Mike Sole Music: Recent Episodes
Mike Sole
An improvisation, recorded whilst on a tuning visit, with my boss, Richard Young, to Westcotes United Reformed Church, back in 2014, on the incredible 1917 three manual Taylor pipe organ. The organ was originally built for London Road Congregational Church, Leicester, and moved here after that church closed its doors a long while ago. I recently stumbled upon this recording only recently, and although not my finest improvisation, but it shows the immense power and subtle colours that this organ had to offer. not to mention the fine acoustic of the church itself. This recent post is in memory of the late John Shaw who was organist and minister at Westcotes.
Whilst my temporary studio was set up during the arduous first lockdown of 2020, I decided to record an arrangement of a tune I've known since i was a kid. My dad and me watched vhs recorded episodes of The Train Now Departing, a British 1980's documentary about steam railways and their rescues into preservation. The recording of the locomotive at the end is from a 12" of steam locos working hard in industrial landscapes. Melodica, Piano, Bass, Drums - Mike Sole
This is a cover of a favourite song of mine, Pretty Little Thing by Fink. Again, this track was recorded during the first lockdown of 2020, in which i set up a studio in my spare room and gathered all the instruments i had at my disposal and created a few tracks on a Tascam 24 track i had borrowed from work. recording drums was tricky, as i live in a terraced house and had to wait until my neighbours were enjoying the summer sunshine in their gardens! So the closest to perfect drum take had to be achieved, in no more than three takes, as to not annoy my fellow and much loved neighbours. Vocals, Rhodes, Organ, Bass and Drums - Mike Sole
Dubiety was the first tune to be recorded during the first lockdown of 2020. I set up a studio in my spare room, using a Tascam 24 track recorder and set up to record all instruments myself, as i had no internet connection to send tracks to fellow musicians. This piece has some parts still to add, but here is a mix of progress so far. Piano, Bass, Drums - Mike Sole Photo by Phillip Edgell Copyright 2020 Mike Sole Music
Another Jam from the R E X sessions, recorded at Seamus Wong Studios, Leicester. www.seamuswong.co.uk Mike Sole - Synths/Rhodes Paul Warrener - Drums/engineering
A selected track from a R E X jam at Seamus Wong Studios. www.seamuswong.co.uk Mike Sole - Rhodes/Synth Paul Warrener - Drums.
A work in progress. With a possible album on the way. © Mike Sole Music 2017 Photo by Josie Parr www.josieparr.com
Well, it's not what most would call music, but it's deffo music to my ears. "Witherslack Hall" is BR built GWR designed locomotive designed by Hawksworth, and built in 1947