Recording CCJ

Pete Taylor, Chris Carlyle, Sam Chinnery, and Cammy Dobbie were 4 lads from Edinburgh who grew up together, were best friends and formed CCJ. In December 2007 Sam died tragically, which had a devastating effect on them and their year group. For months, they didn’t play, but eventually decided that playing was something they loved so much that they couldn’t stop.

The songs in these recordings are about Sam, his death and the months following. They are about the anger, sadness and pain of these days, and that however painful, ultimately life goes on.

As Sam said “writing songs is easy: you just write about things that happen to you.” When CCJ last came to the studio they were a reasonable schoolboy band, but this recording represents a dramatic step up both in playing ability and in the maturity of their song-writing.

I hope you enjoy these recordings.

Metro Online Competition

Hope you all saw the article in the Metro - if not here are the details.

Go to metro.co.uk/MeMusic and upload your songs - open until Friday, August 15th 2008.

Playoff final at the Camden Barfly.

Winner will get to play a series of six gigs with Dodgy.

Cheers and best of luck

Daniel Davis
Windmill Sound

Acoustic Idols Results

Well Acoustic Idols put on a great show - thanks to Peter Michael Riley.

I was very chuffed to see Lindsay Sugden storming the awards, and just a hint of pride in having recorded her material, which all of you voters must have enjoyed, as well as a number of the other nominees.

Of the top 3 open mics, I help out with the top 2 - see I like this acoustic stuff.

So if you want the Windmill Sound service get in touch. I can't guarantee you'll sweep the board of next year's event, but we'll have a damn good go.

Complete Results

BEST CD prize: 1 day's recording time at Windmill Sound1st - Lindsay Sugden & The Storm - LINDSAY SUGDEN & THE STORM
www.myspace.com/lindsaysugden 2nd - Amy Duncan - STORY OF A GIRL
www.myspace.com/amyduncan 3rd - Norman Lamont - ROMANTIC FICTION 2 www.myspace.com/normanlamont

BEST SONG prize: Dunlop guitar accessories pack from Guitar Guitar1st - Lindsay Sugden - ON THE WIRE
www.myspace.com/lindsaysugden2nd = Calum Haddow - FIRST AID
www.myspace.com/calumhaddow2nd = Lindsay Sugden - BERNARD DRAKE www.myspace.com/lindsaysugden

BEST SOLO ARTIST1st, 2nd & 3rd prize: Edinburgh Fringe performance, The GRV Bar1st - EMILY SCOTT
www.myspace.com/emilyscottmusic 2nd - LISA PATON
www.myspace.com/lisapaton 3rd - BEN YOUNG
www.myspace.com/benedictyoung

BEST ACT1st, 2nd & 3rd prize: Edinburgh Fringe performance, The GRV Bar1st - LINDSAY SUGDEN & THE STORM
www.myspace.com/lindsaysugden2nd = BROKEN LIGHTS
www.myspace.com/brokenlightz 2nd = SPARRAHAWK
www.myspace.com/aclspamborskee

BEST CLUB prize: Edinburgh Fringe club afternoon, The GRV Bar1st - OUT OF THE BEDROOM
www.myspace.com/outofthebedroom 2nd - THE LISTENING ROOM
www.myspace.com/thelisteningroom 1 3rd - ACOUSTIC EDINBURGH
www.myspace.com/acousticedinburg h

and THE 2008 ACOUSTIC IDOL sponsored by The GRV******* LINDSAY SUGDEN & THE STORM *******

cheers
Daniel

Acoustic Idols

The annual Edinburgh Acoustic Music Awards show Acoustic Idols takes place Sunday 18th May at the GRV on Guthrie Street.

For further details go to http://www.myspace.com/acousticidols

To register to vote please send an email to idols@rblmusic.com

To submit your cd to be included in the nominations send a copy to

16 Teviotdale Place, Edinburgh, EH3 5HY by 30th April 2008

Awards for best performer, Best Act, and Best Acoustic-Mike

Prizes include a day's recording at Edinburgh Recording Studio Windmill Sound

Edinburgh Singer goes Cuban

I've known Fiona Thom for some time performing gentle cafe music on the Edinburgh Acoustic scene. But for this record she chose to involve a number of guest musicians and, rather bravely, rather than dictate what they played, or settle for a simple backing, she gave them free range to add what they could.
The result is somewhat more Buena Vista Social Club than Bean Scene and I'm sure you'll love the difference.
Catch the results soon at http://www.myspace.com/fionajthom - they're not yet up as I'm posting.

cheers

Daniel Davis
Windmill Sound

Amazing Vocals - Valve Microphone

Well it all started with a CAD VSM (Valve Studio Microphone) - this was a big improvement on my original preferred mic for vocals, but It was too noisy and was slightly harsh.

So I bought a NOS Mullard tube from the 60s and all the noise went away and the mic had a smooth creamy sound.

I then decided that this was brilliant for thickening up the sound on singers who did not have full voices but you don't need double cream on everything - and besides it had little output at the top end.

So I have now replaced the valve with an old Telefunken model and the difference is amazing - slightly larger than life, and a wide open top end.

First record out using the new mic will be for Pheonix Street - so you can judge for yourselves.

Anybody had similar experiences with re-valving mics ro other studio equipment?

cheers

Daniel Davis
Edinburgh Recording Studio Windmill Sound

Must-have for musician - Cables

I just came across this ebay shop - no its nothing to do with me or my recording studio - so its a free advert, because I think its a genuinely good deal.

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/ANR-Guitar-Accessories

They sell leads made with Van Damme cable and Neutrik connector (both are the best out there) for the same price as normal cables in my local music store.

got to be worth a shot.

cheers
Daniel
Edinburgh Recording Studio Windmill Sound