Fear
A song by TheSeven8s

This was originally written & recorded in around 2007, but I was never very happy with how it turned out . I recorded this version between 2014-2016 using the original vocal performance (which is fantastic) but re-recording all of the instrument parts. I hope this is a better representation of what was in our heads when we wrote it

Fear

Fat Fish
A song by Eliott Brown (music) & Dominic Murray (lyrics)

This was written by Dominic & myself in 1999 as a song intended for our band Ernie's Lawn, but which we never actually played (since the band had already effectively disbanded at the time). It is about a boss that I once had when working in a bar.

We originally recorded it on a 4-track at the time, copies of which still survive on cassette. I re-recorded the music in 2016 and Dominic provided the singing on a rare trip to Wales.

Fat Fish

Swarfega
A song by Aubrey Straw

Written in around 2003 by the band Aubrey Straw, and recorded some time later (in around 2006 at a guess). Drums & bass were recorded in a single session (along with around 12 other Aubrey Straw songs), with guitars, vocals and strange noises added later by the rest of the band.

Performers: Philip Waters (vocals), Sean Phelan (guitars, vocals), Nick Voisey (guitars, noises), Owen Davies (bass), Eliott Brown (drums, guitars)

Swarfega

Dead Animals
A song by ChaseHQ

This was written & recorded in around 2005 by ChaseHQ (Leighton Collins, Nick Voisey, Owen Davies & myself).  

This was my first real attempt at recording, mixing & producing music myself, and we used the equipment we had at the time (e.g. live vocal mics used to record the drums). We recorded 8 tracks (all the songs we had at the time!) over about a 4-5 month period.

Dead Animals

A song by Aubrey Straw, probably written around 2000-2001, before my time in the band. I recorded a version of this song around 2008, but I was never very happy with it production-wise (or drumming-wise), so re-recorded it in 2015 using the original vocals from Phil & Sean, but slowing the tempo down. I also added a self-indulgent outro to it that definitely isn't anything like 'Whatever', mainly to experiment with arranging orchestral instruments.

Baby's Brain

My Gun 
A song by TheSeven8s

Written & recorded around 2007. 
Drums recorded in Cwmafan Welfare Club (hence the slightly flat sound) - but they sort of complement the flatlined dynamics in the verse. The rest was recorded in various bedrooms.

My Gun

I'm Sparticus
A song by ChaseHQ

Written in about 2005, this song is about those roid-head blokes you get everywhere who spoil everyone's night by trying to fight everyone all the time.

This is also a fairly crude attempt at re-mastering the old audio track to try and tame the slightly-honky snare drum sound a bit.

I'm Sparticus (RM) V1

I always liked the original version of this song, and I found that someone had ripped the vocal from it on YouTube. So purely for my own amusement, I recorded an alternative version of it, as though it were being played by an indie/guitar band (but with the original vocal). I would have just done a straight-forward cover, but I can't sing. This version will probably make you like the original song less than you did before

I'm not attempting to infringe upon, profit from or take credit for any original or copyrighted works. Any and all copyrights remain with the original owners.

Royals (by a guitar band)

1992
A song by Aubrey Straw

Although written in around 2002/03, at the time it sounded to us like it should've been written 10 years earlier thanks to the 90's indie sound (although this was true of most of our songs!). It got a working title of "1992" as a result, but the lyrics then formed around this theme too, so it stuck. It tells the story of a local starlet who rose to A-list fame & fortune during the 90's

The song formed out of the bass part, which is played more like a guitar (with strummed chords and lead melodies all the way through). It also features Phil & Sean trading lead vocals, which was always a big hit..!

Phil Waters (vocals), Sean Phelan (guitars, vocals), Nick Voisey (guitars), Owen Davies (bass), Eliott Brown (drums, guitars & tambourine)

1992

Yesterday Burned with the Sun
A song by TheSeven8s

Written & recorded in about 2006, just after the band first formed. We immediately recorded 4 songs within about two months of forming, this being one of them. Despite being new songs & recording the drums in our rehearsal room (with guitars & vocals tracked on later), the track always seemed to have a lot of energy. The recording also includes Sean on backing vocals, who was only with the band for about the same amount of time before disappearing..! 

The recording features: Dai Williams (vocals), Sean Phelan (backing vocals), Owen Davies (bass), Nick Voisey (guitars), Eliott Brown (drums, some guitars)

Yesterday Burned With The Sun

Beach Boys
A song by Aubrey Straw

One of the first songs ever written by Aubrey Straw, long before my time in the band, but I recorded it in about 2008 because it was one of my nostalgic favourites. It's either about going on holiday with your mates, or about taking drugs at Aberavon beach and *thinking* you've gone on holiday. Or both.

The recording features a slightly out-of-tune ukulele for that holiday vibe, although I stopped short of adding 'plane taking off' and 'tide coming in' sound effects to the start/end...

Features: Phil Waters (vocals), Sean Phelan (guitar, vocals), Owen Davies (bass), Eliott Brown (drums, guitars), although it owes a lot to original band members Andy Bell (lead guitar) and Mark Blackburn (drums)

(Aberavon) Beach Boys

I used to play in bands that wrote songs
I have recorded some of those songs
You can listen to them

CatsInBoxes

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