UNSIGNED, IMPERFECT, IRREPARABLE - YEAH!

Went to the studio yesterday to record No Comfort (song below, written at the time of the original Gulf War - when I could write good songs) and a couple of others. It's because I need an "unplugged" demo to try and play a gig before I leave this version of Babylon for another one.

Now, with unsigned musicians, especially this one, studio versions are never as good as live ones. I played and sang competently, but somehow the songs just didn't sound as good as a few weeks ago in the garden. This is because, instead of being relaxed, warmed up, and in the middle of an environment of dog-barks, sunshine and apple trees, you find yourself in a stuffy windowless cellar, head encased in large headphones, confronted by a state of the art mic that's going to reveal every breath or hastily sung note, and paying an hourly rate for the privilege that's a lot more than you'd charge for your own services. And then someone tells you "taping", and that's the starting gun.

And you're off! Don't mess up whatever you do don't mess up especially if you're near the end here comes that difficult note just made it here comes the bit I have to sing sensitively no no try to think of the meaning of the words not your singing style damn damn was that flat or not and i think i strangled that last word no no that was no good. "Can we do that again. John?" This repeats until finally you get a version you can live with. But somehow it lacks something you can't put your finger on...

For a signed musician, it's a different story. Except for the really exceptional talents, musicians who can really PLAY, the studio versions outshine live performances, technically at least. (If you don't believe me, check out almost any live album.) That's because, if someone else is footing the bill, you have time to edit out every breath, sing ten different versions than cut and paste so that every word is the best you've ever sung it, retune flat notes using a computer, and end up with something that's... well, literally faultless if a bit soul-less.

When some people complain that pop isn't as good as it used to be, it may ironically be the perfection that grates on them. If you're in that category, what could be better than hearing a warts-and-all unsigned musician, live? With dog-barks and apple trees.