My name is Ben Craven and I create cinema for the ears...

Desert Comb Studio has had a makeover!

As part of a carefully orchestrated invasion of the north, another room in my residence has now been claimed in the name of live performance and breathing space. Meanwhile the control room, where I recorded my forthcoming album Great & Terrible Potions, remains as control roomy as ever.

Which means I’ll be in a position shortly to offer production and recording services to other artists and bands out there. Stay tuned for more details, or by all means give me a yell if you have a project and you’re looking for a great introductory price..

Before and after (so far..)

Just a quick note to let you know I’m playing a solo set this Friday night at the Queens Arms Hotel, Fortitude Valley (Brisbane). A few old songs, and a few new ones, transformed from my usual lush arrangements into a single guitar.

I’m supporting Nik Phillips who’ll be performing a showcase later in the evening, so it really would be the height of rudeness not to stick around afterwards for all that entertainment (and the many opportunities to enjoy alcohol responsibly).

Full details here..

Would be great to see you there!

An extended period of silence on the blog-posting front can only mean one thing.

I’m ensconced in the studio.

The next album is coming along swimmingly now. All the instruments have been recorded, and just this last week the vocals were completed.

Now I’m in the final mixing stage. And I’m struck with a strange sense of deja vu reminding me of mixing Two False Idols. That is, I went into it expecting sonic clarity, before discovering just how much sweeter echo made everything sound. Vocals, guitar solos, squeaking brakes, you name it. Vocals, guitar solos, squeaking brakes, you name it.

But on this new album, some of the musical arrangements are so completely over the top that, without a dry sound, the individual instruments just get lost in the mix. So as a rule of thumb I’m taking more of a documentary-style approach. I’m simply reporting on all the tracks that have already been recorded and trying to bring them out in the best light.

Man, but this slide guitar here sure sounds great with a bit more delay. And geez this lead vocal has so much more presence with a bit of echo. And these band-shifted radio signals sound much scarier..

More on my gig at Ric’s Bar (Brunswick St Mall, Brisbane) next Monday night…

I’ll be stumbling out at 9:30pm, hopefully after the consumption of several confidence boosters.

Highlights-to-be include the live debut of Golden Band, the acoustic premiere of Not Me It’s You, and a sneak preview of a new song, Ready To Lose The War, from the upcoming album. As long as I finish the lyrics in time!

I’ll also be introducing my new second guitarist, Bruce. He plays exactly what I tell him:

Breaking news is that I’ll be playing a solo spot at Ric’s Bar (Fortitude Valley, Brisbane) on Monday the 20th of July, supporting my new best mates, Disnae Matter.

Which means now I finally have to figure out how to do justice to songs originally arranged for, inconveniently, five guitars, two keyboards, Chris Squire, a string orchestra, and a virtuoso triangle player. So Golden Band will either be delicately glorious in its intimacy, or a train wreck. Be sure you’re there when we all find out which!

Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome me to the wonderful world of Twitter.

I’m @CravenBen, or if you don’t have an account just try:

http://www.twitter.com/CravenBen

I figure it will be an easier way of doing quick updates on the album as I’m recording it, while at the same time allowing even further levels of inanity.

For example, something like “I hope everyone else finds the hand claps I just put in the 10/8 song as funny as I did” hardly counts as a blog post now, does it.

Tomorrow night I’ll be playing at the Impro Gladiators show at the Paddo Tavern in Brisbane, starting around 8pm.

more…