Complimentary Medicine

There were a couple of nice moments for me during the recent Unison Bends recording sessions at the Levellers' Metway Studios in Brighton – oh ok, ego-stroking moments.

One came in the control room when engineer Jake Rousham was playing back one of our tracks from the first day. "Do I hear Ginger Baker?" he asked, nodding towards my drumming.

"Yes, I'm channelling him from his deathbed," I said, extremely pleased at what I took to be a compliment, but knowing that I will always be many miles behind Mr Baker. *

Then, on the final day, I had to overdub a few bars of harmonica  on an epic Russ Payne song with a touch of the Westerns about it. I only did one take and wasn't at all happy with it.

"Can I do it again?" I asked.

"No, it's good," said Russ.

"I don't think so..." I began to argue.

"It's very Bob," said Jake.

And that was the end of that discussion. I was more than happy.

* For the record, Mr Baker isn't on his deathbed. According to his website, he's had heart surgery and is recovering and may even play drums again.

The Full Kit

Not more drum porn... but the view that I had for three days at the most excellent Metway Studios in Brighton which is owned by the Levellers.

I had the privilege of playing drums for the new album, Liquor And Iron, by Russ Payne and Unison Bends... and working with engineer Jake Rousham, whose CV includes the likes of Nick Cave, Fatboy Slim, Roger Daltrey and Wilko Johnson.

I think we made some great music... and yes, I did have the chance to set up and play the full kit – a pleasure that is so often denied in the small venues that we tend to play.

The Brighton sessions were memorable in many ways and I'll write more about this soon...