Acquitted by Mirrors - Issue 12 (1984/5) |
 Hello and
welcome to the world's most apologetic magazine... Yes ! we're running late as usual, but
entirely due to a rather heavy workload. These last months, I have been surrounded by
mountains of paper and reels of recording tape as the forthcoming Portrait album
"Getting the Holy Ghost Across" swings into production. After working on so many
instrumental projects, it was something of a shock to be confronted by the task of writing
lyrics to previously recorded backing tracks. However a few weeks of intense and
frustrating work eventually produced the required sets of lyrics and I moved to Rockfield
Studios near Monmouth in Wales to transfer the basic tracks from my Fostex B-16 tape
recorder to a more 'pro' 24 track system.During the past four weeks I have been hard at work on the instrumental and vocal overdubs and things are coming along nicely. John Leckie, who co-produced most of BeBop DeLuxe's records with me, popped in to do some of the engineering. It was the first time we had worked together for some years and it was nice to see him again after so long. As you might well imagine, our topic of conversation was often nostalgic as we talked about the 'old' days. I've asked John to contribute some of his memories to Kevin Cann's book (still in progress... ) which he said he would do happily. At this point in time I am taking a break from the recording schedule to enjoy a much needed holiday. I am shortly to embark for France for a three week stay in Villefranche-sur-Mer. (Regular readers of ABM will be aware of my passion for this area.) Before I leave however I have to work on the artwork for a forthcoming Portrait single, which, if all goes to plan, should be available in August. I can't tell you the name of it yet as the record company hasn't decided which track would be best. It's rare that there is actually a choice of singles on my albums.... Usually the record companies have to hunt for them with magnifying glasses! On "Holy Ghost" however there are at least two or three singles. Does this mean I've sold out? Quite probably, but don't worry about it ! it's all good clean fun on the surface, but has deeper undercurrents on further examination. When I return from holiday, its straight back into the studio to complete the rest of the album. (Release is scheduled for September) Here is a list of song titles from the album sessions:-.'Rise Like a Fountain', 'Wildest Dreams', 'Theology'. 'Heart and Soul', 'Finks and Stooges of the Spirit', 'Word for Word', 'Lost in your Mystery', 'The Hidden Flame', 'Contemplation' (new version), 'Here and Now', 'Age of Reason', Because of You ', 'Living for the Spangled Moment', 'Illusions of You' Intrigued ? .... I hope so.....
More apologies:- Wasn't the print quality of ABM 11 dreadful! I am not sure what happened there, but I hope this issue has not suffered a similar fate. Also ABM 11 contained more misprints than I have space to go into detail on. In particular my poem "Praising an Altered Resonance" suffered somewhat as a result. These are some of the corrections:- Line 15, for the word adventure substitute 'avenue' Line 18., 'statute'...'statue" Line 22 `sleeping tresses'... sleeping trees' On a different note, you may be aware of some further Cocteau Records releases (listed elsewhere) Watch out in particular for "Sex, Psyche, Etc" by Orchestra Arcana .... I think you will find it sits nicely in the "Trial by Intimacy" territory. Also we've re-released 'Sounding the Ritual Echo' in a brand new sleeve designed to complement the packaging of the box set. Whilst on the subject of the box set, I would just like to thank all those of you who wrote to me expressing your satisfaction with your purchase of 'Trial by Intimacy' (By now you should all also have your book of photographs.. 'The Arcane Eye') It was most rewarding to realize that all the hard work I put into the music and the packaging had found receptive eyes and ears. Whilst as I have said before, it is physically impossible for me to make a personal reply to each and every one of you, every letter you send is read and very much appreciated. How many of you noticed that the word 'Of' was missing from the box's subtitle - The Book of Splendours? No it was not a deliberate mistake, it's another blunder ... anyone for further apologies? Right before I go, here is this issues list of items to be involved with: Position in class - 1 Oh Shut Up, I'm off on holiday !! See, you
As you are aware the box-set TRIAL BY INTIMACY is a limited edition and we are starting to reach the final part. If you have not yet ordered one due to the cost, but wish to reserve one - please write and let us know. I would hate any of you to miss out. It is looking like that we might manage to obtain the rights to the RED NOISE album "Sound on Sound". As we go to press it seems to be getting sorted out. It will be a couple of months from then until we have finished stock, so no orders yet please. Also in the pipeline is a compilation of Cocteau singles to be called "Signature Tunes". Final running order is not yet decided due to the recording schedule. Bill did an interview for TX 45 a few months ago. The interviewer was Chris Cowey but it was broadcast in Tyne Tees only. Any-one with a copy could make a lot of friends. Talking of TV, Max Headroom has shown both Yuki's video of Walking to the Beat and also Bill's 'Do you Dream in Colour' on his video show recently. Now all we need is 'Flaming Desire' showing. Somewhere in this beloved magazine you should find enclosed a re-order form for 1985. If you have already rejoined - we thank you kindly. If you have not yet-please do. If you are not sure if you have or not-please drop me a line, as by now I will have an up-to-date print out from the computer. Please note that we have managed to hold prices at the same as last year, but I assure you, you will continue to get the same erratic but addictive sort of service. However due to the addition of Portrait Records into the picture we will be able to afford additional mailings for their releases of Bill's. You will be mailed with single and album release dates and information shortly.
We have just released three new 12" singles, and they are as follows: COQ T16 COQ T18 COQ T19 To order these 'Roses from the Magnetic Garden' use a mail order form. Do not forget as a Club Member you can deduct 10% from the cost of goods. Please use your postcode. (Do we get a postage rebate now ?) There now appears to be a re-remix of the Man Jumping single, henceforth to be known as the "Free-Fall" mix. If you want to hear the difference then COQ TRI6 should be added to your order. "In the Jungle" is on the B side and the same mix.
Some of you are showing a keenness in the workings of our record label. So I shall enlighten you a bit. We have been releasing records in two main areas of late - either compilations on the Collectors series or brand new releases such as Man Jumping and Yukihiro Takahashi (then there is also 'Trial by Intimacy' on the Connoisseur series just to disprove the point). For the compilations Bill and I have to firstly decide what we want to release and then start work on the running order of the tracks that might be included. This tends to involve cassettes being posted between Yorkshire and here with each other's different running orders. When we have a final decision we then have the joyous task of trying to locate all the original tapes, which have sometimes strayed away from where they should be. When we came to do 'The Two-Fold Aspect' for example, we were looking for tapes recorded over quite a wide period. Most were stored, either in Bill's studio lavatory (the tape store) or in a cupboard here. Three tapes however were a problem to find; 'Heartbeat-remix' was located in New Jersey as Jem Records had pressed it up on a promotional 12" (PVC EP 4) around the time of 'The Love that Whirls' and we could not find our tape copy master. To get it back took weeks. 'Dada Guitare' was in Belgium as it had been used as the B-side to 'Brittle Views' (TWI 013). This one only took days and lots of phone calls to locate and recover. The third track was, I think, 'Birds of Tin' (Will 3) which was residing in Phonogram's tape library, although of course they denied this for ages and ages. By the time they were all retrieved, artwork was already under way. We use a preserver of old American cars called Julian Balme to do most of our sleeves (Hi Jules). I hasten to add that he has the job, not because of his love of absurd cars, but because of his work. He does lots of sleeves for artists, you probably have several in your record collection, but he rarely puts his name on them (a free ride around Brands Hatch with him if you can name five of his sleeves ... second prize, two trips round...... )In this instance we had decided to use the photo from an old Anton Corbijn session that had been done at Bill's house; the famous piano-cushion held in front of Bill's head, once used on the cover of OOR magazine in Holland. The fact that Anton was really ill at the time did not of course make getting the negative very easy. I am pleased to say however, he is better now. So all the bits of text, lists of titles, photos etc went to Jules for him to whip up an appropriate little number. Months later back came the finished artwork - then we removed the spelling mistakes - then it went on to the company that of late has been doing all our production co-ordination. They arrange all the pressings, sleeve printing, record labels etc. They put the sleeve 'in hand' and about a week later we got 'proof' copies on which they had managed to omit the record title without even asking, so they had to do it again. This time they got it right.
Meanwhile all the individual tapes were taken into a cutting studio we use where they spent hours copying, adjusting the levels between the tapes and editing them until they had a 'production master'. They then 'cut' the record. This involves cutting a continuous groove onto a piece of virgin vinyl using a special cutting lathe. This is the 'lacquer' and they put a catalogue number on it as they all look the same otherwise. Side One would be JC 10 A-1; this means it is the A side and the first lacquer. It is then sent on to the factory for processing. Then comes all the technical bit which I never fully understood and so I shall not even hazard a guess at, but they end up with a 'stamper' for each side of the record which is like a record, but with ridges instead of grooves. This is what they put onto the press. A label for each side and a stamper for each side and then molten vinyl is injected between them. The stampers squeeze and the vinyl is released as a flat (?) piece of plastic which slides off into a white bag. All this production side is highly automated - they can turn around thousands of records per hour; and of course we have nothing what so ever to do with it. Which is just as well as the plant they use is in France. Just to make sure that the pressings we get are going to be OK, we get White Labels or Test Pressings (TPs) and then we check them for clicks or faults. In this instance we discovered that when they made the tape up, they had not faded the end of Eros Arriving, as on the single version, when they made up the production master tape, and so it had to be cut again giving: JC 10 A-2. About two weeks after everything was approved, just before Christmas, we got our final pressings, and at the same time 'Trial by Intimacy' was delivered as well. 'TBI' took much longer to make; it had been in production for months. The sleeves are a non-standard card and the boxes a real problem as there are so few box makers, plus at Christmas it is hard to get production capacity as everyone wants to make box sets. We had given up hope of getting the book, The Arcane Eye in at the proper time, so all the stock started to arrive together - a real problem. We had originally hoped to get 'TBI' finished by late November, -so that it could be on sale for Christmas as the perfect just to make sure that the pressings we get are going to be OK, we get White Labels or Test Pressings (TPs) and then we check them for clicks or faults. In this instance we discovered that when they made the tape up, they had not faded the end of Eros Arriving, as on the single version, when they made up the production master tape, and so it had to be cut again giving: JC 10 A-2. About two weeks after everything was approved, just before Christmas, we got our final pressings, and at the same time 'Trial by Intimacy' was delivered as well. 'TBI' took much longer to make; it had been in production for months. The sleeves are a non-standard card and the boxes a real problem as there are so few box makers, plus at Christmas it is hard to get production capacity as everyone wants to make box sets. We had given up hope of getting the book, The Arcane Eye in at the proper time, so all the stock started to arrive together - a real problem. We had originally hoped to get 'TBI' finished by late November, -so that it could be on sale for Christmas as the perfect present but although it is perfect it did not make most shops until the New Year. It ended up on display next to the Two-Fold Aspect. How's that for planning - not what we intended but then what is. We then re-sleeved 'Sounding the Ritual Echo' (see page 18) This went fairly smoothly except that the factory put a different finish on the sleeve, so it now differs slightly from the four sleeves in the box-set. Next in the pipe-line is the album of the cassette of Das Kabinett & Beauty and the Beast. The two theatre soundtracks packaged together. Das Kabinett has been deleted in the shops for sometime, whilst B&TB was only available with 'The Love that Whirls' which is also deleted now I am told. This new two album package will come in a specially embossed grain finish sleeve and will sport the catalogue number JCD 4. It should be in the shops any day now or sooner. I am sure you already have the records and I hasten to add nothing has been -added to the sleeve notes so save your money for the new single and album. TOP TEN SOLO TUNES
While the Favourite Artists other than Bill, poll revealed:
Thanks to Ralph Jebbitt for compiling. "TOP TEN SOLO TUNES"
Bill holds the chimes, Preston checks if there
Iain plays the Rockfield Space Invaders
Bill (see no evil) and John (drink no evil) Leckie News Apologies to all those who ordered 'Ritual Echo' and did not get it immediately. We had put the record in production and were awaiting films of the original art-work from Phonogram Records. However their legal department then decided that they did not want us to use the same sleeve again as it might 'confuse the dealers' So we then had a long delay whilst we started again from scratch. However, the new improved sleeve will now slide into your Trial by Intimacy box and make a perfect match. 'The Crystal Escalator in the Palace of God's Department Store was used as background music for the Coal For Jobs Video, made by Miners and shown on Channel Four. Kevin Cann's Biography proceeds at pace. No news of publication date yet. Stay Posted. Those of you requesting a book of lyrics and music by Bill, will be pleased to know that we have struck up a deal with EMI Music to publish his work. This does not however mean that they plan to do a book, it means that they are collecting publishing royalties for us from around the world. However they are the people who would publish the book if they thought there was sufficient demand. So let them know..... (address deleted) Talking of EMI, I am indebted to Barbara Crane for pointing out that they have re-issued Ships in the Night/Maid in Heaven (Cat No: G45 21) Even if their sleeve notes are laughable and as inaccurate as their spelling. On the same piece of type setting they spell it 'Maid' & 'Made in Heaven' Thanks to all of you who had a pink form in your box-set and had to return it for your belated copy of The Arcane Eye, Yes you do spell it 'Legible' not 'Ledgible' but who is going to tell our type-setters ? If you know anyone who bought a box-set and found the form instead of the book of photos, please tell them to send the form in. We are still exchanging pink forms for books. The original cut off date was due to be three months after the Book had arrived from the printers, but this did not prove to be the case. The original reason for ever setting a date was to stop someone writing in two years later saying 'I have just found/bought...... and by this time we might have decided to sell of f any that were left. Best comment on a form only just received was "Sorry this is late, things take a little longer in Arizona" (they take long enough here). You should be pleased to know that all the stamps of f your letters go to the R.N.L.I. - so can we have lots of pretty ones please. We are getting a fair number of requests for a reprint of ABMs 1-4, 1 am afraid it is not yet viable, but keep writing, and we will keep adding them up. Going back to the box set for a final time - if any of you found that your copy of The Arcane Eye had a white sheet around the cover you may now remove it - it was to stop it getting damaged in the machine whilst being put together. Over and out ! |
