Productive day. Managed to add all of the new vocals, and recorded a few smaller ones, completing the basic recording for The Myth Of Sisyphus 2026 in a day; I'll tweak all of mixes later, as well as set the master volumes.
I'm reminded that 'The Invisible Man' was written in 2008, 18 years ago, and that this sequence began 31 Oct 2013, probably for that old experiment under the label of The Harlequin Kings. The track now certainly sounds better than it's ever sounded. I'm keen to move on, charge on to get it done. This updating old stuff is not satisfying, an artist should be making new things - but I like this music a lot. How good it sounds, and this 2026 version is certainly improved compared to the 2021 version. At times today I thought this album was a peak. How tragic is it for an artist to believe in a peak that was 5 years ago! New peaks must await - yes!
I don't want this remaster to drag on for 4 weeks like The Modern Game, so will move straight into the sheet music, which is perhaps the most useful phase, the one with the most need for completeness if not immediate utility. I'll start on the videos too, make the basic subtitle blanks. Tomorrow there's an open mic in Congleton and I plan on singing two tracks without accompaniment. Without the sheet music it's hard to work out the chords.
I've got a few small and unimportant changes to Prometheus, but exciting ideas these act as stimulation themselves. Enjoyable improvements for an obsessive refiner. I'll work on those tonight.
I've finished the Tom Karen book. We share a love of work, a calling. He said: 'Perhaps it seems odd that, after so much success, I should still feel the need for the reassurance of an official accolade. But that's what happens when you've been a refugee. You never feel quite safe enough to relax. I know that, no matter what comforts and luxuries I possess today, they can all be taken away from me tomorrow. My continuing capacity for hard, creative work is the best security I have' - This sums up my attitude and psychology exactly, though I've never been a refugee. It is losing the capacity to do what I can do which can happen at any moment, it will happen to us all. Life and health are so precious. Relaxation is absolutely, an unaffordable luxury and yes, I fear it, but work such a joy when we possess that limited magic that is capability.
Onwards we charge!
