Each year there’s an international event, known as The RPM Challenge, (note: “it’s a challenge, not a competition”) to musicians to write and record an album during February. It’s a bit like writers producing a novel in a month by writing n thousand lines a day. I’ve started it before but never finished it – this time I decided to try harder…. I decided to do a concept album…
Anyway, I discovered Harold MacMillan made his “never had it so good” speech when I was in utero, so I settled on the concept as being to have a look at how we’ve done since then – literally in my lifetime. It’s not autobiographical, more a chronological look at history and culture. We start in 1957 and end up, well, now, thinking about the future. Also, it’s not musical pastiche, though some of the flavour of the times creeps into the tracks one way or the other.
Like all good concept albums there’s a lyric sheet which I’d urge you to have a look at, if only for my little intro to each track. Like all good concept albums, it has lots of tracks (some quite short) and is great through headphones! Fear not…it’s not prog… (well the 70s bit might be…)
It was quite an experience making it, not only for the creative effort involved but also (if it is not too pretentious to say so) because I realised a lot of things about myself, the society we have created and the future we are leaving to coming generations.
Twang says
Snag a free copy here….for those who feel like dropping a few bob, all money goes to Children with Cancer…
https://jonathanroberts.bandcamp.com/album/decades
Vulpes Vulpes says
Top work fella. I’ve been enjoying this on the drive to & from work!
Twang says
The is a bit of a brushed up mix since the rare first edition…
Colin H says
Ah – in that case, my one-sentence reviewlet below might need brushed up…
Colin H says
I too can recommend this – and I’m in awe of Twang in having written an album’s worth of songs in a month! I was hoping to find the time to listen really intensely to this for a few days and write something on the AW, but the pile of stuff on one’s plate never really stops… I need more long drives to places – that’s how I heard ‘Decades’ first, on a drive to Dublin, I think… In one sentence: not as ‘good sounding’ (in terms of the professional recording standard, arrangements, etc) as the last Twang album-proper, but fizzing with energy, ideas and the momentum of the theme.
Twang says
Yes the initial one observed the RPM rules and I mixed it super quickly in a day. The final version has no rerecording but a much more polished mix, stuff brought out, better dynamics, remastered etc.
Twang says
Actually if I’m strictly honest I may have autotuned the odd shaky vocal line…doing everything in one take leaves one a bit, ahem, exposed…
Colin H says
Ah, but there was a real *urgency* about it, a joie de vivre that came across to the listener. I would never have mentioned shaky vocals myself, but I think I can recall a couple of moments that you’ll proably have ‘sorted’! 🙂
Vulpes Vulpes says
Indeed, all part of the charm. Occasional shaky notes denoting chutzpah and the urgency of the enterprise – not detracting from the astonishing levels of fun maintained throughout. Now looking forward to burning the polished versh onto a CD-R for further spins!
Junior Wells says
Shakey Vocals
TMFTL
Dave Ross says
“There’s an old piano and it’s playing hot behind the green door”???
Rob C says
It’s very fine indeed. Astral High Five, Twanghead x
Baron Harkonnen says
Are you not putting it out as a CD @twang? I can`t be doing with streaming, so I haven`t heard it yet. I did enjoy the previous one.
Twang says
I hand made a batch then thought I’d make it more readily available. Happy to make you one, indeed also those other of you who have kindly bought one. Stick a note in the order and one will make its way to you!
Twang says
Actually is a download rather than strictly just streaming. ..
Twang says
After numerous (😁) requests my fab concept album covering the changes in society over the last 50 years is available in a limited edition production run hard copy CD with sparkling improved mix and remaster. Grab it from Bandcamp or message me. ..all proceeds to Children with Cancer as before.
Phil Pirrip says
Duly ordered. I’m looking forward to hearing this in all its sonic glory.
Great cause too.
Colin H says
My CD copy of the remixed. remastered, but-not-a-Steven-Wilson-in-sight copy of Twang’s ‘Decades’ arrived this morning. I’ve literally just finished playing it while researching a load of jazz stuff in 1970 Melody Makers (which seems not inappropriate given the concept) and I must say, the quality and simple ‘enjoyability’ of the album has prompted me to take a breather from the task and post this. The variety of musical style is impressive, the scattering of period newsreader and politician clips cements the concept effectively but with a light touch, and Twang’s pop sensibility – for wont of a better expression – is outstanding. We knew his musicianship was good but I believe his melodic and arrangement skills haven’t been fully appreciated or bigged-up around here. As I’ve said before, how he managed this project in a month is amazing – but the result is much more than a novelty-value thing or pat-on-the-back-for-effort affair. It’s really good!
And with Twang giving funds for sales to a Cancer charity, I’d suggest it’s worth a fiver or more of any Afterworder’s money. Bandcamp link above /\…
Bargepole says
Absolutely echo the comments above – it’s first rate.
biggles says
Scary, I was listening to the CD again earlier today.
It’s the “End of the Dream” 4-part track that I return to most often – hints of Hendrix?/ELP (Jerusalem)?/Gilmour/Stranglers riffage at the start of each segment.
Don’t know either about “shak(e)y” vocals either. The only sour note I heard emanated from the mouth of Tony Bliar…
Thank you again Jonathan.
Martin
Colin H says
Whatever I thought was a tad ‘shaky’ in the vocals on the original version *(now changing hands for thousands on ebay) has now been totally addressed. There’s a careworn (Blairworn?) quality in Twang’s voice that seems to suit the material, but no duff notes. In fact, towards the end of the record I’d even say he sounds 40 years younger.
Colin H says
This, however, *is* a tad Shaky in the vocal department… and every other department… Spookily, Shaky’s new album follows a similar theme to Twang’s, ‘Echoes Of Our Time’.
Dave Ross says
Will order one……..
Colin H says
You know it makes sense, Dave. Hey, he even homages THE EIGHTIES. In fact, his Thatcher piece is one of his best tunes/arrangements. But there’s Hendrix impersonations elsewhere, so that’s okay.
Rigid Digit says
Can’t be doing with this downloading malarkey, so I’ve bought the CD
Quick listen: Let It Rip, Confident and Proud and Its Not Business Its Personal standout for me.
End Of The Dream demands my attention and it will get it
Colin H says
I haven’t got as far as the titles yet – but I played it twice today – it’s a winner!
Twang says
Gosh thanks chaps massively appreciated! Been busy today & just caught up. ..thanks Colin for triggering more interest… 😀
Colin H says
You’re very welcome!
This notion of Heppo writing a book saying the Beatles are underrated – surely he needs to look into the notion that Twang’s been underrated. Everyone in the world already knows who the Beatles are, whereas Twang…
Twang says
LOL as we don’t say here…😂