What do you know? A mere five years after releasing his first instrumental ambient prog album, Chalkhill Blue is already well on the way to finishing another one!

 

Work started on the new album, provisionally titled 'Rye Harbour', immediately upon release of the first. Within six months, it was half finished. So we have to ask ... 

 

Why the big pause?

 

Simply speaking, life took over. In particular, a series of events connected to the release of the first album in 2013 ended up with Chalkhill Blue being invited to write for a Rock magazine - the venerable Rock Society, official magazine of The Classic Rock Society. And when you have an opportunity like that, it's not something you turn down lightly ...

  

Work proceeded on the Rye Harbour album at a snail's pace for a while after that. Eventually though, it started coming back together. 

 

 

Any other reason?

 

Yes, as it happens. The original Chalkhill Blue album was conceived primarily as a keyboard piece. Only after it was effectively finished, some recording equipment was acquired that made it possible to overdub the guitars. As Chalkhill Blue considers himself primarily a guitarist, that seemed a bit daft - so the second album was conceived as much more of a guitar-oriented effort. For someone steeped in technology though, there are obstacles.

 

Digital instruments are remarkably pliable to work with; of course a piece can be played in one take, virtually as a live performance, but it can also be constructed phrase by phrase and note by note - afterwards, it can be edited, chopped, copied, pasted, looped and otherwise messed about with depending on the whim of the producer.

 

Guitars are a different animal entirely. An analogue instrument to the core, it has to be thought out, rehearsed and performed, with minimal editing opportunities afterwards - a challenge for someone whose schedule only allows for minimal practice time! So it is virtually impossible to be content with the end result! And yet ... it must be done ...

 

Did you manage it in the end?

 

"Yeah, eventually," says Chalkhill Blue. "Then it is a simple case of repeated listenings, selecting tracks, mixing and mastering, recording, listening again, junking the whole lot and repeating ad nauseum ...

 

In the end I found it necessary to grow a beard. Then it all sort of fell into place!"

 

 

Thanks for the career tip! What are the chances of this new album ever materialising then?

 

Even-to-good at present. As of June 2018 it is in the advanced production stage. Then all that is required is to finalise the track names, design the booklet insert and write all the sleeve notes. It could happen, you never know! And then it is on to album number 3 - unless some other project cuts across it of course!

 

 

The first album was more-or-less a concept piece, with a love of the natural world stamped all over it. Does this one have a similar theme?

 

Similar yes, but not the same. The nature reserve of Rye Harbour on England's south-east coast has been a magnet for my family for years. In fact the inspiration for the album is drawn from the landscape and wildlife of the Kent and Sussex coastline. All the photos on this page were taken in the environs of the harbour.

 

 

We look forward to it with eager anticipation!

 

"Not half as much as I do, mate.

As soon as it goes live, a link will be created on this very site! Stay tuned!"

Listen to Chalkhill Blue at Bandcamp.com!

 

If you would like to listen to the music of Chalkhill Blue for free, or purchase a download or CD, please click the link below.

 

Downloads can be purchased per track or whole album.

 

CDs include a full 8-page inlay booklet with notes on each track.

 

The Chalkhill Blue Album!

 

 

See also:

 

iTunes !

 

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CLASSIC ROCK SOCIETY!

 

See the Chalkhill Blue CD at:

 

Rock Bottom Records, Whitstable 

 

or click on the above graphic to buy online.

 

Caroline Battenburg Art