We’ve started recording our next record with Chris Ryan at his Dead City Sound studio in North Houston. He’s recorded lots of other bands and artists more well known than us (check out that link!), but we’re using him because he did such a great job on our last record. Today we wrapped up basic tracking (rhythm guitar, bass, and drums). Our two good guitar players, Chris Kahlich and new arrival Ben Murphy, have yet to work their magic. But we hope to make some progress over the next few months, and maybe we’ll be done by the end of the summer.

We may have just started, but the record does have a title: Air & Electric. It’s named after a now defunct tool service/repair shop right next door to our practice space on McKinney. We shot a picture of the sign before it was repainted by the new tenant. The only thing left is going to be this record. Speaking of, here’s a track listing.

1. What the Devil

2. Sidewalks

3. One That Matters

4. A Heart Is Not Easy to Find

5. Far and Away

6. Left Behind

7. Sports in America

8. Perfect Attendance

9. Air & Electric

10. Blue Jean Bomb

11. Your Brave Mistake

12. Champion Sound

13. Help Me Out

5 guys in a tight little space means we’ve become really good at not stepping on each other’s toes….which is great practice for when we’ll be recording with Chris Ryan (current owner of a healing broken big toe). What will also be great practice is our newly taken avenue in the world of recording ourselves. An 8 track and other items are being tweaked and prodded. Marshall and I individually have a history, like most guys, of 4 track recordings. For me it started about 10 years ago, but really BDM over the years has really gathered a qualitative understanding of…The Recording Arts (insert mountain echo: arts…arts…arts..) So it’s really inspiring to be a sort of co-pilot in that realm. It was also very inspiring to hear Kilian Sweeney’s Disclexington, 8 track release.

I had a chance to visit Kilian’s basement recording set up in Chicago. To see that and then listen to results of his 8 track recordings was enough for me. So now we are striving to become more and sound more “recording aware.” I’ve never been able to record add-ons like guiro, maracas, egg shakers within a matter of minutes and then have them battle. (egg shakers won) And with this process we should be able to work out ideas in the space, or record add-ons in the space to fuse with the recordings with Chris Ryan.

Rock for Rise, and the KPFT performance went without a hitch. For me, the latter was a very cool way to meet Rad Rich for the first time. He surprised us by popping in real quick to promote his upcoming Japanese band showcase.

Oh here are some recent pictures!

Right On!
One That Matters
Sidewalks
Far and Away
Champion Sound
Your Brave Mistake
Left Behind
Blue Jean Bomb
In That Moment
Cross

Only two of these songs were on our debut CD. So there’s a ton of stuff we’re playing that will be on the new record.

Posted today over at Skyline Network, there’s an interview featuring yours truly. It’s mercifully short, but still full of useless opinion and delicious namedropping. Please enjoy!

Thanks to Ryan (a.k.a adr) for letting me bore you with my words.