FOURTEEN TWENTYSIX

A short while ago we quietly announced we have started working on our new album, the follow up to Lighttown Closure. Here’s the first big update on our progress!

The thematic and lyrical concept is in place (mainly developed over the past months by Chris and Tom) and we are very excited about it. It is in many ways true to previous Fourteen Twentysix offerings but also quite a leap forward. We will not spoil it so soon, we think you will be really thrilled about our new direction.

So after the initial talking and “conceptual” phase its time for music…. or is it?

Today we’ve started on the drums, percussive and ambient sound recordings for the new album. In the (rough looking) attic of our old house we put up our recording rig. I think because Chris was a drummer before starting Fourteen Twentysix its the most logical step for him to start the whole process with drums. Most bands start with a few guitar riffs or piano melodies… but we don’t

We’ve recorded various snare drums, metal kegs, barrels etcetera to form our own library of sounds. As opposed to using generic digital drumkits and percussive samples we build our own sample packs so to speak, pretty much from scratch. Its a lot of work but very rewarding because everything really has a unique texture not found in sequencer sample packs.

Out of all these crazy sound recordings we compose drum patterns for our songs. We don’t build up a drumkit and record a drummer playing complete drum grooves. Fourteen Twentysix is more about experimental patterns and sounds and we try hard not to sound like your average garage rockband trio laying down a drum and bass guitar drone. Without giving away too much already about the whole concept of our new album: its going to be more dynamic, rich and “raw” sounding.

In addition, instead of tapping beats on a metronome sequencer grid we also base our drum loops on a organic ambient recordings, like a steel brush scraping along side a wooden window pane. Its these ambient, unpredictable and erratic recordings that often spark the imagination for a totally unique beat or groove. Once the drum pattern is fleshed out the ambient part is often no longer needed but will occasionally be used as a texture or ambience layer.

At the end, when the songs are done, we take some of our custom sounds onto the stage again, mapped onto midi triggered drum pads. This way Jeroen can play his drums using the very special sounds (like odd snares and toms) in combination with his live acoustic drumkit.

So thats it, our first recording diary of our new album! We are going to keep you up to date from here on with frequent updates. Stay tuned!

Jelle.