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"Everything
about this release is perfect, this CD redefines the word "CLASSIC"
for me. "
Sven
Freller - Germany
9/10
- Rock
Hard Magazine
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Of
the Sun + Moon
Songs behind the Scenes
The recording
of our debut album, "Of the Sun + Moon", commenced in September
1984 and concluded in April 1986. The following information is an
update to the song description section featured in Commandscript Number
3. You will notice that although the album was released in October
1986, all of the material had been inexistence for almost 4 years
already.
The
Shortest Song - Written December 1983
The
name speaks for itself. The actual version included on the album
was take 3. Actual time for the song is 1.87 seconds. There is actually
a vocal line on this one. We flipped the tape over on the album
version. The title is only listed on the LP center.
Ayltuthus
I - Written June 1983
This
song contains a message intercepted at the edge of known space.
We deciphered the code using one of Jeff's electronic gadgets and
will include its script in a future Commandscript. Features Jeff
on Hammond Organ, which was too big to fit in the studio. Recorded
at Grapevine, 1985 R.I.P.
Of
the Sun + Moon - Written May 1983
Most
of the tracking was done in the Fall of 1984. The fadeout guitar
solo was perfomed on "Tormentor" (the blue Ibanez featured in the
center of the album's gatefold), which earned its nickname by malfunctioning
(acquiring new tunings, breaking strings, etc.) at exactly the wrong
moment.
Fieldz
the Sunshrine - Written April 1983
A song
about the virtues of time travel. Jeff wrote the lyrics to this
one after waking up from a nap in Computer Science class (how can
you tell). Ex-guitarist Will Rascan's only guitar solo on the album
follows Jeff's.
Salem
- Written June 1982
Now
a Blade classic, Salem was originally released on the 1982
demo. Final lyricz were the fourth draft, completed approximately
40 minutes before the album version was recorded. The chorus for
this one was first discovered at the band's debut gig, in Vancouver's
High Anglican Church on Friday the 13th, 1982. The revised chorus
was conjured up onstage while the band was opening for Raven
in '83. Vocalz were a first take because the high notes can make
Jeff dizzy . . .
The
Reign of Night Rainz - Written July 1984
Recorded
one rainy afternoon at Grapevine. Atmospheric sound effects courtesy
of Jeff.
Legacy
- September 1982/April 1983
First
Performed live in 1982, Legacy received a major overhaul
the following year. This one was a bit harder to record after the
intro click track was eaten by the record head.
To
Lunar Windz . . . - Summer 1983
Recorded
one sunny afternoon in Studio B. Jeff on multiple overdubs of acoustic
and electric guitars as well as double speed piano.
The
Enlightenment - November 1982
Originally
released on the January 1983 demo. No, we did not slow the tape
down for the deep voice.
Master
of the Sun - Summer 1981/November 1982
January
1986 saw the first final mixes for the album. The new guitar sound
(version 3) had just been figured out and all the guitars, vocals
and the mix were done in about 4 hours. The original demo version
was missing a line so Jeff mumbled a scream (if that can be done).
The album version had the last verse edited out. It has been the
opening song of the live set almost exclusively since its creation.
The
Pressing - Written July 1984
The
last song written and recorded. This one had its bed tracks erased,
so we had to redo the drum setup at 5 in the morning to get it down.
Other tracks which also involved a lot of recording time also vanished
from the tape surface in the course of production. It was only fate
that brought this song to the (album) pressing. This was also the
most difficult song for Jeff to perform as the vocal line was actually
out of his natural range.
In
Light of the Moon - Written May 1983
Still
a favorite to perform live. Vocals, bass and drums were recorded
in late 1984. Rhythm guitars were redone (as with all the rhythm
guitar parts on the album) just prior to mixing in April 1986. In
Light of the Moon was originally slated for inclusion on the
second album, but Jeff eventually decided it would be better suited
to"Of the Sun + Moon" at the last minute.
Moon
- Written summer 1981
The
first released version clocked in at over 7 minutes long. This track
originally had vocals which were excluded when the song was demoed
in 1983. The vocal melody line became the basis for the second album's
instrumental, Cathedral Forest. The poems which make up the
background narrative were penned in the summer of 1983. Moon
is the only song other than Salem that was taken from the
original first album listing.
There
you have it. Note that "Of the Sun + Moon" was actually the
second album's worth of material Jeff had written. Because of a complete
overhaul of the band lineup in 1982 and the fact that the original
material dated back to 1978, newer works were recorded for "Of
the Sun + Moon".
It
should also be noted that on several occasions the Sacred Bone (a
human tibia found at an ancient burial ground), the Sunshrine Crystal,
turtle shell, and the stone head were in attendance during recording
sessions. Careful observation will reveal their whereabouts on the
first album cover's inner sleeve. Although "Of the Sun and Moon"
took a year and a half to record, actual studio time added up to
the equivalent of just under 6 days.
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