Much to report. After a very long gestation period, the Winter People EP is finally approached completion. I went through a very long period of struggle with the mixing. For about three weeks I was at a dead end, in which I repeatedly scrapped all my EQcompression etc. and started over. However, after some serious brain-workouts, I got the mixes into a form that I am happy with. I’m currently on an Easter break from university so I’m hoping to get everything recorded and mixed by the ended of the week and ship it off to a mastering house.

In other music news, I Like Cats has a week booked at Big Jesus Burger studios to record a full length album. One up on that, its free! The recording is being paid for by a manager type fellow (more on this, when I find out more!). I Like Cats played our first show, since the others got back from overseas, at The Oxford Art factory about two weeks ago. Although the on-stage sound took a little while to get right, we were flowing quite well by the end of the set.

My audio gear lust increases. I’m torn at the moment about whether to invest in an API 2500 compressor or a good outboard EQ. Though I’m leaning towards the API 2500 at the moment. I also want to add another mic to the collection, I’m thinking a Neuman U87 or a Soundelux U99 (but that of course necessitates a new preamp as well!) – expensive hobby this.

Also, more ideas for a second (hopefully non-failing) novel have been floating about. A life-story of a sort of mechanical savante who is co-opted by a confidence man to mischievous ends. I think I may get started in the university holidays.

I’ve also been sketching/planning for a painting I’d like to do: a long, long canvas, of an interior train carriage (underground, not above). So I could do about nine profile portraits of all the various types riding the subway together: grizzly vagrants, consumed businessmen, bored teenagers, sleeping tourists etc. I would execute the portraits with a dramatic chiaroscuro, with the blackness of the tunnel and the overhead fluorescent-lights really carving out the bone structures of the figures.

Anyways, there’s a brief update of creative news (I have been a little lax on my blogging lately). Will return with an epilogue to the Winter People EP soon.