GARCIA - Music Video

Here’s Garcia!! The second music video from our upcoming album.

Cardboard Spaceship by NEON LADY will be available to stream on all major platforms from 22nd June 2020.

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY - Doodle No.00005

Today is World Environment Day. Remember to water your houseplants.

A daily doodle doodled by Essex based illustrator MARINE MAMMAL.

MEYER LANSKY - Doodle No.00004

Meyer Lansky was born 118 years ago today. Though he was never found guilty of anything more than illegal gambling, he is thought to be one of the most financially successful gangsters in American history.

A daily doodle doodled by Essex based illustrator MARINE MAMMAL.

Blackout

A reference to BoJob’s history of racism.

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/feb/18/dave-attacks-boris-johnson-in-brit-awards-performance-our-prime-ministers-a-real-racist

https://www.businessinsider.com/boris-johnson-record-sexist-homophobic-and-racist-comments-bumboys-piccaninnies-2019-6?r=US&IR=T

https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/dave-racist-boris-johnson-brit-awards-theresa-may-a9344791.html

GINSBERG ON A BIKE DAY - Doodle No.00003

Today is Allen Ginsberg’s birthday. Happy Birthday, Allen. It’s also World Bicycle Day. Happy World Bicycle Day, Allen.

A daily doodle doodled by Essex based illustrator MARINE MAMMAL.

BEETLEJUICE - Doodle No.00002

Beetlejuice (Lester Green) is an American comedian, famous for his appearances on The Howard Stern Show.

A daily doodle doodled by Essex based illustrator MARINE MAMMAL.

WHIT MONDAY - Doodle No.00001

Today is Whit Monday. The day after Pentecost. A Christian celebration commemorating the arrival of the Holy Spirit; often depicted as a dove. Whit comes from the word white, which is thought to be a reference to the white robes sometimes worn by the newly baptised.

A daily doodle doodled by Essex based illustrator MARINE MAMMAL.

I Wish

I like the Kerouac method. First thought, best thought. Don’t overthink it, just dive in.

That’s the approach I pushed for when we formed NEON LADY a few years ago. I wanted to record all of our songs in one live take and release everything with mistakes left in. Immediacy over polish! 

We ended up compromising, and I’m glad we did.

Most of the material on our upcoming album comes from a single session at NO studios, but not all of it. We’ve included a couple of home recordings and softened a few edges in post production. 

I Wish is one of the live songs. It’s a pretty good reflection of what we actually sound like (on a good day). 

Our bassist, Greg Nocturnal, came up with the video idea. He recorded the screen while we mimed along during a Zoom chat and attached the audio after.

We wanted a video that captures the do-it-yourself spirit of our band, and reflects the time we’re living in. This ticks both boxes. Well done, Greg!

Our debut album, Cardboard Spaceship, is coming soon! Featuring Jack Taiani on guitar/vocals. Keir Taiani on drums. Greg Nocturnal on bass. Me on guitar/vocals.

Thirteen Jam Jan

Temporarily free your mind from lockdown with nine and a half minutes of homemade psychedelic rock nonsense…

28 Days Later

***I read this back and realised that I sound worryingly A.Partridge***

I’m going to have a short break from the avantguard-satirical-webcomic I’ve been posting recently. I want to focus on something other than Guinea King.

My computer’s in a right state. Whilst tidying files yesterday, I re-discovered some forgotten projects. 

One of those projects was an album I recorded earlier this year.

There’s an annual challenge for artists to write and record 10 songs during the month of February. It’s called the RPM challenge; you can find out more about it here. 

I didn’t get round to sharing my effort before the deadline, but thought I might as well share it now. 

It’s a DIY-psychedelic-folk-rock effort that I recorded on a cheap USB interface and a Yeti USB microphone. 

All the songs were written and recorded during the 28 days of February 2020; hence the title. 

I mixed and mastered the tracks on Garageband, which comes pre-installed on Apple Mac computers. Admittedly, some of that mixing happened post-Feb; so I did cheat a little bit.

I’m a big fan of inexpensive recording techniques. Making music should be affordable. I try to demonstrate that with the gear I use.

I did use a couple of mid range guitars on this one. A Fender Jag that I was given for my 18th birthday, and a parlour guitar that I bought about 10 years ago. Apart from those instruments, everything else I used is pretty cheap to get hold of.

I’ve listed the the equipment right at the bottom; in case you’re interested in that sort of thing.

Say Hi, LoFi

Hello, my name is Ewan

I’m glad you could meet with me

Here’s some songs I’ve written

In the month of February

10 tracks I’ve completed

In the second month of 2020

They’re not the best recordings

In fact, they’re pretty sloppy

But that’s hardly surprising 

I’ve done it all on the cheap 

That’s the way I like it

They call it low fidelity

Some people want for polish

But polish ain’t my cup of tea

I like to keep mistakes in

I leave them there deliberately

They say to err is human

And I like to show that musically 

They say to err is human

And I like to show that musically

Starlight

Starlight 

Stop wasting our time

I’m waiting for the sun light

I’m waiting for the dawn

Sometimes

I don’t like the night time

I miss the day time

And I miss the warmth

Starlight 

Stop wasting our time

I’m waiting for the day time

I’m waiting for the dawn

One time

In years now gone by

I knew how to unwind

Underneath the stars

Starlight 

Stop wasting our time

I miss day time

Waiting for the dawn

She Moves

She walks with ease

Breezing through in all weathers

He can’t believe

How well she keeps their shit together

She moves

At the speed of a passing car

They count the leaves

On every tree they plant together

They both agree 

To carry on their truce forever

She moves

At the speed of a passing car

I do, I do

Words repeated constantly

But she won’t be gave away 

And he’s not one to bend an knee

She moves

At the speed of a passing car

Private Archive

A string of words and a list of chords

To recall your whole life

To reinstall your old mind

Some people live with the strangest urge

To record their whole life

Compress their thoughts into short lines

Well, does it help them moving forwards?

To have a timeline

Of a life that’s gone by

Or does it stop them achieving more?

Always looking behind

Always trying to rewind

I wonder what they need it for

A private archive

In a life that’s finite

Well, I guess it’s a kind of child

Part of their bloodline

That outlives their shelf-life 

Underfloor Heating

They’ve got underfloor heating in their bathroom

(Repeat)

This is me jamming along to myself. One instrument at a time and just riffing along to the previous recording.

The organ sound is a pre-set on Garageband. You can select ‘Musical Typing’ and use the computer keyboard as an instrument. Musical typing futures extensively throughout the album actually.

I recorded drums at NO! recording studio. When I’m not in lockdown, I practice there every week with the band Neon Lady. There was a week when the others couldn't make it, so I went down on my own and recorded percussion. I can’t do drums at home; I live in a flat.

Drums were recorded on the same microphone I used for vocals.

Small Home Fever

Small Home Fever

I can hear the TV coming through the wall

My loss-leader

What we lose in space we’ll build on moving forward

And when I close my eyes

At least there’s space to roam

And in a couple of years

We’ll find our perfect home

Small home fever

Well it sometimes makes me sick that I want for more

I guess we’re just dreamers

No matter what we’ve got we’ll dream of more

And when I close my eyes

At least there’s space to roam

And in a couple of years

We’ll find our perfect home

Early Spring

I see all the signs of an early spring

Daffodils and snowdrops creeping in

Hear the birds as they start to sing

I see all the signs of an early spring

This is just another version of the second song on the album. It’s got a different vocal track and a harmonica intro. The lyrics are slightly different, but not much. When I recorded the first version, I just ad-libbed. There was never a ‘right’ word to get wrong, so there’s a bit of lyrical variation between the two. I recorded this version because I thought I'd gone a bit OTT on the silly voices the first time round.

This track was largely improvised; jamming along with myself one track at a time. I put the drum beat together using samples I recorded when I was working on Small Home Fever.

I did record a vocal track, but preferred it as an instrumental. Lyrics felt unnecessary.

I recorded my 6-string through the same amp I use for a bass guitar. A Peavey number that I bought in a charity shop. I painted it in an attempt to mask the must, but it still smells. I like the sound I managed to get out of it though.

The guitar comes through really quietly when I plug directly into the USB interface. I used the Peavey bass amp to boost the signal.

Equipment Used:

Blue Yeti USB Microphone - bought for £90 in Maplin

Behringer UCG102 USB Guitar Link (interface) - bought £25 on eBay

Circuit Bent Toy Aeroplane - bought for £5 on eBay

Eastcoast Precision Bass - bought for £60 in a charity shop

Fender Jaguar H/H Electric Guitar - an 18th birthday present from my parents

Harmonica - £5 from a music shop

Melodica - a birthday present from my sister

Peavey Max 158 Bass Amp - bought for £30 in a charity shop

Simon Patrick Parlour Guitar - bought for £300 in a music shop

Drums - I used someone else’s kit, but I think they bought it for something like £80 on eBay

Tamborine - I had a little rattle on someone elses, but they’re pretty cheap to pick up.

GUINEA KING: Rise Of An Emperor (ep.21)

Not for kids!

Previously on GUINEA KING: Squirrel Nutsling is a wanted man. After a heart rendering goodbye, he’s now fleeing the refugee camp by helicopter.

GUINEA KING: Rise Of An Emperor (ep.20)

Not for kids!

Previously on Guinea King: Police are offering a £5,000 reward for the capture of Squirrel Nutsling.

GUINEA KING: Rise Of An Emperor (ep.19)

Not for kids!

Previously on GUINEA KING: The police have released Squirrel Nutkin’s identity to the public and are offering a £5,000 reward for his capture.

GUINEA KING: The Omnibus Edition (eps 1 - 18)

It’s getting pretty long now, so I’ve decided to publish an omnibus edition of GUINEA KING.

I’ve uploaded eps 1 - 18 to an image hosting website . I’ve embedded the gallery below. If you can’t see it, then follow this link and read the story on Imgur.

Have fun catching up! I’ll resume the saga tomorrow.

Post with 1 views. GUINEA KING (eps 1 - 18)

GUINEA KING: Rise Of An Emperor (ep.18)

Not for kids!

Previously on GUINEA KING: You know that Squirrel who’s been killing roller skaters in Thirty Acre Woods? Well, it turns out that he’s some sort of politician who’s taking care of all the woodland animals who’ve lost their homes because the humans built a roller disco.

Tropical Pete is still staying at Dick Mantel’s house.

GUINEA KING: Rise Of An Emperor (ep.17)

Not for kids!

Previously on GUINEA KING: A mouse and her two children have been driven from their home in the woods and have found shelter in a refugee camp. Also at the camp is the mass murdering manhunter, Squirrel Nutkin.

GUINEA KING: Rise Of An Emperor (ep.16)

Not for kids!

Previously on GUINEA KING: A deadly manhunter named Squirrel Nutsling has been assassinating roller skaters in the forest.

Elsewhere, Queen Peggy Sue is planning to exterminate mankind. Having heard rumours of Nutsling’s one-man war on man, she has sent an advisor to track down Squirrel Nutsling and bring him back to her.

GUINEA KING: Rise Of An Emperor (ep.15)

Not for kids!

Previously on GUINEA KING: Queen Peggy Sue’s popularity is dwindling in Guinea Kingdom, and she blames the humans. She has heard rumours of a manhunter named Squirrel Nutsling and thinks she may have a use for him.

GUINEA KING: Rise Of An Emperor (ep.14)

Not for kids!

Previously on GUINEA KING: Tropical Pete’s former zoo, Guinea Kingdom, is now in the hands of Queen Peggy Sue. Outside the kingdom, a murderous squirrel is on the loose.

Disclaimer: The thoughts and opinions of the guinea pigs featured in this cartoon do not represent those of the cartoonist.

GUINEA KING: Rise Of An Emperor (ep.13)

Not for kids!

Previously on GUINEA KING: A serial killer is on the loose and they’re targeting roller skaters. In an attempt to lure them into the open, Detective is skating through the woods whilst Sarge and Constable wait in the bushes ready to make an arrest.

Disclaimer: All characters are entirely fictional.