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Sep 272010

I know summer seems to be well and truly over but I thought it was time for a Fentek update to let you know what I’ve been up to. With the festival over and freshers settled in, I’ve had chance to catch my breath and here’s a low down on my latest adventures.

After a slightly delayed completion, Man Gone Missing‘s new live album, Burn You, has now officially been released. Simon and I recorded it in a church in Invergowrie way back in February. The record seems to be getting some positive responses with airplay on BBC Scotland and Ulster and an album of the week feature on Celtic Music Radio. You can buy and listen to the album here, or check below for a preview track.

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Tony Taylor (X Lion Tamer) has released his new single, Hope, which I produced and mastered last month. This has also gained radio airplay courtesy of Vic Galloway who heralded it as one of his ‘future Scottish anthems’! I also had the pleasure of doing sound for Tony at the Wee Red Bar last week supporting My Tiny Robots (who were great as well by the way). You can buy his new single here or listen below.

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In the last news update I mentioned the single launch for The Last Battle. This gig was recorded and 3 of the tracks released as a free EP entitled ‘A Wee Red Tale’. It was a great gig and these guys seem to be moving from strength to strength at the moment so download the EP here and catch them live if you can.

I’ve also been doing a fair bit of mastering including R&B tracks Down To You (Sonny ft. Singh-One) and Music’s My Life (Jeremy Jezz). I’ve also just finished an EP for rap/pop/electro voice, SiMBA. A video has been shot for one of the songs and the title track, Fix The Future, will be available as a single soon. I’m also just about to start mastering an album for Steve Heron who came to see me the other day. Follow the links to check these guys out.

Live sound-wise there was a whole variety of bands over the festival to keep me amused, as well as working for the recording of Late n Live in the Gilded Balloon. Highlights for me were probably the Complete Stone Roses in Teviot for freshers week, and the single launch for my favourite punk-pop trio, Come On Gang! This gig was in the caves at the beginning of September with formidable support from Jesus H. Foxx and FOUND. The night was fantastic with Come On Gang doing a fantastic Human League cover, and the hefty crowd seemed to enjoy every minute. You can get hold of their FREE single from their website.  And whilst it’s downloading, take a look at the amazing video.

Other bits and bobs include some drum recording for Randan Discotheque, mixing for the Shooting Stansfield EP, and more recording with The Stormy Seas. I’ll keep you posted on any further developments.

That’s all for now folks. Now where did I put those gloves and that massive woolly jumper???

Posted by Alex Fenton Tagged with: , , , , , , , , , , ,
May 052010

Time for another Fentek update. Plenty going on at the moment.  Things slowed down a bit due to my wedding a couple of weeks ago but I’m back in action now with a load of recording projects in the pipeline.

First up, here are some recent recordings you can have a listen to. There’s tracks from the Shooting Stansfield EP, recordings for new Edinburgh band Screen Kids plus tracks from the upcoming Kays Lavelle album, Be Still This Gentle Morning. More on some of these artists below.

Shooting Stansfield -- Human Static

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Screen Kids -- T3

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The Kays Lavelle -- The Hours

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Final mixing is taking place at the moment for the Man Gone Missing live album. It was recorded in a church in Dundee a couple of months ago, and after Simon taking a while to consider which takes to use, we are finally getting it finished. Tracks will come soon.

Last Friday saw the album launch for punk rocking Edinburgh outfit -- A Fight You Can’t Win.  The Wee Red Bar was totally packed from early on and extra gear was brought in for the show.  The supports we’re great and included one of my favourite energetic bands, Hagana.  I recorded the show for the guys and videos we’re taken too so expect to see some footage in the near future.  For now you can check their ‘making of’ video below.

A Fight You Can't Win

One of the main projects I’ve been working on in the past few months is the Kays Lavelle album. It’s finally finished, mastered by Jonnie Common and awaiting delivery from the duplicators for physical release on 17th May. I’m really happy with the results and several reviews have come in already of the two download singles and the album itself. The launch nights are this weekend, Friday 7th May at Stereo in Glasgow, and Saturday 8th May at the Wee Red Bar in Edinburgh. Advance tickets can be bought here and here.

Take a listen to the most recent single, Ten Times, below. The track plus an excellent remix by The Japanese War Effort are available for free download on the Wiseblood Industries website.  I also played a couple of gigs with the Kays, including one at Hinterland festival. Really enjoyed it and was good to get on stage again. Makes me even more keen to get my solo material finished.

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Here are some Kays Lavelle reviews:
Love Shack Baby album review
Radar Scotsman track by track
Aye Tunes single review for Ten Times
Last Year’s Girl Hinterland Review

I had a strange work request recently and ended up composing some music for a short video viral on knife crime commissioned by the Scottish government.  My neighbour asked me to throw something together -- he works for the Leith agency (the ones who did the new Irn Bru advert with the butcher!).  After finding out about the project only two days before the deadline, I felt a bit rushed but did manage to get something in to go forward as one of the possibilities to get used for the final film. Unfortunately I didn’t get it this time but there may well be more of the same kind of work to come in the future.  Don’t think I can post my attempt until the official one has been launched but I’ll see if I can at a later date.

And finally some news on some upcoming projects. I’ve started recording the Stormy Seas album. Progress is good and I can’t wait to get stuck into the mixing. Great bunch of guys. I’m also doing another EP for Shooting Stansfield and some more recordings for Ewan Butler.  Keep an eye here to follow the progress.  Thanks for reading!

Alex

Posted by Alex Fenton Tagged with: , , , , , , , , , ,
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