Plague song (for Médecins Sans Frontières)

 So, a short while into lockdown Nick asked me if I'd finally purchased that audio interface to do some home recording with because he'd written a graphical score and wanted me to record my interpretation. After some typicallly epic indecissiveness due to wrongbrain I finally picked one up (Native Instruments) and today my version of Nick's Plaguesong score has been released into the world along with all the other excellent artists, with all proceds to Médecins Sans Frontières.

My piece was recorded just with the viola and a couple of Electro Harmonix pedals (HOG & Holy Stain) and I'm really pleased with how it came out; its the first self recorded solo piece I've ever released, hope you like it.

Neiltones

Webdoc.com

I made an Organ Grinder Records 'doc' / 'thing' / 'page' on the futuristic website Webdoc.  It might be the new MySpace. 

Fireworks Night shows & album news in handy flyer format

Tamesis Dock

I sauntered along the Thames Path on Wednesday and headed to the Tamesis Dock as Fireworks Night were playing there. I'd never been before so wasn't quite sure where it was or what it looked like but as I approached it I began to wonder if it had ever functioned as a proper boat because it didn't look like the most seaworthy of vessels, ie it looked like it was about to sink, but it all added to its charms. When I set foot on the boat the floor was almost at a 45 degree angle, it felt like I was already three pints down, which is a smashing state to be in!

It was a decent crowd and Left With Pictures were on splendid form and a joy to watch which all added up to a super fun gig. The lovely promoter Mr Chalmers also co-runs a delightfully ramshackle Podcast simply entitled independent Music Podcast, which needs no explanation as to what type of podcast it is. Check it out here. 

On Fireworks Night album news: I'll be sticking up a new track from the album every week 'til the end so head here for that.

A few tracks to stream from the forthcoming Fireworks Night album

  Latest tracks by Organ Grinder Records

Fireworks Night news

Fireworks Night's new album 'One Winter, One Spring' is being mastered as I type and we'll shortly be unveiling a few tracks on the usual streaming sites.

For the time being you can listen and download a live recording from a recent show we did at a lovely little pub called The Gladstone. Click here for that.

New year: New nonsense

I’ve been sitting here since New Year’s Day waiting for the impact of the new decade to hit me but it hasn’t yet. 

I do have some exciting prospects for the coming year though:

The brand new Monroe Transfer album is now finished and the artwork has been designed and created, all by hand, once again by Consumer Revolt. It looks and feels, and sounds, wonderful. Apparently there will be a series of exciting things happening in the lead up to its release.

The new Fireworks Night album is close to being completed too, finally ... babies have been conceived, born and are riding their first bike in the time it has taken us to mix the damn thing! It'll be worth the wait though.

In complete contrast to Fireworks Night is the lightning speed methods of Braindead Collective who recorded and released that xmas single with Viv Albertine in the space of a week! We plan to do similar collaborative projects with solo acts, the next one being Mat Riviere (Brainlove Records) who we'll be playing with live at the Good Ship this Thursday.

Smoke Fairies now have a new drummer due to the previous drummer wanting a normal life; get married, watch The Bill and walk the dog in the park near his house in Kent, which is probably very wise! good luck Gregory! We're headlining The Lexington on 1st Feb. 

Lastly, I layed down some viola parts on a few tracks on the new/debut Eat Lights: Become Lights album which apparently is now finished, so hopefully that will see the light of day at some point this year.

FUN

a week of gigs

Last Tuesday saw Goodbye, Faithful Kingdom! tear through ear drums in what was perhaps the loudest set of bands we've had. We're back on the 4th August at The Macbeth with the lush Codes In The Clouds headlining, advance tickets are on sale here.

Last week also provided another outing for The Monroe Transfer string section as we were asked to play at Alice Gun's single launch. We've now cunningly named ourselves The String Transfer and are now available for single launches, weddings and Bar Mitzvah's!

Fireworks Night also had a gig last week at The Windmill in support of Cymbals Eat Guitars. It was a fun gig, as pretty much all gigs are at The Windmill - that place is a beacon for all things fun. I even managed to have fun impaling myself on Nick's guitar during a particularly energetic performance of 'Sinnerman'.

I've just arrived back from Latitude where Smoke Fairies played to a surprisingly attentive crowd on Thursday night, apparently my viola was pretty damn loud during my Warren Ellis-style solo at the end of 'Sunshine' - this pleases me greatly! It's a mighty fine festival though, where else would you find a massive pot plant in the dressing room. oh yeah, the 'Frozen Heart' EP is out now, from here and no doubt other Googleable places.

Keep an eye out for forthcoming Codes In the Clouds interview.

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