As we drove back from the studio today, Hollie looked a shadow of herself. I can fully understand why; after a single day in the studio (versus her whole week) – I’ve been reminded that recording is painstakingly hard work. As her lead guitarist and general partner in crime, I decided to take one for the team and offer up my literary skills. My offer was gratefully jumped upon.So, here I am, back in good old Penzance. For those unfamiliar with the town - those assuming that it is a place filled only with pasties and pirates, with the occasional idiotic stroller taking the last few paces of an unnecessary journey from John-O-Groats – you’re not wrong, but allow me to provide a more relevant piece of information: seagulls. Millions of them. Screeching from 6am until you give up and get out of bed.
So, this morning, after the rude awakening, we scoffed a swift bowl of cereal before jumping in the car and heading to Black and White studios. The understated yet fantastic Barnaby Ray had already been in the studio for a while, working his magic on a few of the tracks we were due to record lead guitar parts for - 'Nicotine', 'Bones' and 'Beethoven'.
For those of you looking forward to the second edition of 'Hollie Rogers Sings About Boys' (I assume I am preaching to the key demographic) let me tell you: we are all in for an absolute treat. This is seriously, seriously good stuff. I am extremely honoured to be playing on this album, and I am enormously proud of my great friend.
Nicotine first. Not too many dramas here. All sounding very tasty.
Bones. Slow and steady progress made, all to great satisfaction. We've played this song for the last five years. There are three guitar parts. We have two guitars. It's nice to hear them together for the first time!Beethoven. I hate you, Beethoven. This, of all her songs, best highlights what Hollie would describe as my 'nice fiddly bits'. Unfortunately, nice fiddly bits are much harder to get right in a freezing studio (Hollie nicked the heater for the control room), whilst under time pressure, and with no loud band to cover up your not-so-nice fiddly mistakes. Luckily, Barnaby 'genius engineer' Ray is ever the man for this sort of situation (as you may have read about a few days ago).
Barnaby is the Lord of Splice. King Splice I. The Great Splicetastic Sensation. 'Splicing' is basically chopping out mistakes and pasting in good takes, to build new, better guitar parts, which flatter average musicians greatly. They are an extremely necessary requirement (unless you are a genius, or Mick Hucknall).
As Barnaby proceeded to flatter my very own guitar playing, Hollie and I passed the time by consuming inordinate amounts of tea and discussing whether 'Will it Splice?' would be an effective Saturday Night Terrestrial television quiz for Dale Winton to host. Truly, it would be a great platform for Barnaby to demonstrate his amazing ability, but unfortunately it doesn't quite have the same ring to it as 'Supermarket Sweep'.
I digress. Three tracks are sounding great, roast lamb and many roast potatoes have now been consumed (thanks Hollie’s Mum <3) and - yes - there is much more rehearsing ahead.
It's been a pleasure.
-Rowan.
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