- Day one -

Meet Yan the sound engineer. Greet Michael Catano as a co-worker.

Wait.

A new environment ages quickly when the first 4 hours are spend listening to the mundane sounds of headphones cracking , speakers blowing, and drums teching. This day is prep time. Rock stars drifted in and out, offering encouragement. Michael, the pen with which we document this album, proves to be a far better producer than he originally had expressed interest in, also showing that he is no slouch when it comes to breaking out the new wave way of dance. While getting guitar sounds we play old favorites of Halifax rock n roll; amusing Michael with our knowledge of bands he's been in over the years, "you should set your sights a little higher". Finally having paid our dues, upon sunset we managed 3 songs. Music sounds clear, not the live wall of sound coming at us at shows and practice spaces. Leaving for home with sleepy heads, we 're rolling.

- day 2 -

today started off sounding like a broken record. we managed to record rough bed tracks for the almost entire album, but tried unsuccessfully to record the track "stockholm". after about 20 to 30 takes, we thought it best to leave it for another day. it is easy to lose self confidence in the studio; to throw your hands up in the air. i am starting to see how straight away this album will be; very few additional melodies, instruments, and over dubs seem needed. of course by mixing time we shall get spooked by that thought and give into playing around with the sounds. took a break at around 11 that night to see sound engineer Michael play drums in a jazz band; he looked so proper holding is sticks like a jazzer. everyone was tired from yesterday's work. the sun will come out tomorrow.....

- day 3 -

everyone is relaxed today. yan who has been pretty silent up to this point starts showing the influence that being around 4 crazy band mates and one crazy local rock hero, can have on a person. yan is comedy. everything was a little more light hearted. we managed to nail "stockholm" after a few takes. with that task out of the way we listened to all the bed tracks, and decided what needed improvements. Mark aka squiggy came in and played some lovely keys. our apologies for asking him to show an hour before we even got to the studio and 4 hours before he actually played a note. the band along with squiggy and sound engineers went had supper at the Mediterranean cafe, a beautiful spot across the street from the studio. we took our supper there every night we spend recording this record. on this 3rd night some of us were given free pie. a trip to the L.C. and we stared in on the vocal tracks. at 3 am we fell in our beds and slept..

ONE MONTH LATER

- day 5 -

we are back in. it is all about getting good guitar sounds now. playing perfectly in time with an invisible band; un-nerving but essential. Yan is doing this on his own time, no money exchanging hands. i think after living with the record a bit, i see its promise. it shows a band that could go in a couple of directions. documentation of a band searching for a sound. am i talking out my ass? we are not finished yet, time is booked for the 6th of march to continue down the path of over dubbing guitar tracks. we need unity; enjoy toronto devon, then get back to where you belong.