Artist: The Preachers
Song: A Want So Strong
Album: The 66 Project
Plays: 10
Words and Music - Jak Orion and Isabella Manfredi
Tracked to 1/2” 8 Track Tape on TEAC 80-8; Take #4
05.16.11 ♥ 0
Words and Music - Jak Orion and Isabella Manfredi
Tracked to 1/2” 8 Track Tape on TEAC 80-8; Take #4
May will be our sixth and last month of the project, and from arrogant and ambitious beginnings its served its purpose as a stepping stone to bigger (and hopefully better) thingsys. We’ve learned a lot along the way, most importantly humility (only kidding jerks), but its safe to say those lessons are 1. Projects are fun, 2. They are a lot of work, 3. You need lots of money to do half the things we would have liked to half as well, 4. Criticism is important, malicious attacks self-explanatory, and 5. Always keep moving forward (Thanks G banger).
In the next week we will release our last track A Want So Strong and they’ll be some 66 overspill in the new few months of collaborations with Fashion label Benah, hip-hop artist Harley Wester aka Phrase, another video with Tara Cook and hopefully a few more artworks here and there.
We’ll be commiserating with a final party at Low Bar 302 on Wednesday June 1. Expect the usual, free entry and some special touches. Instead of supports we’ll be playing an earlier extended set with a little help from our friends Hero Fisher, James Domeyko, Simon Day and others TBA blahdiblah.
For the rest of this year we’ll be working on our second EP, and they’ll be fine rewards when it comes around for all of you who’ve supported us. Thank you so much. We’re going to keep the site running and keep posting little tasties, so stay in touch.
Much love,
Isabella
Birthday Party artwork by Jim Shirlaw
Local art mogul Jim Shirlaw contributes the first artwork for The 66 Project this month for Birthday Party, which he describes as ”a prophetic and bizarre song. Concert blaring in the background; a confession from the artist begging and pleading to the world in that dirty back room. ‘I’d like you to sit still while I explain why I love you so much and why I despise you’”.
Jim was apologetic when I went to see him last week about the artwork. He’d gone a bit overboard apparently, and wasn’t sure we’d like it. But we do. It’s creepy, offbeat and a little too melodramatic - just like the song.
Jim’s artwork is now available with Birthday Party on Bandcamp.
For more Shirlaw, visit http://readpalmforest.blogspot.com/
Some of the shots I managed to take whilst recording the band - they were on fire on Tuesday more so than Monday…
We were all set to get back to where we recored our EP (a secret place we call ‘the MPH’), until we learned - last minute - that the mains power was going to be switched off most of the week…
Not easily dissuaded, we set our sights on new places to record our demos and settled on the front room of the house where Thomas and I live (with a glitterati of other colourful characters and occasional drifters - of which I am one). It became one of the most natural, relaxed, and happy times we have been able to enjoy in our fairly brief time as a five-piece since Luke joined us last March.
We were running a fairly basic 8-track tape rig through a 20 channel Tascam desk for the beds (drums, bass, guitar). I had originally wanted to bounce through the tape channels and keep everything analogue, but they’re just demos. In all we had about 7 or 8 takes at most of each of the songs, and worked our way through overdubs on the best.
We won’t keep them in the can too long.
Happy Birthday to our beloved bass-man, Thomas Edward Champion!!!
Demos are finally finished from the aptly dubbed ‘Champsounds Studios’ in the heart of sleepy Drummoyne. There are some photographs yet to be put up - however I thought I’d ply you with a small segment of a jam that made it to the end of our reel of tape. This little riff Thomas wrote during rehearsal a few weeks ago, and it reminds me of a Bill and Woody Jackson thing. Enjoy it - demos will surface soon! Happy Birthday brother Thomas…
Jak
Words and Music by Gideon Bensen
Vox and Acoustic Guitar Gideon
Lead Guitar Jack
Bass Tom
Drums Luke
Produced and Mixed by Jack
April brings with it the beginning of Autumn. In my eyes it’s a time for reflection, the best time to collect your post Summer thoughts. This is exactly what Heard it in a Whisper is all about… your thoughts!
To be totally honest, this track isn’t about any particular person or feeling. It’s more about a concept. Usually i like to write songs in a round about narrative way but with Heard it in a Whisper it was more about creating a sense of space. Using space in a similar way to The Triffids, Paul Kelly or even Daniel Lanois. I feel that the lyrics are just there to service this idea, rather than the other way round.
The recording illustrates this to all those who listen, we aimed to concentrate on not playing too much and letting the vocals breathe. I don’t think we could have selected a better room to record this in (Tom’s Front Room) with its tall ceilings and minimal light it certainly puts you in the right headspace to record a track like this and collect your thoughts. Heard it in a Whisper seems to be the one for your rainy, cloudy day… well I think so anyway.
We hope you enjoy it!
Filming Pale Rider with Tara Cook in Centennial Park. Photography by Paloma Brierley Newton.
