Ian wrote in 2000...

"Yes, five years in the making and it’s finally here! It sounds like I’ve been locked in a studio all that time recording it (chance would be a fine thing!) but something called a full time job, a family and a band to play in have played their part. Still I’m very pleased with the results, and hope you will be too.

 If you would like a copy, please e-mail me via the above link quoting your name, address and telephone number and I’ll e-mail you back with an address that you can send your £8.50 cheque. Please also let me know if you want it signing or personalising (yes, I have been asked to autograph some already!).

Incidentally, I played all the instruments, sang the (two) songs, and wrote, arranged and produced all the music.

1.NEW BEGINNING (3.59)

A fast, lively instrumental written in 1997, whilst I was learning some advanced synth programming techniques. I tried to capture the feeling of someone going off to start a new part of their life. The film extract from one of my favourite films, Local Hero, was added much later but seemed to fit the bill for what I wanted. Thanks to Goldcrest Films for the clip.    

2. STONELEIGH WALTZ (2.57)

This piece has a folk / classical feel, and was the first tune I wrote on my David Oddy OM acoustic guitar, which I had built in 1997. We were on holiday in Stoneleigh, near Sidmouth, Devon at the time and the relaxed holiday mood added to the feel of the piece.

3. JACKSON’S RETURN (2.54)

Recorded in 1995 for my cassette mini-album, Approaching Alpha. A jig that I wrote on mandolin, inspired by the wonderful playing of Phil Beer, that soon turned into a fast, electric version complete with a key change! Great fun to do.

4. YOU’RE THE ONE (4.22)

The first of two songs on the album, this is a personal statement on my Christian beliefs. Written in 1999, the words of the chorus are based around those used in the Preparation Of The Gifts section of an Anglican communion service. I tried a few arrangements of this song and finally decided the ”stripped-down” guitar and vocal format portrayed it best.

After working on two albums with Mike Turner and The Visitors, Mike presented me with his Shergold Masquerader as a thank you for helping on the album. After a busy weekend of recording, I came home on that Sunday evening with this wonderful sounding guitar, and the main harmonic theme running through the first half of this piece was written. This was the first piece recorded on my Tascam digital portastudio back in 1997.

6. FLIGHT OF DESPAIR (5.47)

Another track from 1995’s Approaching Alpha, this was inspired having watched a documentary on the troubles in Sarajevo and is written from a pilot’s point of view. In three sections, it charts the anticipation of what he will find, the flight itself, and the horror of what he found upon arrival. It has been remixed from the original using stronger orchestral and choir sounds (sorry, synthesisers used…couldn’t afford the real thing!)

7. WARTHOG (4.45)

Full blown house thang! Early in 2000 I was working on a dance remix of an Odd@Ease tune with Mark Hibell and Haydn Jones, and asked my 5 year old son Stuart to say a couple of things into the mic, so I could test my new Akai S2000 sampler. The phrases stuck, the dance tracks were laid and “the spaceship will be landing in 15 minutes!” You have to hear the track to understand….

8. WICKLOW SHORE (4.27)

Composed this year whilst working on the Comedy Of Errors soundtrack. Bereft of Shakespearian ideas, I suddenly found my mind on an Irish beach and this soon followed. Guitar sound is a shameless tribute to Mr. Oldfield.

9. TRAVELLING HOME (3.12)

Originally written in 1990 as a guitar based theme, I came up with this electronic version around 1995 and it has come out of the cupboard periodically for a bit of tweaking ever since. This final version was structured around 1998 and remixed for the album.

10. RETROSPECT (3.21)

Last track on the 1995 Alpha album. Written on a bleak February evening after having had a 3 hour journey home from work (I only had 15 miles to go!). Well, what else can you do when you’re snowed in?……don’t answer that!!

11. MY HERO (3.38)

Lyrics co-written with my pal Deena for her Dad, Bob, who sadly passed away in 1997. Someone has since asked me if this was another of my Christian songs. It wasn’t, but it just goes to show you how music is interpreted in different ways by different people.

12. APPROACHING ALPHA (13.34)

Title track of the 1995 cassette album, which I was inspired to write when we found out that we were having our son, Stuart. It aims to musically chart the nine months from conception (ooer!!) to birth. First fast section – sperm race. Second section (slower) – growing in the womb. Third section – seeing the scan for the first time (the pastoral theme still brings a tear to the eye…..well, mine anyway!). Fourth section – the labour; Gill still shudders listening to this! I had always wanted to do a work that was structured like my all time fave piece, Tubular Bells, and this is it. You may be interested that it had two working titles during its recording: “KB Demo”, as we nicknamed baby Stu KickBoxer, due to his “activity”. The other one….”The Foetal Suite”!!

13. SLICK CITY (2.09)

I always remember one magazine review of this piece, saying that it “was obviously inspired by Tangerine Dream”. This was great considering I had NEVER heard any of their work! I have since and can see the comparison, but it was me , honest…

14. MIST OVER KILIMANJARO (7.16)

An ethereal piece that started off as an idea for a relaxation CD in 1998. The piece was finished in one evening, but as for the relaxation CD…..well, perhaps one day (how about it, Mark?). My wife, Gill came up with the title having heard it for the first time…..nice one, Mrs.C!!