2011
It's been a funny old year. While global economies crashed and people tried to face new realities 'Downstream' hardly surfaced. Released in February last year there were brief glimmers of hope that 'Sniff' could be ressurected for a new age, but the year seems somehow to have vanished with little to show. I've been asked to guest on a couple of projects; 'Watching You' with Connie Conrad and 'When I See You Again' with Canyons which was fun and flattering. I think we are going to have to find someone to look after our interests, because promotion wise I wouldn't know where to begin and I think what this band can offer now is more interesting than ever.
Paul Robinson has done the drums for ''Underground'. I never felt that the album was finished because it had programmed drums, which at the time was through necessity rather than choice. Paul has done a superb job as you'd expect, I've completely remixed it and the album is now what it should have been in the first place. I'll put it out in the new year with a bonus track "This Life". I know this might piss off some of you who bought the original and to you I apologise, call it artistic vanity but I'm thrilled. Paul Robinson toured the United States with us in 1979 and drummed on much of 'The Game's Up'.
So Happy Christmas and a great New Year to anyone reading this.
WHEN I SEE YOU AGAIN
A couple of young Australians who call themselves 'Canyons' contacted me some time ago with a backing track. It had a touch of seventies disco combined with some intriguingly modern elements. With this and a few lines of lyrics, my brief was to come up with a song and sing it. I thought I'd give it a go. After a bit of fine tuning via the internet under Ryan Grieve's direction, to my amazement I'm singing on the new Canyons Album. In the shops now.
DOWNSTREAM
Downstream can be purchased from this site.
OLD GREY WHISTLE TEST
It seems that the 'The Old Grey Whistle Test 40th Anniversary box set' includes us doing Driver's Seat live in 1981. Must be worth a listen then.
MASH UPS
Driver's Seat has been sampled and used in loads of dance tracks but this mash up by DJ Lobsterdust is my favourite, have a listen. Dead Pres V Sniff'n'The Tears
ARE WE STILL ROLLING?
Check out Phill Brown's brilliant autobiography 'Are We Still Rolling?' for a real insight into the Rock'n'Roll game, inspirational as well as being a cautionary tale.
FILM NOIR Old friend and sometimes collaborator Karel Fialka has just put out his new album 'Film Noir' a collection of moody existential musings on the dark side of life. I feature as a guest vocalist on two or three of the songs. My favourite song is probably 'Alphaville and not just because I get to do a duet with esteemed actress Tilda Swinton, alright I didn't meet her, but thanks to the wonders of modern technology you'd never know. Using Godard's dystopian metropolis as inspiration, Karel conjures up a vivid picture of a man alone with his regrets in the city. It's a great track. Tilda Swinton's spoken narration is electrifying. This and many more treats can be found on 'Film Noir' check it out via the link. http://www.karelfialka.com |
