May 2012
8 posts
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THINK TANK: The Album
Sessions for Blur’s seventh album began in the band’s London studio 13 late in 2001, with producer Ben Hillier at the helm. Seeking inspiration in warmer climes, Blur transferred an entire studio to a disused building in the grounds of a riad in Marakech - no mean feat after weeks of negotiation with local customs. Parts of the vocals were recorded on rooftops bathed in moonlight, under...
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THINK TANK: Producer Ben Hillier On Making The...
Which song on the Think Tank album do you remember being the most fun to record?
Well “File On You” was really exciting because it was so quick (we were trying to write and record a punk song as fast as possible! I think it took about 20 minutes) but “Revolutionary Bowls Club” was really good fun. We’d been in Morocco for nearly a week and they wouldn’t let...
THINK TANK: Producer Ben Hillier On Making The...
In your own opinion, what was the most interesting track to produce on Think Tank?
I think “Out Of Time”. We started in 13 and built Dave an odd drum kit (an old marching bass drum, a Djembe as a snare and a massive gong as a ride cymbal) that was probably really hard to play, and then Alex’s bass was going through my ARP2600 which gave it this sustain that went on forever, so...
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THINK TANK: Producer Ben Hillier On Making The...
Was it a conscious decision to feature Alex’s bass more prominently on Think Tank, or was that a natural consequence of making an album without a traditional lead guitarist?
I’ve always thought Alex writes really lyrical, melodic bass lines and with a lot of the music on the album based around grooves and keyboard and vocal melodies it left space for Alex’s parts to stuck out...
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THINK TANK: Producer Ben Hillier On Making The...
What was the dynamic like between the band members, considering it was during the production of this album that Graham left?
It was really sad, and a shock, when Graham didn’t turn up for the first session. But we sat down and decided that we all wanted to carry on and hope that he’d join in when, or if, he was ready. That had a really galvanising effect on the other 3, because...
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LIVE: THE EARLY YEARS....
Building a fan base in the early part of their career, Blur visited the Midlands regularly, playing venues such Princess Charlotte in Leicester (see the Starshaped DVD), Birmingham Irish Centre and Dudley JB’s. Their persistence paid off and the fans grew loyal – apparently not too far north to greet with contempt Damon’s “we’re from London” introductions. Blur soon started to recruit their...
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LIVE: Mile End Stadium
Seen as a summer celebration of Blur, a few months after their Brit Awards triumph and Parklife still riding high in the charts, Mile End Stadium was the chosen venue for the band, somewhere a bit different – an athletics ground, close to Damon’s East End roots, a step up from Alexandra Palace – a statement that things were good. Blur hand picked the roster from left-field, The Cardiacs and...
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LIVE: Notes from the tour bus...
When I am asked, what my favourite period of touring with Blur was, I always seem to go straight to 1997. We did a world tour that year, and did many a great tour, but the UK arena tour just could not be beat. The zeal the boys put into every show just blew me away. Just to be there was special, but to actually be part of it was mind boggling. It wasn’t just one way though, the crowds were...
