Sunday 21 February 2010

BBC Bristol...

Call listening to Steveless a challenge.

I like that; bit of effort by me, bit of effort by you. In the end we're all a bit worn out but satisfied.

No pain no gain.

BBC Bristol Introducing

So, new Steveless track on BBC Bristol Introducing tonight again, 1am to 3 am. Yes, that's really tomorrow, but they call it Sunday.

I missed it last night as I'm a bit ill, so not sure what track it was. But do listen folks, because it'll be a good one! And it's a great show anyway.

Saturday 20 February 2010

Hope

Here's another old song for you. Hope, the opening track of The Home EP. I think I did it the week after Run.

It was recorded way back in 2004, on my trusty old four-track.

I can remember recording it in my bedroom at my parents' house...first I improvised some drums, then a bass guitar, then I did two vocals tracks and a bit of melodica. The whole thing probably took about quarter of an hour to write (hah!)/record. Although, it wasn't a straight fifteen minutes; what I used to do back then was record several songs worth of drums at once. As i think there were six songs on The Home EP, I would have done six lots of drums and then come back to finish off this one.

I also have a lovely memory of travelling back from Brecon to Pontyclun, having watched the Super Furry Animals play, and hearing it on the Peel show on Radio One. It was the night of a session by The Fall I think, and Peel got Steveless and The Fall mixed up as he cued up the track.

Unfortunately, that wasn't the only time that happened!

But yes, download, listen, enjoy. More to come.

Hope!

BBC Bristol Introducing

There will be a new Steveless track played on this week's Bristol Introducing on BBC Radio Bristol.

I'm not sure what track it is yet; shall have to wait and see.

You can listen between 1am and 3am both Saturday and Sunday nights.

You can get it online on the BBC website or, if you're near the city, on DAB or FM at 94.9, 103.6 or 104.

Good.

Monday 15 February 2010

Steveless; according to Adam Walton

I just really loved the description Adam Walton made of Steveless on his show last night. I never bothered to note any of the fun ones from last time I did Steveless, so I'm making a point of keeping this one now:

"If you’ve ever wondered what kind of music Captain Beefheart would listen to and go “Pff, that’s a bit wierd”; then it would probably be Steveless."

That's me.

Run

Oh, way back when, in 2004, I believe, the wonderful, sadly departed, Taffpop Records of Swansea, released the first Steveless single.




















They put it out as a split with Swansea's finest (if ever there was a backhanded compliment...) Syd Howells and his mob Photographed by Lightning.




















More of that blighter another time, though perhaps you could also seek out Steveless and Syd Howells, Syd Howells, Thee Bable Fish, Doris Karloff or The Disasters records in the meantime. If you're still sane after all of that, then you're welcome to return here.

Anyway, Syd's side was Eyes on Stalks; my side was Run.

This was the first track I ever recorded with a drum kit on it. I'd had it the previous week for Chrimbob and was keen to use it, so I set it up and then set the tape player going.

I thought I could now do "proper" songs.

This was the start of my recording experience, really. In those days, I didn't know how to cut the beginning off a song, so it begins with a bit of quiet bumbling as I ran from the tape recorder to the drum stool on the other side of the room. Of course, I was improvising, so I then proceeded to hit the drums for a while until I found a beat; this had the twin benefit of also giving me some warning for when I added the other layers of instruments/vocals later. I was never able to start a song right away, and I hate count-ins. So, to ruin what might otherwise be an ever so dramatic and portentous intro; it was all practicalities, round my way.

I can't remember what the song is about. But I was a moody little student at the time, so clearly it would be all about me. That's what people want, though, right?

I haven't listened to it yet, and will do so when I upload it in a minute. I do know, though, that it's bloody good and I have always been quite proud of it. I was chuffed to pieces that Taffpop wanted to release it. One day, I shall talk more about Taffpop, putting the single together and the launch party. But I'm hungry and want to get off. Suffice to say, this was a good moment for Steveless, it got a bit of attention and some good radio play, including BBC Radio One and BBC Radio Wales.

It's still available in some shops now. Although, for a lot more than it used to be. So, for those buggers still selling it - and at marked up prices - I'm sorry, but its now free. That one sale you hoped for in the next five years...probably not happening.

Download to your heart's content:

Run

Adam Walton on Radio Wales

So, the first of my new Steveless songs got their first radio play this weekend; on Adam Walton's Radio Wales show of 14th. It was a song called 'In my Dream, I Made a Film'; which Adam described as a little too weird for Captain Beefheart. Perfect description, thank you Adam.

For the next week or so, you can listen to it here on the BBC iPlayer:

Adam Walton - 14/02/2010

The Steveless track is near the end, at about two hours and forty five minutes in, after a beautiful song by Cate le Bon. But that is irrelevant; you should listen to the whole show if you like new and exciting musics. Always interesting, with a wonderfully enthusiastic and endearing presenter. His show is on every Sunday from ten pm to one am on the Monday. Worth starting a new week knackered for.

I shall post another Steveless track up here later.

Friday 12 February 2010

More next week

I shall be posting up one of my very first tracks, Run. Sometime this weekend. It will be worth the wait because it is the good. Probably, I haven't heard it for a couple of years. I just know I have a load of copies of the single knocking around (yeah, it sold BIG!).

Tuesday 2 February 2010

The Dennis Hopper Song

Okay, so here's the first bit of Steveless for you. Brand new, hot off the presses and so on. It's a track called The Dennis Hopper Song.

Click on the link to download the song.

The Dennis Hopper Song

I've posted up a photo of the lyrics as follows; if you can't make up my lovingly rendered scrawl as captured through the magic of camera phone, it's a paean to Frank Booth. Or, rather, Dennis Hopper. They're kind of one and the same in my head. He's not doing too well at the moment, so let's take it as a tribute to the man.
























So this is solo Steveless, just me in my bedroom, improvising layer on layer (all first takes) until I think there's enough there to be called "a song".

So, what's on this track...a couple of layers of out of tune guitar played through a broken down car boot sale amp...a biscuit tin being hit with a Rock Band drum stick...a cardboard box being pummelled...and my dulcet tones; I did feel naughty swearing, but I think it was tastefully done, and the part called for it dear.

Anyway, now for the disclaimer...I've only been recording again for a couple of weeks. It's my first time not using tape, I'm trying to use computers. It's a bit of a struggle as I really am a total techtard. However, I can just about plug it in and press record. I didn't really mix it, just put it as was really. However, it was mastered by the very lovely Mr Daniel Bennett. You might know him as the guitar from the incredible band that is Hunting Lodge. He did it as a favour, and very appreciative I am too.

Anyway, if anyone just likes it then please let me know here. Make me feel it's worthwhile posting tracks up for you. And spread the word, pass it on; free musics!

I warn you, I will be back soon enough with more Steveless.

Sleep well.

Monday 1 February 2010

Steveless Tunes

Oh, hi! It's been ages.

Yeah, alright. What about you?

Cool.

Umm...I like your hair.

Oh, I thought you'd done something different to it.

Ah, maybe, yeah.


Anyway, welcome to the Steveless Tunes Blog thing. I had this idea the other day and, I must say, I think it was rather a good one. I'm going to use this Blog to link to a load of mp3s of Steveless tracks for you to download. All free, of course.


I'll be shoving them up periodically. Rhys, from the band, tells me that our webspace is enough for about five hundred tracks. So that's the challenge; to fill it up.


There will be both old and new tracks. The old will involve me trawling my old CDRs and the depths of my computer for a bunch of songs I'd forgotten about (and presumably blocked out). The new means that I am actually recording again, hoorah! For the first time in two or three years.


They will mostly be just me, Steveless Dan, but I might put up some Steveless Band and/or Steveless and Syd Howells, depending on whether the others let me. We shall see.


I'm going to bugger off now, but I will return. Honest. And with the first of the tunes.


Oh, before I go, I should point out that this Blog does use the term "tunes" rather liberally.


Ta ra, Dan.