Another review of my multi-album release ‘Go Forth Bright Scenic’
Taken By Geoff Budd
Which may I jump to remind you can be heard in it’s entirety from this sight and bought for as little as 1 pound.
Anyway promo over:
Yes a very honest review by the website Grumpy Rocker. It’s only a shame that the PR company decided to send them a Promo for Radio mix of songs rather than a solid album. As the review was as confused as I would be.
I recieved this review of GFBS from The Ring Master Review.
“Whichever part of Go Forth Bright Scenic you choose it is hard to imagine you will be disappointed, only more eager to grab the others to complete one impressive vast release”
9 Tracks which were self produced and recorded throughout 2008 – 2012.
1. Clean Code
2. Normal Scheme of Things
3. One Schizophrenic
4. MENO
5. Organic (Like the Plague)
6. Time Lost Tradition / Bright Scenic Reprise
7. Eternally Grateful / The Penny Drop
8. Conversations
9. Your Guitar (Tsukinohi)
The Album was released physically as a Double Gatefold 12" LP Limited to 444 copies.
The second disc is a live collaboration (unique to this format) recorded in Japan between Stuart and one of his favourite musicians Haco. The concert was recorded in Kobe at the live music venue ‘Varit’ on 30th September 2010. The concert was on the whole completely free and improvised however a part of one of Haco’s songs ‘Less than Lovers, More than Friends’ is performed. The concert lasted just under 35 mins and is separated across the two sides of the LP.
To come to Japan and have the chance of performing with Haco was like a surreal dream coming true. For me personally it really affirmed my role as a musician and to have the complete concert put to vinyl represented how special the experience was.
Haco - Live Collaboration from JapanAdditional artwork was added to the Gatefold layout which taken by Rob Mchale - Rob took the cover artwork for the 3 pervious albums.
Also recorded as a part of this album was my first cover version to be released. A track originally written and performed by Mogura Ka Maigo (The Lost Mole). I fell in love with the melody of the piece (Tsukinohi) when I saw Mogura Ka Maigo live in Tokyo. I wanted to recreate my own version of the song to work with lyrics I had in mind.
Mogura Ka Maigo (with mole costume - Welcome to Japan)
Also aside from this being the first album to involve a cover version it is also the first album to involve a sample.
I built a song around a sample from the song ‘Closed Captioned’ written by the Washington D.C. Post Hardcore band ‘Fugazi’. I emailed the band sometime back and they were decent enough to give me a response clearing me to sample the track granted that they hear it first. After I sent them a copy of my tune ‘One Schizophrenic’ I was lucky enough to get the go ahead and I believe it to be one of the more immediate tracks on what is otherwise a more obscure and challenging listens.
Fugazi - A Decent Sample from a Decent Band
A special mention must go out to Rachel Steadman who worked into the piece a wonderful wall of string parts that I believe really add a special intensity to the music.
Rachel Steadman - A Wonderful Talent
I must also give special shout outs to Nick Hall Lazzerini for the mixing and John Mercer for the mastering.
Nick Hall Lazzerini devoted many hours to help me mix and finish this album
I had not worked with neither John nor Nick since the recording of my 1st album ‘Autonomous Debut’ in 2006.
John Mercer - Took on the Mastering for the album.
It was a pleasure to have them both involved in the project. As ‘Autonomous Debut’ was also self produced this felt like the ideal bringing together of minds reuniting to finish an album.
13 Tracks which focus very much upon the Singer/Songwriter side of music.
1. Ace Cloned
2. Slow Start
3. Ons
4. Compromise
5. She is your Microscope
6. Bold Bright
7. That Cough You Gave Me
8. Contact Approved
9. Probably
10. Modern Life
11. Success Aint What They Teach / Bright Scenic Reprise
12. Navigate (Feat Craig Harris)
13. All Suspense
The Album was released physically as a Tape Cassette Limited to 44 copies.
The album has been released on ‘Tape Cassette’ and also includes material on side B that cannot be found anywhere else. This includes a performance by Stuart of the song ‘Recordeddirecttothiscassette’ which
has been recorded through a boom box cassette recorder to each of the individual 44 tapes in order to make each cassette unique. The song has been recorded 44 times in 44 different locations with various
musicians in attendance for each performance.
go forth BRIGHT scenic Tape Cassette ReleaseCraig Harris
The Album is a Result of many various recording sessions on and off the road between 2006 and 2012. Concluded by Craig Harris in 2012. Bringing these songs to Craig was a nerve racking experience for me as I knew the material was in varying states of completion. I knew I would need help to salvage the album and to get it finished; and so when Craig suggested a collaboration that would lead to the song ‘Navigate’. I realised that there was a good connection and level of respect between us both that could work well in the future.