THE THIRD STUDIO IN THE WORLD (2):
Entering the house we were led up to the third studio in
the world, built in a converted bedroom festooned in chocolate quilts,
a sepia fourposter structure, a mediaeval throne room.
“We’ve had a full band in here” beamed the engineer.
“Set the drums up right there in the bay”
Him & the Guru went back a long way, a history of recorded works from
album demos to comedy sketches, an expansive library of programs written
for radio but never pitched – legend to their closest friends.
The song I was there to record was written for a BBC schools competition,
something to do with ‘Help the Homeless’. I didn’t know anyone homeless,
had no life experiences to use as lyrics, so wrote about what I saw
watching the cherry orchards our town was famous for were ripped up for
new housing estates.
“If it’s for the BBC, it has to be good, quality is important”
said the Guru, settling back in a corner seat, becoming the producer.
‘A Greenery Park
And the sound of a Lark
In a nearby tree
Are Drownded out
By moving earth
And a JCB
The Green Belt’s cut back every day
Just so the Architect can get his pay
Just so that we can see the day
When there’s no more country’
It went down in one. The pastel Ford dropped me off, I floated down the
road, skipped into the kitchen grinning, clutching a box with my name on
it & song I couldn’t play to anyone.
(K)
Karl Hyde 
Hey Karl,
I want you too tell me stories about the olden days of your band. I want to hear more about Rick Smith as a young man, and his electronic studies, what he’s like and what drew him to your band. I love what you started writing a few days ago. Would you Please write more about this stuff? Pretty Please? It would make me so happy.
Also, I really want to learn about all of your fascinating equipment and musical instruments and the vocoder, and what exactly you guys are doing with it, and about your music-, lyric-, and song-writing process. I’m very interested in this and I’d love to hear about it.
Sometimes I watch you and Rick and the extraordinary things you guys do, and I stand hear completely in Awe, saying “Oh My God! You are just SOOOOO BEAUTIFUL!!! My Most Adorable Soul Brothers Eye Must Know You Forever” There’s all these cool little things about you guys that I notice and love. I See & Notice lots of Amazing Symbolism in your Art that I find very meaningful. Sometimes I even want to believe that you’re sending out cool little Mystical Messages to me. I Absolutely Love it. Please.continue expressing yourself & tell me more.
Much Love from your Dear Friend and Secret Admirer, Cari
something to do with…
Thank God you finished school! 🙂
I love your talent just as it is.
You and your mate are one of those few who can look around and see beyond things and have the ability to turn it into beautiful words and tones. Like that glittering water sound in Scribble with the “You give me everything I need”.
Love
/Andrea
Digging Edgeland; reminds of early Underworld stuff. Admittedly, I’m more drawn to the recent ‘sound’ of Underworld though. All ’round, good stuff.