Jason Lytle you used to do this thing with every new Grandaddy record where he’d buy new pedals, synths, guitars and toys and just play with them for weeks and months during the process of writing new material. Sounds and noises sometimes write songs. We haven’t had too much money to spend lately so as much as we’d love to go out and buy new gear we’ll have to take the Grandaddy Approach to a whole new level. This album is going to be exploring texture and all the elements that we think add and subtract to texture. Space, size, time and their opposites. It’s not so much that it will be experimental but rather intent will play a very big roll in how we approach the recording sessions. We’ll string our Uke with steel and our banjo with nylon, we’ll punch holes in our speakers and record parts in the back of the van. We’ll send sine waves out into space and back again only to re-amp and re-sizzle the fuck out of them. But it won’t be for the hell of it. Anyway, that’s the plan and while there’s a heap more we have to say about it, it’ll have to wait for now.
Site
We’ve had a heap of visitors lately all thanks to the covers we’ve been doing and we’re a little embarrassed that the site is so shitty. So… we’re getting off our butts and redesigning the site. Monday Records are doing the same thing so there must be something in the air. In the meantime we apologize for the shitty state of the current site.
Filed under Diary
Drums
The word ‘drums’ is going to show up in our next record at least half a dozen times. Might be because we haven’t had a drummer that fit with Circle since as long as we can remember and drums was on the brain. But… at last we have a worthy candidate! Josh Bush has joined us and we’ll be working together on the next record. That’s very exciting news. These things are totally a two way street so we’re all just getting a feel for the songs and being really optimistic that it can work on the record as well as a live show.
Filed under Diary
Pet Shop Boys – What Have I Done to Deserve This
This was the most fun cover to record and produce and we’re pretty sure it’s the best of the lot. We’re feeling ready to get stuck into the album now so thanks so much to everyone who helped with the covers and supported them. FBi and Stuart Coupe in particular made it all that much more worth while.
Filed under Music
New Stuff
We recorded this track last week and shot the video yesterday. Up editing all night. The original is absolutely awesome! You might notice it’s a little softer than the other tracks. We’re experimenting with recording techniques. This one embraces some crazy plugin automation and tuning but was also recorded to tape using all analog gear. This version, which is a little quieter had more dynamic so we stuck with it. Just turn up the volume…
Filed under Diary
Next Cover
We worked really hard that night back in December at the Shakespeare Hotel drinking and thinking about a list of covers. Thankfully some of that has been documented courtesy of Dan’s iPod and Radi’s camera. So why the covers? Well there were a few reasons but mainly we wanted to stop gigging for a while and although there were some new ideas for a record we weren’t ready to dive into that. Also, we weren’t ready to have a break from each others company either. It was feeling like the four of us had only just started out. A good place to be. Three covers in (one we haven’t released yet) and we’re thinking it was a pretty good idea. It’s hard work mind you and everyone’s year has been as crazy if not crazier than others. SO we’re happy to reveal that very soon you’ll have a cover of The Stranglers Golden Brown and quite possibly a video to go with it. From there, we’re yet to decide. The goal was 12 then it changed to 6. As long as it feels good we’ll keep going.
Filed under Diary
More New Music
There’s been a heap of talk about the covers because that’s been an all consuming project but we should mention that we’re also writing. A new Circle album even before Molasses is even released locally. Oh boy. Full day shoot yesterday in Woollongong went well and a new single cover clip is in the works. Breath deeply. At the same time we’re rebuilding the site’s architecture because of some feedback we’ve had from people in the last few weeks. Some solid pages you can visit like new music and about will be set up soon.
Filed under Diary
I’m on Fire
Happy to say we have another cover song done and more new music to share… The original is a cracker so there was no point going down that path. Hope you enjoy it. We enjoyed making it. There’s a link to the I’m on Fire youtube video here plus a free download link on the soundcloud widget above. All downloads will be 320kb from now on due to popular demand.
Filed under Music
Feedback – We’ll Keep Going
So we think everyone isn’t too offended with our September Gurls cover. Sweet. We might keep going with this new music cover gig. Stuart Coupe had some lovely things to say on FBi the other day and these guys found us somehow: http://www.covermesongs.com/2011/02/circle-distill-dreampop-from-powerpop-with-big-stars-september-gurls.html
Filed under Music