#where is new album king? this one was 3yrs ago | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

altmusicfalkirk-blog · 6 years

Text

PAPER MACHINE MUSIC

Ex-Viva Stereo guitarist Rob McKinlay spoke to us about his amazing new project “Paper Machine Music” and his debut release “Glimpse”

GLIMPSE, YOUR FIRST SOLO ALBUM, TELL US ABOUT HOW THIS CAME TOGETHER?

I used to be in a band called Viva Stereo from 2002 – 2012, releasing four albums on our own Much Better Records label and gigged about the UK for most of those years. But life started 'getting in the way' with kids and partners and jobs and this led to 3 of the four of us moving away from Glasgow. At the end we were Glasgow, Edinburgh, Fort William and Leicester and it just became harder and harder to get together and write anything new. I've always written stuff in my own house on my own, and had some form of recording ability. Back in the day it was a 4 track porta studio with a C90 cassette. Then I made a move onto PC and Pro_Tools. Anyway, when the VS started to slowly fracture I kept recording my own stuff. Then three of us kept on as Gravity Waves with me moving onto drums. Aye, and that band never quite took off so I kept recording in my house up in Fort William and coming down to the Central belt less and less. And then around 2015 I realised that what I really wanted to do was a solo record as I had started to collect a bunch of tunes that I was getting precious about.

COULD YOU DESCRIBE THE MUSIC MAKING PROCESS?

As I have four kids the process now if a bit more rushed than it used to be! Back in my carefree days I could spend 4-6hrs a night 3-5 nights a week in my little studio tinkering, re-recording and remixing. I could spend 2-3 hrs just trying to get the right guitar tone or effect. Or play the same part with different guitars and set ups. But now, although I play a lot around the house, grabbing 20 minutes here and there to go over ideas, when it comes to recording it is a very quick and efficient process now. I'll know that I have a free weekend day coming up in two weeks time and then I will start to plan what I am going to record. And on the day its hit record and do 3 or 4 takes of each part and then move on. Cause I will record drums as well, or maybe a drum machine. Then during the next couple of weeks I'll bounce it down and stick it on my mp3 player and listen to it whilst I'm out with the dog. Thinking of bass lines, or other guitar parts. Then one night of a week i'll disappear into the studio whilst the kids are getting ready for bed and 'make a noise' as I call it for an hr and try some things out. The kids get bored hearing the same 30 part of a tune on a loop but hey, what are you going to do! And then in a couple of weeks time I'l try and grab another free weekend day and record what I have been thinking/playing and see if that works. And vocal wise I'll either start with an idea and build around it or get most of the music done and then try and get a melody later. Some tunes are harder than others/ Like 'the Iron Heel' with Paul Tierney from lonely Tourist. I had the tune pretty mush finished but I couldn't come up with a melody/words that I thought were any good so I farmed it out to him. And to Paul’s credit he turned it round and gave me my finished song in 3 wks!

YOU RECORDED 4 ALBUMS WITH VIVA STEREO, HOW DID THIS PROCESS DIFFER/COMPARE?

Si the VS albums were mostly recorded in Studios. Either Chem19 or the Diving Bell. These were done in concentrated bursts where we would do a fri-sun and know 90% of what we were going to record before we went in. The last album was done over about 20 days recording over 12 months. This Paper Machine Music album was 3yrs but with thinking/writing/recording/mixing/ tweaking and listening done almost continually! With PMM I did make it down to Chem19 for 1 day, to record drums with Gavin Brown (Onthefly) as I felt a couple of tunes needed a different feel. And a better drummer! I also got Derek O'Neill to play some keys/organ for me again to add something a little different. Derek also engineered and mixed the whole album for me at his 'Living Room' studio. Derek mixed the last Viva Stereo album, Endure the Dark, and I really enjoy working with him and totally trust his ear.

PAPER MACHINE MUSIC, WHERE DID THE NAME COME FROM?

The name came from mis-reading a translation of one of the first sound recording pieces of equipment invented. It was french and and from the late 1890's and they recorded onto paper. This was even before wax cylinders. I think the true translation is 'machine music on paper...'but I mis remembered it and Paper Machine Music came about. There is also an album by Lou Reed that is 45 minutes of feedback and drones call 'Metal machine Music'. I have never heard it but I always liked the shear 'fuck you-ness' of that sentiment.

YOU COLLABORATED WITH KING CREOSOTE & LONELY TOURIST ON GLIMPSE, WHO ELSE WOULD YOU LIKE TO COLLABORATE WITH?

There is a alt-country singer that I love called Courtney Tidwell who released two albums about 10 yrs ago. And then she had one album with Kurt Wagner from Lamchop, and then nothing... I have tried to find here on twitter so I can sheepishly 'approach' her and see if she is still doing any music but with out any luck. Try out her album called 'Boys'. The sound and tunes are just amazing. A bit of a slow burner but if its for you you will love it.

THE NEW ALBUM WAS HAND-MADE, EACH COVER SPRAY PAINTED AND STAMPED BY YOURSELF, HOW WAS THIS?

So I made 50 copies and the start of each process was fun, but see by number 24 of each stage I was cursing myself. I have to say that this was influenced by Gav at De-fence and the care and love that he always put into his releases. That and the fact that it seemed a little cheaper to do as much of it yourself as possible! I did love the reveal of each album once I had taped up the sleeve, spray painted it and then let it dry for a day. When you pull of the tape it is kind of cool. I made 50 and it was really hard to let go of about 20 of them because I wanted to keep them all!

ARE YOU PLANNING ON ANY LIVE SHOWS?

Yes. I'm getting a band together and will be playing the following shows in March 2019. I've also got Lonely Tourist suckered in to coming on the three date 'tour' as well, which I am chuffed about. As yet I can't confirm who will be the third band/act but it will be sorted soon.

Fri 1st March – Roobarb, Fort William

Sat 2nd March - 13th Note, Glasgow

Sun 3rd March – The Wee Red Bar, Edinburgh

“Glimpse” is available now form https://papermachinemusic.bandcamp.com/album/glimpse You can view current single ‘15 years’ on Youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbV30bz7-og

and on Soundcloud here: https://soundcloud.com/papermachinemusic/15-years

#papermachinemusic

0 notes