Hey guys, thought I'd drop by with the long promised album update blog and give you some info on a few of the tracks we've been kicking around.

Pre-production is going along at a rate of knots, we've been moving through almost two tracks per rehearsal time, then we follow that with some basic tracking to get the bones of the song and then go to town with adding all of our trademark fluffery...you know, the stuff you love.

Deadbeat - has been played live a few times already. It's now nearing completion on the pre-prod front. Has a nice rolling feel, think Manic Depression. "...And I beg to be absolved".

Best Disguise - an upbeat, Beatlesy pop number. Nearing completion also. Needs an 'I Am the Walrus' wigout at the end. It's about running away from your troubles. Likely to be filled with brass, which hopefully a few tracks on this album will have. We haven't had much proper brass playing on our records, so it might add a different flavour.

Drive On Regardless - literally a driving song. In the vein of U2 or Snow Patrol. Near complete but needing a high-calibre intro, has a memorable riff that should evolve into this intro in the form of strings or keys perhaps. Who knows?

Get Up Slowly - an evolution of a song of the same name that we debuted at the launch for From the Cold back in 2003. We had a half-decent version recorded for that album but it was never quite right. This version has a new chorus and a big swirly outro. It also swings.

Xmas 88 - A Christmas carol that has been around for several years but never elaborated on before now. It's coming along nicely and evolving in the rehearsal studio. Surprising to see where it's gone. Are we back to religious themes? Actually, it's not a chuck another chestnut on the open fire malarkey.

The Tigers Are Waiting - a fairytale/lullaby. Filled with atmosphere, this is quite possibly the album closer. Builds like Sigur Ros. Has been played quite a few times live lately and seems to go down well.


So, that's about it for now. More updates as we continue along. We have a tentative deadline for mid-year but that is fast approaching, we'll see how we go.


- fourth floor dan