Recording “Lady Gregory”
Isabella Augusta, Lady Gregory (15 March 1852 – 22 May 1932)
Hello,
This is my first post on the blog so far. We are near the end of the overdubs on the 4-track tape machine and now it’s time for the real thing. I wish i could just continue recording on the 4-track but i am afraid it has to get a little more upmarket from this point on. I really do love 4-track machines.
Recording music in this fashion is without doubt the business. It is like the songs are pretending to be grown up. The songs are walking around in an oversize hat and oversize shoes with a drawn on moustache. Compressed and gasping for space and air and recognition. Groaning under the weight of the improvised music it has to carry, it sometimes snaps, degrades and generally suffers from too much information. I often feel sorry for the poor loyal trusting little cassette tape.
The recording for this new collection of songs started with me trying to match the key of a school bell which was given to me by somebody who reckoned i would knock some craic out of that sort of thing. The school bell is in fact a fraction off the key of G. A fraction like this can be your friend.
Recording One “Lady Gregory”
“Lady Gregory” was the song that was conjured up by that bell and it’s almost in the key of G. The main character in the song is bemoaning the fact that “Lady Gregory” has pulled her patronage out from underneath him. This was only the template for the song as ”Lord Longford” and his campaign of innocence around the convicted murderer “Myra Hindley” becomes the subject matter by the second verse. Pleading for a return to a time when somebody defended your cause and had unwavering belief in your potential. It is also a really catchy tune. Which often really helps. We have recorded two versions of this song with two different arrangements.
Oscar…Bravo…Delta
Over and Out…
Matthew Devereux
Below are links to some of the people I was writing about.
The Pale | Matthew Devereux | 
February 4, 2008 1:49 pm
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