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Here are some photographs from the first studio work on the new record "Epcot Starfields"
































Also, enjoy these panicked notes regarding the first mix of the record

Epcot Starfields Mix 5th FEB 2009

Airsuit

Organ up

BV to right side

Balance Cello

Big Boom

"Starfields" middle part announcers down

Make bass less clicky and richer

Shouty announcer - less effect, louder

Is Cello in second half of the intro as loud as the first?

Imax Raceway

To do

Ellen Save Our Energy

Helen "Ahhhs" slightly too Reverb??

Lead vocal up slightly (it gets a bit lost in the beginning)

High hat down slightly????

Electric piano notes occasionally too loud (towards end, mostly)

Bit in the middle where Tommy's voice pokes out "falling stars"

Nord too loud in intro verse

Tom Zaps a bit too on top

Epcotman
To do

Epcot Slow

Soften piano (Less Bright)

Cello Closer (less Reverb)

Soften Lead Vocal, Add small reverb (especially in verse)

Photo Hemispheres

To do

Shuttle

Soften Piano (Less Bright)

Remove Cello "Clunk" on first cello part

Sony Metropolis Stars

Still finding drums a bit annoying

Prefer drums in final chorus

Cant Feel the Cello - Less Reverb???

Spaceship Earth

To do

It's 3 days until I finally head into the studio to finish the new Windmill record "Epcot Starfields."  It feels like Christmas in the way that no matter how far in advance you prepare you always forget something.  I will warm you all now that it sounds different from the last one.  There you go, I warned you so don't say I didn't.  The whole thing is about the Epcot Center.  Again, I warned you. 

We still have the drums to record and the entire record to engineer.  The record currently exists in the simple form of all the elements having been recorded as simply as possible, at home.  An engineering blank canvas for Tom Knott and myself to indulge our grandest of production techniques ala Beyonce stylie. 

Thanks for everyone's help so far.  Namely Helen Page, Sara Lane Rees, Jonah Buckley, Tommy Heap, James Drohan.  Who all invest alot of effort in letting me share my vision with them.  Thanks also to David at Melodic, who let's me get on with it the way I want. 

It has been a difficult time to get this made.  At the end of next week when it's all over I will know if it was worth it. 

You can follow the progress of the final stages of Epcot Starfields HERE

See you in the next life when we are both cats.

Matthew

I thought I had better put some of these things here, now. Before I forget them.

Early 2007. A photo shoot by Mark Winkley.




May 2007. The release of my first record, "Puddle City Racing Lights".

Some press cuttings from "Puddle City Racing Lights".

Better than press. My nephew.




Someone tells me Gary Lightbody bought my record too.

Snow Patrol

May 2007. The start of touring.




The first time on TV.




Sometime in 2007. "Fit" Video shoot with Rupert Noble.







Later in 2007.

The first radio session. Hard Fi, then us. Eclectic. For Studio Brussels, Belgium.



Ukulele session for Lesoir.be. Brilliant to do, painful to watch.

UKULELE SESSION


Even later and over to Barcelona.







Autumn 2007. Tour of France.

A really fun session in Dijon.

Session for Crossing Boarder Festival

More TV. I was really sick and had carried a piano from London to Manchester for this.




Songwriting festival, Vienna.





Interview for FM4, Vienna.

Backstage in Vienna.




December 2007. Opening the European shows for St. Vincent.

I get asked what's most important to me and I panic.

What is most important to me.




James with Santa.








February 2008. Tokyo Moon single.

Video by Mark Nute.




Play sessions on XFM for John Kennedy and BBC 6 Music for George Lamb.

One of very few performances in 2008 at The Regal Room. For Fishmouth.

Windmill



March 2008. Work begins on "Epcot Starfields".






April 2008. Playing at The Windmill, Brxton, London.




July 2008. "Puddle City Racing Lights" is released in the US.






November 2008. Last show of the year at The Windmill, London.

2009.

Epcot Starfields

I almost forgot this. Through all the press I got for releasing my first record, THIS ONE made it seem all worth it.

Head over to the lovingly crafted DAGGERZINE for a new interview with Windmill.

Windmill took part in Ragged Word's new feature IN THE BAG.