Fellside session (Easter Break)

We're in the middle of a five-day recording session at Fellside.

We're getting used to the studio and our engineer is getting used to us. Some things we just nail. Some things take ridiculously longer than one might expect.

It's difficult knowing when to say when. When you listen to a track repeatedly to pick apart the minutiae of timing, etc., it is very easy to lose perspective.

We've had some rather amusing Ron Burgundy-inspired jazz-flute moments.

Oh and every night we have huge discussions (arguments) about what we're going to call the album. This argument starts over breakfast and has been known to overflow into recording sessions, break (fag and tea) and meal times. Olly even sent pIF a text about it just as he was dropping off to sleep.

So, we've narrowed it down to one or two possible titles... Well, four or seven...

We've had cause to refer to Youtube for inspiration on several occassions - notably: an excerpt from Anchorman, Bjork's Play Dead, the Crimp-off from the The Mighty Boosh and Hide and Seek by Imogen Heap... And we had a good laugh listening to the Treme Brass band.

Band relations are doing well and everybody seems to be bearing with each other with a good deal of patience and humour. And occasional sarcastic asides. But really being together every day for most of a week is fun. Last night Toby even managed to interest pIF and Sarah in a programme called Skins. And we had a merry time around the piano singing songs by Stephen Sondheim and Jason Robert Brown.

This morning all attempts at April Fools gags fell flat. It seems we're just not that funny. Although Toby kept bleating on about some BBC footage of flying penguins - which it turns out was true!

We've had some very pleasant experiences of multi-tracking working out well. Especially in the percussion department. The highlight so far was the bowed marimba notes. Tomorrow's session will feature orchestral bass drum. Bring it on!

Oh, and Linda's cooking is immense! (Linda is the wife of Paul, who signed us). We've had amazing meal after amazing meal. Our advice - if you want good food and you are a folk band, get signed on Fellside!