Adam and I finished some new material recently. You can hear the song “Not a Bad View from Hackley Hill” by visiting the new myspace page of our friend Empress Effects.

Go visit their page and check out our latest work.

Song features mandolin, recorder, and accordion among other sounds. Jamie from Whitey on the Moon sits in on the harmonium.

Here’s a run down of some things that I’m practicing:

1. Select an idea.
2. Choose a method to express that idea in music.
3. Program the structure of the idea into electronic equipment (sometimes).
4. Set up recording equipment as needed.
5. Press record.
6. Improvise.
7. Overdub as little as possible.
8. Edit and mix in computer.
9. Master on laptop speakers.
10. Publish anything that almost works.

This process should flow, freestyle. It should be fast and fun. At it’s best it seems to undermine preciousness. At it’s worst it’s draining and the results can be difficult to listen to.