One step further

The package is going ahead, again. About 1,5 weeks ago Timo finished creating initial base mix / master for the album's band elements. After several listening sessions it was decided that this sounds exactly as we want it to sound. What's next ahead, is that Timo will be designing & crafting space soundscapes for the package. After he's done, it's time for next listening sessions.

PS: The next listening sessions will be special also in the way that the songs will be sorted in final appearing order for first ever time.

One stage completed

All the songs now finally have vocals recorded. Quite a task there, but thankfully now the most demanding stages of getting the package completed are done. Now it's time for mixing stage(s). The very first rough mix listening session was already completed (mainly a checkout mix that all things are ok, nothing big to fix) about a week ago. Next mixes will have more actual mixing work done by Timo. After we both are happy about how the mix sounds, it's time to get the space soundscapes created & mixed in.

This package has taken clearly the longest time to get it completed - but as it's just a hobby, it's not really a big deal for us. It's ready when it's ready. Personally I do hope it would happen let's say before June, but when it happens remains to be seen.

Ahead

Things have been happening during this seemingly silent period. Timo has been active with recording the vocals as only two songs lack vocals anymore. I've recorded more "guitar noises" (or something that might resemble solos to some) and spiced up the songs where needed. After the vocals are completed (and also the soloworks) - it's time for doing the space elements. This time I won't be doing any soundscapes with guitar; Timo is going to handle all the dark ambience.

Still can't say when it's going to be ready, ... but I'm even more confident about how great entertainment this release will be when it's ready. And I'm saying this while I'm listening very rough mixes of the songs at their current stage. It will be awesome!

Forwards through the greedy compressor

Some time has passed and yes, the SF package has been progressing as well. Based on quick count the current amount of songs with possible final vocals is 11. So it's already over halfway there. When it comes to recording some small guitarsolos, there are now 5 songs that contain additional guitar melodies and/or solos. More news as things progress.

It might well be that this release won't be ready during 2012, but it looks like it's going to be early 2013 release. If something can be stated as a fact, it's that this release certainly haven't been rushed at any stage. Which makes it pretty much a completely different case if compared to past SF releases (longest recording period has been under 2 months, from start to finish).

Sometimes the saying "worth the wait" has a deeper meaning. We feel this SF release is going to be something where that saying fits like ... a distant star into a distant galaxy. Far, far away.

Progressing

I've heard three demosongs with possible final vocals on them, rough mixes - sounds very good and enjoyable to me. There's even some "sing along" moments, heh heh ... but jokes aside, it feels nice that the package is progressing for real.

Oh, also something else. I was recording some guitar solos (or more like "solos" so far) to further enchance the material. It might be that not all guitar noise is used but we'll see. I only went through 4 songs so far, going to go all the rest through and listen if there would be good spots for some more guitarchaos.

More arrangements

I've been continuing doing the vocal arrangements, as well as writing some new lyrics (sources of inspiration ranging from space news into some scifi and less scifi movies, as well as games - not to mention imagination, oh and ... some zombies). Just finished recording the 15th vocal demo, so ... there are only 5 songs to go.

No lyrics done for the last 5 songs yet - we are hoping that Timo would find his (too well!) archived SF-lyrics. Lyrics that he's made already quite some time ago ... if he doesn't find those lyric bases, then I'll write the rest of the lyrics myself. Well, hopefully those archived lyrics will be found. Variation in lyrics' style never harms.

Arrangements

Some time has passed (and lots of real life things taking that time), but finally things are going ahead when it comes to Scumfusion. Recently I started finetuning and arranging lyrics, fitting them into songs - and making rough vocal demos myself ... so that it would be as easy and smooth job as possible for Timo to do the final recordings.

8 songs are ready for recording vocals currently and I'm aiming to continue with the rest during next 1-2 weeks. Hopefully we'll get this package completed still during 2012. We'll see.

Oh, and also the song count has dropped too. It's the good thing in this delay - I've had time to absorb the material more than enough and I've been brutally critical in what works and what doesn't. Four songs were dropped off recently, simply because they weren't good enough in my opinion. Total amount of songs will be 20 and it looks like the 30 minutes overall length will be quite close in the end. Fits us well.