[kj] ]KJ[ Part 1/3 Brittania Row Studios Sessions : The Full Report Of 3 Days With Killing Joke in London November 2009

[phil]

Awesome report, thanks for sharing. Cant wait to hear the new material
now. Nice to hear Raven was present during proceedings too.
phil

On Tue, 8 Dec 2009 00:53:52 +0100, you wrote:


>Hi All,

>

> 

>

>Kindly invited by Big Paul to rejoin them “towards the end” of the new

>recording (which was scheduled from 7th till 20th nov 2009) I decided to

>arrive on the 19th and feel the atmosphere of a recording studio what I

>never had the opportunity to go in.

>

> 

>

>I just had the recommendation not to pass this information on.

>

> 

>

>It’s always a bit frustrating to know and not to share but I hadn’t the

>choice.

>

> 

>

>So it was funny and a kind of “deliverance” when Youth mentioned the name of

>the studios on his MySpace’s blog.

>

> 

>

>When I said it to Big Paul he couldn’t believe it but Youth only mentioned

>the name of the studio, the one where the Wall of the Pink Floyd was

>recorded.

>

> 

>

>1st Day : Thursday 19th nov 2009

>

> 

>

>Just arrived from Lyon at the Gatwick airport, I just noticed a kind of

>puddle around my luggage at the baggages claim

.

>

> 

>

>In fact, one of the 4 bottles of wine had broken and there was just an high

>smell of Pouilly Fuissé (white wine) around me that began to attract the

>looking of ALL the passengers ;o)))

>

> 

>

>It took me 20 mins to “clean“ it and by chance my clothes were in a second

>luggage

>

> 

>

>During the 30 mins travel from Gatwick to Victoria, everybody thought I was

>a drunk man because you can’t manage to evaporate the smell of a wine

>

> 

>

>That’s the power of the French wines but

.

>

> 

>

>Arrived at the Wandsworth rail station, the famous gatherer called Antoni

>Adamiak met me and after leaving my affairs at the Brewers Inn (a typical

>English pub with about 15 rooms upstairs : unusual for an hotel but all the

>wood in the pub and breakfast room gave an attractive impression) we went to

>the studios.

>

> 

>

>After a 20 mins walk we arrived at the “famous“ place where Brittania Row is

>simply inscribed on the wall

>

> 

>

>In fact, from the outside no one can detect that the most awesome group is

>currently recording his new album in this ground and 1st floor building.

>

> 

>

>As you might know, with the Joke, it’s always better not to expect something

>and simply let the things happen.

>

> 

>

>Arrived on the 1st floor, first met was Big Paul and then immediately Jaz.

>

> 

>

>As ever, we were warmly welcomed with big hugs and would you simply imagine

>on second to have tea served by your favourite singer ha ha ha ?

>

> 

>

>Matt Tibbits just arrived after us and immediately Big Paul thought I had

>broken the silence, giving every gatherers the address of the studio ;o)))

>

> 

>

>In fact, I just said Youth had given the famous “indication “ on his blog.

>

> 

>

>That made Jaz and Paul laugh a lot about his discretion !!!

>

> 

>

>Geordie came just after and we had some discussions about the spontaneous

>and collegial ideas during the recording sessions and the use of others

>guitars with the “Golden” one.

>

> 

>

>He found funny all the discussions about this on internet and simply just

>play.

>

> 

>

>Youth was on the ground floor where the main studio is situated and

>introduced us to the sound engineers Davide (from Italy) and Michael (his

>assistant) and Clive (the mix man)

>

> 

>

>All of them are very nice guys and very welcoming.

>

> 

>

>Antoni brought his old Propaganda fanzine and showed it to the guys who

>found it very interesting especially Youth and Jaz.

>

> 

>

>Antoni and Matt were taking pictures of him reading while I was filming the

>whole scene: 3 Paparazzis in the same room ;o))

>

> 

>

>The funny thing was Michael (one of the engineers) who “discovered” they had

>been young like him 30 years ago while watching all the pictures of these

>“young” guys.

>

> 

>

>When my telephone rang, they all felt surprised that my Ringtone was Love

>Like Blood’s intro and laughed at it : by chance it was a good call for the

>business ;o))

>

> 

>

>At this time, Geordie was working with Youth on a riff that immediately

>remembered me Geordie’s demos (I’ve checked and it’s track 5 but not from

>the 2009’ ones : it was from the previous batch

>

> 

>

>So, interesting things began : as the studio with the main desk is not very

>wide we were just 2 meters from them in the corridor listening to this

>majestuous riff

>

> 

>

>In fact, the end of the afternoon was a special moment because it was about

>recording one of the highlights of the coming album :

>

> 

>

>A song dedicated to a man with a excellent (and English should I say) sense

>of humour everybody remembers: Paul Raven

>

> 

>

>Name of this song : “The Raven King”

>

> 

>

>Intro with Keyboards and an heavy guitar riff + basslines à la “Sex Pistols”

>or “Are You Receiving? (style Capital Radio 30.1.80)

>

> 

>

>I would say : simple and fluid and catchy tune very melodic

>

> 

>

>Big Paul of course was behind his drumkit in the main recording room, but

>all the three others have always played in the control room surrounded by

>the engineers and behind the door three happy gatherers with a large smile.

>

> 

>

>It would a big mistake not to mention the presence of Raven in the studio:

>not only for his spirit but on the top of the right speaker situated in the

>control room there was an urn in a garnet pouch containing the ashes of Paul

>Raven




>

> 

>

>It should be the 1st album with the five historical members



>

> 

>

>Only the Guitar + Bass Guitar and Drums were recorded live while Jaz was

>singing above them and encouraged them to improve their riffs in a very

>spontaneous and positive attitude.

>

> 

>

>They spent a long time to adjust everything and fine the best tone for the

>bass and you could feel the energy coming out of this tune in a

>communicative emulation.

>

> 

>

>I am sure that Jaz wanted to do it as perfect as ever to celebrate the

>memory of his lost brother, friend and partner and sang like an epileptic

>man at the end !!!!

>

> 

>

>Then Eddie (a long term friend from Geordie) rejoigned us and the Cheese

>Party began



>

> 

>

>I had 2 wicker trays with fresh leaves from the wood on which I put several

>excellent cheeses that delighted us

>

> 

>

>For example this one was 18 months old ant got a real success

>

> 

>

>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comt%C3%A9_(cheese)

>

> 

>

>Theses ones : everybody loved them  : it’s special because you have to turn

>the girolle to get “shavings” of the MonkHead (I had brought 2 plastic

>devices in order that everybody could use them: very friendly)

>

> 

>

>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%C3%AAte_de_Moine

>

> 

>

>Without forgetting this one which is only available for a few months in the

>year : very tasty with fresh French baguettes.

>

> 

>

>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vacherin_(cheese)

>

> 

>

>Of course, we drank adapted wines like:

>

> 

>

>http://www.viswiki.com/en/Mouton_Cadet

>

> 

>

>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pouilly-Fuiss%C3%A9

>

> 

>

>I still do not understand how a bottle of wine broke in my luggage when just

>close to it, I had 12 wine glasses which stayed intact.

>

> 

>

>For the 1st time I brought some saucissons too and they got a real success

>too except for Paul who is vegetarian

>

> 

>

>http://saucissonsec.net/

>

> 

>

>Eddie who spent around 40 months in the French Foreign Legion (and

>apparently some of them in jail ha ha ha !!!) was so excited to eat again

>some cheeses and drink some tasty wines, began to sing the French Hymn “La

>Marseillaise”, would I say in his “own particular style” that is often the

>one of the guys in the Foreign Legion who come from everywhere in the world

>to begin a “new life”

>

> 

>

>Eddie is a very nice guy who could have easily played in the movie : “ Lock,

>Stock and Two Smoking Barrels”  ha ha ha 

>

> 

>

>Matt filmed this sequence and put it on line and it reflects exactly the

>good vibes at this moment in the kitchen of the studios ;o)))

>

> 

>

>We decided that this 19th tracks should be on the coming album too ;o))

>

> 

>

>Very simple but great moments when we shared good foods and drinks as they

>shared with us good music.

>

> 

>

>I am sure that Matt and Antoni will be on the same opinion.

>

> 

>

>After the cheese feast, we went down with Antoni seating in the back of the

>recording desk behind the engineers and they let us listening to many new

>tunes under construction and especially one with a cavalcade of drums and a

>very rhythmic guitar (in all likelihood  “The Great Call”)

>

> 

>

>The one named “Honour The Fire” contains many changes of rhythm and I could

>add that guitar is the locomotive, more than ever and you could notice

>Geordie shaking his head while listening to the track

>

>Directly in the sprit from his previous demos (without the lady “singing ?”

>of course )

>

> 

>

>“End Games” is more heavy and hard to describe.

>

> 

>

>But “Feast Of Fools” is a very powerful, melodic and killer one and Jaz

>literally exploded of joy and excitement while listening to it with us in

>the desk room.

>

> 

>

>We were all suffering from a sudden virus that led us to headbanging

>!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

>

> 

>

>Jaz was almost playing air guitar and air drums and at this moment you could

>really feel the incredible excitement of the creative process they were

>onto.

>

> 

>

>Jaz asked me if I liked the tune: just answered no : I adored it ;o)))

>

> 

>

>Let me describe you the atmosphere : very very cool and relaxed with Jaz on

>my side and Big Paul seated on the side of Antoni.

>

> 

>

>Quite the Paradize after all; Big Paul said to the both engineers his now

>famous “You have your instructions: make me sound like God ;o))”

>

> 

>

>After this, Davide and Michael left their places for the mixer man Clive and

>we went on listening and listening and listening to “The Feast Of Fools” so

>he could arrange and improve details and details

>

> 

>

>The software they used for recording and mixing is called “LOGIC PRO” 

>

> 

>

>Around midnight the work was finished and Jaz sent congratulations to Clive

>for his job.

>

> 

>

>Antoni and I left the studio with our heads filled of images and sounds from

>the day.

>

> 

>

>Awesome, unusual, powerful, melodic and brand new in an 80’ style renewed

>would be the words of the day without forgetting friendship and simplicity

>and Feast of Cheeses of course.

>

> 

>

> 

>

> 

>See part 2/2