Hi there and welcome to the Elegant Simplicity Newsletter

Intro

Welcome to the August 2024 Newsletter. Not much going at at the moment: I've been stricken down with bilateral sciatica (OUCH!), from which I am still recovering. Before all of that, however, I did manage to schedule the release of a little something. Read on . . .

Before the End, Pt. 1

When is a new album not a new album? No idea, but this one falls into that category. When I say new, it is not new material – that is still being worked on. In fact, Before the End, Pt. 1 is a collection of all our EPs bundled into one album.

Elegant Simplicity - Before the End, Pt. 1

Not remastered, per se, but all tracks have been slightly tweaked and loudness matched to provide a seamless listening experience. There are no plans for a CD release.

So, why a compilation album?

Well, I’ve always thought that our first two EPs were largely given the heave ho – never sold that many or streamed that much. Which is a shame, as there are some great tracks across the releases. So, in order to give them a new lease of life and to keep momentum on the up, I decided that it would be nice to compile them into one package.

The download features some 12 songs and a full CD booklet thing with all the artwork and sleeve notes etc. It’s a lovely package.

Obviously, if you have the EPs, there is no reason for this album in your life. But if you have not got them, or perhaps own one or two of them and want them all in one super sonic hit, then this will do nicely!

Vocals

At the time of writing, I only have the vocals recorded for two of the new albums 6 or 7 songs. One has 10 harmonies, which might be overkill! It's turning out to be a long process (way longer than the last album and way, way longer than anticipated!) but perseverance is key and it will be well worth the wait.

Whammy Bammy, Thank You Mammy!

When I first got a guitar with a tremolo arm / whammy bar (that will be my Fender Stratocaster), I hated it. It just seemed to get in the way. So I took it off and put two extra springs in the bridge so the it no longer 'floated'. And it has been thus ever since.

But lately, having come into ownership of a PRS guitar, I have been revising my opinion! When I have been able to record, I have been giving the whammy some welly! As a result, I have played some solos that are atypical for me but sound rather splendid. No idea when the stuff will get released, of course, as I am always recording something. But I have found it inspiring, so it's a definite win from me. The Strat will remain 'fixed' bridge, though.

Other News

There's a nice review and interview with yours truly via Dimensions in Sound and Space. Phil Jackson and I discuss the Afraid to Wake album A Haunting at Sea and various other things. Please take a look and leave a comment.Heading

Latest CD Releases

Elegant Simplicity - Don't Look Down (at the End of the World)

£10.00

Buy Now

Afraid to Wake - A Haunting At Sea

£10.00

Buy Now

And that's about it for now.

Don't forget, if you have time and the inclination, please leave a review on Bandcamp for anything you may have purchased there (or at our Store): it really does help spread the word. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel, follow us on Spotify etc.

See you soon,

--
Steven

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ES News | Just Released: Elegant Simplicity’s New Album (sort of) + Special Interview Inside!