Column: Gordon Raphael #25: August 2006
By: Gordon Raphael
Dear Rockfeedback:
Can you believe it's been 5 years (this September) since my first column for you guys? So much has changed with me, with the world, with music, with the way music is exposed, promoted and interpreted. For one thing, I left America/New York/Seattle and found my way to London. Then moved to Berlin after recording for a while in Mexico- and now back to the UK. Toby L and I started the Basement Club at Highbury Corner back in 2002, and that's still going strong. Toby's got Transgressive and TV shows sprouting up, and I keep meeting very interesting bands and musicians leading to the recording/producing of mighty and majestic mutant melodies.
Right off the bat I'd like to introduce a new singer I am working with currently. Her name is Sarah Maguire and she hails from the sunny happy town of Rotherham, England- which is like Sheffield's small neighbour. I met Sarah at a gig I was actually performing at with my own band Black Light - 2 years ago at the Camden Barfly. After that show I was introduced to her, found out about her musical goals, and that we had alot of rock influences in common (of the early Bowie, Roxy Music, Iggy and Lou Reed variety). I noticed something very magnetic about her; a combination of her (intensely intoxicating) appearance, energetic personality, the way she spoke her mind- even in her movements I thought I could detect something very creative and special in her. For one thing, she was causing havoc and turning heads everywhere we went on that first night; sneaking into DJ booths and wearing the DJ's headphones, flashing peace-signs between the legs of some off-duty policemen who had gathered to watch a little performance of Sarah and her friend Kirsten "communicating" in a corner booth at an Old Street bar, etc. Even when I met her she was outspokenly irreverent towards my production work with my pals from NYC, The Strokes - asking me why I couldn't get a nicer drumsound! The result was that I decided to try my best to figure out how to get some songs together that would bring out her vocal and musical talents and get the "show on the road".
We went into the Silver Transporterraum of London studio that I keep in Limehouse, and recorded an 808 driven version Bowie's Queen Bitch, which I like very much, and it at least served to show that we could make cool sounds together, given the right circumstances. We tried writing some original songs, and then- as I had just moved to the Kreuzberg area of Berlin, she came over there to continue writing and recording material. Time went by, and many songs were started, many directions tried, but it wasn't until last week- yes, in Berlin (at the Transporterraum studio there, under the direction of super-producer Moses Schneider) that we finally committed the proper act of recording 3 songs that truly start the party rolling. It took us a while to find a way forward, but now that the first 3 are finished and dancing about, the next batch seems right around the corner. The three songs are showing off on www.myspace.com/sarahmaguireuk. Please let us know what you think!
There are three quite fabulous bands that I have worked with recently that are all having records out now that I'd like to present to you. Skin with her 'Fake Chemical State 'record is the first. I had the best time recording with Skin and her band. She was lovely from the first note to the last, and her voice never failed to amaze me- she could deliver epic final vocal versions after only 2-3 takes, and then double, harmonize, and then harmonize to the harmonies all in a matter of minutes! I think it only took us about 21 days to do nearly 15 songs - which I call smooth sailing; and the results- particularly the songs 'Just Let the Sun' and 'She's On'- truly sound superb. Check her on www.skinmusic.net.
Meanwhile back in Berlin, Super 700 (www.super700.de) have released their debut album on the Motor label. We worked carefully and slowly over the past year to co-create a very sweet and highly original collection of songs in a studio that used to be part of the East-German Communist "city of sound" at Nalepastrasse. Each room was built (about 200 rooms!) for different kinds of recording, from operas, to radio plays, to theatre performances to Pipe Organ concerts. There are stairways made of wood, concrete and carpet- depending on what kind of stairway footstep sounds you want to record, and fake phoneboxes all around for different kind of hang-up sounds and dramatic effects. For a sound-freak like me this collection of buildings, all highly designed for sonic reflections - is a one of a kind goldmine! Also Super 700 are that way, 3 sisters singing together in a tone that only siblings can share, while bassist/composer Michael Haves makes sure to stretch the melodic envelope and the chord structures, while never losing the funky, funky rhythms that make the body rock! I can't say enough good things about this band, and I hope that this record which I produced with them makes it into the hearts and ears of the UK. I can see no reason why it shouldn't!
Finally I wish to introduce Lychee Lassi - www.myspace.com/lycheelassi - another funkalicious blast from Berlin town. Powered by the sickly-adventure that is DJ Illvibe- who takes turntable fanaticism to a new unholy level. Flying in accapella versions of popular songs onto entire new arrangements that Lychee Lassi create, as if it was MEANT to be that way. Astounding tricks abound. The rhythms are uncanny and relentless, because the characters that make up the band (Beat - pronouced "Bay-at" on Bass, Berger on guitar and Roy, drums) merge into funkatron machines when they hit the stage in their bizzarre outfits that make them look like insane house painters on a safari....mmmmm, that's right. I recorded them doing live jams, also at Nalepastrasse- for one week, back in January, and they've been cutting up the bits and tweaking on them ever since then, yielding an upcoming record thats out in
September.
In between these festive bits of committing volatile ideas about music into listenable products via the recording process, I've had plenty of time this year to go hiking in the pre-historic rainforests in the Olympic mountains that are near Seattle (no, really!) I saw giant mossy trees, huge mushrooms (not THAT kind) and endless expanses of rivers, sunlit vistas and the darkest shades of green known to mankind.
I spent a month in Seattle visiting my dear friends there, and going back to the many places I used to hang out for all those years I lived there - the space needle, Capital Hill, the U-district, The Sunlight Cafe, my sister's house and the famous Golden Gardens.
I also had time to stop off in Manhattan just long enough to have a fabulous burger meal with Mr Julian Casablancas in the West Village. He was having a rare moment off from the constant touring of First Impressions, and already hard at work writing the fourth album. I have enjoyed being the guest of The Strokes at their shows in New York, London and Berlin.
Ok gotta go now--- all my imaginary friends on Myspace are calling, so I'd better get dressed up and talk to my web cam for awhile. Bye till next time, thanks for tuning in!
x Gordon R