Well, I've been doing this for nearly a year now. So how far have I got?
I've been rebuilding my studio for several months now, and that has inevitably slowed things down. However, I've got versions of several songs now, mostly just the music. I've completed the music for 'I Keep the One I Love in the Freezer' so as soon as I've done the vocals I'll post it. Even though it's rather sick. Actually I do quite like it. I was just winding up Graham.
I've posted two pieces of music on www.fournotes.co.uk. I'd hoped to do a few more than that, but never mind.
I'm back in touch with Jen and Graham. I'm hoping to persuade them to come and see the Twelfth Night reunion gig. See www.twelfthnight.info/news.php. Me, Graham and Jen - it would be the first time all together since the band split up.
Finally, partially inspired by Twelfth Night I have to admit, I've written the lyrics of a new song which I only want 'The Empty Vessel' to do. It's called 'Humanisation' and it calls for a prog epic. Anyone up for a reunion?
Monday 12 November 2007
A lead
A Polish friend of mine (no, he's not a builder, don't stereotype) told me about a band he went to see a few years ago. Apparently, they had a rather peculiar but excellent guitarist. The singer gave the guitarist's name as Zenon. You can see where this is going.
Now, I'm sure there are loads of guitarists in Poland called Zenon, or who have other names beginning with Z. How many of them, however, do a cover version of the Empty Vessel song 'A World Of My Own'?
Now, I'm sure there are loads of guitarists in Poland called Zenon, or who have other names beginning with Z. How many of them, however, do a cover version of the Empty Vessel song 'A World Of My Own'?
Saturday 27 October 2007
Sunday lunch chez Graham
I am seriously spooked.
I took up Graham on his offer of lunch. He lives in a nice four-bedroom detached house. Everything is very clean and tidy. His kids are very nice, and his wife is very nice. But there are a couple of oddities.
First, in the double garage there's a red sports car covered with a tarpaulin - and I could see a 'Ferrari' badge. Graham's escape? Maybe.
Secondly, the fourth bedroom is a music room professionally soundproofed with a really smart drumkit in the centre. Also in this room there are a couple of keyboards and a couple of left-handed basses. BUT most odd is a beautiful RIGHT-handed fender strat that is finished to look like the cover of 'In the Court of the Crimson King'.
Now, some facts:
1) Graham never got on with guitars because he always said "you need girly hands to play guitar" - yeah, right.
2) Graham supposedly gave up music.
3) Jen is left-handed. Is Graham recording stuff with Jen?
4) "In the Court of the Crimson King" was Zed's all time favourite album. Graham knows this. Either he's deliberately winding me up, or he's in contact with Zed. I can think of no other explanation that makes sense.
Call me paranoid, but is my entire band recording stuff behind my back? What's going on here?
Friday 12 October 2007
A long letter from Graham
Dear Robert,
An interesting last post (15th Sept) - be careful my friend, that was almost an apology! I repeat once again that you have NOTHING to apologise for. You seem to value my opinion but then when I criticise constructively you go off on one of your regular forays into paranoia. Lets deal with a few points.
1. Sorry if what I said about 'Face pt 4' you didn't like. My overall criticism was that putting up a section of a longer piece I find rather odd. 'Face' was a beautiful piece of music and just putting up a bit of it made no sense. Would you listen to just 5 minutes of Suppers Ready?
2. I am not in the least bit possessive about 'I keep the one I love in the freezer' so attempting to insult it doesn't upset me one jot. However your memory appears to once again be rather distorted. You suggest it is like a 'pop song' - hmmm. If you remember when I wrote it I really was not in the least bit happy with it but was told "man, this will be one of the best songs we've ever done, we've got to include it" - now I wonder who said that - ah yes it was you. It was also you who suggested that this song feature at almost every gig because "the fans love it and I love singing it" (again a quote from you). True over time I did become fond of this piece, mostly thanks to praise received from fans and the rest of the band yourself included. You will recall that I never wanted to call it "I keep the one I love in the freezer" and I think it possibly annoyed you that I never told you what it was about. This was not just to wind you up, this is because of a fundamental belief I have that it doesn't matter what the writer thinks it's about - it is what it means to the listener. You have chosen to interpret it to be about some sicko murderer which I think says a lot more about you than it does me. Have another read of the lyrics - could it mean anything else?
3. As I said at the start of my message - you don't have anything to apologise for but I must be totally honest that I was rather offended that you thought it was me who sent you an email from Zed. You logic here beggars belief - why would someone who is so "lacking in imagination and just plain dull" (your blog Aug 8th) do something like this?
4. Without You. Well done my friend. I have always adored this piece and I think you have done a reasonable job. True the drums are appalling but this is not your fault - I have yet to hear convincing 'computer drums'. One thing I think you got wrong was the tempo - was this supposed to be an amphetamine induced version? I think it could do with some severe slowing down (please note this is supposed to be CONSTRUCTIVE criticism - so please attempt to hold back you tirade of abuse).
Finally, I am sorry if my 'normal' life offends you (Bank Manager is surprisingly close) I have a wife whom I adore and 2 fantastic kids and overall I have never been happier - but don't take my word for it. We sit down every Sunday for a family roast (I hate to blow my own trumpet but I do a mean roast dinner) and I'd like to invite you along to join us at your convenience if you can stand the drudgery. If money is tight, just let me know I will be more than happy to pay your train fare (I'm assuming that you still refuse to drive anywhere). Any Sunday is good for us.
As always I will end by wishing you nothing but the best and I hope I am wrong in anticipating another vitriolic and scathing reply on your blog.
Graham.
An interesting last post (15th Sept) - be careful my friend, that was almost an apology! I repeat once again that you have NOTHING to apologise for. You seem to value my opinion but then when I criticise constructively you go off on one of your regular forays into paranoia. Lets deal with a few points.
1. Sorry if what I said about 'Face pt 4' you didn't like. My overall criticism was that putting up a section of a longer piece I find rather odd. 'Face' was a beautiful piece of music and just putting up a bit of it made no sense. Would you listen to just 5 minutes of Suppers Ready?
2. I am not in the least bit possessive about 'I keep the one I love in the freezer' so attempting to insult it doesn't upset me one jot. However your memory appears to once again be rather distorted. You suggest it is like a 'pop song' - hmmm. If you remember when I wrote it I really was not in the least bit happy with it but was told "man, this will be one of the best songs we've ever done, we've got to include it" - now I wonder who said that - ah yes it was you. It was also you who suggested that this song feature at almost every gig because "the fans love it and I love singing it" (again a quote from you). True over time I did become fond of this piece, mostly thanks to praise received from fans and the rest of the band yourself included. You will recall that I never wanted to call it "I keep the one I love in the freezer" and I think it possibly annoyed you that I never told you what it was about. This was not just to wind you up, this is because of a fundamental belief I have that it doesn't matter what the writer thinks it's about - it is what it means to the listener. You have chosen to interpret it to be about some sicko murderer which I think says a lot more about you than it does me. Have another read of the lyrics - could it mean anything else?
3. As I said at the start of my message - you don't have anything to apologise for but I must be totally honest that I was rather offended that you thought it was me who sent you an email from Zed. You logic here beggars belief - why would someone who is so "lacking in imagination and just plain dull" (your blog Aug 8th) do something like this?
4. Without You. Well done my friend. I have always adored this piece and I think you have done a reasonable job. True the drums are appalling but this is not your fault - I have yet to hear convincing 'computer drums'. One thing I think you got wrong was the tempo - was this supposed to be an amphetamine induced version? I think it could do with some severe slowing down (please note this is supposed to be CONSTRUCTIVE criticism - so please attempt to hold back you tirade of abuse).
Finally, I am sorry if my 'normal' life offends you (Bank Manager is surprisingly close) I have a wife whom I adore and 2 fantastic kids and overall I have never been happier - but don't take my word for it. We sit down every Sunday for a family roast (I hate to blow my own trumpet but I do a mean roast dinner) and I'd like to invite you along to join us at your convenience if you can stand the drudgery. If money is tight, just let me know I will be more than happy to pay your train fare (I'm assuming that you still refuse to drive anywhere). Any Sunday is good for us.
As always I will end by wishing you nothing but the best and I hope I am wrong in anticipating another vitriolic and scathing reply on your blog.
Graham.
Saturday 15 September 2007
Wanted: drummer
I need a drummer for the Empty Vessel. Ideally they need to know the material inside out already. Ideally they would love the kind of music loved by the original members of the Empty Vessel. Ideally they wouldn't be afraid to swallow their pride and let their hair down again, just like they did in the old days, even if, let's say, they're bank managers for their day job.
It's not the same without real drums. I'm sorry, Graham, all right? Let's have a drink mate, down the pub, and talk it out, like proper grown-ups.
Look, I've even done a version of 'I Keep The One I Love In The Freezer', all right? Even though I hate it. So there.
It's not the same without real drums. I'm sorry, Graham, all right? Let's have a drink mate, down the pub, and talk it out, like proper grown-ups.
Look, I've even done a version of 'I Keep The One I Love In The Freezer', all right? Even though I hate it. So there.
Sunday 26 August 2007
Graham's joke
OK Graham, that was you, wasn't it? You sent me the email and pretended to be Zed. What a funny chap you are, ha ha ha.
Genuinely, mate, I would be interested to know what you thought of "Without You". Any chance of a comment? Come on, I know you read this.
Genuinely, mate, I would be interested to know what you thought of "Without You". Any chance of a comment? Come on, I know you read this.
Monday 13 August 2007
Without You
For me, "Without You" was Beth's masterpiece. I hope I've done it justice. You can now hear my first version of it on www.fournotes.co.uk. Just choose "Without You" from the menu that appears when you click on "Music".
Maybe, Graham, you think this is slightly more representative of the band?
Maybe, Graham, you think this is slightly more representative of the band?
Thursday 9 August 2007
Out of the blue
This email received this morning:
Everything's cool. Let it be.
Z
My jaw is on the floor.
Everything's cool. Let it be.
Z
My jaw is on the floor.
Wednesday 8 August 2007
Graham
Graham's got me thinking now. I could never understand how someone so logical, straightforward, lacking in imagination and dare I say just plain dull could ever come up with a lyric so sick as "I Keep the One I Love in the Freezer".
Then it occurred to me. Maybe he didn't need any imagination to write it. Maybe it was based on personal experience. Got anything you want to tell me, Graham?
From what I remember, Graham wrote the song just after Zed disappeared, so I guess he might have been feeling a bit disturbed by the whole experience - we all were. But I still to this day have trouble matching up the Graham I knew with the words of this song.
Then it occurred to me. Maybe he didn't need any imagination to write it. Maybe it was based on personal experience. Got anything you want to tell me, Graham?
From what I remember, Graham wrote the song just after Zed disappeared, so I guess he might have been feeling a bit disturbed by the whole experience - we all were. But I still to this day have trouble matching up the Graham I knew with the words of this song.
Monday 6 August 2007
Just for the record
I have to respond to Graham's post. I tried not to, but it is so full of errors that I just have to comment.
On 'A Face in the Crowd, part IV': Graham, you never understood this. It's essential to the overall piece because it acts as a still point at the centre. Jen's "complex and wonderfully haunting bass line" I had a really good laugh about. Jen for once missed the point of this music too and overcomplicated it. Removing it, and simplifying the percussion, was essential to return it to its essence. So now there's no endless banging away by the drummer, thank goodness.
"I Keep the One I Love in the Freezer" was a very sick song, Graham. I was never comfortable singing it and it is your worst lyric. And as for representative, what planet are you on? It was the least representative of our music. For me it was far too close to the commercial "single" that we were always trying to avoid, though having said that I can't imagine a song about that subject in the charts somehow. I think you were mistaking the cheering at the end of performances of it for appreciation - personally I think they were just glad it had stopped.
So pleased you're worried about my mental health old mate. It's a shame you didn't show your concern a bit sooner, isn't it? You never liked a mystery, did you - everything in Grahamworld always has to be so controlled and logical and understood. The world's not like that. Maybe you're happier now you're a bank manager or whatever mundane humdrum job it is you do, but some of us just think there's a little bit more.
On 'A Face in the Crowd, part IV': Graham, you never understood this. It's essential to the overall piece because it acts as a still point at the centre. Jen's "complex and wonderfully haunting bass line" I had a really good laugh about. Jen for once missed the point of this music too and overcomplicated it. Removing it, and simplifying the percussion, was essential to return it to its essence. So now there's no endless banging away by the drummer, thank goodness.
"I Keep the One I Love in the Freezer" was a very sick song, Graham. I was never comfortable singing it and it is your worst lyric. And as for representative, what planet are you on? It was the least representative of our music. For me it was far too close to the commercial "single" that we were always trying to avoid, though having said that I can't imagine a song about that subject in the charts somehow. I think you were mistaking the cheering at the end of performances of it for appreciation - personally I think they were just glad it had stopped.
So pleased you're worried about my mental health old mate. It's a shame you didn't show your concern a bit sooner, isn't it? You never liked a mystery, did you - everything in Grahamworld always has to be so controlled and logical and understood. The world's not like that. Maybe you're happier now you're a bank manager or whatever mundane humdrum job it is you do, but some of us just think there's a little bit more.
Friday 3 August 2007
More nonsense from the nonsemeister
This just in from my 'friend':
Dear Robert
I hope this email finds you well.
For crying out loud - I am NOT "cheesed off" at you and you HAVEN'T done anything wrong. Things change, we were in a band together a long time ago. That was a different time in a different place and we are now different people. It's called life! Everyone moves on, sometimes friendships endure change and sometimes they just don't. You need to stop reading between lines that have no text between them.
While I am here I thought I must comment on the music you have completed (Face part 4). I'm very sorry and hope you won’t be hurt by my comments but this is utter rot! You have completely misinterpreted the percussion and totally left out Jen's complex and wonderfully haunting bass line. Besides why in God's name did you choose this as your first piece? It was never one of our best. Could this be you unconscious desire to fail? Anyone tuning into your blog will take one listen to this and never come back. Why not put something up that represented our music, rather than the hippy-trippy, substance induced nonsense. Personally I would suggest "I Keep the One I Love in the Freezer" this was a good representation of our work and always a favourite with audiences. Any additional music you DO put up, please please treat it sensitively which might avoid anyone listening vomiting their internal organs.
One final point, I'll be honest, I'm worried about you. Just because our lives have gone in separate directions does not mean I don't think about or care for you - I do. I find your continued obsession with the whereabouts of Zed worrying in the extreme. You seem to see the slightest little thing as mystical signs and portents. First the 'sighting' of Zed’s guitar - how many battered old strats are out there? And then the "Zed' Dead" website. Jesus H Corbett - it just a web site!!! "Zed" and "Dead" rhyme - get it - it's just a cool name for a band!! There really is nothing mystical here. I hope your readers do not think I am being over fussy here but remember I know you well and I know the fragility of your mind. Please Robert, I am begging you, seek help before this gets out of hand.
As always I wish you the very best and much respect. I look forward to reading my email on your blog and will be interested to see if you have had the common sense to edit any of it.
Graham.
From Robert: funny how Graham wants me to do a song with one of his lyrics in. I always thought "I Keep the One I Love in the Freezer" was a rubbish song mate.
Dear Robert
I hope this email finds you well.
For crying out loud - I am NOT "cheesed off" at you and you HAVEN'T done anything wrong. Things change, we were in a band together a long time ago. That was a different time in a different place and we are now different people. It's called life! Everyone moves on, sometimes friendships endure change and sometimes they just don't. You need to stop reading between lines that have no text between them.
While I am here I thought I must comment on the music you have completed (Face part 4). I'm very sorry and hope you won’t be hurt by my comments but this is utter rot! You have completely misinterpreted the percussion and totally left out Jen's complex and wonderfully haunting bass line. Besides why in God's name did you choose this as your first piece? It was never one of our best. Could this be you unconscious desire to fail? Anyone tuning into your blog will take one listen to this and never come back. Why not put something up that represented our music, rather than the hippy-trippy, substance induced nonsense. Personally I would suggest "I Keep the One I Love in the Freezer" this was a good representation of our work and always a favourite with audiences. Any additional music you DO put up, please please treat it sensitively which might avoid anyone listening vomiting their internal organs.
One final point, I'll be honest, I'm worried about you. Just because our lives have gone in separate directions does not mean I don't think about or care for you - I do. I find your continued obsession with the whereabouts of Zed worrying in the extreme. You seem to see the slightest little thing as mystical signs and portents. First the 'sighting' of Zed’s guitar - how many battered old strats are out there? And then the "Zed' Dead" website. Jesus H Corbett - it just a web site!!! "Zed" and "Dead" rhyme - get it - it's just a cool name for a band!! There really is nothing mystical here. I hope your readers do not think I am being over fussy here but remember I know you well and I know the fragility of your mind. Please Robert, I am begging you, seek help before this gets out of hand.
As always I wish you the very best and much respect. I look forward to reading my email on your blog and will be interested to see if you have had the common sense to edit any of it.
Graham.
From Robert: funny how Graham wants me to do a song with one of his lyrics in. I always thought "I Keep the One I Love in the Freezer" was a rubbish song mate.
Thursday 2 August 2007
Jen and Beth
I spoke to Jen again last night. She's been keeping up with the blog, apparently, and wondering why I haven't been posting.
No reason really. I've been working a lot on 'Without You' which was pretty much Beth's piece on 'A Face In The Crowd'. I'm pretty happy with how it's sounding and should be able to mix something down and put it up on www.fournotes.co.uk fairly soon.
Anyway, the interesting bit of news that Jen had for me was that she's been talking to Beth, and they're going to meet up. Now I haven't heard anything about Beth since about 1991. Apparently she got married in 1992, to a chemist of all things (a chemist!!!) and lives in Sussex. I'll be very interested to hear more.
So just for fun, here's the current status of band members:
Robert Fenn: me!
Jen Chaplin: have met up again, now in regular contact
Beth Hale: have heard recent news
Graham Bennett: have exchanged emails but clearly he's a bit cheesed off with me
Zed: no news
No reason really. I've been working a lot on 'Without You' which was pretty much Beth's piece on 'A Face In The Crowd'. I'm pretty happy with how it's sounding and should be able to mix something down and put it up on www.fournotes.co.uk fairly soon.
Anyway, the interesting bit of news that Jen had for me was that she's been talking to Beth, and they're going to meet up. Now I haven't heard anything about Beth since about 1991. Apparently she got married in 1992, to a chemist of all things (a chemist!!!) and lives in Sussex. I'll be very interested to hear more.
So just for fun, here's the current status of band members:
Robert Fenn: me!
Jen Chaplin: have met up again, now in regular contact
Beth Hale: have heard recent news
Graham Bennett: have exchanged emails but clearly he's a bit cheesed off with me
Zed: no news
Warren Street
I don't know whether anyone else has ever noticed this, but there's something odd about the mazes at Warren Street tube station.
Go down to Warren Street Victoria line platforms. Go to the northbound platform. Have a look at all the mazes on the walls. They look identical, but if you look closely you will see that one of them is slightly different - there's no way of getting into the centre.
Was this an error made when creating the mazes? Or is it some deliberate quirk?
The chances of anyone actually knowing this are miniscule, but if you were the person responsible for creating the Warren Street mazes, please let me know. With the history of The Empty Vessel it seems somehow apt that one of the labyrinths at Warren Street can't be escaped from...
Follow-up - there's some information on the Warren Street maze here: http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/jo/maze/branch.htm. However, there's no mention of the 'blocked' maze which suggests it's a mistake. I've also found out that Alan Fletcher, the designer of the maze, died only last year: http://www.designmuseum.org/design/alan-fletcher. However, other sources quote a different designer, John Burrel, but I can't find any other links to him.
You can see a panorama of Warren Street tube here, but it doesn't show the blocked maze: http://www.urban75.org/vista/warren_st.html.
Please let me know if you have any more information about the Warren Street mazes.
Go down to Warren Street Victoria line platforms. Go to the northbound platform. Have a look at all the mazes on the walls. They look identical, but if you look closely you will see that one of them is slightly different - there's no way of getting into the centre.
Was this an error made when creating the mazes? Or is it some deliberate quirk?
The chances of anyone actually knowing this are miniscule, but if you were the person responsible for creating the Warren Street mazes, please let me know. With the history of The Empty Vessel it seems somehow apt that one of the labyrinths at Warren Street can't be escaped from...
Follow-up - there's some information on the Warren Street maze here: http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/jo/maze/branch.htm. However, there's no mention of the 'blocked' maze which suggests it's a mistake. I've also found out that Alan Fletcher, the designer of the maze, died only last year: http://www.designmuseum.org/design/alan-fletcher. However, other sources quote a different designer, John Burrel, but I can't find any other links to him.
You can see a panorama of Warren Street tube here, but it doesn't show the blocked maze: http://www.urban75.org/vista/warren_st.html.
Please let me know if you have any more information about the Warren Street mazes.
Tuesday 26 June 2007
Birthdays
Now I don't know why, but we always made a big deal of celebrating birthdays in the band.
I distinctly remember sitting in a pub celebrating Beth's birthday and realising that we had never celebrated Zed's. This must have been at least two years after he'd joined the band.
So I asked him when his birthday was and he said he didn't have one. Obviously, we all protested that everyone has a birthday, but he was very firm: he didn't have one. Not even "I don't know when my birthday is" but "I don't have a birthday".
So, we asked him to pick a date he liked and we'd celebrate his birthday on that date. He went along with it and suggested the 26th of June. Why the 26th of June? No reason.
So, since then, I've raised a glass to Zed on this day. Wherever you are, mate, here's to you. Cheers.
I distinctly remember sitting in a pub celebrating Beth's birthday and realising that we had never celebrated Zed's. This must have been at least two years after he'd joined the band.
So I asked him when his birthday was and he said he didn't have one. Obviously, we all protested that everyone has a birthday, but he was very firm: he didn't have one. Not even "I don't know when my birthday is" but "I don't have a birthday".
So, we asked him to pick a date he liked and we'd celebrate his birthday on that date. He went along with it and suggested the 26th of June. Why the 26th of June? No reason.
So, since then, I've raised a glass to Zed on this day. Wherever you are, mate, here's to you. Cheers.
Sunday 17 June 2007
Finally
Finally, there's some music up on http://www.fournotes.co.uk/.
I've posted up 'A Face In The Crowd, Part 4', which is an instrumental based on two chords. The intention is that it is supposed to sound like it could just go on and on. In fact, some people think it does...ha ha ha.
I've posted up 'A Face In The Crowd, Part 4', which is an instrumental based on two chords. The intention is that it is supposed to sound like it could just go on and on. In fact, some people think it does...ha ha ha.
Friday 15 June 2007
Back on track
After my crisis of confidence I'm back on track. Over the weekend I am going to post three tracks: parts I, II and III of 'A Face In The Crowd'. They're not finished, but I need to get something up there which gives you a flavour of the music. Check out http://www.fournotes.co.uk/ on Monday. There will be music!
Wednesday 6 June 2007
Time to come clean
Why haven't I posted up any Empty Vessel music? It's time to come clean.
Basically, I've started on a lot of the songs. I've got nearly two hours of material. But it just doesn't sound remotely, anything like it should do. Or at least, it does in places, but mostly it just sounds rubbish.
Am I kidding myself here? Is this a completely impossible task that I've set for myself? Should I give up? Has anyone else out there tried to do anything similar?
I'm going through something of a crisis of confidence. I'm currently listening to Dream Theater's Octavarium and it just sounds like a different world from the sort of stuff I'm churning out. Why am I bothering?
I want my band back. Boo hoo.
Basically, I've started on a lot of the songs. I've got nearly two hours of material. But it just doesn't sound remotely, anything like it should do. Or at least, it does in places, but mostly it just sounds rubbish.
Am I kidding myself here? Is this a completely impossible task that I've set for myself? Should I give up? Has anyone else out there tried to do anything similar?
I'm going through something of a crisis of confidence. I'm currently listening to Dream Theater's Octavarium and it just sounds like a different world from the sort of stuff I'm churning out. Why am I bothering?
I want my band back. Boo hoo.
Zed's Dead
Just found this on the internet.
http://www.jamesmorrow.com/zedsdead.htm
Probably a coincidence, but...? Anyone know why they had this name?
http://www.jamesmorrow.com/zedsdead.htm
Probably a coincidence, but...? Anyone know why they had this name?
Graham
So, Graham, you are reading this blog.
I'm genuinely mystified, mate. I understand how we lost (literally) Zed. I understand why Beth left the band. I understand why Jen and I fell apart. But I never understood what happened to a friendship that went back to school. What did I do? Tell me!
I'm genuinely mystified, mate. I understand how we lost (literally) Zed. I understand why Beth left the band. I understand why Jen and I fell apart. But I never understood what happened to a friendship that went back to school. What did I do? Tell me!
Friday 1 June 2007
Graham surfaces
I have copied and pasted this from the email:
"Dear Robert
I was recently made aware of your blog and felt I should contact you regarding this. I just wanted to make it absolutly clear that your 'weird' message was NOT from me although personally I agree with the sentiment. There are still lots of ghosts that remain and frankly I think dragging them up again is not in the best interest of any of our mental wellbeings (especially yours). I know you well enough to know that you will almost certainly post this message up on you blog so wont even try to dissuade you of this.
I genuinely wish you well with your project and hope you have a happy and fulfilling life.
Yours
Graham"
I make no comment.
"Dear Robert
I was recently made aware of your blog and felt I should contact you regarding this. I just wanted to make it absolutly clear that your 'weird' message was NOT from me although personally I agree with the sentiment. There are still lots of ghosts that remain and frankly I think dragging them up again is not in the best interest of any of our mental wellbeings (especially yours). I know you well enough to know that you will almost certainly post this message up on you blog so wont even try to dissuade you of this.
I genuinely wish you well with your project and hope you have a happy and fulfilling life.
Yours
Graham"
I make no comment.
Wednesday 2 May 2007
This is all getting a bit weird
Received through the post two days ago:
Stop the blog
Stop the project
Stop dragging up painful stuff from the past
Written using cutout newspaper letters, I kid you not. No signature (obviously). Is this a threat? Am I supposed to take this seriously? What's going on here?
Since the person who sent it is obviously reading this blog I will say this. If you want to say something, say it. In person. With reasons. Otherwise, surely you don't think I'm just going to interrupt a five-year project on the basis of one daft letter?
Stop the blog
Stop the project
Stop dragging up painful stuff from the past
Written using cutout newspaper letters, I kid you not. No signature (obviously). Is this a threat? Am I supposed to take this seriously? What's going on here?
Since the person who sent it is obviously reading this blog I will say this. If you want to say something, say it. In person. With reasons. Otherwise, surely you don't think I'm just going to interrupt a five-year project on the basis of one daft letter?
Tuesday 17 April 2007
How we all met
I was asked yesterday how all the members of 'The Empty Vessel' actually came together. 'A lot easier than they all fell apart' I quipped. But for the record, this is my recollection of what happened.
Graham and I were actually friends from school, mainly because of our shared interest in deeply unfashionable music. When Pink Floyd toured 'The Wall', somehow we managed to get some tickets. He always said he knew some relative of Nick Mason but frankly I doubt that.
Next to us at the gig were two girls, and we got talking to them. It turned out that they were studying at music college in London. One was a cellist and one was studying composition. But what they really wanted to do was be in a band. They were of course Jen and Beth.
So it didn't take a great deal of effort to put two and two together to get four (literally - do you see what I did there?). For the first few months we spent rather more time discussing potential band names and drinking than we did making music, but eventually we got down to writing some material. I think the first song we ever wrote together was 'Flying' but I'm not sure. Before long, we'd started gigging.
I remember we had this 25-minute prog epic based on Shakespeare's Macbeth (yes, I know). Graham was always banging on about Shakespeare. When he came up with the name we knew immediately that it was right. But then we had already been through 'Whirligig' (urgh!), 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' (really) and when we had become really desperate 'Small Green Hut'. The last resulted from a train journey into London where we closed our eyes and said the next thing we saw would be the name of the band.
So after a year or so of gigging, we were approached by this guy we'd seen several times at our shows. He had this ridiculous multicoloured hat which kept falling off and a red Fender Stratocaster. He wanted to join the band. It was Zed.
Graham and I were actually friends from school, mainly because of our shared interest in deeply unfashionable music. When Pink Floyd toured 'The Wall', somehow we managed to get some tickets. He always said he knew some relative of Nick Mason but frankly I doubt that.
Next to us at the gig were two girls, and we got talking to them. It turned out that they were studying at music college in London. One was a cellist and one was studying composition. But what they really wanted to do was be in a band. They were of course Jen and Beth.
So it didn't take a great deal of effort to put two and two together to get four (literally - do you see what I did there?). For the first few months we spent rather more time discussing potential band names and drinking than we did making music, but eventually we got down to writing some material. I think the first song we ever wrote together was 'Flying' but I'm not sure. Before long, we'd started gigging.
I remember we had this 25-minute prog epic based on Shakespeare's Macbeth (yes, I know). Graham was always banging on about Shakespeare. When he came up with the name we knew immediately that it was right. But then we had already been through 'Whirligig' (urgh!), 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' (really) and when we had become really desperate 'Small Green Hut'. The last resulted from a train journey into London where we closed our eyes and said the next thing we saw would be the name of the band.
So after a year or so of gigging, we were approached by this guy we'd seen several times at our shows. He had this ridiculous multicoloured hat which kept falling off and a red Fender Stratocaster. He wanted to join the band. It was Zed.
Friday 13 April 2007
That dinner date
Why haven't you told us what happened on the dinner date, Rob?
Well, the main reason is that it doesn't make for much of an interesting blog. It went fine and we didn't end the evening by having a row. We also didn't end the evening at the opposite extreme, before you think of suggesting it. A nice, pleasant time was had by all. Well, was had by me, obviously I can't speak for Jen.
It was really nice to catch up, though, and it's got me thinking about Graham - we were friends for a long time, after all, way back beyond the band. I've been trying to track him down, so far without success. He hasn't even put anything on Friends Reunited. Neither have I, to be honest. Perhaps I should.
The one thing that I really, really can't do without Graham is a short monologue he did for 'Will I See You Again?' on 'The Face In The Crowd'. There's this bit where normally we would have put a guitar solo, so instead we put Graham whingeing about us not having a guitarist any more. It was quite witty, and the song wouldn't be the same without it.
Note to Graham: no, of course I can't do without your drumming either, but I can make drums more realistically than I can synthesise your voice. Get in touch, mate.
Well, the main reason is that it doesn't make for much of an interesting blog. It went fine and we didn't end the evening by having a row. We also didn't end the evening at the opposite extreme, before you think of suggesting it. A nice, pleasant time was had by all. Well, was had by me, obviously I can't speak for Jen.
It was really nice to catch up, though, and it's got me thinking about Graham - we were friends for a long time, after all, way back beyond the band. I've been trying to track him down, so far without success. He hasn't even put anything on Friends Reunited. Neither have I, to be honest. Perhaps I should.
The one thing that I really, really can't do without Graham is a short monologue he did for 'Will I See You Again?' on 'The Face In The Crowd'. There's this bit where normally we would have put a guitar solo, so instead we put Graham whingeing about us not having a guitarist any more. It was quite witty, and the song wouldn't be the same without it.
Note to Graham: no, of course I can't do without your drumming either, but I can make drums more realistically than I can synthesise your voice. Get in touch, mate.
Sunday 8 April 2007
Website
The website is now live. You can find it at www.fournotes.co.uk.
The only music on there at present is something that Neal's done for a science museum project. However, I shall be mixing something down this week to give you a taster.
The only music on there at present is something that Neal's done for a science museum project. However, I shall be mixing something down this week to give you a taster.
Friday 6 April 2007
Progress
OK, so no posts for a long time. But I've been making lots of progress on the music, in fact more progress than I would have thought only a few months into the project.
The website stuff goes live very soon now. I'll hold off for just a few more days before I let you know, but I'm very excited. I'm going to post some initial sound files up there so you can hear something because up until now, let's face it it's just words and I could just be some sad bloke with as much musical talent as a lobster.
Slightly weird stuff keeps happening. I was going to a gig in Brighton a couple of weeks ago and happened to walk past Penny Lane music shop. And there in the window was what was undoubtedly Zed's famous (!) red strat. Same dodgy paint job, everything. The only thing that was different was that they'd replaced the two tuning peg thingummies that looked completely different from all the others. The shop was closed, so I decided to go back the next day and see if I could find out any history.
I was there pretty early: the shop must have been open half an hour. The guitar had gone. I asked the bloke about it and he denied all knowledge of its existence. I told him I'd seen it the night before and he just shrugged his shoulders. After a brief exchange of words I was asked to leave the shop. I think it's fair to say I won't be buying anything from them in the near future!
The website stuff goes live very soon now. I'll hold off for just a few more days before I let you know, but I'm very excited. I'm going to post some initial sound files up there so you can hear something because up until now, let's face it it's just words and I could just be some sad bloke with as much musical talent as a lobster.
Slightly weird stuff keeps happening. I was going to a gig in Brighton a couple of weeks ago and happened to walk past Penny Lane music shop. And there in the window was what was undoubtedly Zed's famous (!) red strat. Same dodgy paint job, everything. The only thing that was different was that they'd replaced the two tuning peg thingummies that looked completely different from all the others. The shop was closed, so I decided to go back the next day and see if I could find out any history.
I was there pretty early: the shop must have been open half an hour. The guitar had gone. I asked the bloke about it and he denied all knowledge of its existence. I told him I'd seen it the night before and he just shrugged his shoulders. After a brief exchange of words I was asked to leave the shop. I think it's fair to say I won't be buying anything from them in the near future!
Tuesday 20 February 2007
Jen
I had a good chat with Jen last night. The long and the short of it is that we've decided to meet up in London and have dinner together next week.
She was talking about the thing I talked about a few posts ago, when we saw Zed in the crowd at Croydon. It turns out after all these years that she actually saw him in the crowd too. She isn't sure now why she wouldn't admit it, but it was something to do with being so angry with him and not wanting to raise Beth's hopes. I can't say I really understand, but hey ho.
I'm feeling positive about how this project is all going. I'm not making huge progress but on the other hand I only have limited time, having a full-time job. The big milestone is going to be putting something up on Neal's website, which shouldn't be too far away.
She was talking about the thing I talked about a few posts ago, when we saw Zed in the crowd at Croydon. It turns out after all these years that she actually saw him in the crowd too. She isn't sure now why she wouldn't admit it, but it was something to do with being so angry with him and not wanting to raise Beth's hopes. I can't say I really understand, but hey ho.
I'm feeling positive about how this project is all going. I'm not making huge progress but on the other hand I only have limited time, having a full-time job. The big milestone is going to be putting something up on Neal's website, which shouldn't be too far away.
Thursday 15 February 2007
Spam
Good news today, and an odd coincidence.
A good friend of mine, Neal, has a music project called Electronic Voice Phenomenon. He recorded an album a couple of years back which was completely instrumental. Since then, I've sung on a few tracks of his which he hasn't released.
Anyway, he's now putting a website together to host his music, and he's very kindly offered to host the stuff I'm doing too. The music of the The Empty Vessel will therefore have a home in cyberspace on www.fournotes.co.uk. There's nothing there at the moment but there will be soon, as I'm going to mix down a version of 'Face In The Crowd, Part IV' (the 'timeless' movement) and put it on there.
The odd coincidence? I got some spam yesterday. Normally I get loads of spam and it's full of nonsense. This one was sent from the usual spoof email address but the message just said 'Are you just a face in the crowd? Stand out from the rest!' followed by a link which of course I didn't follow. Think I'm reading too much into this? The subject was 'A world of your own'.
A good friend of mine, Neal, has a music project called Electronic Voice Phenomenon. He recorded an album a couple of years back which was completely instrumental. Since then, I've sung on a few tracks of his which he hasn't released.
Anyway, he's now putting a website together to host his music, and he's very kindly offered to host the stuff I'm doing too. The music of the The Empty Vessel will therefore have a home in cyberspace on www.fournotes.co.uk. There's nothing there at the moment but there will be soon, as I'm going to mix down a version of 'Face In The Crowd, Part IV' (the 'timeless' movement) and put it on there.
The odd coincidence? I got some spam yesterday. Normally I get loads of spam and it's full of nonsense. This one was sent from the usual spoof email address but the message just said 'Are you just a face in the crowd? Stand out from the rest!' followed by a link which of course I didn't follow. Think I'm reading too much into this? The subject was 'A world of your own'.
Sunday 4 February 2007
A Face In The Crowd
Very pleased - lots of progress made on 'A Face In The Crowd'. It's our massive prog rock epic and out of all our songs it's the one I'm most keen to get right. Especially because of its importance in the band's history.
This is going to sound pretentious - but hey ho, that's prog for you. It's essentially a one movement symphony in six sections. After a slow introduction, the second section is fast, and completely conforms to the rules of sonata form. The third is a classic slow movement and it's followed by a movement that is intended to sound 'timeless'. There's a brief faster movement before the final section, which is the only section of the song which has vocals. It ties together all the themes of the previous sections, which are themselves based on a single extended theme.
The lyrics to 'A Face In The Crowd' are based on an incident which happened six months or so after we lost Zed. We were doing a small gig in Croydon and halfway through 'A Force Of Nature' I saw him in the audience. I have no doubt it was him - and I'm also pretty sure he was grinning at me. Graham saw him too - thank goodness, otherwise I'd have looked pretty stupid, but Jen and Beth always maintained we'd imagined it. In fact, Beth got really angry and didn't speak to me for several days, even though we were gigging.
If I try to pinpoint a moment where it all went wrong between me and Beth it was probably that night. That, and of course the evening we both got totally wrecked and ended up in bed together.
This is going to sound pretentious - but hey ho, that's prog for you. It's essentially a one movement symphony in six sections. After a slow introduction, the second section is fast, and completely conforms to the rules of sonata form. The third is a classic slow movement and it's followed by a movement that is intended to sound 'timeless'. There's a brief faster movement before the final section, which is the only section of the song which has vocals. It ties together all the themes of the previous sections, which are themselves based on a single extended theme.
The lyrics to 'A Face In The Crowd' are based on an incident which happened six months or so after we lost Zed. We were doing a small gig in Croydon and halfway through 'A Force Of Nature' I saw him in the audience. I have no doubt it was him - and I'm also pretty sure he was grinning at me. Graham saw him too - thank goodness, otherwise I'd have looked pretty stupid, but Jen and Beth always maintained we'd imagined it. In fact, Beth got really angry and didn't speak to me for several days, even though we were gigging.
If I try to pinpoint a moment where it all went wrong between me and Beth it was probably that night. That, and of course the evening we both got totally wrecked and ended up in bed together.
Tuesday 16 January 2007
Contact from beyond
Well, after that strange digression it's time to get back on track.
I had a phone call last night from Jen Chaplin. It was totally out of the blue. She said she'd seen this blog, believe it or not (I didn't think anyone was reading, let alone ex-members of the band, let alone ex-wives!). Hello Jen!
Well, the blog starts to get a bit personal here so I'm not going to go into any details, but suffice it to say that Jen and I parted on a not completely hostile note. We had a long chat about the old days of The Empty Vessel and I was reminded of something. At the time we were recording 'Opium of the Masses' on the good old four-track we got a package through the post containing a tape. It had no note with it, nothing to indicate who had sent it. Well, of course, we played it.
On the tape there was someone playing improvising on guitar. From the style, it was clearly Zed. Most of it was actually not that interesting, but there was one section we loved. After a lot of discussion we decided to use it, and in the end it found its way on to the album as the intro to the title track.
It was great to talk to Jen again. She did take slight exception to my comment that I'll be able to do the bass on my new recordings adequately without her. Of course, it goes without saying that it would be a lot better with her playing, but I don't think that's on the cards somehow!
I had a phone call last night from Jen Chaplin. It was totally out of the blue. She said she'd seen this blog, believe it or not (I didn't think anyone was reading, let alone ex-members of the band, let alone ex-wives!). Hello Jen!
Well, the blog starts to get a bit personal here so I'm not going to go into any details, but suffice it to say that Jen and I parted on a not completely hostile note. We had a long chat about the old days of The Empty Vessel and I was reminded of something. At the time we were recording 'Opium of the Masses' on the good old four-track we got a package through the post containing a tape. It had no note with it, nothing to indicate who had sent it. Well, of course, we played it.
On the tape there was someone playing improvising on guitar. From the style, it was clearly Zed. Most of it was actually not that interesting, but there was one section we loved. After a lot of discussion we decided to use it, and in the end it found its way on to the album as the intro to the title track.
It was great to talk to Jen again. She did take slight exception to my comment that I'll be able to do the bass on my new recordings adequately without her. Of course, it goes without saying that it would be a lot better with her playing, but I don't think that's on the cards somehow!
Wednesday 10 January 2007
The search for meaning
A bit of a digression this time but hopefully by the end you'll see how it's relevant.
Human beings seem to have evolved with a built-in meaning detector. You only have to watch people rationalising their lottery number choices from patterns that 'always work' to see that we see structure where there is no structure.
Personally I believe that there is no 'meaning' to life in this sense. At one point I did, when I was swept up in the religious revival of the 1980s. My escape from that in 1988 led directly to the lyrics of the 'Opium Of The Masses' album in 1989, and also added pressure on my marriage to Jen Chaplin which finally failed in 1990. No, I know I haven't mentioned that one before.
Anyway, my point is that today I was reflecting that one of the reasons why we enjoy music so much might be that for the duration of the song/symphony/whatever we can lose ourselves in a little private world. The more internally consistent the music, the more of a pattern we see, the more our brain is taken into a place which does have meaning. The more our built-in meaning detector is satisfied.
If this were true, you might expect to find some correlation between those who are 'spiritual' and those who enjoy music the most. Is this what we see?
Human beings seem to have evolved with a built-in meaning detector. You only have to watch people rationalising their lottery number choices from patterns that 'always work' to see that we see structure where there is no structure.
Personally I believe that there is no 'meaning' to life in this sense. At one point I did, when I was swept up in the religious revival of the 1980s. My escape from that in 1988 led directly to the lyrics of the 'Opium Of The Masses' album in 1989, and also added pressure on my marriage to Jen Chaplin which finally failed in 1990. No, I know I haven't mentioned that one before.
Anyway, my point is that today I was reflecting that one of the reasons why we enjoy music so much might be that for the duration of the song/symphony/whatever we can lose ourselves in a little private world. The more internally consistent the music, the more of a pattern we see, the more our brain is taken into a place which does have meaning. The more our built-in meaning detector is satisfied.
If this were true, you might expect to find some correlation between those who are 'spiritual' and those who enjoy music the most. Is this what we see?
Wednesday 3 January 2007
A plan for the next year
Christmas has been and gone, it's now 2007 and time to think about what to achieve. I have a five-year plan to record the albums of 'The Empty Vessel' in new versions. I won't be completing one album each year or anything like that: I'll just work on stuff as the mood takes me. However, by the end of 2007 I intend to have achieved the following:
1) Most of an album worth of material at the mixing stage and
2) Most of an album worth of material at the experimenting stage.
Warren Street is the only song I've really made progress on so far, but I have totally nailed the intro. I think it sounds pretty good. For Christmas I got this R-09 pocket digital recorder (see www.edirol.co.uk) and I will be using it to record the sound of a tube train at the actual Warren Street station. This will be mixed into the intro.
The one problem I have is lead guitar. I can do an adequate rhythm guitar and I can make the other instruments sound good enough, but I'm not sure I can cover Zed's lead work. Obviously this is only a problem for the first two albums so I'll concentrate on the third and fourth while I work out how to solve this. I'm either going to have to find someone to play lead or I'm going to have to do it myself - I don't like either option very much.
1) Most of an album worth of material at the mixing stage and
2) Most of an album worth of material at the experimenting stage.
Warren Street is the only song I've really made progress on so far, but I have totally nailed the intro. I think it sounds pretty good. For Christmas I got this R-09 pocket digital recorder (see www.edirol.co.uk) and I will be using it to record the sound of a tube train at the actual Warren Street station. This will be mixed into the intro.
The one problem I have is lead guitar. I can do an adequate rhythm guitar and I can make the other instruments sound good enough, but I'm not sure I can cover Zed's lead work. Obviously this is only a problem for the first two albums so I'll concentrate on the third and fourth while I work out how to solve this. I'm either going to have to find someone to play lead or I'm going to have to do it myself - I don't like either option very much.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
