27 September 2012
Big rocks moving this week and can see a chink of blue from within the cave I have been in for too long and which has not been a healthy space as I was really feeling the pressure.
To be honest I took on far too much and was finding it too hard to break down the mountains as more boulders seemed to pile up as soon as I shifted one out the way.
I made some tough decisions.
I talked openly with Calum Malcolm yesterday about the album schedule. It had been worrying me and close friends had noticed just how stressed out I was becoming as I sought advice and opinions on the situation.We have decided to put the album recording back to February for a release in mid-May on the front edge of the UK tour.Although I have 12 songs in various stages the majority are nowhere near completion with 4 titles only seeds of ideas and yet to sprout into a recognisable shape. The original game plan was to start recording mid November and even a shift to the end of that month was courting disaster. I cannot come out with a half baked album and after 5 years I figured another 4 months would not be the end of the world.
Steve and I got off to a great start with 7 songs in good order but requiring other inputs and ideas.
Availabilities, powercuts,festivals,other unavoidable miscellaneous distractions and old fashioned “block” derailed the momentum and despite taking unwanted but necessary breaks we started to grind down in front of the oncoming convention and its 3 weeks of rehearsals.
Foss and I had managed to put together one song between us and move on some other ideas as well as fill in some gaps on Steve’s tracks.
Frank had come in and added some more ideas in the couple of broken weeks he could come in but at this stage in the game we only really have 4 songs that are playable in rough form for the convention in just over 3 weeks.
I had to face the facts and decided to reorganise after the convention and allow myself another 3 months to commit to finishing the writing before I entered the studio proper. Calum is in total agreement with this rescheduling and he will be at the helm in February.
I know some of you will be disappointed but this is an important album for me and it has to be as near perfect as I can possibly make it. The main European touring had already shifted due to venue availabilities to September with 2 weeks of UK touring in May and potential festivals in the Summer the only live work planned so far.
An album release to mid May will not drastically effect any of those touring plans and may end up being more beneficial in the long run.
I have discussed all the changes with Mark Wilkinson and we have more than enough time to develop the artwork and packaging (examples of which will be able to be seen at the Convention) and prepare it well before the recordings are actually completed.
Yatta is also happy with the release schedules re his booking of the live events.
Next week the full band takes on the 4 tracks we do have in relatively good shape so we can at least have something to play at Leamington.
I have to admit to being able to take a bit of a sigh of relief after yesterday’s decision and now can see the wood, the trees and a blue sky of sorts.
I’ll post more later, I have a DVD insert to write out now!