The end focus of the album was always kind of big initially, or at least when I started liking what was playing back; to collect a bunch of songs that could form an album and send them out to every record label I could find. That was really just my version of every girls popstar dream though, and I soon started to appreciate the distribution of the internet and the price tag on music being free (a lot down to albums like Radiohead - In Rainbows, NIN - Ghosts I-IV) to gain awareness of my music. It would also be hypocritical of me to consume music online and turn around to ask money for my own, so I made the decision to give everything away for free. I think eventually with all bands and artists the music aspect will become free, and what else they offer the public, whether dvds, movies, merch, whatever it may be, will become more prominent.
The album itself has a very consistent theme, very reflective of Frank Sinatra’s In The Wee Small Hours album cover; lonely, deserted and drifting around the calm and eerie city streets as early morning creeps in. I’m a creature of the early morning hours, often up until 5-6am, and its at these late hours a lot of the recording, inspiration, and ideas for the album took place, so this mood consistently crops up in lyrics and artwork and sound.
Space is another concept that appears throughout, due to my love and intrigue in the environments or ideas that portray space and stars with a sense of ethereal calm; to relax and feel like you’re there. These personal themes make the album into a very personal piece, there’s no characters or stories that didn’t happen, everything had to be from my own head, and it’s this kind of honesty that hopefully gives it some sincerity.
The albums ’Radiohead - OK Computer’, ’Bruce Springsteen - Nebraska’, and ’U2 - The Joshua Tree’, had another big chunk of impact on my album, as the consistent inspiration and reference points to how I wanted to sound, or what I wanted to achieve. The expansive and futuristic themes on ’OK Computer’... the intimate acoustic guitar recorded in Springsteen’s bedroom, exactly like my situation on ’Nebraska’... and what Space and America and great landscapes should sound like on ’Joshua Tree’ all deeply inspired me.
As for the recording process behind the songs, every song is crafted on acoustic guitar, and that basic skeleton is put down first. It’s only me, so I’m in control of everything, and from there I experiment and play around with what can be added; electric guitar, bass, programmed drums, synth, harmonica, and anything else that works and compliments the song.
I feel like I’ve created an album I can be proud of, and at this stage I can only hope to reach others and hope they experience some of what I intended, and find enjoyment in it.
Influences
Radiohead, Angels & Airwaves, U2, Bruce Springsteen, Nirvana, The Doors, Frank Sinatra, Foo Fighters, Peter Gabriel, Nine Inch Nails
Sounds Like
Acoustic music with a touch of SPACE...maybe a little Neutral Milk Hotel in terms of production/sound
"Andy Mitchell is an artist who sounds like he is recording his music while he is watching the sunrises and sunsets as they pass him by..." - Ultimate-Guitar.com
"...this is a more than accomplished debut and I'd certainly urge you to have a listen." - indie-mp3.co.uk
"...the guy is loaded with potential." - RetroLowFi.com
"It's called Less Talk, More Static. Sometimes I think the world should be more like that. His music is honest and personal. The world definitely needs to be more like that." - localvertical.blogspot.com
Debut album Less Talk, More Static is available now as a .zip file download - 320kbps mp3's, artwork & lyrics booklet - all free of charge:
Less Talk, More Static Track Listing:
1.............................................Home
2..........................................Tell Me
3.............................The End Begins
4............................Wasting My Days
5....................................Dark Matter
6.........................................Dissolve
7..........................................Waiting
8............................One Small Step
9............................................DSPS
two bit tapes isn't a real label. it "belongs" to my friend so i thought about releasing stuff to help her "label" out. i think i'm gonna release an EP on my own to see what happens. what are your plans?
Hi Andy, thanks for adding me. Your album is a great one!
Feel free to check out my music and let me know what you think. There are also two of my DJ mixes available for free download from the blog section on my page. I hope you'll enjoy them.
Well if the problem with the individual track ever gets resolve just let me know : )
and yeah, i remixed 3 or 4 of NIN tracks before they released the Year Zero Remix album and afterwards i did another 2 (i think). i looked up the radiohead thing as well but you have to pay 80p per track which i think is a bit shit and they're not a band i'm into anyway.
I'm not amazing at what i do, but i'm happy so guess that's all that counts! lol
oooooh, btw, if you have any banners let me know and i'll put them on some of my pages on myspace and whatnot!
Heya dude, thanks for accepting my friend request! At the moment i'm trying to get some more experience in doing remixes so if you fancy a remix for any of your songs, let me know and i'd be happy to attempt one for you!
Anyway, keep up the good work, your material is a lot better than mine! : )
So I'll probably feature a song in the player (downloadable as it is on your site...[which song do you want me to put up]) Also a link to your myspace/album download in the 'ant love collective's musicians' blog
The collective is not here to make money, it's here for you. It is you.
