Work Progress on mv7

Hello, mad_vicar here, I hope you are all keeping well.

This is just a quick note to let you know that work is going well on the seventh album. We are still trying to determine how to present the album, since seven is an important number in numerology (think it's hard now? Wait until we get to my favourite number NINE!) and we would like all the augers to be good.

Up to present, I have developed seven (coinkidink or what) tracks thus far, and as much as I would like to have seven tracks on the seventh album, and could do it right this minute, it would make the album something like 46 minutes long, and I think that's too short. Maybe in the old days of vinyl and tape I could get away with it, but in the CD age, with a potential 80 minutes to fill per disc, the public expects more. I try to aim for around 60 minutes or so, and then I have the space to add something else or substitute one track for another.

I recorded the first three tracks in January, then distributed a CD single of them around friends and family to see what the reactions would be. Yes, I do suffer from a lack of self-confidence - although I have always believed this to be a shield and protection against conceit - and since I hadn't done anything since "Liquidators" (which was recorded January to April 2007) I was a bit nervous.

So after the quick trip to Transnistria (thanks everyone for the reception, simply marvellous time!) I felt in good spirits and from this aura of general grooviness came four new tracks. What I would really like (and let's see how long this lasts before Frances "edits" it!) is to produce a triple CD album (3), that contains seven tracks per disc (7) which would make the number 21 added together 3 which is a third of a nine. Or something like that. But the recording work involved would push the release date further and further into the future. I could and would release singles along the way, maybe release the "limited release" single properly to give everyone a taster for what mv7 might be like. I don't know. I am "exploring options" at the minute, but at least there are definitely seven tracks recorded and ready. I've even done the mixing and post-production on them, so they are in fact ready for release - if only 46 minutes could be called an album! I've made CD singles that are longer!

Well, that's all for now. I have a few dates coming up in November, but I'm sure Frances will post all about that with good information. In my daze I lose track of days...

Stay well, Blessings Upon You All,

mv.

Authentricity Electric Gramophone Recording Enterprises Announcement...

From Frances Green, Head of PR and Marketing, 
Authentricity Electric Gramophone Recording Enterprises (AEGRE), Anglo-Celtic Islands.

Hello mad_vicar fans!

You might have noticed recently that in addition to personal mad_vicar posts, I have been posting items of useful mv news too. After long consultation, it has been decided that AEGRE (or me, Frances, to be specific) will take over the day-to-day maintainance of the "mad_vicar's musical meanderings" blog effective immediately.

THIS IS NOT TO SAY THAT mad_vicar HIMSELF WILL NOT POST TOO!!!!

I had to put that in red caps just so that everyone understands - mad_vicar will be able to post just as before, at any point, on any topic, and with whatever frequency his touring and recording schedule allow.

It just seemed a better idea since I am more in touch with the marketing, administration, and "exposure", and thus can often provide information much faster (as some of my previous posts have demonstrated). And also this means that you can feel free to respond to me regarding releases and schedules and things, AND YET still reach mad_vicar to discuss music or whatever, via this blog.

Please understand that AEGRE has NOT "usurped" this blog. The only AEGRE representative allowed to post on this blog will be me - and only me. There won't be any talk of board meetings and stuffy strategy gobbledegook. My sole task on this blog is to pass on any information that I think might be of use to the mad_vicar fanbase.

As a quick example: The creation, development, customisation, and uploading of content to the SkyDrive was all done whilst mad_vicar was in the middle of a successful tour of Transnistria in Eastern Europe. It took a couple of days to get it online and available to the public, and that is time that mad_vicar himself simply cannot spare. Thus I announced the new system.

But on the other hand, on the 1st October 2009, it was he himself that announced the music added to the MySpace website. Thus he can post whatever he wants, whenever he likes - from on the road, from a hotel, or even from the intermission of a live show!

I hope this makes everything clear. Please do get in touch if you would like further information, to know about other AEGRE projects and products, or just to discuss music. And do please keep sending messages to mad_vicar - via email or blog comment. I assure you he DOES read everything and ALWAYS responds.

Oh, and lastly, I have to scotch a rumour that currently seems to be doing the rounds; mainly in Paris, most of France, and parts of West Germany for some reason: mad_vicar is about to be signed to Nettwerk Records. THIS IS NOT TRUE!

mad_vicar IS NOT about to be signed to Nettwerk Records. Nettwerk is an excellent and highly-respected underground record label, currently "looking after" one of mad_vicar's most favourite bands of all time Ladytron, and is based in Canada. We are not sure how the rumour got started in the first place - sounds a bit like another "Paul Is Dead" type word-of-mouth thing. We think that what just might have happened was that mad_vicar was talking to a magazine or radio station about his love of Ladytron and the other artistes signed to Nettwerk and someone got the wrong end of the stick! No, mad_vicar remains with Authentricity Electric Gramophone Recording Enterprises (AEGRE); he is happy with us, and we are more than happy with him."If it ain't broke, don't try fix it," as my Grandad would say. For more information on Nettwerk and their management of Ladytron, please click here.


Thank you for your time. I look forward to building up this blog, and talking to as many mad_vicar fans as possible along the way. Oh, and the posts will still appear with MAD VICAR listed as the author, but I will identify myself straight away, whereas he will not! This is a technical thing that we are not sure how to sort out.

Take care everyone, and I hope to speak with you all soon.

Love, Frances Green, AEGRE, Anglo-Celtic Islands.

SkyDrive - A New Way For You To Blag mad_vicar Music for free!

Note from Frances Green, PR Assistant at Authentricity Electronic Gramophone Recordings:

We are currently uploading the mad_vicar back catalogue to his Hotmail SkyDrive. This is a large chunk of memory with Public (Shared) Folders, and should easily be able to accommodate all the albums in MP3 format.

Working backwards, the SkyDrive presently contains: "Participant in the Liquidation of the Accident Consequences" (mv6), the untitled "mv5", and the controversial "Father Cares..." (mv4). All fans of mad_vicar music can download and play as much or as little as they see fit. As far as copyright is concerned, so long as the music is not altered or changed in any way, then mad_vicar is more than happy to allow the free exchange of this content.

Soon to be added are files that concern biography, discography, and recording information, once they are converted to a usable Internet-friendly format.

Actual CD albums, complete with covers, images, and high quality audio reproduction, will still be available via Authentricity Electronic Gramophone Recordings - and requests for such should be addressed to the mad_vicar email address: mad_vicar (AT) hotmail (DOT) com (replacing the AT with the @ symbol and the DOT with the period symbol.

To access the SkyDrive material, simply click here.

Frances Green, PR Assistant, AEGR

Who was that lady providing the vocals on "I Close My Eyes"? Mystery solved...

I have been asked by many people about the identity of the guest vocalist on "I Close My Eyes", currently a single, but slated to become part of mv7 - the work in progress. Well, worry no more, as a comprehensive biography was written up for the in-house Authentricity magazine by Frances Green, PR Assistant and the text clipping follows below:

Brunhilda Lenina Mannheim (who prefers to be known simply as "Lenina"), recently collaborated with Authentricity artist mad_vicar on the vibrant club track "I Close My Eyes". Already quite well known in the club scene across Europe, Lenina was a mysterious figure when the track hit the UK clubs. She was born in Leipzig in the Democratic Republic of Germany in 1980. As travel restrictions were lifted with the fall of the Berlin Wall, she moved with her family to Amsterdam in 1989. Lenina became active in politics whilst at high school, and the attended the Free University in the re-unified German capital Berlin.

Whilst at the Free University, she studied Politics, Economics, Drama, and Interpretive Dance (although little known by the general public, this is an artform close to mad_vicar's heart, possessing as he does a degree in Advanced Interpretive Dance from Moscow University). Lenina continued to be active in politics, and upon her return to Amsterdam, campaigned for, and won, a seat in the European Parliament representing Amsterdam South on the Socialist Reform Party ticket in 2002.

Despite her commitment to political activism, Lenina has remained a presence in the Amsterdam club scene, providing guest vocals for a number of local DJs and mixmeisters. Her earliest work was for DJ Janns, and his 2003 club hit "Op" (on Atomic Deposition Records, now deleted). It was in 2008 that mad_vicar happened to bump into Lenina, literally, as he was somewhat the worse for wear in the hip Club Tulip in July. After a long and fun conversation, he invited her to guest on a track for the mv7 album. Intrigued, she attended the recording sessions during a trip to the Anglo Celtic Islands in Summer 2009.

Critics have pointed to her "interesting" pronunciation, but mad_vicar himself felt this middle European accent actually made the track all the more interesting and beguiling. The sessions went extremely well, and the mixing of "I Close My Eyes" was completed in record time. It was released on Authentricity Electronic Gramophone Recordings in July 2009, to an enthuastic response, particularly in the clubs. Despite it's fifteen-plus minutes running time, mad_vicar refused to create any "radio edit" type versions - as is his usual manner. "I Close My Eyes is fifteen minutes long, and will remain fifteen minutes long. I am more than happy for a respected DJ, such as Shadow, having a go at remixing it, but I feel that fifteen minutes is a bare minimum. The track builds, dissembles, builds and dissembles in exactly the way I feel it should. I would rather get no radio play at all than to compromise on what I think is the essential spirit of the track."

Lenina herself, after hearing the completed mix, was very pleased with the results, and took a pile of complimentary copies back to Amsterdam with her, where it is becoming an underground success in the clubs. During an interview with Das Aftenblaat, she explained how much she "enjoyed the experience of recording in the north of the country, and that [she is] looking forward to new mad_vicar collaborations. Northern Britain was a refreshing change to the usual London scene."

Frances Green, PR Assistant, Authentricity Electronic Gramophone Recordings.

More mv Tunes Added To MySpace...

Hello All!

It is my pleasure to let you know that there are now SEVEN (my goodness) music tracks available for download or listen-online via MySpace. There are a couple there which I am hoping will eventually have videos to accompany them. This will mean that I can remove them from the Song List to free up a few more slots, since there is a maximum limit of ten songs, but no limit for videos.

So LiJa has agreed to create a video for "Shining Sparkling Fire" (from the Liquidators album) and I might try my hand at making one for "Test Card B" - so prepare for dodgy fades and quirks. LiJa will be working with me to provide a video for "Short Wave Suite".

Otherwise, please enjoy my humble offerings - free music for the masses!!

Stay well,

mv

New mv stuff on the MySpace site...

Can you believe it? Just after 6pm and it's getting dark! Well, shrug off those here-come-Winter blues with some vibrant entertainment!

There are now THREE (yes, count them! Three!) videos on the mad_vicar MySpace page, and THREE (different) music tracks, so get downloading and enjoy!

Do feel free to leave a message at any of the sites - I love to get feedback and I would like to hear views and comments (preferably constructive) on the vids'n'toons so far uploaded.

Take care everyone, and wrap up warm in this cold weather.

Cheerybyefernow,

mv

New Social Networking Sites for mad_vicar fans...

Hello from the Swamp Lands, here in the heart of the Anglo-Celtic Islands. By crikey it's getting chilly and damp around here now - Autumn has arrived!

The big news is that the "umbrella" website, which contains links to all mad_vicar stuff is located at www.madvicar.co.uk. From there, you can watch videos and download music via MySpace.

Please do drop by, and I hope you have a simply splendid time!

Incredible Trans-Atlantic Interest - and deal!!

I will write this up in full shortly when I have a bit of time, but this post will ultimately contain all the details of "The Trans-Atlantic Deal" concerning, mv4: Father Cares, and mv6*: Participant in the Liquidation of the Accident Consequences - international interest at last! Could this be the long-awaited breakthrough? Naaaaahhh don't get your hopes up - it's not quite what you might think. MORE LATER>>>>

Entrails Into The Blogosphere

Well hello everyone! They said it could never happen, but the world has caught up with me, and I find myself here in the groovy world of blog. This is all part of the "powers that be" creating a massive multimedia campaign to bring the music of mad_vicar to an eager public. It's all rather exciting, and also quite bewildering. I always seem to get things the wrong way round: I schmooze when I am supposed to networking, and have not prioritised my pre-determined growth in the various samplings from the demographic as a whole, apparently. Or something.

Of course, the big cheeses will probably use this shady nook in a far outpost of the Internet to post over-hyped, enthusiastic, and jargon-laden Press Releases to do with mad_vicar "product". I foolishly believed for years that what I was creating was "music", "products" are the sort of things sold in Tesco or LiDL. Still, if things get ridiculous, I can always pull the plug and the whole thing will be sucked into an Internet web-hole. A tiny victory, but a victory none the less.

Music-wise, work continues sporadically on the seventh album. At the moment things are too hectic to get the chance to record anything, but I grasp any opportunity with both hands. Interestingly, "Liquidators" has been "sent to Russia"! The staff at Voice of Russia now have a copy, and I am waiting to hear their opinions. I am really curious as to what an actual citizen of the ex-USSR thinks of a multimedia project about The Liquidators and their struggle to contain and minimise the damage done by the explosion of Reactor Number Four at Chernobyl Power Plant in April 1986. It's been well-received here in the UK, but we shall have to wait and see.

Hopefully, once we get all these different web resources tied together via the mad_vicar website, you will be able to listen to tracks, and enjoy viewing the excellent video collages that the Authentricity Images and Vision Department put together to accompany some of them.

Otherwise, that's all the news from the home studio at present. I know people like to do the "what am I listening to right now" thing, so here is my current sound enjoyment: I have been sent two DVD-R discs by a lovely personage called Fielding M. McGehee III. They contain MP3 versions of hundreds of tapes recorded by Rev. Jim Jones and his "family", in Jonestown, Guyana. They run from 1977 right up to the final suicide recording of November 1978. The tapes have been digitised by The Jonestown Institute - an organisation that aims to provide as much information on The People's Temple as possible without being judgemental or preachy. Please do visit their website, which you can find here.

Don't forget, ladles and jellyspoons, that the Jonestown affair inspired 50% of the fourth mad_vicar album "Father Cares" which is still available via Authentricity Electronic Sound Reproductions Limited. Visit the mad_vicar website for more information.