Blue Monday Finished

I have completed my version of the New Order classic "Blue Monday" after making a few changes to the mix. Once again I am delighted how this has come out with the vocals probably being the best I have ever done, which is an achievement in itself as I certainly cannot label myself as a singer - not by a long way!

In addition to a long version of the track I have also done an edited "Radio Mix" which again has come out fantastic. I think the arrangement for the "Single" version works superbly.

I will post at least one of the versions on my iCompositions page so people can have a listen, probably next weekend.

Gary Hunter Official MySpace Page

Gary Hunter iCompositions Page

Gary

Blue Monday, Thursday Changes!

I have today made quite a few changes in my cover version of "Blue Monday". First off I ditched the bass line and recorded a new one. Also I was n't happy with one of the sequencer tracks so that was changed and a fair few changes in the mix of the drums have been made. The rhythm section sounds very powerful now and the changes I have made blend the sound much better. I re-recorded some of my vocals which I think are pretty good, much better than I thought. The vocals have been double tracked to beef them up and to smooth them out and some delay and stereo phase effects have been added to the vocal mix.

I will have a good listen to it again this evening and then tweak it a bit more if needed.

The track "A Million Stars" needs the slightest of changes on the middle 8 strings then that and the extended version of the song are complete. I am hoping to record the chorus vocal on "Car Crash Flashback" tomorrow to finish that one off.

I have today been learning the main hook of "Underpass" by John Foxx so that might be another potential cover version in the future.

Gary

Wednesday's New Order Day!

Carrying on with my conveyor belt of cover versions I have recorded New Order's twelve inch classic "Blue Monday". I decided to do this track after watching their brand new live DVD "Live In Glasgow" which is a stunning concert - well worth buying!

It has taken 3 days to do and a vocal has been recorded tonight which is pretty good for a first take. My version is once again completely electronic with not a guitar in sight!

When I am happy with the mix I will probably post it on my iCompositions page maybe this weekend.

For those interested in the technical stuff this is a list of the instruments used in this recording:

Boss DR550 Drum Machine
Vanguard Synth
SW Performer Synth
Magnus Choir Synth (First time I have used this synth and it is top notch for choir sounds)
Rob Papen Predator Synth
Trance Grooves Drum Machine

Gary

Longer Stars!

I have now done the extended version of "A Million Stars". I Did alter the arrangement a few times before settling on the completed version which is 5 mins 20 secs long so it is almost twice as long as the album version.

I badly need to finish the vocal on "Car Crash Flashback" but am struggling with a chest infection at the moment so I may start the new version of "I Once Was A Machine" over the next day or so.

Other news now. I got in touch with one of the most recognized New Order/Joy Division web pages worldinmotion.net about my Joy Division cover versions and the guy who runs the site has posted a message on their forum so hopefully a few more people will get to hear them. The site is superb and is packed with information all about New Order & Joy Division and side projects and I highly recommend you take a peak.

Gary Hunter Official Myspace Page

Gary Hunter iCompositions Page

Gary

Human League Cover & A Million Stars

I have now completed my cover of The Human League's "Gordon's Gin" which I have sent to the semi official Human League site Electronically Yours. Whether I hear anything from the guy that looks after the site I don't know as in the past I have been in touch I have n't even had the courtesy of a response but I do believe in the saying "If at first you don't succeed try and try again" - I'm not holding my breath on that one.

"A Million Stars" is now finished to and is a track I really do love. I have managed to get that "John Foxx" sound again on this one and have done a good dead pan vocal that suits the track incredibly well. I will probably do an extended mix of this song as I have with "A Face I Knew" and "The Glimmer Man". More on that once I work out an arrangement!

I am feeling fairly confident that the great man Peter Hook from New Order/Joy Division will listen to my two Joy Division covers as he sent me a message from Spain where he is currently holidaying or maybe working or a bit of both and he said he will be listening to them when he gets back, which I genuinely hope he does as I think both covers are good. Let's put it this way people who have listened to them think so! Hopefully Peter will send me some feedback - fingers crossed.

Next I am going to record a brand new version of the track "I Once Was A Machine" - that is the plan any way.

Gary Hunter Official Myspace Page

Gary Hunter iCompositions Page

Gary

A Million Stars Progress Update

Managed to get all the instrumentation recorded for "A Million Stars", I have just a couple of synth bits to add. Done a good vocal today so this track apart from mixing down is almost done. I am going to get that finished off then record the vocal chorus for "Car Crash Flashback" which will then see that track completed.

My cover of Human League's "Gordon's Gin" has been made a little longer and I have just one synth to change on a part of that which will tidy up the song.

Have a couple of other ideas as well this week for new songs, just some melody bits I have come up with so I will see in the next few weeks where those ideas take me.

I am going to do a new recording of "I Once Was A Machine" for the album to as I think it is a song that fits in well with the structure and direction the album is heading. So an up to date list of where I am up to song wise with the album:

A Face I Knew (Completed)
Stranger In The Room (Completed)
The Glimmer Man (Completed)
A Million Stars (Almost Complete)
Car Crash Flashback (Almost Complete)
I Once Was A Machine (Next Track To record)

www.myspace.com/garyhuntermusic

Gary Hunter iCompositions Page

Gary

A Bigger Drop Of Gin!

My original recording of The Human League's "Gordon's Gin" has been replaced with a new extended arrangement as the original version is a little on the short side and the track really does lend it self to an extended version.

Not to sure what I will do with this track at the moment.

Gary