Last week we spent some time at Aubitt Studios recording vocal, flute and mandolin parts for The Underfall Yard. This was the first time that David has recorded with Big Big Train and I am pleased to report that we had two brilliant days. The sessions were incredibly productive and we had an absolute blast.
We started with Winchester Diver before tackling the rather formidable 23 minutes of the album's title track (a song which Rob thinks will be his biggest ever mixing project.) We finished the sessions with The End of the Line. That leaves just two more songs to do to complete recording on the album (we also have two additional non-album tracks to finish off.)
Martin Orford joined us for a celebratory curry at the close of recording on day one. Martin had spent the day on the footplate of an engine on the Mid-Hants preserved railway line and seems to have no regrets at all about leaving the music business (although I did catch him reading the IQ article in Prog magazine, and we are hoping to lure him out of retirement for a solo or two in the future.)
As well as the recording sessions, we also took part in the first photo shoot of the new BBT line-up (more pics on our Flickr page.)
Finally, I had the pleasure of meeting Simon and Paul from Tinyfish who are working with Rob on the mix of their first DVD. From what I saw and heard, the DVD is going to be a cracker.
Some video footage of The Underfall Yard vocal sessions will be online soon.
3 comments:
Hi Greg,
just watched/listened yout excerpts from the recording sessions on YouTube. These are absolutely stunning. Can't wait for the album release.
Regards, Uwe.
Glad to see the work going on.. A very long track then, on the new record ?!
Your longest to date, if I'm right.
Now that the Flower Kings have accustomed people to at least 2 or 3 tracks of 20 minutes or more by album, it seems less impressive to anounce a 23-min-long track !! ;o)
But I still have high expectations for such a track made by BBT.... Make it special, like Yes knew to make such a long track by special.
Very glad to have some news about Martin Orford. I really must write to him.
All the best. Marc
It will be our longest piece of music and I think it's unlikely we'll do any more at this (for us) extreme length.
You're right to say that longer tracks have lost their lustre a bit since everyone started doing lots of them! Our aim is to make this one extra special so, hopefully, it will stand out like Close to the Edge, Supper's Ready and A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers did in the 70's.
Cheers
Greg
Post a Comment