GarethCole | Mike Warren | Kevin McCormick |
Kevin McCormick is a great friend of Brad and an amazing classical guitarist and he contributed to two songs. I was looking for
a drummer and he told me he had a friend who played drums that would be interested. This friend turns out to be
Tim Gehrt, a brilliant drummer who had played with Steve Walsh, the first time he left Kansas. I knew Paolo
Limoli from the Facebook group and had seen his videos of him playing Genesis songs so asked him to
contribute piano and keys. John William Francis mentioned he played marimba one day so he added that sound
to the mix. Glenn is a moderator for the BBT page and I found out he had sung a bit in earlier years so asked
him for some backing vocals. Mike Warren offered some cello and I had a track perfect for that. I need
some spoken word. Well three words actually so again I asked in the group and five or six people sent me a recording
by messenger of them saying “This Is War” Yourself included. Finally, Robin Armstrong was the final piece to the
puzzle but we will come to that soon.
More info about Dave Bandana / The Bardic Depths on the Internet:
It took 18 months from start to finish. It was completed in December2019. CD manufacture happened in January and promotion started then. The first single Depths Of Time (The Flicker) was released early January with a video. The pre order started on Feb 7th and the album is released on 20th March. It is by far the best thing I have ever done and I am so proud of it and the contributions from everyone. I can't thank them enough. You are a mult-instrumentalist and have a kind of recording studio in your house. Can you tell me what instruments you can play on and how difficult it is to record your own compositions? I play guitar. I started when I was ten years old. I am probably still at the same level as what I was when I was thirteen. I play bass and I can pick out a tune and create nice sounds on a keyboard. I am a virtuoso on none of them. On the track The End I play flute and harmonica even though I can't play them. I made noises on them. I enjoy making music in my studio but I understand my limitations as an engineer. Robin Armstrong mixed and mastered the album. How important was that for you? Extremely important. I had asked for some advice on CD production and Robin had responded and asked to hear what we had done. He suggested that although it was good and had potential it need to be of a more professional quality for it to sell on CD. He took the songs to another level. He is a very modest man but, in my eyes, and quite a few others, a total genius at what he does. I am humbled that he even wanted to work with me.
To cut a long story short, he said he would be interested in mixing and mastering it to a professional level, and not only that, he would like to release it as the first album on his brand-new record label Gravity Dream Music. Robin is another musical hero of mine and the quality of his work is outstanding so there was no way I was going to turn him down. His was the first and only interest and I said yes straight away. On the album I certainly hear that you are influenced by Pink Floyd, but also your music reminded me of Freedom To Glide. A band which also is influenced by them. A coincidence? I have always been influenced by Pink Floyd. As Freedom to Glide are likewise influenced it is no coincidence. Which acts also influenced you furthermore and is Talk Talk one of them? Talk Talk were a band that had passed me by until Brad introduced me to them. I like the way they create a collage of sound however minimal and I tried to create their ethos of recording. The brief for the contributors was to play whatever they felt was needed for the song. Other influences are of course Big Big Train but only as an inspiration. How are the reactions on the album so far? All good from the limited amount of people that have heard it. Will there be a follow up album and will you take the album on the road? It depends how well this one does as to whether there will be a follow up. I couldn't go back to producing albums of a lesser quality so would need Robin on board again so that is probably a question for him. The logistics of just getting all the band members together would be astronomical and expensive as they all live around the world. So I cant see it ever being played live although I would have loved to have done it. Any other future plans? It's now time to promote it. Do the radio and press interviews and try to sell out our initial CD stock. My dream is to have a vinyl release but it depends how well the CD does. Then its feet up and relax, carry on entertaining the tourists and feeding and looking after150 street cats. Dave thanks for answering my questions No problem. Enjoyed it. The album can be ordered here: https://www.gravitydream.co.uk/product/the-bardic-depths-cd/ facebook The Bardic Depths facebook Dave Bandana review album 'The Bardic Depths' video where to buy |
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