12,000 at TG, and a new mix
12,000 at Tapegerm.
I wasn’t going to mention this, as it’s really neither here nor there, and so damn what. However I had a thought, and the tought was this. I have filled the Hammersmith apollo ( alternatively insert venue of choice that holds 2,000) for six nights in a row. Sold out! Woot!
Obviously I haven’t, cause if I had I’d be able to afford a kebab. Possibly with beer. But I think you get the general idea.
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Mick has finished mixing ‘Spring of Teal’, so take a listen, and leave a comment. Or don’t and I’ll just assume you’ve bought a seat at the next Hammy Apollo gig. 
May 18th, 2006 at 2:17 am
From a technical point of view (performance, production, mixing etc), ‘Spring’ is very nicely put together, but I’m ambivalent about it.
Your voice is its usual emotionally convincing and effortlessly melodic self. I thought the way it cracked on “crumbling round my feet” was a little over the top, but that’s the only complaint, and a minor one.
All the instruments - piano, clarinet, organ, drums - are well balanced and clear with respect to each other and the vocals. Well done to Mick for getting the compression and levels just right.
So why am I ambivalent? Two reasons. First, there’s something schmaltzy about the choice of sounds. The piano made glitzy by tons of reverb, the hammond (or hammondesque) organ that’s long had a cheesy image problem, the breathy backing vocals that belong to a trio of slow dancing women with big hair and sparkly sequined lowcut dresses.
It sounds ‘mature’ in the way that Wet Wet Wet are mature. It’s too polished and smooth a sound for a song about those kind of emotions.
Second, there are two other versions of the song that I know of - the original songfight version and the version played at Global Fusion. I think the sentiment of the song suits either the stripped down, bare feel of the former, or the Coldplay-like pop ensemble feel of the latter. This latest version falls between those two stools.
Well that’s what I think. Admirable all round, but too…inoffensive.
May 19th, 2006 at 12:13 am
Er…does that sound horribly mean?
May 19th, 2006 at 3:03 am
No. Though I guess some might read it that way.
I thought it was a very accurate description of ’spring’. It’s been something I’ve been trying to get across to Mick, and didn’t know how…
The two words that slightly wounded (sob wail howl gnash), and gave me pause for thought were ‘ambivalent’ and ‘inoffensive’. Just what I don’t want used as descriptive terms… But probably true. Another would be ‘nice’. Yuk.