Soul II Soul studio Since recording Shock Value (see above photo of us, drummer-less, with former engineer Steve Patman), we're keen to progress, but it's a bad start here in Soul II Soul. The 24-track machine isn't working and mixes of our new songs - Miracle Man, Suzanne, and Mother Theresa - are lifeless. Our run of talentless engineers is continuing; we wanted to use Lee Rumble, who mixed our CD, but we've got stuck with the studio's own guy instead, unfortunately.
Shawsound Studio We ought to be under rehearsed, as Joe's been away for the last year, but incredibly we finish backing tracks to A Russian Piece, Hospital Case, South American Dream and Dirty Town, and the two days are a real (and surprising) success. Both of the Toms (bass and drums) seemed to really enjoy themselves. The engineer, Ian Shaw, is just what the band needed to bring out the best in us!
Soul II Soul Studio Time to return to the 'lost songs' (untouched for 19 months!). I work on Miracle Man overdubs all afternoon, until I'm totally exhausted, and we do a really good working mix. Joe's back from Mexico in a couple of months, so I wanted to book another session with Ian Shaw, but his studio has closed. Hopefully we'll get to work with Lee Rumble now, and find a studio with a couple of spare days!
Mark Angelo Studio This weekend was the only chance I had to play with Joe; he's off to Korea for a year. We tried to finish the songs we'd already started, but Lee (finally in place as our engineer) has said that Suzanne is fundamentally flawed - the Soul II Soul session drums were badly recorded. The other tracks from that session are salvageable (thankfully the tapes from Shawsound have a better sound). Joe finishes almost all his parts, but there's still a lot for ME to do. I thought we might even be coming out with finished mixes, but six days gone, six songs still incomplete.
Mark Angelo Studio It's just me and Lee today, working on the Shawsound tapes. I'm just delighted to have pinned down all my guitar and vocal bits. Time to start the second half of the album now.