Timeline:
Early 2018
Martin researches information about ancient China while working on a different creative project and discovers some of its historical information comes from The Book of Songs: a collection of 305 poems, songs, hymns and eulogies compiled circa 2500 BCE. Although not usually interested in poetry, Martin finds The Book of Songs a fascinating insight into a world 2500 to 3000 years old.
Late 2018
After further research on how these poems were originally presented and performed, and, how they are still performed today, Martin develops the idea of using them as a starting point for new ideas in lyric and music writing and even recording and production techniques that suggest the beginnings of a concept album.
December 2018 – January 2019
Using one or two lines from a selected poem as a starting point, Martin writes his own poem and sets it to music. Over the course of the next six weeks, 14 songs (or ‘Musical poems’) in a basic vocal melody and chord format are finished as well as about 10 incomplete ideas. Many of these would go on to be the final songs on ‘The Light of the Watchman’ and half of the follow up album. Although, initially they were filed away in a draw until March 2021.
March and April 2021
After rediscovering these musical poems, Martin decides to record an album that follows a set of ‘rules’ and guidelines from a production point of view. The creation of this ‘Book of Songs’ inspired concept album begins.
Auditions for spoken word artists begins (via Voices.com) and finally two are chosen. Mike Drew providing the deep male voice and Kara Noble providing the dynamic female voice. Recordings are completed of two different poems with a few recordings of each one.
Early April 2021
Martin looks Airgigs web site for a female voice to provide the vocals for the whole album.
Only the third profile looked at and Stephanie Yavelow (Vayymusic.com) says of herself “I have a unique style and tone which works well over electronic, ambient, down-tempo, or experimental music. If you're looking for something a little more ethereal and left of centre, you've come to the right place!”
Martin realises his Book of Songs concept album is ‘electronic, ambient, down-tempo and experimental’! After listening to Stephanie’s on-line songs he believes she is the voice for the project.
12th April 2021
Martin contacts Stephanie Yavelow and invites her to get involved with this experimental project. Stephanie agrees and the recording begins!
May 2021
Martin revamps his home studio for recording the album. He sells all but two of his old synthesizers, keyboards, studio gear and samplers and purchases two modern day synthesizers that recently been released: The UDO Super 6 and the Model Electronics Cobalt 8X. This streamlining of his studio follows the modern ideas developed from the way the poems of The Book of Songs were originally thought to be presented and performed. Only these two synths, a digital piano (Roland RD700SX) and one Native Instruments virtual piano (The Maverick) were to be used to create all the music on the album. ‘Getting the most out of limited resources’ and ‘Less is more’ became phrases which would direct much of the albums music and production.
May – December 2021
Stephanie records twelve songs with several versions of each to choose from. In every case the final vocal track was the starting point of each song and not the final recorded part as in the traditional method of recording songs. They were all recorded in free tempo (no click or rhythm track) giving Stephanie some freedom of expression and timing. Of these twelve songs, eight would go on ‘The Light of the Watchman’ album, one would become a bonus song for this album and three would be considered for the follow up album.
May 2021 – April 2022
Backing tracks are created for the twelve songs Stephanie recorded plus four spoken word pieces created from the voices recorded in April 2021. Two of which are the Prologue and Epilogue* Also, during this time in September 2021 and February 2022, drums tracks are recorded for use on the first and follow up album by Luca Zarbano in Sicily, Italy, and Alejandro Stessens in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
* Epilogue will be on the -as yet untitled- follow up album. (Jan 24 - Epilogue has been pushed back to the third Timeless Earth album) (November 24 - The original Epilogue will now not be used on the third album. A new Epilogue has been written for this album)
March-April 2022
All songs are sent to Beta listeners for feedback and reactions.
March 2022
Martin invites Jonah Primo and Australian digital artist to create the album artwork.
April 2022
Martin invites Francesco Stella based in Last Take Studio in Berlin Germany to Master the songs for the final CD.
May – July 2022
Album is mastered ready for producing a CD and selling on-line. Album booklet artwork and formatting is completed.
June 2022
Martin upgrades his studio computer and music software from Cubase 6 to Cubase 12. Work begins on the follow-up album.
13th July 2022
Album released on Bandcamp with the physical CD being available in early August.
October 2022 - July 2023
Writing and recording for the second album continues. Several new virtual instruments are purchased including various orchestral strings and original sample packs from Spitfire Audio. A new piano from Native Instruments is also purchased. An additional voice recording by Mike Drew is made. Jonah Primo agrees to create artwork for the CD in the same style as previously.
Title of the second album will be ‘The Golden Age of Starlight’. New artwork received.
August - September 2023
Additional sample instruments purchased from Spitfire Audio and Native Instruments. One final vocal tack to be recorded. Final mixes completed of all but one song. Track order decided upon, 10 tracks at 73 minutes. Four songs are pushed back to be considered on the third album in 2024/25.
October - November 2023
Final vocal track received from Stephanie. Working on final track and final mixes. CD booklet final design finished. (The song ‘Major Ode to this Timeless Earth’ took best part of six weeks to complete!)
December 2023
Written five new songs for the third Timeless Earth album including a 4 part Suite based around a great battle or war.
January 2024
All ten tracks sent off for Mastering to Last Take Studios in Berlin, Germany. Probable early February release for ‘The Golden Age of Starlight’. It will be on Bandcamp like the first album available as a download or as a CD. Song excerpts will be on this website in early February.
30th January 2024
The second album ‘The Golden Age of Starlight’ is released on Bandcamp. Compact Discs will be available to purchase in February.
January-June 2024
Vocal recording backing track creation for the third Timeless Earth album continues.
May 2024
After conducting new auditions Martin invites John Moutray to provide the spoken word on the third album. A 4 part Suite inspired by The Art of War requires a more aggressive and passionate reading. A dynamic ‘ralllying cry’ poem was called for this time.
May-July 2024
Martin writes the final Timeless Earth song to complete the three concept album project. Vocal recording and backing track creation will continue over the summer with a probable Autumn release for the third album now named ‘The Art of War’, taken from the treatise of the same name dating back to the same time period as The Book of Songs’, circa 500BCE.
August - November 2024
Final vocal track recorded and backing tracks all finished during August and September. Final mixes completed and Mastering done by Last Take Studio in Berlin during October. CDs being made in November and an album release date of Thursday 14th November.
September 2024
New synthesizer purchased (UDO Super 8) and three new sampled instruments bought from Spitfire Audio.
12th November 2024
Website updated, Soundcloud and Bandcamp all updated ready for album release on 14th November.
14th November 2024
Album released on Bandcamp. Available to buy as a Compact Disc or digital download.
December 2024
After initially thinking that the third Timeless Earth album would be the final one due to exhausting the initial ‘Book of Songs’ stimulus, Martin finds a new similar source of ancient Chinese poetry and considers ‘The Silk Road’ as a theme for a new musical Suite. With no songs or ideas left over from The Art of War, the next album will be starting from a ‘blank page’ but with new initial stimuli. Too early for a release date however November 2025 or January 2026 are possibilities.
December 2024 - January 2025
Writing new songs for the fourth album begins.
Spoken word pieces are the first to be written. Auditions begin on Voices.com website. Elizabeth Copnall based in California is invited to perform the opening of the The Silk Road Suite. A second audition for the opening track of the album -The prologue- is underway. There will be two spoken word pieces in total.