You've Got To Move Too

You've Got To Move Too was written in July 1988 and often started the live set, so is a fitting opening piece for the 2nd album. It is about the world of fashion and the continual thirst for 'new' - the only way to perpetual newness is to continually reinvent the old - and the constant need to be ahead; not just keeping up. The overlapping vocals don't give the last line time to finish before moving on to the next 'thing'.

Lord Litter described it as "A cool mix of punk and The Byrds 5th dimension LP" and played it in his Magic Music Box show in December 2011 on Radio Marabu - Europe's Alternative Radio (and elsewhere).

Guitar-wise this is the Hutchins Retro Star and the Rickenbacker 620-12, with a few seconds of violin bowing on the Hutchins bwfore the break. The bass is the Danelectro '63.

I See You Everywhere That I Go - Video

The Video for I See You Everywhere That I Go has found its way onto the NME website, watch it on there here

The images are from very early 1990, the audio is plus twenty years from The Speed Of Sound At Tree Level 

Butterfly Collector

Q: Why do Butterfly Collector as a single?

A: I've recorded several of The Jam's songs before, Butterfly Collector included. The obvious approach is to play it as an acoustic piece with a solitary guitar/voice. I didn't want to do that. The original (b-side of Strange Town) is quite short and doesn't have time to explore the tune much. This has short instrumental passages. Tales From The Riverbank was also on the shortlist and I've tried to add a bit of the feel of that one in here. The result is still quite sparse, despite being electric. There is a lot of venom in that lyric.

 

From Russia With Love

Q: So why choose From Russia With Love as a single?
A: Best Bond Book, Best Bond FIlm (closest to the original realistic/convincing plot) and the tune has some great chords, simply it is oozing with unfulfilled-twang. Not tricky to pick as a choice at all. It's darker than the original, but the gypsy belly-dancers are still there.

Q: What can you say about the artwork?
A: I wanted to repcreate the cover the 1st edition hardback of the book; and this is pretty close. The rose (complete with black-spot on the leaves) is a Lili Marlene, a deep red cluster rose. The revolver was loaned for the shot and is a deactivated .38 Colt Police Special, the book has a Smith&Wesson 5-shot .38 but my gun collector chum doesn't have one. If you've seen the bookcover you will recognise the image.

Q: What is that sound:
A: The percussion? There are three overlaid hand-clap tracks in there; they are spread around the stereo in an irregular triangle so they don't quite sound together - it's a bit like castanets. There are also three sleigh-bell tracks (at different points in the compass rose), plus a tambourine and a small Moroccan drum. The feel I after was being at the centre of a circle with people clapping and beating the rhythm around you while you dance.

Hear it here 

Rickenbacker

620

mission statement

A bit battered and worn, but still there 25 years on...

Italia Mondial Classic