Each Oblivion Seekers album was recorded with different musicians under different circumstances, and this is documented
below in some detail. Except for one B-side* and a live album, our releases are all basically studio recordings with the
following characteristics in common.
1. All songs were taped on multi-track recording equipment in a real or makeshift studio environment, and were recorded
first as basic rhythm tracks played live in one open room by two or more breathing musicians. No solo performances were
used as basics, and no basics relied on click tracks, tape loops, synthesizer beats, or mechanical rhythms of any kind.
2. Every basic rhythm track was subsequently over-dubbed one channel at a time, with vocals, solos, noises, and
instrumental tracks. Except for Rock Your Baby and Christmas in the City, final mix-downs were always done on
automated boards, which are the best invention since bullets.
3. The more recording I?ve done, the more obsessed I?ve become with the quality of the basic track. Whatever other
factors are involved in judging a basic, the main one is solid rhythm - the stronger the better. The drummer?s
responsibility is unique for obvious reasons, but for technical ones as well. Any other musician?s performance can
be erased and replaced with an overdub (or just erased), and anyone else can fix a mistake by punching in to re-record
a few notes at his leisure. But the drummer?s tape channels all bleed into each other, and they can?t be isolated and
repaired later. Audible flaws in his original performance will still be audible in the final mix. We?ve never
patched a drum track. We?ve never been able to patch a drum track. Maybe it can be done, but not with the tools at my disposal.
4. I?ve noted which bass parts were replaced because I remember them, not because our bass players were especially accident-prone.
We edited or abandoned plenty of rhythm guitar tracks too, but I didn?t itemize them all because I don?t remember them all.
(It?s worth mentioning that problematic rhythm tracks shouldn?t be turned down in the mix. They should be turned off.)
Most of my studio anecdotes seem to involve problems. I?m not endorsing problems, because problems aren?t usually
opportunities, they?re usually just problems. Nor does the existence of a problem imply the existence of a solution.
But problems are always when things get interesting, so don?t misread these cautionary tales as negative in outlook
or sour in tone. Read them as light-hearted entertainment. Rock ?n? roll?s problems are trivial enough to enjoy in retrospect
without feeling morbid or guilty - even on the band?s worst days, nobody got hurt. The mishaps were kind of fun, and shouldn?t
be taken too seriously. They?ll cast no pall over anyone?s deathbed.
* The B-side of our only 45RPM vinyl release (Sister Mary) was taped on a cassette during a live show at La Luna in 1990.
Drew Canulette was mixing house sound, and his board feed to the deck was sufficiently fair and balanced to put the song
out as a record.
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