Album update: triangles, trumpets...and some other things beginning with 't'

Shaun gets his breath after a particularly high vocal overdub.

Adding a bit of sparkle…

And so we move onto what is commonly referred to as 'overdubs'…

It's been six weeks since we recorded the basic tracks for our album at St Michael and All Angels Church on Windmill Hill, Bristol; time has flown. We've gone through all of the sixty (yes! count 'em...) individual takes we recorded over the two days. The results are in…and we have our 10 final songs. 

So now, we are adding the finishing touches/ embellishments to each track to try and make them 'sing' that little bit louder. Such sonic polishing involves Shaun and I cramming into a small recording booth in a studio in central Bristol on a rainy Sunday in January. Rock n Roll indeed. With headphones on we add falsetto harmonies, triangle parts, cowbell rhythms, finger clicks and hand claps. It all takes time: "Was that any good?"; "I think you can do it better…"; "One more time please" and so on. Eventually Jaffa cakes are sought and consumed and this improves matters considerably.

Our trusty engineers Tobias and Karina continue to be people of endless patience, good humour and often wise suggestions (Tobias, for instance, comes up with the inspired finger click concept that now starts off one of the tracks)

Over the next few weeks we will invite other local (and highly talented!) musicians to add their magic to some of the tracks via backing vocals, trumpet and strings. We can't wait to hear the results!

Johnnie tries valiantly to play a tambourine part whilst keeping it balanced on one knee.

The Album launch! Save the date

And at the end of all that...Rock n Roll Angels will be holding an album launch gig on Saturday March 17th at St Michaels and All Angels Church on Windmill Hill (Doors 7:30pm, £5 and proceeds to Teenage Mental Health charities)

Our four piece will be complimented by a host of musicians based in and around Windmill Hill including members of the congregation of St Michael and All Angels. We're anticipating a great night of music and we really hope you can join us to celebrate.

Copies of the album will be available to buy at the gig.

Support will be from the fantastic Michaela Fedeczko 

So, watch this (blog) space for more progress updates on our album and the launch gig.

Rock n Roll Angels would like to thank Arts Council England for their financial support of this project, dBs Productions in Bristol and St Michaels and All Angel church and congregation.