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Just a quick howdy ho…

I'm about to go into the studio next week to finish the album and get a couple of new tunes down. I'm quite excited actually, it will be good fun. The album will be released in 2009.

But in the meantime, I'll be releasing a wee live EP that I recorded at The Bedford in London a week ago. That should come out before xmas.

I'm doing three gigs with Paolo Nutini in Belfast (1) and Dublin (2) in December.  I may do a couple of London shows before the years out too. Keep coming back to my site for updates!

I've been writing songs since I returned from all the touring. I usually just write on my own but I had fun writing with a great musician Leo Abrahams last week. I found out about Leo through the work he did on the latest Brian Eno and David Byrne album, (which I love and I'll talk about later).  So thanks to myspace ,I sent him a message and we hooked up and wrote a tune.  He'll be coming along to the session next week to play on my album too.

Ooops better get the door…Ricardo the seven foot tall Hammond organ repair man has finally come… a year and a half late!

…Well with that done.. and a few days gone by.. I'm back to this blog. I wrote a songs with a great fun bunch of cats; Anna Krantz and Henry Priestman yesterday, great fun it was, the songs called Adelaide..

Well that's all really, but I wanted to tell you about a few records I'm listening to at the moment before I disappear again … here they are

Everything That Happens Will Happen Today – by David Byrne and Brian Eno

This is their second record, the last they made a few decades ago.  This is one of the most exciting records I've ever heard. Byrne's imaginative free lyricism and joyous almost gospel melodies were done in New York and were written separately after Eno sent Byrne the music. The music was made in London.  Some of my favourite lyrics on the record are:

"Ev'rybody says that the living is easy I can barely see 'cause my head's in the way,

Tigers walk behind me - they are to remind me that I'm lost - but I'm not afraid.."

Love this record

Since Kyabram - by  Declan O'Rourke

This is a record that came out officially in 2007, after its initial release in 2004 in a different form, that I have just discovered now, I did notice the lead track Galileo in a few films I've seen, but the record is fantastic.  The song We Didn't Mean To Go To Sea is a real brilliant musical ride. The songs are incredible and his voice is brilliant, a little bit of Ron Sexsmith, a little Rufus Wainwright. He seems to be going great guns in his home Ireland. Worth a listen or getting to a live show. What a voice.

Time the Conqueror – by Jackson Browne

This is Jackson's new one. I'm a big fan of his last record The Naked Ride Home and his two solo live albums he's released since. This is a strikingly powerful yet simple sounding record that captures some great live performances from his fantastic band, who've been with him for the past decade or so.  The songs are raw, lyrically and musically, very melodic and often focus on the individual in the current political climate, pre US election. It's Jackson at his best, fearless insight.   I really like this record, but I found it a little difficult to take sooo seriously (which is a good thing) after hearing Randy Newman's latest record in which he sings:

"The rich are getting richer, I should know

While we're going up, You're going down

And no one gives a shit but Jackson Browne, Jackson Browne"

Oh, but Jackson Browne's website is worth a look, despite Randy's dig, there are some good articles to be found at www.jacksonbrowne.com/readings

A few other albums I'm enjoying at the moment include that very Randy Newman record Harps and Angels it's just so fun. It's amazing that Randy only took eight weeks to write and another eight to record it.  Oh and I'm loving Elbow's Mercury Prize winning album and MGMT's Oracular Spectacular too.

See you soon and take care

Oh and may the best man win….

Love

Liam