Surrounded by storm sea surges, snow sprinklings and a panic winter press sensationalism. I’ve sat in my little music cave Claudsville Studios. With some instrumental ‘rumpy pumpy’ the first of my new born kids being dropped off at the pool is Mantaray. This embryonic adventure into haunting piano and loops, Fender guitar expelling mellow cries into the night air for alternative progression on this track. With recording equipment situated on my old Reiki treatment couch (for the vibes) I sat in the glow of a salt lamp with a Crassula Ovata (money plant) for company, while the love of my life slept in the next room. As she stirred in slumber, she believed she was sweet dreaming, listening to my early morning vocal take yawns, harmonies and lyric editing as I progressed. With an oceanic theme around rescue. The song explores the burden of love. A song that arouses from the deep blue ocean then grabs souls with its undertow. This track is number 1 of a new solo album in progress. I’ll add each song as they unfold. Under the Stephen Fry inspired working title of ‘Babbling Merchant of Drivel’ progress is inspired in a Rue Morgue kind of way.
I’m currently in the middle of recording Strange Currencies album ‘Making Monsters’ So it a very musically indulgent time. Pretty darn cool actually. I’ve spent the last 2 evening sessions suffering low mood and red light fever recording the acoustic guitar parts for ‘Stay Down Kid.’ My one take wonders rule left me for dust! With cats jumping all over the studio during takes, and sore fingers. I’m hoping next weeks session will tell a different story. Luckily the swearing flowed like warm pee then the boiling hormonal blood ran free and with a little assistance from some garnet gemstone in my shorts pocket. I kind of nailed it last night. We had recorded a live version to work to. PP Johnson liked his live vocals. So as I’ve just D.I.’d the acoustic. I’ve had to overdub it and mic my trusty ‘Taylor’ up. A song that has been played loads live with my eyes closed… Well.. maybe I should have swapped mugs of tea and vitamin water for Rum. But I think its kind of there ready for mix and master. As this album evolves.. getting the right balance of ballad, funky, poptarty, dirty, distorted and hints of country. Even though I know it will work out great in the end. I learn Logic Pro X as I go. The January blues will depart and be looked upon kindly as a productive time in the darkness.
Whispers on the waves of silence I sensed the love in buoyance In the eye of a hurricane Our ship sails for America A vortex where the renegade goes This riptide rides the ebb and flow Chorus Jettison flames This cargo is killing me Mantaray Set me free Verse 2 Those that inspire me, desire me I’m certain of the dance Lethal switchblades and urban food chains Bridge The world lights up and jettisons The embers burned you, The embers burned you, The embers burned you,
Chorus
Verse 3 I buried myself in the Earth To seek what it was worth I carried strength and faith around Buried scars and saviours I quit the bad behaviours I stopped this drowning before it took you down
Released January 9, 2017
Written, performed and recorded by Claudine West 2017
Oh yes we made it! The mid-season break for us is the opposite of a writers strike. With a 2 week break over the holidays and New Year. 2016 had killed my Banjo. (A new Hercules triple whammy guitar stand purchased for out of its case protection) catching up with sleep, countless games of drunken ‘New market’ and ‘Cards Against Humanity’ and indulging the sick horror of human nature when prompted. Arse sitting whisky a go go was a luxury. When the over indulgence ended and the toilet rolls depleted, the detoxes began. Armed with a Garnet stone for creativity. 2 New Age albums ready to go in 2017. I began more work on the backing tracks for the new album. Plans as of this blog are: Making Monsters by Strange Currencies. It’s useful to lock ‘oneself’ away during the darkened months. I don’t get ‘SAD’ I get ‘Gutted’ =’ Godforsaken Unadulterated Traumatic Tedious Exhausting Darkness’
Pumped up with extra vitamin D complexities. Strange algae and red berry concoctions downed inspired by some doctor on my face book feed turned. Ones PP into rainbow bright droplets of strange waz. After a fleeting though of knowing now what I didn’t then ‘should I have not done ‘normal’ day jobs and dedicated myself to music full time when younger with gigging. Not drank, smoked, got stoned and let my shyness and rage rule too much.’ But then again I wrote and recorded loads. https://bogwoppit.bandcamp.com/ So not time wasted. But you see now. As my only left addictions to crisps and chocolate fade after getting some dietitian help. I looked at my video reflection on facetime last night and thought no no NO!
I’d hoped for a quiet return to the day job into 2017. https://strangecu.wordpress.com/2016/12/13/into-2017-strange-currencies/ This was marred by it not being quiet. Organised chaos where everybody pulls out the stops to help out. I like my NHS job. It is rewarding when you can help make a difference….. and never boring. I might ache from running about miles of corridors after ‘slothing’ on my hols. Regret purchasing the ‘on sale’ £21 walking shoes that basically shit. I’ll stick to my Nikes and shoes for office/ meeting days. Luckily my trouser still button up and I can bend over without splitting my britches!
I regress… So plans in motion for a video for American Saviour. Really.. Really soon. The album is taking shape over evenings and weekends. Got some late January gigs with Strange Currencies. The 30 min set has been chopped and honed. Last year we tested various songs; have buried the ones that got less reaction from the people ignoring us on stage. We’ve got a set that we like playing more now.
Big thank you to Andrew Neil for some inspiring advice and opportunities via his Facebook feeds.
We’ve had a lot of fun on Acacia Radiohttp://acaciaradioaw.weebly.com/Big thanks to Ian Hales, Shaun and Lucas Jackson. Interviews and live songs without swearing of to many FCUK ups. I even shocked myself doing Xmas songs with enthusiasm. I was even in a good mood and excited! Little Donkey and Jingle Bells all the way baby! https://www.facebook.com/strangecu/videos/1136161273172057/
The last time I dressed as Santa ended up being my last gig. I quit the band that I’d cofounded and put so much creative effort into a decade earlier. So the curse of Xmas jumpers… Only time will tell 😉 Jesus seriously doesn’t want me for a sunbeam.
Doing the amount of gigs we did from July 2016 https://strangecu.wordpress.com/gigs/ (as well as a full time day job and recording an EP.) At times the enthusiasm to play live after a long day was hard, tempers were tested, moods low. Well there were times when I just wanted to walk away and quit. As did PP Johnson. But. Then we’d have a good gig. The bad gigs when we played to the bar staff or crowds with their back to us were atypical of the growing expectation for musicians in the wrong venues to be background noise or karaoke with a guitar. There were nights after a long day I was tired and questioning, full of PMT and just want to cozy up with the Walking Dead. Resilience gets one through. The drive to achieve and surprise myself is strong like the force. My strumming fingernail has still not recovered and I’ve had to resort to more plectrum usage when used to my usual finger picking style. Evolving….
I love technology. Xmas also produced make over app fun! (My zombify pictures of Ange over xmas didn’t go down too well!) But putting her Dad who had fallen asleep and provided an opportunity… Alan in make up and wigs did!
Then I went blond
Then we went to Harry Potter World
The end…..of 2016
Into 2017…
Onto the album Making Monsters
I’ve just bought a £23 self-assembly blues cigar guitar. I’ll be indulging along with the sitar to use on recordings this year. It’s very easy to get caught up with loops when in studio. American Saviour began as a mess about around the punch line. ‘Ride The Pony’ That Ange (My Wifey) and I were going to do for a piss take. We have some tracks nearly ready such as ‘Stay Down Kid.’ Originally a riff from one of my own ‘Sonic World’ reworked. I’m quite excited about Gypsy Disco. In Your World is a loopy starter for ten. The first batch is nearly there for final vocal takes. ‘This Girl’ is a haunting piano ballad. ‘Automatic’ is currently a bone of contention. The song ‘Making Monsters’ is near. There is a new song ‘Mantaray’ that I’ve done some vocals on. This may end up on my next solo ‘Claudine West’ album though. There is a duet under the working title ‘Twosome’ about to be written. I’ve initially recorded a backing track and submitted some lyrics and concept ideas that may well be scrapped. I imagined a dark ‘Islands in the Stream’ around obsession and blame, about a lover and bit of a motherFCUKer that loses the plot and murders the man she is having an affair with. We will see what the next few months produce. PP Johnson has been producing lyrics and ideas. I do love the writing and recording process. Big Thanks again to Angela Barker. Who organises, manages, drives, rodies, networks, gets the sh1t, gets the drinks at the bar and much more. We are not easy Divas 😉
We spend the end of 2016 watching the winter sun setting in Portsmouth. Its rather lovely sat on a beach with a cup of tea readying for new musical adventures…
Welcome to the flood…When the molten core of a sublime energy is explored. With the energy that flows through a conduit from Heaven and Earth. Bliss…and …well being create a beautiful sky of oranges, blues, purples. That Zen moment when worlds collide. The physical and metaphysical, emotional and spiritual. When one exists in peace, safety, purity and decisive thought. No longer a traveller along the rivers of blood that the world created many seasons ago. In a time before a time. With a trigger of recognition and fortitude. The formative years flash forward into a rainbow of light. Do you now sink back and become the absorbed kin that always was? Feel comfort and gratitude for the visions that present themselves. Or fly on the magic carpet of good vibrations? Where it’s a happening or a happened. Enjoy, deal and deliver yourself. Sometimes you don’t need pictures, you just need sounds. You are the audience to yourself.
I channelled Ki Energy last night. I lit my salt lamps up and treated a friend to a Reiki Session. (I had begun channelling before I studied Reiki techniques) I’d not practised in a while- well only during the writing and recording process. It felt great. I wrote the music I made for this kind of adventure. Last night I put them both together and road tested. Track ‘Raphael’s Healing’ definitely did the trick as I worked on her Chakras. It’s a raise in key as well as vibrations.
Bit of Trivia: The beginning of ‘Ariel’ there is a clip of owls in the woods. I recorded this one night on my phone when we were staying in a log cabin in Somerset this year. (We travelled around Dorset and Devon exploring)
Angels are always invited and assist. In 2016 I released the albums ‘Citadel’ and ‘Archangel Divination.’ It’s been a creative journey. Under ‘Earth Tree Healing.’ 2017 will see the release on digital stores of the Guided Meditation album ‘The Journey’ featuring Sally Wathen at Rainbow Bridge.
Then ‘Archangel Divination 2’
Close your eyes, open your heart and mind and listen.
I made this journey in 2016. Connecting with Angels. Channelling feelings, energy, wisdom. Their insights into a beautiful realm, earthbound, skywards. The heavenly vibrations. As a composer I meditated and let the notes and beauty of this work simply flow. My intentions are for you the listener to experience a blissful soundscape that enables connection, divine messages, relaxation and healing. Enjoy – Claudine West 2016
Available on digital stores inc. Spotify, Deezer, Amazon.
Angels surround us. Watch upon us. Protect, advise, comfort. When I call upon Archangels. I sit, I close my eyes, I meditate. I dream, I see. I feel safe. I ask, I see answers. Music helps channel, music inspires, music unlocks. Music is creation and makes vibrations. When you receive messages and experience Divine beauty and guidance. Through your own belief system. You can access when you simply ask for help and guidance. Tap into the important messages. Enjoy.
Archangel Gabriel: Ask for guidance and messages, communication. Helps you to understand a situation.
Archangel Raphael: Ask for healing of your mind, body and spirit.
3. Raphael’s Healing – Earth Tree Healing (ISRC: TCACR1699800)
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Archangel Uriel: Ask for illumination, insight, wisdom and information.
4. Uriel’s Illuminations – Earth Tree Healing (ISRC: TCACS1641924)
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Archangel Raguel: Ask for help with relationships, harmony, resolution of issues and problems. Empowerment to gain justice with a situation.
5. Raguel – Earth Tree Healing (ISRC: TCACS1642006)
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Archangel Ramiel: (Aka Jeremiel) – Ask Ramiel to show you divine visions. experience hope and dreams. Find your way and new ways to pave your future path.
6. Ramiel’s Divine Visions – Earth Tree Healing (ISRC: TCACS1642015)
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Archangel Azrael: Ask for help with Grief,Support with loss and comfort.
7. Azrael – Earth Tree Healing (ISRC: TCACS1655029)
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8.Archangel Michael’s Protection (Reprise) – Earth Tree Healing(ISRC: TCACS1683926)
I made this journey in 2016. Connecting with Angels. Channelling feelings, energy, wisdom. Their insights into a beautiful realm, earthbound, skywards. The heavenly vibrations. As a composer I meditated and let the notes and beauty of this work simply flow. My intentions are for you the listener to experience a blissful soundscape that enables connection, divine messages, relaxation and healing. Enjoy – Claudine West 2016
Available on digital stores inc. Spotify, Deezer, Amazon.
Angels surround us. Watch upon us. Protect, advise, comfort. When I call upon Archangels. I sit, I close my eyes, I meditate. I dream, I see. I feel safe. I ask, I see answers. Music helps channel, music inspires, music unlocks. Music is creation and makes vibrations. When you receive messages and experience divine beauty and guidance. Through your own belief system. You can access when you simply ask for help and guidance. Tap into the important messages. Enjoy.
Archangel Gabriel: Ask for guidance and messages, communication. Helps you to understand a situation.
Archangel Raphael: Ask for healing of your mind, body and spirit.
3. Raphael’s Healing – Earth Tree Healing (ISRC: TCACR1699800)
—————————————————–
Archangel Uriel: Ask for illumination, insight, wisdom and information.
4. Uriel’s Illuminations – Earth Tree Healing (ISRC: TCACS1641924)
——————————————————-
Archangel Raguel: Ask for help with relationships, harmony, resolution of issues and problems. Empowerment to gain justice with a situation.
5. Raguel – Earth Tree Healing (ISRC: TCACS1642006)
——————————————————-
Archangel Ramiel: (Aka Jeremiel) – Ask Ramiel to show you divine visions. experience hope and dreams. Find your way and new ways to pave your future path.
6. Ramiel’s Divine Visions – Earth Tree Healing (ISRC: TCACS1642015)
——————————————————-
Archangel Azrael: Ask for help with Grief,Support with loss and comfort.
7. Azrael – Earth Tree Healing (ISRC: TCACS1655029)
———————————————————-
8.Archangel Michael’s Protection (Reprise) – Earth Tree Healing (ISRC: TCACS1683926)
A compilation and journey through some of my rarities and demos and ideas. A selection. Recorded long before grey hairs started to sprout. While mastering my craft. The first room I rented after leaving home – I was 19. Aloof and angry. I’d converted to a music room with a small bed in the corner.Recording with drum pads on my kit. I worked a lot with flangers, string keyboard arrangements, instrumentals. I played with sweet haunting melodies and lyrics of intense turmoil, release, storytelling, endings, new beginnings. Grimm also features on a few tracks performing guitar solos. There were a lot of death themes going on around that time in my life. I’d had major face surgery (September Brings was written about it) I obsessed with morbid explorations, cadavers. Indulged with alcohol and substance abuse. Sometimes freeing the mind invites Demons. Or just opens locked doors. Painting and musically recreating ones vivid dreams & nightmares at weekends …It was a productive but dark decade. Then I really fell in love.
Do not listen to this in front of children or the easily or even reasonably offended. You have been warned! This a few of what we deemed as ‘Piss Take’ Songs. Recorded in between the others. People have always given me great writing inspiration. Through their characters, stories or actions. Enjoy!
It is really cool revisiting my old recordings. Brings back a lot of good old memories. I hope Grimm is proud of my works after this one. His spirit hangs out regularly. In September 2003 he tragically died. Breaking my world. His death is written about in my book Claudsville Blogs and Biog Of A Bog Woppit Grimm co-produced this album.
It was Mastered and copied by Pete Smith. The trick to getting any vocal or acoustic guitar takes. Was to attempt to hit record between his many rescue dogs barking. I think their barks add to the album. You will hear a lovely bark at the start of ‘Shadows In Your Eyes.’ I really got into playing my Fender bass better on this album. Albeit Keyboard drums. We made good use of his ART guitar effects , Hamer and Kramer Electric guitars. Memories huh. I’m struggling a bit with the exact date of release. But needless to say I was a hell of a lot younger. We’d record a song every weekend. Sometimes 2 per weekend. Very productive times.
The album began with ‘Sonic World’ this song exists in various versions.
2016 acoustic version of The Dream Of Zen
For my limited vocal abilities. Grimm really worked on my performances, and song structures during the recording of this in his home Studio in Eastwood, Nottingham. This album reflects where I was at during the mid to late 90’s. Suzanne Vega, Tori Amos, REM, Ruby Blue and Fleetwood Mac were massive influences. So was getting wasted.
Subject matter? Homelessness, craving, lust, obsession, encounters, conspiracies, drugs, weird shit, booze, sexual encounters with a man with one leg, stalking, boyfriends, women, motorbikes, Pete Smith (ex biker boyfriend), freedom on the road and that infamous ‘Popudom Song’ with some little drummer boy artistic licence!
So here it is with its pops, clicks, dogs barking, bum notes. Pandora’s Box with ‘No Rules, Just Ruins’ and Mirrors Of Man (Live)
Earth Tree Healing 