I thought I’d give you an update on “the next album” or “albums”. Let me preface by saying that not one note has been recorded other than demos and home service demos which are basically me and a guitar or a piano tracking my ideas as soon as they come. I am tentative about even addressing this because it may be another instance of me speaking too soon about something that doesn’t exist yet. Although, while nothing has begun, it likely will in short order.

We have 4 or 5 songs which are starting to sound like actual songs. There are another 5 or so that we will probably be working on very soon. I have roughly 10-15 more that the band hasn’t heard either because the songs haven’t been rough sketched for mood, or they are missing parts. On top of that, I am going back through every piece of recorded melodic ideas I’ve done since 2001. There are literally hundreds of those, and literally hundreds of those will be gone over critically. That’s not to mention potential contributions from other band members.

We are attempting to record the music ourselves. While this is an ambitious proposition, it frees us to write as we record rather than hashing everything out in advance and then paying for studio time to see if the things really work. In the end we could end up in a studio, but we are going to really make a go of this. If it doesn’t sound polished, it won’t be released. If we can’t do sonic justice to the scope of the ideas, the material will have to be re-recorded. I was very nervous about this idea at first, but I think it’s become the Flotation Walls way to do things on our terms before looking outside for assistance. We’ve had successes and failures in these ventures, but we are a better band for the experience regardless of the outcome and this should prove no exception. 

There are already loose themes and concepts in play. The concepts are more demanding of our imaginations and skill than anything I’ve ever been a part of. We are pushing our technical abilities beyond our comfort zones in both individual and band capacities. Our influences are also changing. I am looking critically at music from the last three centuries from all over the world.

I can say that the emphases conceptually and musically will be different than NATURE. While I am more proud of that record than anything I’ve ever been a part of, the process will also be different. This will not be a 5-year endeavor. This will be a more collaborative effort. There is one band at the center of the creation of whatever we do next, not a rotating cast.

There may be freebies or one-off songs, because it’s a way to remain connected between records. That being said, I still firmly believe in albums and EPs and I’ve heard nothing in the last 10 years to convince me otherwise. While the methods of distribution and listening habits have changed, the best format for artists has not.  If anyone (including myself) tells you differently, they are trying to sell you technology or PR as a substitute for ideas. It’s not a stubborn refusal to adapt, it’s a an artistic refusal cave to whims, fads, economics and things that aren’t music.

I realize this is vague, but I don’t want to tease you with half-baked ideas or misdirections. I suppose this is a state of the union. I also want to say that we are not done supporting NATURE, there may be more things related to that to come. It’s laid the foundation for where we are today and has set a bar for us to surpass or sidestep completely. We will remain an active live band.

The main purpose for writing this is so that you know we are working. This may be the last long-winded bit on my part for a while. There will be bits and pieces soon I’m sure. Thanks for reading and for supporting us.

Carlos