CAT | Recording Studio
After a little hiatus from the recording project, due to holidays/sicknesses/etc…, Creeping Time was back on the wagon (or is it off the wagon?) and laying tracks for yet another tune. Kjell Anderson took control of the most recent song and the latest arrangement has a lot of really nice pieces that were never thought of previously. As those dumpster-diving kids would say, “another check in the bag”.
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Recording complete, look for the new album at Folklife
0 Comments | Posted by Michael Spaly in Recording Studio
Nettlehoney’s album is complete. Recorded, mixed, and mastered. All that remains is lots of DIY duplication and packaging, but that’s all in their hands now. All in all it’s a really great record. A great set of tunes that rides the fence between old timey’s trademark repeating melodies and more modern (or classical?) compositions that sweep the spectrum of dynamics.
From my perspective, I did my best to capture the band’s energy and skill. It’s easy to listen back and find issues with various details that I could have improved on. But overall, I think it does a great job of capturing some great performances.
Look for Nettlehoney busking at Folklife. I have a feeling they’ll be there the whole time.
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One more vocal and we’re ready to mix
0 Comments | Posted by Michael Spaly in Recording Studio
Tracking is complete on Nettle Honey’s new record. Now it’s time to mix it down. The big question is whether to make it super clean or to mix in the ambient room sound hot and heavy. Like most things, I think moderation will be the key.
With most of the tracking complete, Nettlehoney came in to finish up the last two songs. We had less time this session, but still milked it for all it was worth. The final tune they are recording is an “epic acoustic journey”. Though deceivingly short, there are a lot of really interesting mood changes and rhythmic shifts.
Almost there, folks, and still on schedule for a Folklife release.
Nettlehoney came in with the goal of tracking 11 tunes in one session. While we didn’t make it to 11, we got good takes for 9. I attribute this to several things – 1) they’ve been playing a lot recently, including a tour, and are therefore at the top of their game; 2) they were all in their stations and ready to play within 10 minutes of arriving; and 3) there are no time-consuming overdubs for this music. In a way this style of music is way more complicated to record than rock. Just as the performance is all or nothing, so is the recording. We tracked everybody in one room in a circle, making headphones an option rather than a necessity.
A lot of good original tunes scattered with a few old-timey numbers. 3 vocalists, each taking turns singing the ‘loudest’ part; they don’t allow the terms ‘lead’ and ‘solo’ ;)
One more quick session and all the tracking should be complete. They are expecting to have the album ready for Folklife. So watch for them busking and dealing it at Seattle Center later this month…
