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Able to play in a variety of styles, and integrate very quickly into an 8 piece line-up, you will be experienced in live work, as well as recording, have a good sense of humour, your own transport, equipment and a desire to continuously improve what you do.

We are an 8 piece band formed around the Leeds based prodigiously talented singer / songwriter / multi-instrumentalist GUY MANNING with an impressive record of releasing ten studio albums in ten years! The band produces an eclectic mix of music which broadly falls within the “progressive” genre, but in reality spans many different musical forms from beautiful ballads and folk-tinged songs through to awesome all-out rock workouts and true progressive epics – no two songs sound the same!

The band is currently experiencing a surge of interest and support, with a very successful appearance at the 2009 Cambridge Rock Festival, nominations for Album of the Year by the Classic Rock Society (CRS) and a series of storming headline gigs in support of the latest and critically acclaimed new album. 2010 will see the band making an appearance at the prestigious RosFest ....USA.... festival.

The nature of the band is semi-professional – everyone has a day job. However, the ambition and approach is completely professional. These are not positions for anyone wanting to earn money – the band is wholly dedicated to bringing the recordings to life and seeing where that takes us. If this sounds interesting to you – let us know.

Contact details for more information ..krishudsonlee@googlemail.com.. or telephone Kris on 07908 145245.

So, 2008...is it time to write another album or do I instead turn my attention to a live album /DVD?
That is the question on my mind currently.

I do have the germ of an idea about a studio album 'concept' but no songs written

On the other hand, I only have half a band to explore live dates with at the moment..and finding a drummer is hard work!

I was quite ill over the Xmas/New Year break which gave me no time to play with any musical doodlings and time is now a ticking away!

The reviews for the last album "Songs From The Bilston House" (2007) are only just starting to trickle out, but at least the majority are very positive and flattering (so far!)

For Xmas, I obtained some new pieces of "kit" for my studio

1. An electric lap steel guitar. This badly needs setting up properly, but, may add some extra dimensions to the recordings...Dave Gilmour watch out!

2. A "self abuse" toy . A double neck 6/12 str electric. This was so cheap on ebay but has needed alot of setting up to even get it to play properly..which it barely does!! Still might be useful for odd bits of stuff...and looks very nice on its stand!

3. David (Gtr boy) Million gave me his old BOSS effects pedals case so I can put my collection of old pedals to use at last (including my old fave, the BIG MUFF distortion pedal)..I have got a multi power supply unit for my birthday...so I need to get the thing up and running now!

So that's it for now. All is said.
Be well
Guy

P.S. Watch out for:
The new TANGENT album "NOT AS GOOD AS THE BOOK" to be released March 2008

So, here we are again...another busy year..the cycle of recording continued unabated...and a new offering is about to be let loose on an unsuspecting World..."Songs From The Bilston House"
Scheduled for Oct 8th 2007 release.

So what have I learned this time.?
That everything started takes a long time to conclude
That sometimes you have to let go of the control to allow objectivity to get back in but at the same time "to thine own self be true.."

The studio has been very busy with my own sessions, new Tangent sessions & professional sessions with other musicians - all coming and going in cheerful regularity and insanity!

Is the music that I love still relevant?
People labelled The Tangent as 'retro-prog' but what does that mean? To me it is having an appreciation of the Past rather than Living in it...
Allowing the Past to influence the Future but at the same time progressing, trying to expand further and into new areas, new ideas, concepts, sounds.

OK, I don't think what I do will be hailed as totally original, but, within my own capabilities, I create new pieces which I hope stimulate and express in words & music ideas that I myself find interesting in the hope that it gets through to the listener for a brief while:

The new album for example has a piece call "Pillars Of Salt" which examines the passing of the 60's and uses the contrast of Woodstock to Altamont as testament to the changing tide of feeling at that time.

"Understudy" seeks to put into words my frustration at being railroaded into religious rites because it was expected within the family (and not as a result of belief or faith).

"Skimming Stones" finally tackles my view of my fathers death and how much, in the end, we really know about each other lives

"Antares" is a song which juxtaposes a childs nightly ritual of placing a candle in the attic window (so that her father & brother, fishing at sea can see 'home') to the light from the red star Antares travelling across the distances of Space to be in the same room at the same time. How short our 'light' lasts in comparison.

"Inner Moment" is about setting out on a 'journey of discovery' so that we can return better and wiser for the experience

"The Calm Absurd" is about my inability to craft a sincere love lyric and how easy it is for more masterful poets to do this!

"Lost In Play" is a lament for long over childhood viewed from the retrospect of old age

"Icarus & Me" is a song for all young aspiring musicians and how it felt for me starting out on the road...but as we fly..watch out for the Sun!

The basic loose 'concept' is that all these songs took place in one house over time...so that each room (in the CD artwork) is associated with the relevant rooms.

I do hope you will enjoy it!
So 'till next time
Goodnight from the Studio Mole 

(Subtitled - The life & times of the Studio Mole*)

Every year it's the same old story:

Autumn - A new album is released. Lots of activity, interviews, reviews, radio shows, chat rooms

Pre-Xmas - Depression. Is that all there is? Will I be able to compose another one? Will it be any good? What can I possibly write about? 
Black dog days...abyss

Post-Xmas - If I am going to do it I had better get my finger out. Into the studio..furious activity. Demoing - trying to find the muse that has been packed away for a few months. It all sounds like crap!

February - Still crap but i'm getting used to some of them now

March - Demos are done now I  need to get the 'band' into lay down the tracks. Can't get anyone on the phone. Can't get anyone to make a firm session date....bugger 

April/May - Someway into the sessions and the fun is starting to wane. Tired now. Heard the songs too many times..bored. Start thinking artwork, concepts & production...uuuurgh - the dreaded long nights of intensive self-analysis that goes into production. Is that snare drum the right sound..is that flute too loud.. is that guitar in tune?..damn damn damn and blast

June - All the basic parts are now on the hard drive so there's no more excuses..it has to be balanced, produced and mixed now..blech!

July - tired, bored, depressed...abyss

August - where is the artwork? Panic...OK it's arrived - well done Ed!

Sept - Release date sorted. Masters go to the USA for pressing...wait..wait..wait...

Go to top and start again..........

>>>>>>>>>>>

So why bother to do it?
Because the writing part is really great..thats what I love to do
And I like the sessions too..they can be fun but challenging!

So why bother finishing it off?
Well after all the activity whats the point in putting it on the shelf?
May as well complete the process

Can you play it live?
Yes some of it..but only if I can get the others to be available to rehearse and gig it!
Oh for those teenage days when we had no other commitments other than to run to the reheareals and jam all night

Where are you playing?
Nowhere really at present..nobody puts on gigs that can pay enough to get this busy bunch together and make it worthwhile..plus we all have day jobs that make it impossible to travel too far from the nest and the audiences are not really there for what I do anymore..

>>>>>

More of this to follow.. when I can get around  to it

Dear oh dear

*The Studio Mole is a name I give myself because at the end of each hard year I emerge up & out from the studio into daylight blinking like a half demented & deranged furry mammal