I’ve added a couple of songs to the EARS section. I’ve been wanting to upload MOOD E for quite some time and I finally got all my memories aligned in the computer, so I was able to put it up this week. MOOD E was recorded by SHAFT in 1996. It was a very productive time for the band and we were experimenting with different sounds and styles. I had played trumpet in school band for a few years and never found it to be an interesting instrument in such a regimented environment… of course, I’m not really a fan of those environments. It was in the band room when we were writing this song and I decided to include it. I heard a melody that went with the song and the only logical instrument was the trumpet. The lyrics are a tribute to a collection of musicians that have struggled with heroin over the years and to the grandfathers and people that have encountered the ravages of racism in United States history. I also put up SOME DAY SWEAR from the OOLYAKOO debut EP, FOUR SHEETS TO THE WIND. I’ve had the tracks available for listening on several sites, but decided to add this as a download on this site only. The occasion being that OOLYAKOO has begun recording new tracks for upcoming release and it felt appropriate to give some of the EP music away. I’ll be putting up some more of the FSTTW tracks soon. Huey of EDITBLOCK* brought his mobile studio with him to ROOM 114 a few Friday nights ago on May 2, 2008 and OOLYAKOO began work on our second recording endeavor. We got the equipment set up just as the mariachi band across the hall called it a night. It was quiet for the next few hours and we were able to track 8 new recordings. Kentaro and I went into the studio to clean up some of the guitar and bass last night and again we were able to make great progress in a short time. We got 4 of them tidied up and we’re looking forward to upcoming sessions. It’s really refreshing how tight the band has become, and the ways the sound has developed, since our first recording experience as OOLYAKOO. I’m excited by this recording and already proud of it.