PILGRIM'S PROGRESS - JULY 2008

Pre-production rehearsals began a couple of weeks before in London. Here we see Crispian discussing the song with percussionists, whilst Sam Williams watches from a safe distance, probably wondering what he's going to have for lunch.



Above... Crispian puts down guitar chops on a track called 'light years ahead of your time'. Telecaster jabs are delivered via a Uni Vibe effects pedal, into the warm receptive valves of a Vox AC30 amplifier. Guess that's retro irony for a song about the future.



Sitar wonder woman Sheema Mukherjee, was introduced to us by Johnny Kalsi from the Dhol foundation. Here she is, tea'd up, and laying it down for 'All dressed up and ready'.



Alonza loves a good zither. Here he is playing one in a cloud of incense.



Paul usually plays an old Gretsch drum kit, but Sam has a lovely vintage Ludwig. This picture is like pornography for drummers.



We knew Sam Williams for his work with Supergrass, and from his band 'The Mystics'. He mixed 'Out on the Highway', 'Song of Love' and recorded Second Sight with us in Oxford. It's been really great to work with him again. He's a fantastic producer and also a diabolic elf from the subterranean dimensions. Check it owt!



No pictures of Harry on this roll, we're afraid, as he was resident camera documentarian. This is Alonza playing double bass in a sound proofed wardrobe, leading to Narnia. We moved out all the fur coats and stuff and it sounded lush. His intense expression, in this photograph, is probably due to a group of fauns who had popped their heads in for a listen...



Here's two protagonists trying to out-shred each other for a track called 'Witches & wine" "I can't keep up!" says Crispian, wiping his brow, clearly flabbergasted by Alonza's welsh mandolin chops.



Percussion on 'all dressed up & ready'; this is Vijay (left), and Himanesh (right). Vijay played on School of Braja, whilst Himanesh is the son of the folk singer Himangsu Goswami, who performed on K and has been a friend and mentor to the band since the beginning. The hammer being bashed on the tabla is not due to his frustration at being directed by Crispian, but is in actual fact the method of tuning such a delicate instrument. These guys have the funk, and Vijay now also a very serious tea habit thanks to Alonza.



More to come soon...