Brendon told me (Dave) that he was recording some stuff at home and I suggested we try an email liaison. A few days later Picture Of You appeared in my inbox. I added the piano, bass, drums and strings and sent it back. That's how it all began. In fact the arrangement was complete on the first pass. Later some changes to the instument sounds but that was the test song and the process seemed to work.

It's a big change from how we did it in the old days. The scope for change is huge now and the pressure of that few hours in the studio is removed. It does mean you can fiddle for far too long but the tyranny of the studio clock has gone. Laptops and portable setups means you can work on the material anywhere from the kitchen table to the 5:15 from Waterloo.

In fact it is harder now not to overcook your production. We have taken a deliberate underplayed production route much like the old difference between a "live" and a "studio" album in the 70's. Keep it clean and simple and don't muddy up the arrangement.

We chose AWAL/iTunes for release and this is just a very cool and hassle free way to get the material up there and available. We learned far too much about barcodes and CDDB entries but this stuff underpins a new kind of freedom. No record label, no external producer and no commercial pressure.

Bob had a redemption song but I'm hoping this is our redemption album. I think we are getting in the groove and there is a sound appearing somewhere (with some obvious diversions). There is certainly more to come.