We answer some questions en masse about the eponymous epic. Basses. Organs. It turns out the whole thing is 45 minutes of Ninety Nine Bottles Of Beer

Roger CortonOK, so these are e-mails where we’ve gotten the same question three times or more.

JCHThree? Wow. That qualifies as a genu-ine FAQ (laughs).

RCSo… the drum intro to Part III. It sounds planned?

JCHIs that a question?

RCOf course it’s a question. Don’t think. Just say the first thing that comes into your head.

JCHOK fine. My reaction is, “Son, the Russkies don’t take a dump without a plan.” My favourite quote from ‘Hunt For Red October’. Yes. The idea was that the quasi-random drum thing would evolve into some sort of of pattern that would tee up Part III. But pretty much every time I ran through that it would end up the same way: a sort of rhythmic structural map of Part III.

RCWhat’s a structural map?

[…]

Part two of the ‘interview’ I did last week with long-time supporter Roger Corton. Part One may be found here.

RCWhat’s up with the Portugese in “I’ll Be Right There”?

JCHI had this dream about two lesbian women fighting.

RCSounds promising so far.

JCH(laughs). It was just these two ordinary women shopping in some city. The one is clearly a serious foodie. She’s obsessed with all these fancy ingredients. You know the type. Anyhoo, they’re about to get into their car on the street and they’re having an argument; in Portugese. But because it was a dream I could understand them. The one woman was complaining and worrying and fretting and she’s so upset she’s struggling with the keys to unlock the door. So the other woman just loses it. She goes round to the other side of the car and she just drags the first woman bodily away from the car, shakes her and says something like, “You don’t get it! […]

The first of a two-part ‘interview’ I did last week with long-time supporter Roger Corton. He’s collated e-mails I’ve received on the new record and then we sat down to do an interview of ten questions. (OK, due to my penchant for ‘digressions’ there are probably more than ten. 😀 ) Also–and this is big–Roger has agreed to take over some occasional web duties for me in the (perhaps vain) hope that I’ll have a bit more time for music making. This first baby step in ceding control: he’s elected to leave this text far more ‘raw’ than I would have done . Cheers!

RCBefore we get started, I know you hate doing this, so thanks. You know it’s for your own good, right?

JCHOK, Ma. I heard an interview with Chrissie Hynde the other day that just shocked me. It was the first time in maybe twenty years I heard an artist get, in any way, bitchy with the interviewer.

RCAnd that’s a good […]

It’s here! The Solid State Siren is now ready to go. Which means a series of news items ranging from absolutely fucking fantastic to not the worst problem in the world to have:

The best news (in my opinion): Shipping day as promised. How novel. 😀 First time in eight years. Perhaps I’m finally getting my groove back.
The merely fantastic news! We actually sold out my initial order! This is such a stunning turn of events for me and my bank account I was caught a bit off guard. I’m signing CDs and slapping on labels today!
The very good news: If you pre-ordered, I’m signing CDs and slapping on labels today! With the grace of God and those guys in the blue shorts you should have your signed CD this week!
The not worst problem in the world to have? If you order today, it’s gonna be about ten days. I have placed a re-order which should be […]