Recording "Sounds Good"

"Sounds Good" is the last track on the new Aethellis album and last Thursday I recorded Erik's bass part for the song (he is co-author of the tune as well). Last night we recorded Mike Harrington on drums at Mark Van Natta's studio. Mike has a funny Keith Jarrett-like way of humming the music while he plays! So we did 3 takes and he minimized the humming by the end of the session. He may do that live but we'd never notice!

Chris Marks is scheduled to put his guitar parts down in the next week or so for "Sounds Good." His parts will nicely compliment Mark Van Natta's guitar bits as they do totally different things in the tune.

Dyan Brown has had to postpone recording her vocals for a while so I'm focusing on polishing up my vocals on a few of the other tracks and getting some mixing underway. I'm determined to have this all wrapped up by year's end and the plan is for a concert in early 2011 to debut the new material live. So stay tuned for upcoming Aethellishows! It's shaping up to be a busy year!

Beside The Manor Selby, Bait and Switch TV

Well it's been over a year since I updated this blog. Gadzooks, tempus fugit! Anyway, some folks have been asking when the next Aethellis album will be out. And I've been updating its progress somewhat on this blog and giving excuses! Like my soundtrack work has been keeping me busy. Meh!

Anyway... the album IS progressing. Actually about all the tracks have been recorded in some fashion. Most basic tracks are laid down and in some cases the tunes are ready for mixing. I may in a fit of inspiration come up with a new bit here and there, but basically the basics are basically there. Basically.

I'd been working on music and sound effects for the Bait and Switch TV pilot when I wrote the last blog. You can check out video clips from it at http://www.baitandswitchtv.com/watchtv.html. It's a very witty satire on the food and drug industry produced by Stanion Studios. Check it out.

Since then I've been doing video orientations for various mental health organizations. But I've also been putting the finishing touches on my epic, Beside The Manor Selby. I wrote and directed it and am in the process of scoring it. It will be premiering most likely in the Atlanta/Sharpsburg/Newnan GA area as a broadcast. Then on to DVD and online viewing.

It stars cult actor Conrad Brooks (of Ed Wood fame) and features George Stover (of John Waters fame) and takes place during The Great War. I should be finished by September at which point I'll be focusing on the soundtrack album (mostly classical/romantic style music). By Christmas I'll be hard at work finishing up the next Aethellis album! It's been slow in coming but I don't want to rush it or half-a** it, you know? As I said before, I have been working on it whenever I had some time set aside. At least I'm faster than Peter Gabriel! (Just kidding, Pete!)

Enjoy the trailer. For more details on the plot and such, visit www.ellsounds.com and click on the links to Selby. There will be a dedicated website shortly before the release.