Marking a departure into an altogether more mature sound, The Essence of Sham displays the boys' ability to transcend the limitations of of their own musical ability, as well as the large quantity of Polish lager consumed during the sessions, to offer more developed soundscapes and textures.
The process of writing and recording remained the same: improvised fragments were slowly refined into songs that - once recorded - were quickly forgotten. Long, rambling takes were then edited down at a later date to the results offered here. Several tracks from the debut album appear again, allowing the listener to decide which - if any - version is their favourite.
At times the guitar featured as many as four strings (although all still tuned to the same pitch as one another), demonstrating the group's desire to develop their sound. The partner of one of the members was so overawed by the results that - upon arriving home from a tiring business trip to hear the recordings booming through her kitchen at deafening volume - she immediately burst into tears and locked herself in the bathroom.
There can therefore be no doubt, then, that this is the true essence of Sham.
• • •
Andrew Gardiner - lead vocals, electric guitar, lyrics
Mark Warmington - drums, backing vocals
Recorded at Resident Studios, Willesden, London
Tracked between Spring - Winter 2016
Recorded, edited and mixed by Andrew Gardner ≈ unimbued.com
Cover image by Shyrooken ≈ instagram.com/shyrooken
The process of writing and recording remained the same: improvised fragments were slowly refined into songs that - once recorded - were quickly forgotten. Long, rambling takes were then edited down at a later date to the results offered here. Several tracks from the debut album appear again, allowing the listener to decide which - if any - version is their favourite.
At times the guitar featured as many as four strings (although all still tuned to the same pitch as one another), demonstrating the group's desire to develop their sound. The partner of one of the members was so overawed by the results that - upon arriving home from a tiring business trip to hear the recordings booming through her kitchen at deafening volume - she immediately burst into tears and locked herself in the bathroom.
There can therefore be no doubt, then, that this is the true essence of Sham.
• • •
Andrew Gardiner - lead vocals, electric guitar, lyrics
Mark Warmington - drums, backing vocals
Recorded at Resident Studios, Willesden, London
Tracked between Spring - Winter 2016
Recorded, edited and mixed by Andrew Gardner ≈ unimbued.com
Cover image by Shyrooken ≈ instagram.com/shyrooken
credits
released January 1, 2017