Spleen Arcana second album is currently being recorded, day by day, track by track. Some of you bought the first album on cd, some of you bought a digital version, some others bougth both versions. Many others prefered the free download. What will you choose for Spleen Arcana second album? This poll is yours… Feel free to explain your choice in the comments below.

July heavy rotation. Old music as always apart from Ayreon, IQ and Zoe Keating. Do you know Zoe Keating? I discovered her music at an Amanda Palmer gig and her new album, Into The Trees, is absolutely beautiful – layered cello – music. By the way, I think that Magma’s last album is about to become one my favourite album of them.

So this is my playlist but what is yours?

Eclectic playlist for June. As you can see, Transatlantic last album is still on heavy rotation and their gig in Paris in May just made me play it even more! I found Bat For Lashes Two Suns special edition which includes a documentary dvd. Such a beautiful voice and soulful artist, I can’t stop playing her two albums. Pendragon, Mike Oldfield, Pink Floyd, Perry Blake, Spock’s Beard and so on… So many inspiring and excellent music!

I just received a Field Where She Died t-shirt from here and I couldn’t resist to take some pics of it and share them (sorry for the blurry vintage feel but vintage feel is so important ah ah)…

Spread the arcana by getting your t-shirt here : http://www.comboutique.com/spleenarcana

“The Platypus” song is now available on Itunes, check it out here and succumb to the Platypus call!

Thanks for your support

I’m taking a break from demo recordings as I’m currently moving from a place to another and setting up my new home studio (picture above). I need to get back all my gear (Preamp, mics, Rme Multiface, Adam A7 and keyboards) and then I’ll start to work again on the demo process. It was great to see David after Transatlantic’s gig in Paris (which was truly awesome by the way) and talk about Spleen Arcana’s second album and how we’ll record his drumkit (oh yes, as far as David likes the new songs, he’ll join the arcana once more for a second album). I can’t wait to work on these new songs again and start recording sessions as soon as I can!

For SA’s second album, I plan to record electric guitars in a different way. I was about to take the “direct recording road”, without my amp but then, I discovered another road : The Loadbox road! I received a Koch Loadbox which allows to plug any amp head and then record it without cabinet! I absolutely don’t know how it sounds and if the speaker simulation will be better than my Teck 21 pedals but I just couldn’t leave my Fender Bassman 70 head alone. I’m curious to hear how it will sound with the “black witch”…

Stay tuned

Yesterday heavy metal lost one of its best voice, if not the best. I’ve been a fan of Dio’s voice for a long time as I’m one of those who think that he was Black Sabbath’s voice. I really like first Black Sabbath albums but for me there’s nothing like Heaven & Hell and Mob Rules, truly epic albums! My favourite songs are “Children Of The Sea”, “Heaven And Hell”, “Lonely Is The Word”, “The Mob Rules” and “The Sign of the Southern Cross” (maybe my favourite one, so epic!). I discovered heavy metal through these albums and it reminds me many good memories.

And what about his work with Rainbow? Songs like “Stargazer”, “A Lignt In The Black”, “Gates of Babylon” are just masterpieces and featured all Dio’s vocal talent and charisma. Rising by Rainbow is one of my favourite albums from any styles, it’s timeless, powerful and epic, hard rock at its best!

Holy Diver, another classic, and The Last In Line from Dio solo carreer are fantastic albums as well, with songs like “Holy Diver”, “Don’t Talk To Strangers”, “Rainbow in the Dark”, “Egypt (The Chains Are On)”…

I didn’t listen enough to Heaven & Hell’s album but I need to. I’m truly sad to not have seen them live. Anyway, his music will be played over and over and will always sound special to me. Long Live Rock ‘n’ Roll

“If you listen to fools, the mob rules”

“The world is full of kings and queens
Who blind your eyes and steal your dreams
Its heaven and hell,
And they’ll tell you black is really white
The moon is just the sun at night
And when you walk in golden halls
You get to keep the gold that falls
Its heaven and hell”

Let me introduce you “the Black Witch”, my brand new guitar! I’ve been a Les Paul lover for years (I learnt the guitar seriously on a Les Paul copy) and the ebony custom model has always been my favourite model by far. It’s a very beautiful guitar as you can see but most of all, the sound is stunning and I particulary like the neck pickup with a clean sound, it sounds so sweet and warm! As you guess, this new “friend” should be featured quite a lot on my second album…

I’m back from a little trip to London which was fantastic! Two days which was really inspiring… It was great to walk and cross the famous Abbey Road and see the famous recording studio. Musically speaking, Abbey Road reminds me more of Pink Floyd than the Beatles because of some of my fav pictures of the Floyd from this legendary studio. Anyway, it was stunning to see this studio for real, I can’t imagine how it is inside!

A nice coincidence was to see accidentally through the hotel window the Battersea Power Station made famous by Pink Floyd’s Animals album. Well, I’m pretty sure it’s the famous factory (picture below) was not far from its location but maybe someone could confirm?

I couldn’t help myself shooting this Les Paul Custom (picture below), sadly waiting for being played behind her cage. What a beautiful and impressive guitar! I wish I could play one someday…

Another prog rock reference is the Porcupine Pub (and its tree) near the Astoria, is this the truth behind the meaning of Porcupine Tree’s name? Who knows… ;)