31/10/2009

the loft bar, october 30, 2009

I was dubious, but then I'm always dubious. I am not a fan of Halloween and neither, really, is Telafonica. I thought Adrian was just being easy and saying "yes" to the gig because he has a never-say-no policy. Two things you can always count on in Telafonica - I am always dubious and Adrian always knows better. For real. No cyncism attached.



The venue was lovely, the stage was just the right size, the people were great - both the organisers and the audience. Fantastic even! Subsketch and Deadbeats were amazing to watch. Ellie's immediate response to their very articulate flow of speech was, "And WE have trouble remembering OUR words!"
We played our songs straight off our upcoming album "Love on the Second Stair" and it was well received. I felt that our playing was very relaxed and natural. It's the first gig where I personally didn't feel like it was hard work. It was really fun!
Some exciting features of the evening: Plan 9 From Outer Space was projected to the side of the stage while we played; Telafonica got to try out some of our own facial art design; our newly acquired and very jaunty sailor hats got an airing and provoked a pleasing giggle; we played Blake's very heavenly "Time to Move the Nest" which started with a hush and ended with a roar; it was nice to meet Tim the barman who loved the typewriter in Belafonte so much that he took a photo and sent it to his friend; we discovered on the way home the simple pleasure of guessing when the toll booth would beep (another reason I love my Telafonifriends so much).





Unbearable disappointment of the evening - LaZiko's was packed so we had to pass up on our usual joy-filled ispinakli and dolmades!
I can't tell you how excited we all are about playing at Mars Hill, November 14! After playing the rest of our gigs in and around the Sydney CBD, it's going to be like having everyone over to our place. And North Parramatta is a lovely place to spend the evening celebrating Telafonica's tenth birthday!

Anyway, here's the set list for the loft bar gig:

I Can't Make You Love Me
Smells Like Rain
But I Lose Myself
The Quest for Love Aboard the Belafonte
Cover
Time to Move the Nest
Don't Speak for Me
The Separation...

28/10/2009

20th august, 2009



The 20th Project is when artists write and record an entirely new piece of music in a single day (the 20th of the month) without any preparation beforehand or editing afterwards. For more information on the 20th Project, visit Cabinet Pin.
_____________________________________________
released august, 2009

Bec wrote some words and said, 'I want it to be like a punk song'. By Telafonica? Not quite my strong point, but we gave it a shot. Bec had a melody ready to go, so we worked out some chords and went for it. After a first attempt at doing it, Bec said "It needs to be faster". So faster it became. In hindsight now, i think it could go even faster, so look out for the new improved version on an album some time before 2013.

For now, one and a half minutes of noisy pop, done. There's just a drum beat, a guitar, a synth bass and some singing. And it's going to be a new favourite.

The actual 20th disc that the track finished up on includes the following tracks:

1. Dr M - RainBoat
2. As Bright As It's Going To Get - Baron Von Winchester III
3. Kitchen Kit - The Lost Eyes
4. You're Everything - Vlayman
5. Muchidocco - RainBoat
6. Oceanario - Merankorii
7. Dreams Of Dreams - WRC
8. Song For The Broken-Hearted Whale - The Desks
9. Killing People - +ko+ko+
10. The Unravelling Man - Telafonica
11. Scmoo - Bag


video



steve came over for dinner last night before heading back to london today. so we thought we'd get something useful for telafonica out of his ever expanding and otherwise unused bank of great ideas. he had an idea for a film clip which involves filming someone setting up a drum kit for the duration of the clip. we nutted it out a bit and ended with the idea that we'd make it for 'i can't make you love me'. we get isaac ledley to star in the clip, which would involve starting out seeing a drumkit in pieces in shot, then it gets set up by isaac over the duration of the song. as the song reaches its climax he sets down, prepares mentally, then hits his drums once on the last beat of the song. over the course of the 3 and a half minutes, at one point he will be talked to by someone off camera and look over toward them, and at another point, someone will cross the screen unrolling a cable. that's pretty much it. all in one take (my favourite type of video).

we even did a storyboard to see how to frame it, which you can see. the timeline of events is across the top. as usual, click on the image to see a larger version.

24/10/2009

the north wind

blake, have you done anything with the christmas song that bec wants us to do? i have a nice rhythm track that i quite like, but can't work out anything nice and atmospheric for the music. do you have a chord structure at all? i've got it happening in g at the moment. i quite like the melody, and since there's only 2 verses, i'm not completely convinced we need to change the melody, but a darker chord structure underneath would probably do the trick. the rhythm i have is a lot slower than any recording of it i've heard before.

david, would you be interested in recycling your old christmas desktop images? i had a thought that it might be nice to put your old christmas desktops as bonus things on our christmas giveaway cds this year. or new ones.

lost at e minor

the greatest art/design/culture blog on the internet - lost at e minor - has added the quest for love aboard the belafonte to their music download section. i have to say, i'm pretty excited about it! i've followed the blog religiously for about 4 or 5 years now (i find lots of great stuff there to use in my art classes, or to pass to specific students for inspiration, as well as for myself in art, design, music etc etc) - it's probably the only blog i've kept up with for that long. so to be included on it is wonderful. if you go to www.lostateminor.com and look at the third column (the one which always stays as is even when the rest of the blog kind of rolls on) you'll find the track listed in the music download section.

23/10/2009

artwork just in

i just received these files from david - his e-mail comments attached (click on each image to see a larger version). the more feedback, the better...








>Here's where I'm up to with the artwork.
Cover, poster 2 sides and a back cover (this is the roughest of them at this stage)

I'm not totally set on the best image for the top of poster side B. Could be nice to bring in some further photography. Could also think about some further imagery on Side A- I'm pondering that as we speak.

Also not set on the use of blue - but I do like the moodiness of it. You may prefer orange :) Would it cost more to have a variety?

On the subject of colour - I thought it might be nice to do the telafonica logo stamp in some coloured ink if you have some.

Did you talk about the files with them at all? Are you taking files or printouts? I wasn't sure if I should provide separate artwork files for each colour or not... Are you printing on A3 paper? Or trimming down from larger sheets. At this stage the posted design does not include any bleed off the edge of the paper.

Not totally sure how the overprint will go between the two colours as well...

anyhoo - let me know your thoughts.

21/10/2009

a picture

i thought the page needed a new image as the lyrics pushed all the old ones way down. how great are these drawings? a slap in the face for anyone who still believes graffiti is evil and defaces the visual environment.



more of her stuff here.

19/10/2009

radio killed the video star

we have an opportunity to go on to fbi on the 14th of november to plug the album/launch. only issue is that it's at 3:30, which has the potential to conflict with actually setting up for the gig, by the time we get back due to parramatta rd traffic on a saturday. the week before on the saturday is not available. the other option may be to go in to one of the morning programs during the week before. that would probably rule me out, but if at least two of you could do it, that could possibly be the best option - it's when the audience is at its largest. eliza and blake - do you know what dates you have exams on?

i need to let them know tomorrow (tuesday) so if you could let me know what you all think the best option might be, that would be excellent.

parades remixes

blake, parades would like their remixes by thursday. how's it going? i think i'm going ok with yours, but i'm having trouble telling if i'm improving it in any way.

soundclash again

ok. so the next round of soundclash funding applications is open. i'm going to give it another go. the only difference is that this time, i think we need a specific project in mind. the only restrictions we have is that it can't be for the costs of cd release or costs of international touring. my first thought might be to look into some australian touring costs, but i'm not sure. it really would be good to have something that is groundbreaking in some way in itself, alongside the music we make. maybe even organising some sort of residency set up for ourselves. actually, that gives me an idea - blacktown city art gallery...

ideas anyone....?????

if you go to http://www.australiacouncil.gov.au/grants/amr/music/music_-_soundclash_2009 you can see a list of everything that received funding this time around. a surprising number of friends are on the list - seekae and underlapper, charles du caine, nic wilson (head of clan analogue in melbourne).

love on the second stair liner notes

here are all the lyrics for the album, plus track listing, credits etc. i feel like i've left stuff out in the credits department, but can't think of anything specific. does anyone wish to have anything else included? i've included a thanks to cabinet pin and the 20th project since it's been fairly pivotal - is there anything else we should credit? David, I'm not sure how you want to credit yourself in the artwork - whether by your own name, kind permission, parc, telafonica, whatever...feel free to use whichever you would prefer - i've left it blank at the moment.

4-4-2 Music
442-016
Telafonica
Love On The Second Stair

1. I Can't Make You Love Me
2. Smells Like Rain
3. But I Lose Myself
4. The Quest For Love Aboard The Belafonte
5. Æowyn And The Absolute Truth
6. Cover
7. Time To Move The Nest
8. Don't Speak For Me
9. The Separation Prepared This For Another Marriage

All songs written, performed and produced by Telafonica

Castañelas on I Can't Make You Love Me and Don't Speak For Me by Vanessa Caratala Pastor

Artwork by .........

Special thanks to Jeff at Cabinet Pin Records and the 20th Project - many of these tracks started life on the 20th of one month or other.

http://www.4-4-2music.com
http://www.telafonica.com



I Can't Make You Love Me

I can't make you love me but I can show you how I feel
I can't make you want me but I can listen to you
I can't make you tell me but I can stumble in your pain

I can't make you show me but I can see it anyway
I can't make it plainer but you can still run away
I can't make you answer but I can keep on asking why

In the quietness of your heart

I can't make you notice but I can do all things for you
I can't turn the darkness off but I can light up all the truth
I can't wait forever but I can give you enough time

I can't do any more for you than give myself away
And you can realise all this and still you turn away
And with everything that I do it's ultimately your say

But/Because I can't make you love me


Smells Like Rain

And it smells like rain and kingdoms fall
And Spring has come and there are sounds of war
And dust will rise and a man will crawl
Just to deny he has a soul

Look into the beauty of rust as it recovers the steel
The grass through the cracks in the pavement
Look into the storm clouds coming in grey and in green
And tell me that you're still in control

Because I don't want to live my life in shadow and in ignorance
You cannot convince me, just look into the detail
The light is there when we begin, shows the beauty in everything
And Reason has its limits, just look into the details


But I Lose Myself

Hello! Hello! Can you hear my soul?
I’ve had enough of my reflection, can you make me whole?
You know I’ve seen so many cracks
Maybe I’ve done too many things to ever go back

I heard a sound, a steaming train
And I feel I’ll never ride that beat again.
Ah mercy me while I’m in this hell
I can save up for a rainy day but I lose myself

I liked the way that he said my name
If I knew then what I know now I’d prob’ly do the same
Hello! Hello! Can you find my heart?
Can you reconnect all the pieces that I’ve ripped apart?

It all tasted good and I felt so sure
That the stuff that I had done was never done before
Ah mercy me while I’m in this hell
I can save up for a rainy day but I lose myself



The Quest For Love Aboard The Belafonte

Once I sailed ‘cross the sea
Love was waiting for me
Then my ship ran aground
(Hadn’t left the harbour)
Found a far safer boat
Braved the sea once again
Stormy weather prevailed
Found it tricky to float

If love is waiting across the sea
There’s no hope for me

Once I sailed ‘round the world
Cairo, Paris and Rome
Saw all the sights I could see
‘Til I ran out of money
Met a tall, foreign man
Very good at talking
Found a job, feeling good
(He took all my money)

If love is found in a love affair
Love’s not anywhere
If love’s not down at the market square
It’s not anywhere

If love’s not down at the market square
It’s not anywhere
If love’s not there on the second stair
It’s not anywhere
If love’s not part of the wear and tear
It’s not anywhere
If love is chasing me everywhere



Æowyn And The Absolute Truth

You push play
And the truth spills out of your room
'Til it fills up our house
And it fills up our hearts
All the holes disappear
And you dance

All of the sounds
Tiptoe and sway
'Til they’re waltzing about
And they’re carried
And the hope that was hidden
Soon comes out to play
And you dance

Outside is darkness
Inside is light
Nothing is lost
There are no tears tonight
Truth shakes the floorboards
Love pumps through the pipes
Joy rushes in sound waves
Around us

Your voice in the midst
Is colour and warmth
It calls out my heart
And it calls out my voice
It calls to me always
“Come and dance”
And you dance


Cover

The end of all things is near
Come here my friend, come over here
This love is deep enough to cover
All your slings and arrows

The blow comes swift
It takes my breath
But I’d do it again

The road goes back
Through winding ways
I would go there again

The view from here
Is a fiery red
And the thoughts that force themselves
Into my head
Are of lingering doubt
And a nagging dread
But I will go
I will go there with you


Time To Move The Nest

The eagle sees fit to move the nest away
In this understanding, I am tackled by the well wishes of those who would no longer be the ones to continue those well wishes

Winds and rains guide the flight
They sustain the contentment realised in commanded movement

I am assured that this is the good way


Don't Speak For Me

Wrong time, wrong place
Wrong god, wrong head space
Don’t speak for me

Two souls in one suit
Don’t fit won’t sell
I have one heart
Don’t speak for me

All roads do not lead home
All roads do not lead home
The truth is not unknown
All roads do not lead home


The Separation Prepared This For Another Marriage

I am the hold, I am the hem
I will unleash when I want to
You scale me down or simplify
I’ll still take on the punches for you

I take the best of all I am
I hang it out like a banner to dry
You tear it down, a parting shot
Your dog will sleep in it tonight

Love, I cannot make
You love and I cannot make

I see your face, I see the lines
The rise and fall of each lungful of air
Remember when I said, ‘Anything. Any way at all.’

Love, I cannot make
You love and I cannot make
You love and I will not make
You love me

18/10/2009

lyrics

ok, you sluggards! in need all those lyrics.
yesterday.
otherwise, i'll try and transcribe them myself, and i can't promise there won't be any hens in there amongst them all!!!!

15/10/2009

telafonica au naturale

i've always wanted to do this and finally got around to doing it. if you click on the image it will take you to a larger version. for the record, all the photos were taken in the (extensive) backyard of bec's brother's house in wee waa.

croatia in newcastle

would we be interested in heading up to newcastle on friday, november 6 for a gig at the croatian in newcastle? it's being organised by chris from alps (he's also playing at it) and he's asked if we'd be interested. it would involve about an hour and a half drive each way - so we may need to take work considerations into account (ellie). i'm personally starting to get itchy feet and want to play in other places, so i'm enthusiastic, but know that there's other issues which may mean we can't, though.

eigenharp

i've seen the future. only problem is it costs about $7000. there is a very stripped down $500 version as well, but i don't know that there's much point in that, really.

p.s. the demo is filmed in air studios which is the studio pink floyd built in the 70s - nice looking place.

13/10/2009

re: love on the second stair

in one of the final sections of 'aeowyn and the absolute truth,' there is a vocal take that sounds a little out (but besides that, the track sounds great with all the new vocals, which i hadn't previously heard)

i am not convinced by every note in the 'i can't make you love me' guitar riff. maybe you can do some chopping to make it sound less straight? unless you like it as it is... (i am really liking the whole song though. it works great as an intro i think.)

i really like the flow of the tracks. our chorus vocals sound quite good i think.

i have listened through the album, up to 'cover'

----

now i've finished the listen
i don't really have any more suggestions at the moment

03/10/2009

album artwork/packaging

david sent me a link to this printing place in st peters called rizzeria. basically, they use risograph technology to do their printing. which may not mean a whole lot to you younglings, but when i was in infants school, pre-photocopiers, the biggest thrill you could get was to be asked by the teacher to take their handwritten sheet of paper up to the front office so that the ladies there could run it through their riso to make stencils for the whole class. so then you got to watch them load it into the machine and wind the drum around which made duplicates in wonderful purple ink. if it was really your lucky day, the office ladies might even let you go over and wind the machine yourself. but i digress...

risograph technology, i have just found out, has not actually died out, but has developed alongside photocopiers, though on a much less ubiquitous scale. and it's these new machines that the rizzeria seems to be running with. none-the-less, it is a very economical option for us, and offers up some interesting creative options and so david's design for the album packaging is going to be aimed at using it.

one thing i need in the next few days is lyrics for all the tracks on the album. the ones i've written i can do (of course) but the lyrics the rest of you have written, could you please type them up, proof read them and send them to me so i can compile them all together and send to david? also, anything you would like to have included in the liner notes - credits etc, please send them to me as well.

the last question that has come to me is whether the album should be called 'love on the second stair' or 'love on the 2nd stair'? i don't really have a preference myself, but i think its probably important to resolve it.