Blimey….what a year it’s been! It won’t take me long to reflect on the music I’ve been involved with…..not much: too many plates spinning this year which I need to rectify in 2024!
Had a handful of library tracks out: 3 instrumentals, and a pair of songs I co wrote with JJ Lovegrove
….there’s a fair few songs I need to finish off, and , actually, there’s a dozen or so songs done that I just need to find a home for: the plan was to develop some new relationships with new publishers to home them: just not had the time! Got a couple of other instrumental albums I need to shop round, too.
Although there’s been a lack of new music, my existing catalogue got some good placements across the world….including an episode of Hollyoaks!
I mixed the new One Cure For Man album, out in 2024
Despite not really doing mastering much, I mastered this album, too
Arms Production Music had a bit of an image update, but only released 3 or 4 things.
Gigs: In keeping with my image as aging indie uncle, I went to see Pulp in Sheffield…..29 years after seeing them at the Leadmill with Echobelly and Elastic supporting them: this time, Richard Hawley was supporting. Also saw Suede. Both were ace!
Plug Ins: Still stuck with the SSL Complete suite. They started bundling in the Slate ones too now: not that I needed them, but have so far tried the tape emulation and the delay and the reverb…all are great.
Tried the UAD ones too and loved them so subscribed to those.
Bought the VocAlign vocal (erm) aligner… and finally gave in to get a dedicated tuning plug in. Tried both Autotune and Melodyne and ended up with the latter.
I got a new 16 inch MacBook Pro to replace my 8 year old i7: the performance is great…but I have to say it’s not a massive jump in anything but price! At least I know it will stay with me for a few years without the need for a new one.
Day Job: Confetti continued to move at a pace reserved for super humans….I had a promotion to Head of HE Music and Events, and supported the opening of the London campus. I steered the writing of a few more degrees and Masters programmes. 2024 should see a calming down to consolidate what we have.
Industry Week was brilliant again: Ken Scott, Sister Bliss, Danton Supple, Gazelle Twin, the Sodajerker guys, Jason from Sleaford Mods: all were highlights for me....
TV : Loved The Bear, the last series of Succession and the latest Black Mirror: never seen any episodes, so gorged all seasons in one month.
The Sixth Commandment was great, too, as were the two dramatisations of the Oxycontin terror, ‘Painkiller’ and ‘Dopesick’.
Released a couple of years ago, I finally caught up on the TV show version of ‘High Fidelity’: it really was brilliant, but never got renewed past series one.
My absolute favourite show this yearly though, was The Muppets Mayhem: a total joy!
Music: Stuff I enjoyed:
Grian Chatten
The new Sparks album was great (and if you haven’t seen the Edgar Wright documentary, you really should)
Nation Of Language‘s new album
David Holmes: what a phenomenal producer.
Blur’s album was so good. Loved the lead single
Depeche’s Mode album was a genuine return to form.
The Lilac Time popped back after a few years. Still love Stephen Duffy’s voice
Stuff I read/listened to:
‘Shiny and New’ by Dylan Jones was a good read
…I can’t remember what else I read, but audiobook wise, I listened to Adam Buxton’s Ramble Book (funny and moving) and Big Beacon (hilarious)
Podcasts remained a firm dog walking favourite: the Adam Buxton Podcast, Bob Lefsetz Podcast, the Rockonteurs and The Hustle were reliable listens, but the best of the bunch was season 3 of ‘From the Oasthouse’ : shorter than the first two seasons, it (along with ‘Big Beacon’) remains proof that Coogan and co are mining a rich seam at the moment, and long may it continue!
Here’s to you and yours for a healthy 2024
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