In a final installment of moaning about this year’s cancellation of the Three Peaks Cyclocross, I’ve made a little tune based upon some very appropriate words from a certain M. Loaf.

 

 All revved up [2:07m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

It’s a familiar story… Boy meets computer, boy loves computer, boy meets girl, computer becomes neglected, computer gets jealous.

A slightly different feel to some of my recent podcasts….

Click for lyrics

 

 Blue Chip [3:47m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

… is a new song which started life about 16 years ago in a rehearsal room in Lancaster, rehearsing with Phil and James in Inspekta Spencer. The song never came to anything, but the riff lived on in my head!

It’s very rocky. I like it, but I’m frustrated with the vocals; I think I could have done with starting it in a key that I could comfortably sing. Instead, I pressed on with recording the tracks and then it was sort of too late. So decided to record two vocals; one on a low octave and one on a high one, as a sort of can’t-win compromise. I’m very happy with the guitar sounds though. And the general arrangements. I just wish I could have done the vocals a bit better - but it’s time to move on, and anyway, it’s okay for them to be wrong.

 

 It's okay to be wrong [5:30m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

My first tune from my first album. Lots of samples that I really have got round to getting permission for, but it’s all part of life’s rich pageant.

If you’re interested in the samples and don’t recognise them, the ones I remember are from:

• ZZ Top: Fool for your Stockings (descending guitar lick)
• Elvis Presley (unknown, dialogue intro from early stuff)
• ZZ Top: I Thank You (main guitar riff)

I can’t source the other samples but I remember playing the main guitar riffs, sequencing the bass and drums, and sweating over it a bit!

Credit is due to the providers of these lovely originals sounds we pilfer ….

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 I Am From Mars [4:54m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Another of my favourites. The strings in this track were a bit of a breakthrough for me. The operatic singing was just a spur of the moment sample direct from Radio 3 ! No idea who it is. I like the abrasive lead synth line in the chorus bit.

 

 Throttle Back [5:20m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download