Fentek Audio

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.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

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.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

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???

Time for another wee Fentek news update for you. Term time has come to an end and gigs in the city are dying down a bit as we wait for the lanyards to take over the city. Despite this, I seem to have got myself a healthy dose of recording and production work over the next month or so.

I recently produced a couple more tracks for Bathgate singer-songwriter, Ewan Butler. We had a great recording session and the combination of Ewan’s performance and the extra parts we added really worked in making the best of the songs. You can have a listen to the tracks below.

Smile Again

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Say You’d Get Married

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Shooting Stansfield have come back to do a new EP which we’re in the middle of recording at the moment. Despite some obstacles to overcome, the guys have some great songs and their playing is much tighter. Looking forward to mixing this one. Watch this space for more news soon.

This week I’ve been mastering a track for a guy called Jason Singh. His solo R&B track, Down To You is a groovy and well designed tune and I’m really happy with how the master came out. Not usually my style but adaptability is the key!

There’s a couple of upcoming gigs I’d like to point out. This Thursday (1st July) sees the long awaited single launch for The Last Battle having signed with 17 seconds records. I love their music so really looking forward to this one, and I’m recording it too.  The support acts are top notch as well – Meursault (solo), and Jonnie Common. Get yourselves down to the Wee Red Bar for 7pm to get a piece of this quality Scottish showcase. The end of the month sees the album launch for Mammoeth (formerly Team Turnip), 24th July at the Wee Red Bar. This band is the product of musical genius, Russell Kostulin, who also plays in the Kays Lavelle. Check these bands out. You won’t regret it!

Also on the horizon is another EP for Tony Taylor aka X Lion Tamer. Having produced two tracks for him for his last release, Neon Hearts EP, we’re making a start on his new work in July.

Think thats it for now. Enjoy the sunshine whilst it lasts!

AF

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

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Screen Kids -- T3

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

The Kays Lavelle -- The Hours

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

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.

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.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

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

I haven’t posted a news update in a while so this is quite a lengthy one. I took on a lot of work in the last couple of months so there’s plenty to talk about.  Where to start …

One of the main projects I’ve been working on is an EP for new Edinburgh band Shooting Stansfield.  After sitting in on a rehearsal at Banana Row, we booked in some recording dates and had three great sessions laying down the three tracks.  I suppose you could describe them as having an indie pop rock kind of sound but their tunes are melodic, epic and really well crafted.  They make simple riffs sound so much more.  Later on today the guys are coming round for some final mixing tweaks and I’ll master them tomorrow.  They are planning an EP launch for 1st March so keep checking their myspace for details.

At the end of November I went to the Music Box at Stevenson College to talk to a class there about working in the tech side of the music business.  Annette Chapman (singer in Nobody Else) asked me to come and answer questions from the class – I’ve previously done sound for her band and done a live recording which you can find on the videos page.  The time seemed to go very quickly and there was plenty we didn’t get through so I might be going back later in the year to do a similar thing on a bigger scale.

Also in November, I recorded a set of live demos for Additional Pylons.  The guys from White Heath passed my name on to them.  Their experimental shoegazey sound lead by Chris Charles’ keys and vocals reminded me a bit of Ben Folds.  You can hear the demos on their myspace.

As well as engineering the usual gigs at the Wee Red Bar, I’ve done a few live recordings as well.  One for the amazing acoustic sounds of esperi, one for indie pop rockers Lead By Example, and one of the EP launch for catchy alternative pop band Windlestray.   You can check out tracks from the first two gigs on their respective myspace pages, and I’m just finishing the mixing for the Windlestray gig so it will likely be available in the next couple of weeks.

One of the highlights of December was the Trampoline all day gig featuring no less than 8 acts – The Last Battle, Conquering Animal Sound, Jonnie Common, esperi, Debutant, lyons, The Scottish Enlightenment and Mitchell Museum.  It was an epic day work-wise for me but the music was truly wonderful.  Such a diverse range of well performed musical styles constantly held the crowds attention.  The fantastic guys at Glasgow Podcart covered the whole day, interviewing all the bands and they have a set of recordings from the desk which will undoubtedly make it into their future podcasts.  You should definitely check out their work.  And talking of Trampoline, there’s a gig this Saturday 16th featuring How To Swim, Over The Wall and Thomas Western.  Don’t miss it!

Ok, we’re almost done with the update!  I recorded some tunes for Bathgate indie band Pedantics.  Three songs which you can hear on their myspace.  Aparently they’ve shifted over 300 copies already.

And finally, there’s the ongoing work on The Kays Lavelle album.  After several recording sessions at the end of last year, almost all the recording is now finished and mixing is about to start.  I’m really excited about this one.  I’ve worked with Euan for ages but this is a project I’ve been looking forward to more than most.  I love their music.  It feels fresh and exciting each time I listen to it and I really feel we’re going to end up with an amazing album.

So now to 2010.  Many things to come.  I’m recording a live album in a church for modern blues artist Man Gone Missing, got another single to do for Ewan Butler, and there’s my own solo music which I am determined to make more of an effort on this year.  Tunes to come soon.

That’s all for now.  Happy New Year!!

The Wee Red Bar’s monthly rock gigs (The Mine) are taking things up a notch.  Chris and Angus (who also run Great Junction Street Rehearsal Rooms) are very keen to give bands that little bit extra for playing gigs.  So far, bands who have played the night have walked away with music videos, professional photos and rehearsal time.  The next offering will be live recordings courtesy of me! I will be recording all the bands that play each gig from now on then passing the files on to Angus to mix them, meaning each band will receive a quality live recording of their performance. The next gig is on the 9th October. Check out their myspace to find out who’s playing and how to get on the bill.

Trampoline gigs are one of the longest running regular nights we have at the Wee Red Bar, and I personally always enjoy the music. I’ve worked with Euan who runs the nights for a couple of years now, both with Trampoline and his band, The Kays Lavelle. For the festival this year, there were three Trampoline shows, each with the usual high quality artists. Euan was keen to have them recorded so thats what we did. I recorded all the shows and we’re just in the process of deciding which tracks will go on the final cd. It’s maybe a little while off yet but when it’s ready it will be released on Euan’s label, mini50 records.

Recently, and not for the first time(!), Euan has been thinking of stopping the Trampoline gigs. This would be a tragedy and a massive loss to the Edinburgh music scene. Luckily he seems to have found some people to help him out with some of the organisational stuff so for now it’s back on. But I would like to urge all you Edinburgh music lovers to get yourself along, support the night and spread the word. There are some great upcoming shows which you can find out about here.

Photos are of Woodenbox with a Fistful of Fivers and Shenandoah Davis and were taken by Dylan who you can find at bluebackhotrod.com.

It’s another hectic Edinburgh festival with loads of work and more people, flyers and lanyards than ever! This year I am mostly at the Wee Red Bar where there are gigs almost every night. For information on the remaining gigs check the website – weeredbar.co.uk. In addition, I’m also working for Capture who film the infamous Late ‘n’ Live comedy show. Every night is different so fire down if your up for a giggle. Tonight sees the end of the fantastic record label Benbecula. They’re going out with a bang – 4 live acts (Christ, Frogpocket, Plum, Araya), DJs, Visuals and special guests. And it’s all being recorded for a future release. Should be a highlight of the month!

Back in June I recorded the new EP for White Heath. We’d been planning to record together for a while so as soon as the guys had finished their degrees we were all set to go. They were very keen to record everything live – a method which I am fond of myself. By keeping elements of the recording process live, it creates an energy which truly reflects the bands character. And this is exactly what they wanted given the unique collection of instruments they play. With one of the tunes (7:38am) we even kept the original vocal with mic spill and everything! The record turned out really well and the guys are happy that it sounds like them. They held the EP launch at the Forest Cafe during August which was packed and a good night all round. As usual you can have a listen to the results on the band’s myspace.