The Holiday Season

[Owen from Final Fantasy]

Hello, everybody.

I'm settled back in Toronto. This thing called 'Not On Tour' is new to me... but I'm starting to get it back together.

For those of you who are interested in this sort of thing--and I don't think you'd be here if you weren't--this is what I'm working on for the next few months.

I'm doing arrangements for a singer named Dan Goldman. I worked with him already on his album, Through A Revolution, doing quickie arrangements on "Take Cover" and "The Kids Song". This time around, we're going to try and deliver a well-arranged record performed by a large ensemble.

I arranged a couple of songs for Great Lake Swimmers' new album. The album didn't need my arrangements. It sounds brilliant, I think it's the best thing they've ever done.

Of course, you already know about the arrangements on the new Arcade Fire record. I wasn't there to hear them recorded, but I heard some mixes a couple of weeks ago and we're all *very* pleased with the results.

Leon and I are recording in December, five songs. All of them have been performed live for quite some time. They're being produced in a similar style to the Young Canadian Mother's 7".

In January and February, Leon and I are going to work on a new EP. It will likely be 10 songs long, each song will be very short. It'll be a piano-based record. I'll be experimenting with a new style of "additive" recording. If it works, it'll be the same method we use to record the Heartland LP. The EP is tentatively called "Lukashevsky".

All these new things are hopefully going to be primed and prepared for a March release.

Oh! What's the best record released in 2006? No question. The Air Force. I was so surprised! I thought Xiu Xiu peaked with A Promise but this new one is re-opening a whole new universe of synth-pop possibilty.

I think 2006 was the best year for music for as long as I've been alive. From Anagram to Ys. Totally brilliant.

Also: Totally best! Ratface Dream Angel's mix CDs. Please do not hesitate to seek this stuff out. These million dollar mixes are being sold for $5? $6? (Thanks to Jenny-Orenda.)

Ta!

[lysine]

Fantastic! Such magnificant plans for the upcoming year!

Ys is my number one for the year. I cannot get over Van Dyke Parks arrangements and Joannas mysticism!! I just can't get enough!! I wish the album was twice as long.

[karpe]

Awesome.

[ihaveaflamegun]

ys is really something special. im listening to it right now. its like a kick in the sternum from glass slippers. the only thing to else i can say about it right now is "fuck". i saw you (owen) in sackville and it was really amazing as always. im looking forward to hearing your new music and arrangements.
godspeed

[Diaji]

San-scooby-dabba ... wait, i lost the thread there somewhere. Well, Wooooo!

(Good recovery, i thought.)

[jules]

Damn it. Now I have to go scrabbling round finding more stuff to play instead of negotiating with the fat man of the north about what the kids get for Christmas

Four of the albums in my tops for this year are all your fault

Hope the piano stuff works out as it fitted so well live... although you could always try resurrection of the fabled brass album if it doesn't.

Best Album of the year though was by some Toronto kid who won a Polaris (Xiu Xiu was in my tops)

Looking forward to panic buying next year when the eps are announced

Oh and thanks for all the laughs this year, I may not have got all the jokes, but hey at least I knew they were there ;D

Seriously thanks for the update and recommendations, I'll check them out.

Happy Grumble

[meryl]

I second that; 2006 has been wonderful, musically, though my reasons are many dimensions different. The few gigs I've been to and the wealth of bands I've discovered have given the last 12 months this twee golden veneer I never envisioned.

2007 looks to be even better, though personally I think it's one of the less aesthetically pleasing years. For some reason. Can't wait for all these EPs and albums to come spilling into my possession. Thank you in advance for the hours you're putting in, Owen. We're pretty damn grateful.

[ariane]

Sounds great and really promising!
Do you know what I love? That you actually seem to care that your fans know what's going on. Not many bands/solo artists do. Thanks for that

xxx
Ariane

[Deleted]

Woooahh, how do you RE-open a NEW universe of possibility? thats like freakin concept record in itself.

[jollyness]

What Ariane said. Its lovely to be considered.

In a way though it is odd that many bands don't converse with their fans.

Oh and I forgive your comments on the British. I suppose its mostly true.

[rue]

Thanks for always taking the time to post things here, Owen. And definitely good luck with everything up coming.

I wish you well.

[AnneYgerne]

Hey Owen!

Well, thanks from me too for this beautiful year!
I've been to gigs and around in the uk like never before, from Land's End to the Isle of Mull!!!

And thanks to a combination of MySpace, PayPal and having a credit card I bought more indie cd's than I ever could have wished for!

Sorry I couldn't hang around longer after the gigs to have a decent chat with you, but there seemed to be indeed so much great and fantasmabulous artists to meet and gig s to enjoy!!!

Oh dear, hope next year will have the same flavour... but even better!!!

Take care Owen!

Anne

[mrdave]

air force is a fucking crazy record. i think it's the kind of music that ghosts party to in the next life. they should soundtrack 'most haunted' with it.

maybe im the only person who watches that trash anyhoo.


isn't this a xiu xiu forum too?

[elmsyrup]

No, it's over there.

[hyde]

Merry Christmas, Owen. Sounds like you've got great plans for 2007. You're very gifted and blessed, and it's a joy to hear your creations. Peace and joy.
Andrew ;D