A Hi-Hat Full Of Cheesecake

Two weeks have past. Three practices, one Mercury show, a drum recording and a long overdue blog. While being a very busy fortnight we were bombarded by chocolate muffins, doughnuts, cheesecake and beer to up our sugar levels and help us with our challenging ways.

First practice: a pre show practice. Having decided on a set for the upcoming show with Isochronous at Mercury that Friday, we were on our way. As it turns out we made a great choice as we had an incredible show. Along with having great sound and lighting, we filmed and recorded our performance (in 360 degrees) for your pleasure, which should be released in the not too distant future. Thank you to those who came through. (See if you can spot yourself in the photo)

After all was said and done it was back to recording drums at our friends, Stefan Wyeth and Liz Vogt, for two of our newest songs, The Fear and Sophie (Thanks to Antonio Manuel from Gandalfs/ROAR for lending us some microphones). Wooden floors, tall ceilings, tea, hotdogs and a microphone in the hall way, not much more a drummer could want. An update will be on its way soon.

Having played the show and gotten the drum tracks recorded it was time to start working on three new songs that we had been practicing over the past couple of weeks. Some new challenges and a slight shift in direction. With my own crib notes, cell phone recordings and a one mic recording I knew I had no excuse to mess it up, but alas I was incorrect. Luckily with the help of the guys and the above mentioned sweets and chocolates we were able to work through all three and they should be done really soon. Although the songs all sound really great, Tributaries is starting to become a new favourite of mine, but that is for you to find out..

Hope to see you all at our next show in Stellenbosch, this Saturday 31 July at Aandklas with Versus The Wolf and The Pinkerton

Much love

SGJ

Wodin's Day Practise and The Bar One Stone

Well first of all. Steve picked Nic and I up and we arrived a little early outside Kill City Blues. We were kindly verbally accosted by the drunk bergie and then were kindly let in to the practice rooms. Phew!

Discussions for a setlist this Friday at Mercury with Isochronous was a serious matter of contention. But a meaty set was furiously whipped up.

We also discussed recording drums on Thursday and Friday with our friend Stefan Wyeth in a wooden-floored room in our friend’s Observatory house. Which is sounding very cool apparently.

Then Nic Rixx came in to say hi. And then Steve’s packet of chips fell over. And I was sad. Because I love chips.



The Bar One Stone



I believe certain objects adopt you. I believe they find you and assist you with work or annoy you or just give you some sympathy. When we were recording A Signal Path in 2008, the Bar One Stone found me and helped me.

It was an ungainly looking geological nugget. It resembled a Bar One chocolate bar. Or rather the last bite left of one. There was a stoney toffee centre enveloped in an obsidian dark chocolate.

When we started recording I built a little coccoon in the RockitDog Studios with some black sheets and black bags. All the while I was behind that microphone I was clutching the Bar One Stone. It supported me... grounded me.

Alas the Bar One Stone has since left me to give someone else the support it so expertly gives out. I enjoyed our time together and thank it for it's support.

Soon My Pretties, Soon...

Some of you know that we've been working on new music at Kill City Blues rehearsal studios. And some of you have asked us over a beer or two at our shows about any upcoming releases.

And we have good news: Yes, there will be releases in the near future. We are in the preparatory stages of working with acclaimed Cape Town producer Dirk Hugo, who has worked with some of South Africa's freshest artists, like Blk Jks, Righard Kapp and Benguela. Sonically our work with Hugo is leaning towards the experimental and cinematic.

At the same time our friend, the talented sound engineer Stefan Wyeth will assist us in recording some of the songs we’ve written since our first album, A Signal Path. These will be produced by our own talented Nicolai Roos.

In other news, as you may know, our bassist Jordi Reddy sadly departed from The Sleepers camp last year to finish his Phd in Bio-Mechanical Engineering - but you can still catch him with his awesome band Anaphys. His replacement, our high-school friend Chris Truter, has filled Jordi's very large 30Hz shoes and he really shines on the newer tracks.

All in all the new songs are firming and strengthening some areas The Sleepers have explored as well as excavating newer pastures. We are mining those hills!

Simon

The Sleepers

Rehearsal Diary #0

Wednesday 30th June -

Final set of secret instrumental rehearsals surrounding new material.

Ploughed through a belcher of an anthem from the quill of Adam. The kind of song you'd play while watching a mammoth gore and puncture a giant metal swan filled with toxic waste. Sign your pain waivers now.

We also began working on another great exotic and dusty composition from Nicolai, freshly arranged and extended by Adam and myself. Steve ended up turning the tables on us, being the only one capable of handling it's intricate opening rhythm so far.. which is not supposed to happen!

The Sleepers Posters

Hello Friends,

Many people have asked where they could get prints of The Sleepers posters from some of our shows. Well, the good news is that you can look at them all here.

Email us to order prints at A4 / A3 or A2. (Some posters won't be available at A2)

More exciting and limited merchandise to follow in the future.

I leave you with the poster for our next show with Isochronous.

See you there.

Look what I found in a lost folder...

- simon