H Rap - Pro Athletes - JK Savage - Diogenes and more

We have been busy, maybe too busy to even update the page. A handful of recordings have been happening as well as mixing and mastering projects, the spring is looking to be a busy one.

H Rap Brown: Chicago Hip Hop Artist H Rap Brown recently opened a studio space in the western space of the city. They have had a pretty solid recording schedule and are going to start funneling mixing and mastering through Brick and Mortar. The first project ready is H Rap's first solo album, Canvas. Learning the ins and outs of their new equipment I am sure has been exciting. Here is one such track from Canvas, I have been working on the mix and master. A couple more runs through and the project should be ready for press.

H Rap Brown - Grown Man Biz (produced by Bashir)

Professional Atheletes: Over the holiday season, these two great musicians made their way to cold Iowa and recorded a handful of songs with David Rossi. David has been working hard on percussion and drum parts, as well as getting the mixes right. We should have a song to share soon.

JK Savage: With his album in the post production stage, GaiDen Gadema can't stay out of the studio. Working on a collection of songs to press and accompany the Jim Kelly project, JK Savage has been through 2 whirlwind recording sessions with Gadema recording a total of 9 songs in about 4 hours. A sneak peak audio file will be available shortly.

Diogenes: New to the Des Moines hip hop scene this Nebraska native is a start up in what we hope will be a good young addition that can help things to blossom a bit. I plan on remixing one of the tracks he recorded and posting some audio before the end of the week.

Other projects: Maxilla Blue has slowly started work on a follow up to their first album, and Lead Breakfast has been making progress lately. Also, Des Moines Hardcore band Victim or Victory has scheduled time to growl at our walls. Looking to spend a lot of time in the space this spring.

Fuck you, power...

That's right, I said it. I just told power to fuck off. You might think that's a pretty big thing to do; well, you're right. It's not every day a person tells energy that's produced by mechanical, electrical, or other means, and used to operate devices, to stick it where the sun don't shine. Well guess what, today's the not every day. 

Up until about one hour ago this day could've passed as good, borderline great. Then, right before the first drum take, just as levels were set, LITERALLY right before the red line started moving across the screen...darkness. I dropped my sticks on the snare and gave the whole building the finger. That's right, I did it. I gave a structure with roof and walls, such as a house, school, store, or factory the biggest middle finger you've ever seen. It probably didn't do any good, in fact, I guarantee it didn't do a damn thing, but it felt alright. We'll see what happens tomorrow. Maybe after we get the power back on, and right before I get ready to lay down a track, I'll get a fucking appendicitis and die. I just hope I have enough time to flip the bird to the universe, that is, to all existing matter and space considered as a whole. 

2009 brings the New

Some new things are coming with the New Year. A lot of music is sitting right on the edge. Stay tuned...

Snakes on the Brain, Good Wood, Perfected...

It's been a big week. We ventured out of our comfort zones to build some

acoustic treatment for our live room. I'd be lying if I said it didn't turn out splendidly.  We built three large corner traps that are over eight feet high, a large wall trap that is four feet by four feet, and a few stand alone traps that can be moved about the studio, which measure two feet by four feet. 

Although we were discriminated against at the fabric store for being male, we did get some BEAUTIFUL fabric to cover everything in. I guess we're not exactly the Sunday afternoon fabric customers Hancock's is used to. We've also started going to Lowe's because the workers at 

Home Depot on 14th St. don't appreciate our attitudes. Maybe it 

has something to do with the fact that we keep telling the 

employees we're constructing an Al-Qaida training facility.

We finally received our studio snake in the mail. It's a pretty sweet little contraption that allows us to set up drum mics in about a fourth of the time. You'd be surprised how fast you can run twelve mic cables through a wall when you don't have to guess what the cable is attached to on the other end. We'll definitely get some new and improved drum samples up this weekend. 

 As always, there's plenty going on. We've got the traps constructed but

now we've got painting to do and sound tests to perform. However, the end is definitely in sight. I can't wait for the moment when we finally get to say ignition. However, as with all labors of love, I'm assuming you never really get to the point where everything is exactly how you want it. The way things are going now, by the time this spot is done, we'll be on our way to a bigger one. That doesn't sound so bad. 

Keep up the good work, us. 

A Big October Looms...

The headline says it all. Performances and engagements galore for everyone's favorite month.

I'm not sure if it's everyone's favorite month. Listen, either way there's a lot going on. Weekend shows for all nearly every weekend. A big wedding, recording, big life decisions. How does one handle all of this? How about not thinking about any of it until it's too late? 

We got our first taste of acoustic recording last night. Elliot Imes from Tyborn Jig stopped by to lay down an original and a cover. We were happy with the results. Our first time micing an acoustic with a stereo condenser pair. We recorded him in the vocal booth, which was cozy, but appears to have delivered a smooth sound. Please take a listen to Elliot's cover of The Replacements' song Androgynous here. 

Let us know what you think. Even if it's bad. Let's grow together. 

One More Weekend...

Is it possible that we could finish the remaining construction projects this weekend and be fully operational by next week? I certainly hope so. 

We will be constructing bass traps this weekend and finishing up some minor wall construction in the live room. The space is starting to feel real comfortable. So much so that hanging out has become relatively easy, and possibly a problem. The lighting is comfortable, there's plenty to do; recording, watching MST3K, spray painting things, tuning drums, playing drums, rehearsal, eating sushi, drinking apple juice, etc. God help us if we get a couch and the internet. 

There will be some big things happening soon and we'll keep the blog up to speed. We've got some bands on the roster for recording in the next couple of months, some Central Standard releases on the horizon, and a myriad of other things not worth mentioning now. 

I almost forgot, the kick-drum tone has been located and captured. I've used Remo heads my entire life but now that I've used the new Evans EMAD2 I'm a changed man. Expect to hear a sample up in the next few days; maybe even including vocal descriptions of the micing processes. Isn't brand loyalty bizarre? I honestly felt a little guilty switching. 

Stay classy. 

Been Working

While the space has been in different stages of construction for the last few weeks, we still have the capacity, and have even found the time to record some vocals for Central Standard's next official release. GaiDen Gadema's "The Jim Kelly Acquisition"

We have 3 songs left to complete, and a lot of mixing and mastering to go through. But the album will be released before the end of the year.

This weekend, sasquatch.