How to make a debut album, the Copy Haho way | Part 2

Long-time favourites amongst the TLOBF ranks, it’s taken Copy Haho a fair amount of time to get around to the recording of album number 1. With just an EP and single under their belts since we ‘Introduced’ them back in 2008, what exactly have they been doing with their time? One thing’s for sure, this studio diary isn’t going to tell you. However, if you want to read about their crazy tales of debauchery, tooth-ache and overflowing urinals then you’ve come to the right place.

If you missed part 1, head here first. Here’s the second and (final?) instalment…

Hi there, Internet.

Act II. We’ve now finished the tracking of our album, at the previously mentioned Chem19 studios.

I’m going to try and give you some rough information about the album without revealing too much. As a result you’re either going to find this boring or
aggrivating. We recorded between ten and fifteen songs. There’s additional instrumentation on top of our ‘live setup’, but not to the point where you’ll think “who do these dickheads think they are, Brian Wilson?”. You may have heard a handful of the songs, and you’ll definitely not have heard most of them. Unless anyone else in the band is reading this, of course.

Some observations;

• Rikki made up some really great drum parts on the spot while recording a new song. To me they sound a bit like the drums on the album Tusk by Fleetwood Mac.
• I think everyone really has done a great job, awesome show or whatever the ‘Tim and Eric’ reference is. I should learn to pay compliments to people face to face, and not just in online diaries and semi-ridiculous *be overly-friendly and complimentary to everyone for a day* tour games.

One thing we’ll all miss about Chem19 is the nearby burger van. Calling it a burger van seems a little patronising, as it does everything from cooked breakfasts to sweet chilli chicken dishes. A full cooked breakfast involving egg, bacon, link sausage, lorne sausage, black pudding, beans, friend bread, tea/coffee and a buttered roll (this bit seems unneccessary to me) costs just £2.70. It almost pipped my favourite place for a cooked breakfast – Tuck In Cafe in Cardiff. There’s a cafe right beside the burger van but apparently the owner is an arsehole of the highest order – his previous exploits have involved constructing fencing round the burger van overnight to try prevent custom.

Since we last spoke, the following extra-curricular activities definitely took place, I’m not even joking;

• FINALLY got to see ‘Scott Pilgrim vs. The World’ with Rikki and his brother, Gavin. Though I certainly enjoyed it, I was a little disappointed overall, and I can’t really tell you why. I think it’s definitely a case of the film being overhyped by my friends and I. I’d like to take this opportunity to single out my brother, Jamie, for contributing to this.
• Went record shopping for what felt like the first time in months. I’ve gotten way too used to emusic of late. Both of the releases I picked up, I can VERY HEARTILY recommend. Got a Ducktails 7″ on Ye Olde English Spelling Bee, who are also responsible for releasing one of my favourite albums of this year, ‘Mare’ by Julian Lynch. The other thing I picked up was the new LP by Glasgow’s Moon Unit. It’s really incredible – Ruaridh from the band has been a friend of ours for years and years (he’s from Stonehaven, too!).
• Watched ‘Chocolat’ for the first time. Bit rubbish, right? I was expecting loads scenes involving sex and chocolate, not some semi-mad lady dropping an urn.
• Discovered a full page feature in the FORTEAN TIMES on one of MY NEIGHBOURS. That was really exciting, I love that magazine.

Now that tracking is complete, we’re onto the mixing stage, as you might expect. We’re doing this with the very talented Simon Ward (of Errors fame). I reckon he’s going to try his best. I’m not too sure if I’ll write to you about the mixing proccess as it will probably read along the lines of;

“Got emailed a new version of ‘_________’, but then replied soon after requesting __________ to be turned up just a little bit more”.

What might be a better idea is that the next part of this could cover the putting together of the FINAL PRODUCT! I reckon that bit might
be interesting enough to warrant a read on your lunchbreak at work.

TO BE CONTINUED MAYBE.