my little Amiga 600 computer. It wasn’t easy translating the track to a professional recording studio but the end results were pleasing. The studios were owned by ‘Paul Weller’ and we had Shola Ama recording upstairs, a really nice vibe and cool studios.

Eastern Bloc Canada 1998

First Release on Amato Disco

The mixes were finished and I sent an album’s worth of material to D*Fusion for them to digest, however, an epic journey to Canada was calling and I sold my entire studio in a week, to embark on a jouney, thousands of miles away.

Summer of 1998, I backpacked from East to West across Canada with my partner and I took with me, a remix of ‘Woman’ on cassette by my friend Sam. The MD from D*Fusion hooked me up with the manager of Eastern Bloc Records in Toronto and, after an interesting meeting and getting us on Industry (nightclub) guest list, he agreed to distribute the record should we ever get it pressed. When we finally returned to the UK, it took me a while to settle and the demo was once again put on hold.

A year or so later, I bought back the equipment I had sold to visit Canada, and tentatively fired up the studio in Herefordshire again. I revisited ‘Woman’ and sent off a few remixes to various places such as Catskills Records (who were interested), but it just wasn’t strong enough.

A Promo Makes It To Vinyl 2002

Woman 2002 Edition

In 2002, Sam got back on the case and we spent a few intense weekends in the studio. Sam’s mate ‘Dave Cotterill’ had played some nice guitar over another track and I suggested we try it over ‘Woman’. As soon as Sam laid it down we knew it was the final touch to a great mix. We released it ourselves in 2002 on Sam’s ‘Steppin’ Stone’ Records as a promo 45 vinyl release; just breaking even.

It had a review in Muzik Mag stating “Put it on an advert and it’ll reach number three in the charts” (click here to read). It was played across the world with little or no promotion with two of the fans being ‘Tim “Love” Lee’ and ‘Ursula 1000′ both in New York.

Time fleets by, and end of last year, Sam and I decided to really push the music out there again. With plenty of new ideas and pending releases in the wings, what better track to kick things off with than a re-visited version of ‘Woman’.

A Full Release For ‘Woman’ 2009

Music For The People

And so, again, on Sam’s label, and funded by us.. we have released ‘Woman’ (semi) officially and this little record continues to beat it’s own path around the world.

So far, ‘Woman’ has: reached number 2 in the Juno Records download ‘single chart’, featured as “Record of the Week” at Manchester’s ‘Fat City Records, been playlisted on Nemone’s BBC Radio 6 weekly afternoon show (click to listen), plugged on ‘Tim love Lee’s’ East Village radio show straight outta New York (click to listen), playlisted ’prime time’ on Craig Charles’ Saturday night funk show on BBC Radio 6 (click to listen) and was used as the opening track to a recent Don Letts radio broadcast also on BBC radio 6.

‘Woman’ Spinnin’ Into The Future…

The psychedelic-hip hop ‘B’ side to the original promo was used as backing to BBC Manchester United Ball Skills DVD ‘Play Like Champions’ (click to watch on youtube), and this time around, the ‘B’ side ‘Where Stars Are Born’ (click to watch on youtube) is equally as heavy.

Ram Cafe 4 Compilation

I handed a copy of the first mixes to ‘Afrika Bambaataa’ some years back and this week, friends ‘Roy Roast Beef’ and ‘Rick’, of Birmingham DJ night ‘Funk Box’, handed a copy to ‘Maceo’ from De La Soul, so this mash-up really has done the rounds over the years and I wonder where it will travel next? or where it’s already been? maybe another dimension!?!

‘Woman’ is now available on 45 vinyl (best quality – contact snorkiebyng@hotmail.com for a copy) and also digital download via Juno Records, it is now also available on a Universal Records chillout compilation ‘Ram Cafe 4′, along side the likes of Belleruche, Mayer Hawthorne, Nitin Sawhney, Amy Winehouse and Jose Feliciano.