Just a quick one this time for the record, as well as a few preemptive thanks.

As mentioned previously, the creative stage is going well enough, while the production stage is virtually absent.  There are a lot of songs that reflect a broken heart (and perhaps this is one of many excuses not to work on the album), something I’d always hoped none of my albums would become.  Hence, Hijacking Your Fiction may be more therapy than art.

“Voices” is currently my favorite work-in-progress (with the increasingly frustrating “Ruin” right behind) so I feel the need to get everything just right.  I finally had a few ideas yesterday that might get me a couple steps closer to the production stage.  The lyrics are coming together (indeed, the lyrics for most of the songs are nearly finished) and I’m considering using Lizzie Gask, known around these parts for her work with The Dirty 30s, and who will likely be featured on at least one other song on the album, to help me close the song.

As far as using other people, I’d also like to give a quick mention (there will be longer mentions later, no doubt) to John Beauchamp (a.k.a. MusiM) who is doing an embarrassingly simple guitar riff for me, not because I’m incapable mind you, but because I do not at this time have an electric guitar in Seoul.  I did, but its disappearance is another story.  I’ve turned acoustic guitars into post-production electrics before, but in this case I’m going to need an electric to achieve the tone I’m looking for.  Also, my cousin Zachary Annett will be featured on drums for “Reconnect,” and I’m debating whether to hand him drumming duties for the album version of “Gate 36.”    Finally, a preemptive thanks to Scott Coward who, whether he knows it or not, will become my mixing engineer.  He may also, again unbeknownst to him, contribute some hand drums to “Sweet Victory.”

One final note, I may opt to work on The Recovery Project for a while, a digital noise side-project that I’ve had on the back burner for quite some time and have been hoping to use to vent some frustrations, instead of AllThisIsMeaningless.  I spoke of therapy, and right now I can’t imagine a better therapy than that.

I woke up late Thursday, and rather than getting to work as I said I would (nothing new there), I went over the hill into Itaewon (the so-called “foreigner district,” near my flat) for lunch and to go to a cafe.  I read a little, and studied Korean even less before sleepily going home, where I did manage to get a bit done.

More guitar work:  Worked on the rhythm guitar for “Reconnect” as well as “Where Are You?” (working title “Chimera”).  Also came up with a simple riff for “Electricity,” though part of what I liked about the song was its driving simplicity, so I’m not sure at this point whether or not I will use it.

Also for “Where Are You?” I put another effort toward additional percussion and am much happier with the result.  I may recruit a friend or two to add some good hand percussion, and I will likely make a third attempt.

I don’t want to do anything but sleep.  I feel I’m giving up.

One more week before I have to return to my job.

I have done little to speak of this week, either too tired or desperate to get away from the computer and the apartment, returning exhausted from having spent the day in one of the most densely packed cities in the world.  But today, or last night rather, small progress at last.

The downside is that there is little to show for this progress just yet.  But there have been a few tricky parts I’ve been struggling with and trying to work out that I think I’ve figured out.  This is, unfortunately, mostly creative progress.  Creativity is the easy part – the actual work is when I start to fall apart.

The lead synth that’s been giving me fits on “Voices”:  I think I’ve managed to put together a patch on the Korg that might help beef it up a bit.  That would make the fourth Prophecy generated sound on the song.

Also on “Voices”:  Will try adding some guitar strumming and arpeggios to fill out the sound where needed.

The break, or third part, of “Chimera” (which will probably be called “Ruin”):  I think this will feature a bit of abstract gayageum and percussion.  I’ve kind of worked out a rough melody and need to flesh it out a little more.

An untitled piece that I’m determined to put on the track, but haven’t been sure where to go with it:  This is to be fairly up-tempo track, which may open the album or be the second song, after “Voices” (the more likely scenario).  There will be no drums, only acoustic guitar, synth, and a little DIY percussion.  This one has such a long way to go, it may not make it on the album.

A final technical problem:  The synth used for the bass in “Electricity” doesn’t want to work on my new computer, which means either finishing the song on my laptop or rendering the bass track, importing it on the new computer and hoping everything works out alright.