Music

As I look at the playlist of tracks that are “in the can” (meaning either completely recorded and roughmixed, or at least completely composed and a guide version mixed), that’s 38 tracks with a total playing time just over 25 minutes. Adding to that:

• the Aeneis suite: which will be in four parts, with eight to twelve tracks, and a projected playing time around 6-8 minutes,
• the last remaining part for “Größenordnungen” (and maybe two short interludes for that suite), totalling in around 1-2.5 minutes,
• an additional version (or two) of the Promenade (2 minutes),
• a few things on my list which I haven’t written out, but which I absolutely want to do (such as Por Que Jesus…, a few hardcore tracks, …),

and you arrive at close to 40 minutes, and a little over 50 tracks. Light is on the horizon!

With that number of really really cool tracks, there might be a chance that I’m going to throw out some of the tracks which are currently on “the list”. “Halbwegs Leer” is such a candidate, as is “No Tango”, and perhaps some others. But fear not – those super-great tracks already in the can, such as Größenordnungen, Bottom Freezer and verschluckbare Kleinteile will remain no matter what.

Musicians

This is an increasingly impressive list: just a few names from the list of people who either did already record something or have commited to doing so, for you to google – in no specific order: Ralf Gruber, Raul Bonell, Matt Davignon, Matthew C. Erion, Chrissie Caulfield, Mark Francombe, Gaetano Fontenazza, Alun Vaughan, Filzinho, Nika Sax, Andreas Willers, Wolfi Schlickhorn, …

I find it fantastic that there’s so many outstanding artists out there who generously agree to work on such an odd no-budget project!

Cover Art

Need to work on that – the lead designer has not been nominated yet, and there’s only a tiny few number of artists in the boat right now – if you can do visual art, please let me know, and we’ll talk!

General Schedule

Due to some things in my life apart from music, I’ll be moving house by the beginning of next year, coinciding with my start in a new day-time job, so there won’t be that much time available for working on music for some period.

For that reason, I have recently communicated a release target either end of Q2/2012 or in Q3/2012. Won’t work out earlier, but might be moved further still…

(Possible question from the floor: in cw22, you told us “end of 2011″. In cw 30, you said “Q1/2012″. Now you say “Q2 or Q3″. Will this project ever get close to completion?

Answer from me: If I wasn’t moving house, and if I was pushing everyone (including myself), Q1/12 could still be done. But there’s cover art (where I had overestimated the resonance from possible collaborators), and there’s marketing (where I don’t have any experience whatsover), and there’s moving house, and a new job. Now is it possible that it will get moved further still? As I said, yes. There’s a lot of uncertanities involved, most of which have to do with the fact that everyone in this project does his work most generously gratis and on the side. And it’s hugely complex: as of now, there’s already more than three dozen people involved – and it’s getting still more. Talk senior project management skills .

This album has during the time I’ve been working on it become really important to me. It has long passed the point of no return. Meaning: it will not be abandoned, there will be a release. On the other hand, I want to make it right the way that is possible. And if improving the quality of the product means pushing the release date another month, then so be it.

Let’s be realistic, though: nothing that’s that long in the works will turn out good (perhaps with the exception of my JANUS album . So I, too, will be interested to get it released as soon as possible.)

Ok, with that, I need to get back to write another challenging part for Raul – and paint the slide show for Matt, Matt, Chrissie and Gaetano – there’s work to do!