Update from the Studio

Day 17.

Everyday has been an adventure in the studio working on our 2nd and 3rd full length albums for A Life of Science at Mind's Eye Digital Studios in Glendale, AZ with Larry Elyea. Despite a few technical issues, its been mostly smooth sailing.

At this point, the majority of the songs are tracked. Now comes the heavy mixing that comes with the territory when you have dozens of tracks of synths, pads, sfx and electronic drum kits on each song like we do. Six tracks have been mixed so far and we've been very pleased with the results.


Scott Passamonte - Guitar

We run our pre production pretty tight before we get into the studio and record our demos pretty precisely, so we weren't expecting to do much "writing" in our sessions. However, there's been a lot of developments, especially on the vocal arrangements. We definitely haven't been shy about layering on tracks of harmonies, echoes, ooohhs and aaaahhhs.


James Keenan - Vocals / Bass / Programming

We've also been having fun experimenting with the mixes and all the effects/glitching/filters and other marvels made available through modern recording technology. We are doing our best to craft a fun and interesting listen that goes to territories we haven't been before. Needless to say, we are having FUN.

Our 2nd album is tentatively titled "Vita Nova." The latin translation is "A New Life." A lot is different this time around for A Life of Science. We've said goodbye to some dear bandmates and welcomed some fresh blood (including beastly drummer Ben Anderson (from Digital Summer)). Our writing process has been very different as well. The new songs were born on the computer and structured and refined before they were ever played by instruments. Everything about the process has felt new. We feel like a new band. Hence "A New Life" for A Life of Science. In addition, the underlying themes of the new storyline for our second album are about starting a new life.


Ben Anderson - Drums

Not quite ready to start dropping information about our 3rd album just yet (even though it's very near completion.) It probably won't be released for some time. But we are very excited about it, as it marks an even further progression for the band.

To stay up to date, follow our studio webisodes weekly at http://www.alos.us.

Cheers to a future bright as snow.

<3

A New Life

Hello all. Just wanted to check in and let everyone know whats new and awesome in the world of A Life of Science.

We have been hard at work on the follow up to The Apneist. Though we can't reveal the title of the new project just yet, I can tell you that it picks up right where The Apneist 1 left off.

The story for the new project is complete. It finds Jon Tate in a whole new set of adventures. The music side of things is coming along nicely. Almost all of the lyrics have been completed, which of course follow the story. The songs are all picked out and are currently being hammered and chiseled into well-manicured busts, 12 in total. It seems as if this album will have a more tranquil feel, but there will still be moments of heavy-handed rock to express the heavier story elements. There might even be some outright pop and dance moments as well if we are feeling saucy. And we very well may be.

The holidays were lovely and relaxing. Now its back to business. We are currently putting together a 2010 touring and Comicon schedule, so we might just end up in a town near you for an evening of delight. Cross your fingers.

As far as culture, I've been trying to pick up some new music whenever possible....



The new Vampire Weekend, Contra, has been the listen of the week. It's great to see the group integrate more electronics into their skeletal sound a la Rostam's side project, Discovery. The melodies are still catchy as ever. Still plenty of Paul Simon influence. Tough to resist the charms of V Dub. Some standouts are "White Sky," the galloping electronic beauty, which they've been playing live for some time now, as well as "California English," a wound-up schizo-pop song that finds Ezra speedily barking through some heavy voice correction. "Diplomat's Son" is also worth mentioning. It is the most epic ballad on the record using strings and voice loops to croon along at just the right pace.



It is also worth noting that Animal Collective have kept their streak of relevant releases with the Fall Be Kind EP. The first track,"Graze," was instantly familiar. I had listened to it a few times on a two year old live NPR performance from back in the day. It's amazing to think that they're playing their new material out years before it appears on albums. I guess that gives them time to hash out any inconsistencies or flaws in a hands-on way before it hits record. Brilliant. The other track that really caught my ear was "What Would I Want Sky," a sprawling song suite that is downright gorgeous. The last three songs are spacey and characteristic of Animal Collective B Sides. Def worth the listen though. These lads can do no wrong in my book. They've had me since Sung Tongs.



I also picked out some Pitchfork darlings for listening. The Real Estate album is very soothing. I like to have it on as backdrop music because it makes me feel like I'm in the countryside laying in tall tall grass with a glass of sweet tea in my hand. Nothing mind-blowing here, just some lush guitar landscapes and folksy flavor that let you drift away as you zone out on your computer.



I've also been digesting the Bear in Heaven album, Beast Rest Forth Mouth (great album name, by the way haha!) It's dark and brooding with some highly psychedelic atmospheric moments. It's downright chilling/haunting at times, so you gotta pick out the right moment to give it a spin... When you're feeling, uhh... haunted?

That's all for now. Be back soon.

<3