Concept and Themes

Although I enjoyed creating my first solo tudio album, 'Reverse Psychology', I felt it lacked a sense of continuity and direction: it was just a collection of random ideas and styles with no connections.

So when I decided to start work on a new CD, I already had a clear idea of what I wanted to achieve. Coherence of style, direction and a sense of connection between each track in terms of sound and theme. The album's title reflects this idea and the songs are all based around the theme of the choices we make during our lives and their consequences.

The Story

Our journey starts retrospectivly, Outside Looking In at a life which strayed from the path set before it, becoming lost and confused. How did we get here and is there any way back? That is the question asked in Retrogression as our traveller wonders whether our time is mapped out before us. He slowly comes to identify a point in his life where he made a decision which subtly changes the course of he life and lead to the disaster. He cries out to be given another chance; to try again, this time following the directions that are there for us all to guide us to possession of true happiness and wealth.

So lets look back at this event in his life; what caused him to loose his way? Well as is so often the case, greed overcame him, he had to Find A Way to achieve what he believed would bring him happiness, but of course what his persuit really brought was pain, confusion.

So, realising his past mistakes our traveller sets out on a new path; a path of salvation. What must he do to be forgiven for what he has done? First he must forgive his enemies and learn to love his Nemesis. No matter what this arch-enemy has done, he must lay his grievances to rest to find peace. What next? Break out of the endless game of Follow the Leader that the whole worlds seems to be playing. Find his own identity, follow the real directions rather than following the flock, and show his new way of life to others by being different. And will this be easy? Of course not! It is not easy to change old habits and lifestyles, but scientists think that even the Points of the Compass reverse every million years or so; if it is possible for this to happen then surely it is possible for one small part of the world to change?

Struggling, almost failing, our traveller calls out for help 'Reach out, touch me, You can heal me if you want to'. He is filled with a new life-force; his Retrogression is complete. He no longer needs to compete with others to look and sound impressive; he no longers needs to have The Last Word. Our traveller has found his way back onto the right path and is waiting for you to join him.

Influences and Inspiration

As a musician I am influenced by far to many other artists to even begin to list, in fact I would say that almost everything I hear has some kind of influence on my music, which is probably why my first album had such a diversity of different styles and genres.

For this album I had to narrow down my influences in order to achieve the cohesion I was aiming to create. So I think the main influences on the sound and musical direction of this CD are firstly progressive rock bands such as Yes and Rush and more recent progressive rock/metal bands Dream Theater and The Mars Volta, all of which have inspired the more complex elements of the songs on this album. Also prominent on this album are the guitar riffs and for these I find inspiration from bands such as Audioslave and Led Zeppelin.

I would say my guitar playing on this record is most influenced by:

• Brian May of Queen, for the use of harmonies built from several different guitar tracks, and to play lead lines based on chordal tones rather than scale shapes;
• Jazz guitarists such as Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, Pat Metheny etc, because of my experimentation with extended chords and scales which are the staple of jazz improvisation;
• Slash of Guns 'n' Roses (etc) in my attempt to play with conviction and feeling rather than simply fitting in asmany notes as possible;
• Jimmy Page (Led Zep) and Tom Morello (Audioslave/Rage Against The Machine) for their riff based playing;
• And of course Jimi Hendrix, because what guitarist can't find some form of inspiration in his playing!

I don't consider myself a particually good singer so rather than writing technically challenging lead vocal lines I tend to add the complexity in the arrangment of backing vocals; by adding many tracks of harmony. Similary I am not the most skillfull of drummers so my drum beats aim to be fairly simple, driving and tight rather than technical and out of time, especially when playing in strange time signatures! My bass playing is influenced by Geddy Lee of Rush, John Entwhistle of The Who and John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin, and having spent some time as a bassist in a band last year I have developed my own style based mostly around arpeggios.

nstrumentation

Electric Guitars:
Epiphone Les Paul Standard, Fender Mexican Telecaster, PRS Santana SE, Tanglewood Memphis, ESP LTD H-50

Acoustic Guitars:
Crafter DE-7 Steel Strung, Hohner Classical

Bass Guitars:
Hohner Abor MX, Yamaha, RBX170

Keyboards and Virtual Instruments (VST):
mdaPiano, LazySnake Rhodes Piano, OrganizedTrio Hammond Organ, Triangle II , Pentagon I , Whoooo, Cygnus, Crystal

Drums:
Mapex M-Birch 6 Piece Fusion drum kit with Sabian B8 cymbals

Other instruments:
Hohner 'Big River Harp' Harmonica, in D, Oldfield Mandolin

Credits and Thanks

Credit
Music and Lyrics : Chris Bailey
All instruments performed by : Chris Bailey
Recorded, mixed and mastered by : Chris Bailey @ Explosive Studios
All graphics, artwork and website design by : Chris Bailey
© 2008 An Explosive Records Production
www.explosiverecords.co.uk

Thanks
Maxine and Paul Bailey for putting up with the noise again!
All those who bought my 'Reverse Psychology' album and thouse who gave me feedback and encouraged me to make this second album;
All those who have taught and inspired me in music over the years;
Members of The Electric Chimps, The Plunge, House Of Cain abd B.O.M.B. and other bands I have played in and worked with over the years;
Didz, Liz, Claire, Alastair, Alex, Ste, Ben etc