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

[D C]

great work.
 


From: frenchyfrenzy at killingjoke.fr
To: gathering at misera.net
Date: Tue, 8 Dec 2009 00:53:52 +0100
CC: dwish2000 at hotmail.com
Subject: [kj] ]KJ[ Part 1/3 Brittania Row Studios Sessions : The Full Report Of 3 Days With Killing Joke in London November 2009







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 		 	   		  
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