PROPHET TROUSERED
RECORDS
- [Latest
News: The
record label pages are all up and
running,]
- After problems with security and
theft of equipment up the mountain, and then a washed out summer of
monsoon rain, I've had to rethink and reorganise the field
recording project. I've found another Bermo mountain site for
the outdoor recording studio, very beautiful, even more remote and
secure from predators. I've purchased a high quality
mini-tipi which offers better protection from the elements than my
previous ebay forty pound canvas tent. This enables me to
extend my recording season from early Spring to late Autumn if
necessary, and I can work comfortably in quite cold
conditions now with a tent heater.
- Unfortunately the curse of
Mount Bermo Timbo struck again in 2009, and after a lot of hard
work setting up my phenomenal new field recording site, I was
rushed into hospital for a minor operation to remove a benign
tumour from my left thigh. I had
just got the first track finished (the title track
A Bandage on My
Need), and was deeply
frustrated at having to abandon the next track, when I was to take
my first faltering steps on my newly acquired piano accordion. (My
loss is humanity's relief!). By the time I had struggled free of
crutches, stitches and had given the operation wound a month or so
to heal, the weather had broken, and it was time to give up
recording up the mountain until next Spring. In the words of
Lawrence Sterne (Tristram
Shandy):
Vexation
Upon
Vexation
New
Instrumental Developments
- Newly acquired in the 2009 recording season are a
metal strung short scale Gold Tone Travel Banjo to provide
variety to the gut strung sound of the other one. These two banjos
should complement one another, and also work well with the
Banjo Cittern and Banjo Mandoline on my projected Banjo and
Poetry album.
- There is also
a newly acquired piano accordion (thanks Mick, an amazing
gift!).
- Chris
Knowles the Bermo harpist, has adjusted the tuning mechanism of my
Balinese Djenbe, which can now be tuned up to the pitch of a giant
darabuka for finger drumming. I've used my new baroque
chalumeau as a snake charmer style wind instrument on A Bandage
on My Need.
- The beautiful
blond woman who runs the local laundrette has given me a Chinese
Moon Lute, which she picked up for a quid at a car boot sale.
It's now tuneable, as I've set it up with violin
tuners, and I'm looking forward to finding a
suitable track for it on the forthcoming album of banjo
instrumentals. Thanks to Marianne at Bermo Laundrette!
My other
instruments are listed here:
Instruments of Tortoise
(instrumentation)
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