Hipster-Popster Readers, let me tell you 'bout the day I nearly played tambourine on a Belle and Sebastian track but got phased out for a wee electro clap. It was today and it was unexpected lunchtime fun.
Stu, as I call him now, said I could pop round to the studio about 1-ish. I thought he was doing lone over-dubs or some such and we'd just go out for a bagel or something, but, as an afterthought, he set me up in a booth with a tambourine and a pair of headphones.
Great, ye think - just get with the groove, hang on to the beat - with your fingernails. But it's nowhere near as easy as it looks!
The band are so good at all that twirly, jazzy, bass-guitar-y spangle. Even without speaking, they seem to know when to drop back. There are flows and surges, highs and lows in the song, with lovely isolated vocally resonances. Any room for someone missing a beat on a tambourine? Anyone want too many beats?
I kept telling myself 1) They can mute my channel or whatever they do in the mix. 2) I am not Madonna at Live Aid. Repeat : I am not Madonna.
In the end, I ran out of time, as I had to rush off to school pick up, and Stuart asked Brian (the engineer) to, 'pull up a wee electro clap.' (Let's call it a WEC).
The WEC did me proud instead. The gel was on the snare, the high hats were on four - whatever all that means -and the band were humble and lovely as ever.
Och, it's Friday. Enjoy.
