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2007 News |
December 07:
The news as seen by Jon.
It's that time again when I try and dig up some news that might be of interest. Having failed to do that, how about this.
You see the thing that would be of most interest, I can't tell you about!
There was "murders" (well almost) here last week. Needless to say it was all my fault because of a total misunderstanding... (sub titled "I got it wrong"), anyway that is all I can say on the subject except that Agent Sturt comes out of it a bit hurt but with his dignity intact and I don't (God, I got it so wrong.. I'm so embarrassed!). As always Glyn has come out of it smelling like "Chanel No5".
We are getting to the end of the easy bit of "NOW" (the recording) and now the crap bit starts (grown ups talking to other grown ups about sales).
The "Fabulous Stone" (Tim) was here recently playing on the new track (fantastic as always). Glyn has a title for it but, it makes us sound gay (well... we are happy enough most of the time) so we must think of a more macho title as befits our butch image. We have put this and another new track up on the site, so give them a listen and see what you think.
Agent S has mutated into his penultimate form (no need for panic as it wont be for long).
As you see this document has deteriorated into gibberish and so it's time for me, on behalf of the band, to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
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November 07:
Some news from Jon Field
Due to enormous pressure from the "site sitter" to supply him with some news, it has fallen to me to come across.
Well.. firstly, it's not our fault that "Autumn" came weeks too early this year (scientific fact) and that, as we were finishing mixing, we found two more songs (albeit in embryonic form) that just had to be included on NOW. We have no idea how these songs got onto my hard drive, but they are too good to leave off.
One of them gives me a chance to play lots of congas as it's quite African in style and the other is.. just plain pretty (if that is at all possible). Both are nearing completion and as Autumn (in order to make amends) is going to last longer than ever before this year (another scientific fact) the whole thing should be finished before Christmas. It might be after Christmas before they can get it to you though, because of boring marketing stuff.
Our beloved site sitter wants to change the "released in Autumn 2007" to "released in early 2008" because he is incapable of knowingly telling a lie.
We are sorry it's all taking longer than expected, but as all Jade Warrior watchers know, "Time is an illusion". SOON... SOON
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October 07:
The guys are gathering in the next few days, we'll have some news for you then. In the meantime..
Our store has had a makeover with a much wider range of items for sale, and we plan to have some new designs added soon. Check them out at www.cafepress.com/jadewarrior.
If you missed it, we have the guys interview with Paul Baker at rock247online available, so click on the following links to listen. Interview Pt 1. Interview Pt 2. Interview Pt 3.
In case you haven't noticed, a gallery button has appeared on the site. You'll find a collection of new and old pictures of Jade Warrior there, plus some July and Tomcats ones too.
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September 07:
The band have just finished a mixing session at Blossom Studio in South Wales. They mixed seven of the tracks for the new album along with engineer Noel Watson – a very talented chap; http://www.blossomstudio.co.uk
Whilst there, Jon also managed to put down some flute for Tall Trees – which was recorded (very) early one morning in the fields of a local farm.
The guys have also been busy with interviews: Firstly talking to Will Romano, a writer from New York, who is writing a book on progressive rock for Backbeat Books/Hal Leonard. And then an interview with Paul Baker for his online radio show "Soundscapes" on rock247online at http://www.rock247online.co.uk/core/home.php which will be broadcast on 16th and 19th Sept – see here for more info - http://www.rock247online.co.uk/news/20070910.php
In case you haven't noticed the podcast has been changed, it's now Glyn's dulcet tones talking over "Masai Morning".
We have had several enquiries about purchasing the Eclectic re-issues and, until their situation becomes clearer, we would suggest trying http://www.amazon.com or http://www.virginmegastores.co.uk who both seem to have copies for sale.
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August 07:
August news (as seen by Jon Field)
I'm afraid this months news is even more boring than any of the others. How many ways are there of saying "we are finishing off overdubs and sub-mixes?". I feel I must apologise and urge you not to read on as it's all treading water stuff waiting for this goddam album to get done.
"We need a news page," says Agent Sturt, as we were helping Barry to design our website. "Well you write it then", says the band. "OK I will," says Dave and ends up writing about one or something because he's so "knackered" (there's that word again) and the rest is left up to me.
This is a very edgy time in the band's life what with last minute changes and having to stay close to discuss all the endless bits of detail, and the cover and everything... so Agent Sturt chooses this time to visit his brother in America for a month. So Dave is out of it with a cheery "bye for now, and sort out those two tracks, write another piece, sort out the twenty thousand ideas for cover artwork, find some old photos of the band (that nobody has ever seen before) as you looked in the bronze age, and talk to shed loads of people you've never spoken to before."
What has happened to Eclectic records? They seem not to be trading at the moment. We will find out whats happening and let you know!
I don't know what else to write and I wouldn't bother with it, but the web designer bullied me *... sorry!
*No I didn't - just a bit of gentle persuasion ;-).
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July 07:
July news direct from Jon Field.
Up until a few days ago the only news was that Agent Sturt was too "knackered" to write it, (that's Dave's favourite word these days.. in fact he tries to fit the word "knackered" into everything he says.. like the other day he said, "I'm so depressed.. I can't enjoy my rice pudding without nutmeg but I'm just too knackered to go to the nutmeg shop").
That aside, guess what we've been doing... yes... the same as last month... recording... very soon we'll be mixing.
But two bits of news worth telling you are that the artwork for NOW is to be undertaken by Ed Unitsky... great news... if you don't know his work then check out his fantastic art at www.edunitsky.com
And, the albums mastering is to be put into the more than capable hands of Pink Floyd engineer Andy Jackson (so at least we know it will sound flip hot).
Glyn is also depressed, of course, because he is a poet and Welsh... but that goes without saying.. it's his job to be pissed off (and very well he does it too).
The fabulous Tim Stone was in the studio the other day, playing the guitar like a mad baboon on smack. He says, "nobody else lets me play this shit.... even I won't let me play this stuff on my own album!".
I, on the other hand (if anyone is interested at all), am neither depressed or knackered. I am raring to go... anywhere but here.
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June 07:
Jon, Glyn and Dave got together at the end of May for three days of recording, photo shoots, and making merry. A good time was had by all, plus the album has moved nearer to completion, with the plan for a Autumn release.
Dave is now officially an endorsee of Vigier basses, check out the artists page at www.vigierguitars.com. Dave has been playing their basses for 20 years and swears that his Passion Delta metal fretless is the greatest bass ever made!
Jon has been working with Tim (Stone) on an idea Lottie (Field... Jon's daughter) had, which was to set some of her favorite haiku to music in order to create ten or so "haiku miniatures". Jon (never too proud to steal a good idea) has pinched this concept and with frequent visits and contributions from Dave, Tim, and a somewhat miffed Lottie, it is making good progress.
Sales at the store are good and some new items, including another Vertigo based T-shirt design, have recently been added. Let us know if there are any particular designs you would like to see on a T-shirt or poster, we'll see what we can do. Island records T-shirt designs (Waves...Kites) have been commissioned, and will be with us soon.
Floating World was favourably reviewed in the English national newspaper 'The Independent', go to http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20070511/ai_n19117913 to read the review.
The re-release of Last Autumn's Dream is now available from Repertoire at - www.repertoirerecords.com/cgibin/showcdframe.php?repcode=REPUK1104.
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May 07:
The website has now gone 'live'. Check the previous diary entries below to find out what has been going on.
The store is also up and running at www.cafepress.com/jadewarrior and podcasts by Jon and Glyn have been added to the freebies page (accessible through 'Members' on the flash site) - they give some of the inside stories to earlier recordings, expect more soon.
The band have taken back the rights for 'Breathing the Storm' and 'Distant Echoes'. These albums are going to be reworked and remastered for re-release later in the year.
The band are gathering in Wales soon for more recording and pre-mixing of 'NOW'. Jon is working on ideas for the cover.
Dave is also working on tracks with Theo Travis and Robert Fripp for Theo's next solo album. Check Theo's website for details at www.theotravis.com
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April 07:
The Classic Rock Society article mentioned last month can now be viewed at:
www.radagast.org/jade-warrior/archive/Ashley-Franklin-2007.html
Tim Stone and Theo Travis have both added more fabulous playing to the album. Tim added new guitar parts to Fool and his Bride, The Game, and True Love while Theo contributed another solo on Fool and his Bride and soprano on Tall Trees.
Dave and Jon have been working on the arrangements of Tall Trees and True Love and put down flute parts on The Game, congas on Fool and his Bride and a new bass part on True Love. Glyn is about to record new vocals for True Love and The Game. An excerpt of True Love is now on the MySpace website.
The main website is getting many favourable comments from the beta testers. The store is now being put together and there are many ideas for products. Jon is putting together some fabulous designs.
'Screaming Dreams' is the new title for what used to be called 'Backyard Baby'.
In the current edition of Record Collector magazine Rhys Webb of 'The Horrors' chose 'Dandelion Seeds' by July as his all time favourite record. July was, of course, the band Jon and Tony were members of (along with Tom Newman) before they formed Jade Warrior.
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March 07:
The album is progressing really well - all of the pieces of the jigsaw are falling into place - and everyone is really pleased with where it's at.
The new arrangement for Tall Trees sounds fantastic --- Bury My Bones (now renamed Backyard Baby), 3am Meltdown and Journey are just about finished --- The Fool and his Bride is 80 percent complete --- The three new ideas of Jon's, plus True Love, will be the next tracks to be focused on.
Interest in the Jade Warrior back catalogue continues - the Eclectic/Island re-releases have had fantastic reviews - and Repertoire records are about to re-release Last Autumn's Dream, which will complete the release of the original Vertigo albums from the 70's.
There will be a feature on the band in the next issue of the Classic Rock Society magazine - 'Rock Society' - written by Ashley Franklin.
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February 07:
This is JOKE news
Against all the odds Dave has succeeded in building his time machine, so the guys can progress at a much more leisurely pace while making their new album (as if they're not going slow enough already).
Turning on the time machine has caused quite a few strange things to happen. All the guys new recordings so far have an annoying pre-echo on them, which can induce nausea.
In the UK we have abandoned the decimal coin system and gone back to Pounds, Shillings and Pence, while BBC2 is now being broadcast in black and white only. Strangely though, the price of housing is still very high. Finally, Dave's huge stash of Golden Syrup has been turned into a nice little water feature.
That's all for NOW. The real news starts next month.
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January 07:
The JOKE news.
At their current rate the guys expect the album to be finished sometime during early 2012, just in time for it to be played at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in London.
The band are to make a personal appearance soon at a local shopping centre to prove they are still alive (allegedly). While there, Jon is hoping to pick up a nice leather steering wheel cover.
In a brilliant flash of inspiration (and a small puff of blue smoke), Glyn has come up with the idea that JW should obtain copyright on the word "NOW". If successful, this means that an alternative word will have to be substituted for everyday folk to use (except traffic wardens and bank managers, as a recent survey found that they never say "NOW"!). Suggestions so far include "splod", "grint", "yuple" but our current favourite is "qweg". The debate continues..
Plans were drawn up for a giant "NOW" as the backdrop for a possible stage show. However, the guys making it were working in metric but JW (being old sods) still use imperial measurements, so the whole thing ended up at a massive 18 metres high, almost 3 times bigger than expected. The band are currently looking into having themselves converted to metric...
Planning for the next album after "NOW" is well under way, but the guys are rightly worried about the length of time it's taking to make each album. They have decided to attack this problem on two fronts, Dave is frantically trying to build a time machine in his coal scullery with some sheeps wool, barbed wire, and a rusty old gatepost that he had found. Meanwhile Jon and Glyn have been looking into Cryogenic chambers (mind you don't fall in!).
Jon was the victim of a cruel prank today. Glyn had painted black on the inside of Jon's glasses while he was asleep and it was almost 2 hours before Jon realised he hadn't, in fact, gone blind!
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