LiQuid Love (2020) ALBUM NOTES
In contrast to my last album (which was largely based upon improvisation) LiQuid LoVe features 80% fully arranged rhythm oriented songs.
From writing the music, to rehearsing and performing it, to recording each instrument, to re-mixing (and writing this text, LOL) I did everything myself. As usual, it was a work-intensive, but fun project.
Recording guitars and bass is pretty much “in my wheelhouse”, but recording percussion, drums and especially keyboards is a time consuming challenge for me. Percussion I can record half decent in real time, thanks to the Roland Handsonic (electronic hand-drum-system). It allows me to really play the percussion, and also the drums. The latter, if necessary, track by track (meaning I.E. bassdrum, snare, cymbals, toms individually). Difficult keyboard melodies however were pretty much done by sequencing, which is a slow process. Getting the phrasing perfectly right and make it sound reasonably organic requires a lot of editing time. It is literally done note by note.
Some of the songs are updated versions of older tunes, like “powertrain” and “timeless fashion”. Both were missing a middle part. Now they got one!
The song “inspiration” is highly inspired by a tune of jazz guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel’s band. I heard it on YouTube, part of a life performance video, and I do not know the title of the original, sorry. My version is not an exact representation by any means. It is based upon what stuck in my head (aka “Ohrwurm”, in German) and it really inspired me, hence the name.
“Die Zeit” ist an updated version of an old Munju song that I wrote sometime in the 80s and that never made it on vinyl back then.
Hope you enjoy it.
Here is a list of the Instruments I used on this album:
Epiphone Goldtop Les Paul Traditional (customized with: Floyd Rose vibrato, Gibson Dirty Finger pickups, K&K onboard preamp, lightly scalloped fretboard and slim neck), Gibson Les Paul Standard , Gibson Les Paul Studio with Floyd Rose vibrato, Gibson ES335 dot, Fender Customshop Strat, Fender Telecaster, Framus Diablo, Framus Tennessee, PRS Custom 22, Carvin SH550 semi acoustic, Sustainiac active solidbody, ESP Baritone solidbody, Yamaha AES1500 electric archtop, Aslin Dane Jazzking full size archtop, Recording King 6 string banjo with K&K pickup, Gitano O5 Maccaferri type oval hole with K&K pickup, Carvin 5 string active bass, Fender Jazz Bass, electric oud with K&K pickup, Roland Handsonic, Yamaha MOX 6 Keyboard.
Main Effects: Vox Tonelab LE, Eventide Timefactor and Modfactor, Neunaber Immerse reverb, Boss- Lexicon- and TC Electronics reverbs, Okko distortion pedals.
Recorded and mixed on Cakewalk Sonar X1 Professional Software.