Happy New Year

The Chase by andrewfostermusic

New Track, New Year, New Genres

Keep it fresh

Have a great time tonight and stay safe

x

I Knew A Teenage Jesus

When i was about 14 i had a Sanyo CD player that my mum got me when my Grandad passed away. I adored it, it had a flip up toploading mechanism and an in build radio that i used to tape Radio One sessions and the charts every Sunday night. That was my escape, my best friend and the focal point in my room, it was constantly on when I was home and all the songs I cherished were played through it. The huge number of CD albums and singles (yes remember them!), the CD's that were bought and played the most were The Bluetones, Oasis and Nirvana. The Bluetones have sound tracked my life right up until their farewell tour this year so what happened last night was a fitting send off personally.
The Bluetones were and are one of those bands I was fanatical about. I loved the intricate guitar playing from Adam Devlin who has been a massive influence on how I approached guitar, and the melodies and dry lyrical wit from Mark Morris who has been a hero of mine since my teens. The second wave of Bluetones material was the album "Return To The Last Chance Saloon" and the first single off it was the chunky riffage of "Solomon Bites The Worm" which went in at number 10. The b side to that single that was tucked away but became a fan favorite was "I knew A Teenage Jesus". For me the song had a real wistful uplifting feel to it and i used to play it on repeat for hours. It takes me back to those confusing teen years of never quite fitting in properly, scrabbling round for identity, and trying to find out who I was. Which were all constantly in a state of flux to that question arnt we? The bands and music I adored in that period became foundation for who I am now without question and will reference them for as long as I am here.
Last night I supported Mark Morris which I've had the pleasure of doing a few times now and for his encore we did an impromptu version of the song. For what is essentially, an under-rehearsed version of a Bluetones classic was for me a very poignant event which I thank Mark profusely for letting me crash in on. 
The year they split, was the year I joined him onstage two days before the end of the year to play a track that 13 years previous was playing on that little Sanyo toploading CD player in my bedroom....


Happy New Year
Stay Safe
Andy x

End Of Year

I wrote 2500 words on my take on where I, as a musician am, were the industry is in my opinion and the whole smoke screen that is the wheel of promotion and the fickle media world in which we live...and i even got tired thinking about it, and the sound of my own droning voice in my head so i stopped.

Do you know what .....

"Do not judge, and you will not be judged"

and

Its Christmas i cant be doing with moaning, and how terribly self indulgent to winge and moan about something I'm choosing to immerse myself and take part in....

So none of that, thank you for your support over this year, its been an incredibly difficult year for me and i really appreciate peoples comments and coming to the shows and what have you so....thank you.

I hope you enjoy this period, i love a bit of festive cheer me! Yes its loaded with commercialism but lighten up! Its CHRISTMAS!

Stay Safe

and take care of each other, its mental out there.....


Favourite Gigs and that
B Of The Bang - SouthseaFest
Kassassin Street - The Eastney Cellars
Noel Gallaghers High Flying Birds - London Forum
The Bluetones - Bournemouth
The Zombies - The Brook Southampton
Stornoway - Isle Of White Festival 2011
Imelda May - Isle Of White Festival 2011
The Travelling Band - Southampton Arts Centre

Albums n that
Wilco - The Whole Love
Scott Mathews - What the night delivers
Band Of Skulls - Baby darling Doll Face honey
Leisure Society - Into The Murky Water
Noel Gallaghers High Flying Birds
Amplifier - The Octopus
Florence & The Machine - Ceremonials
Coldplay - Xylo Mtylo
The Foo Fighters - Wasting Light
Foster The People - Torches
 Ive mainly been listening to music from decades ago, backtracking.....It was a better time for sure

I STILL listen to Amorphous Androgynous - A monsterous psychedelic bubble exploding in your mind

Sussex beach

So here I am in the studio waiting for the watchmen to come and rehearse tomorrow morning. I'm sleeping here tonight and as I set up the studio in preparation. I am very aware of the chemistry needed in a band scenario, the musical bond that is needed to create something more than the sum of its parts, and the belief in the song itself. It's what makes a good band great and can make a great band crumble again when the fire is gone.

We're going to record what we rehearse over the weekend for reference and documentation. Hopefully the songs come to life, the story will have soul, and the people involved will be boarding the train of musical fulfilment. My point is, the transition to band has always been an intense subject for me and I'm very much looking forward to playing with my friends and bringing these snapshots of emotion to life.
It's more than playing some songs to me, it's finding a place of balance and harmony between the players personalities and the songs own presence. It's a fascinating experiment and a learning curve for myself as now it's not just me stearing the ship...three others are on board all influencing the destination. Dave jones, Matt Eldridge, and Loz bridge are some of the best musicians in the south ..... When I say musicians I don't mean music theory professors I mean emotional players ...the real kind... And I thank them for giving their time to my songs

Yes I may be a little drunk, but let's see if we can make the 3rd of December a night to remember

I raise my tired, slightly jittery drunk hand to the watchmen

It's a lonesome ride usually
Good night x

Emmy the great

That's happening.....right now! Great sound for my gig tonight and thank you to a lady who said she would have liked my song to be played at her funeral.....
The new song I alone seems to be doing well on it's second outing x

Karima Fran'kly Brilliant

Thanks to everyone who came to the gig last night supporting Karima @ the cellars.

New track "I Alone" seemed to be a real winner and im glad, its in quite an embryonic shape at the mo as its just been written but I may record a rough version to document its first stages.

Next gig Sunday 2nd of October @ the Wedgewood Rooms Portsmouth....the month of goulies and ghosties....and my birthday..... supporting the lovely Emmy the great. Tickets are £10 from me, little bit cheaper. Let me know its a sit down gig acoustic....the calm before the storm in December

At the end of the week the ticket link for The New Theatre Royal full band gig will be running. I know a few have asked for tickets already. Its gonna be a special night :-)

Stay Safe
Andy x

www.aaronbennettphotography.com

My new promo pic courtesy of

http://www.aaronbennettphotography.com/

Andrew Foster - Interstellar (live rough demo)

Live Portsmouth TV interview

Click here to link to 5 LIVE

30m mins live video interview on Portsmouth TV's 5 Live :-) with me babbling on about fings and a live performance of Amy Watches the Stars
Many thanks to them
Stay safe x

Nick Drake Gathering Tanworth-In-Arden

1. Day Is Done
2. Been Smoking Too Long

Therell be a video of them soon up here. A lovely time to be had by all, and a real high quality of acts this year. If your a Nick Drake fan i suggest you get yourself up there next year. Its a lovely vibe in a beautiful environment and is very respectful to the man himself...

Its been emotional!! ;-)

Andy x

Recording fings, and the best gig statement ever...

Glasto x

Somebody got it right this time....x

Im lucky that people do randomly email me saying a personal message about how one of my songs has affected then in some way. I love it dearly, but never has someone created another piece of art from a track

This is a Photographer from the south of England named Katherine Harriet. She is more than your average snapper though, creating these beautiful images that speak far beyond the picture itself. She tends to use her images as a way of expressing herself, it helps that shes a very pretty subject!


















this beautiful pic she tells me was inspired by The Garden track "Everybody gets it wrong sometimes".

Check out some of her work...Im going to try and convince her to let me use some for future artwork........

URL :: http://lookbook.nu/katherineharriet

Blog :: http://katherineharriet.tumblr.com

Site :: http://katherineharriet.co.uk

Review of "Panic Moon"

Panic Moon is without a doubt, Andrew Foster’s most accomplished work to date. From the sweeping introduction of Kaleidescope onwards, the listener is drawn in and invited to encounter a fairground of delights. Swallows dart upon dust filled streets as Foster’s keen eye for lyrical detail and multi layered guitarmanship combine effortlessly to create a dazzling hall of mirrors. The song builds into an impassioned plea to his subject to open her eyes and explore the grand expansive landscape he creates. Kaleidescopes’s exceptional ending vanishes into the distance, taking the mesmerised listener captive in it’s wake.

Amy Watches The Stars is at once reflective, playful and beautifully expressive. This gorgeous song builds perfectly into its luxuriant chorus and has the sweeping grandeur that characterises much of this album. Foster’s intensely personal lyrics translate readily into universal themes that the listener can readily identify with.

Dark Astronaut plummets the listener into a world in which all sense of time and space have become distorted. There is a sense of unease and anticipation. Of a voyage into the unknown, approached with optimism and adventure, encouraging both song and listener to merge into one orchestral moment of grandeur. A journey dark and mysterious,very much worth making, that sets the tone of Panic Moon.

Zombie Dance- From its struttingly racous rooster of an introduction to its sleazy guitar licks, this enthusiastic call to arms is sure to gather the troops and have them up and dancing at any live performance! Carrying its own body weight in drums, this effortlessly excellent track provides a perfect change of pace in proceedings.

Panic Moon

Foster’s voice opens on a narrative in which a man who is fighting to be understood grapples for control of his surroundings. Heavier in content and darker in style than the preceding numbers, it is nevertheless perfectly in context as the title track. The full support of the able Watchmen lends bass and drums gravitas to Foster’s own searing guitar work. Reflective, honest and powerful, the chorus packs a punch, before descending into a howling crescendo of a finale.

Girls

The intricate guitar opening weaves in and around Foster’s soulful vocals. Intensely beautiful lyrics and thoughtful, admiringly tender observations on the gentler sex make for a deliberate contrast to Panic Moon. Perfectly paced and in keeping with the feel of the album as a whole, ‘Girls’ displays Foster’s finesse for the delicate acoustic touch called for here.

Night Sky Waltz

This guitar instrumental presents a wonderful showcase for Foster’s evident talent and artistry. Demonstrating his command of the acoustic guitar, the track is all the better for being unashamedly

pared down. With a depth and quality of its own, rich tones build like rising sunlight in a forest, allowing the listener time and space to create their own images.

Stone Tape Theory

From deceptively quiet beginnings, emerges a song at once hauntingly powerful and intriguing. Foster’s vocals, initially quiet and sensitive build in powerful intensity as the track takes a leap into altogether darker territory. A strident wall of guitars build ever upwards as the track crashes towards its climatic finish. Guitars rush past like audio ghosts, trapped in time. Fosters vocals are run backwards through the mix, intriguing the listener. Dark powers beyond human understanding are alluded to as the track descends into screaming vocals, before disappearing like a banshee, unseen, into the dark.

The Heart Is No Home

A delicate, home spun song, written in collaboration with Loz Bridges of ‘Box Social’ fame. The song is notable for its gently observational lyrics, poignant and philosophical in nature and marked by Bridge’s excellent accompaniment. Unafraid to break with convention, Foster has had the courage and insight to follow his instinct both here and elsewhere on the album. And judging by the overall quality of composition and musicianship displayed on Panic Moon, he has been quite right to do so.

Review by Author Kerry McPhail

http://www.kerrymcphail.co.uk/

James with a Silent C
By Kerry McPhail
Available from July 2011 from www.linenpressbooks.com

Fings....x

Small Tour Mooners! Hope to see you on it xx

A Poetry.....

not my work, a work of a legendery man :-) its beautifully simple

I sat down on this bench

And there was this girl

I looked at her

And she looked at me

And looked away

I’ve never forgotten her though

I've opened a shrine in my mind

Where I worship her night and day

One day I may see her again

But I hope not:

For the reality

Will surely

Kill

The dream

Jim

The 2:30 to Tokyo

This earthquake and subsequent Tsunami that hit Tokyo with such ferocity today really affected me and my thoughts go out the the many sufferers and their families.

This came into my head tonight, so I roughly recorded it on my phone and thought id share it with you

The water moved like a wall

Over inhabited space

Years of struggle and love

Turned to ghosts in their place

Wake up, its another day dawning

Wake up once again

Nature lays down the law

She cuts the towns like a knife

Theres a strength in the wind

Time to rebuild our life

Stay Safe x

Andy

cross her silver with palms

Unplug The JukeBox (Panic Moon Review)

Andrew Foster – “Panic Moon”
Posted on 03/03/2011 by editor


Surely one of the most prolific and consistent singer-songwriters around at the moment is Portsmouth’s Andrew Foster? Not only is he consistently brilliant but he is always looking for to move forward.

His latest album “Panic Moon” is a bigger sounding and an all round more ambitious album than last year’s “The Garden“, which was a superb album in its own rustic, organic way.

Foster says himself that “Panic Moon” is influenced readily by 60′s psychedelic pop and “Hunky Dory”, with his backing band The Watchmen (essentially made up of the fantastic Loz Bridge & The Box Social) playing a more active and apparent part throughout, as opposed to Foster’s previously more acoustic based output.

Fundamentally however this is still very much an Andrew Foster album. The melodies are intact which benefit from Foster’s assured vocal style. Foster’s work always has a real Englishness to it and “Panic Moon” is no different.

Opening tracks “Kaleidoscope” and “Amy Watches The Stars” get things off to a dreamy, accomplished start with the melodies shining through in HD.

“Dark Astronaut” was the first track that I heard from the album and instantly intrigued me as to the more ambitious sound that was on offer. It is amongst the most atmospheric things that Foster has done, again it benefits from the band playing a more active role, not in a smart-arse, over-indulgent way. No, the Watchmen help these songs realise their potential in a solid way and it works throughout the album.

“Zombie Dance” boasts possibly the sleaziest blues riff that you’ll hear this year and again shows another different side to Foster’s songwriting. The album’s title track “Panic Moon” follows and is edgy enough to build up along at a pace that is enough to keep the listener’s attention and intrigue throughout.


The gorgeous “Girls” follows. This reverts to a starker, more acoustic arrangement with Foster’s fascinating lyrics coming to the fore. Halloween single “Stone Tape Theory” is as atmospheric and as creepy a track as you’ll hear before descending into its Queens Of The Stone Age-meets-”Go Let It Out” by Oasis climax.

“Panic Moon” once again shows Andrew Foster to be a genuine talent. Never less than engaging, this is another step forward. “Panic Moon” is sure to find itself in many “Album Of The Year” lists when December comes.

Many thanks to Paul Lane for his continued support.
check out the unplug the jukebox blogsite here

http://unplugthejukebox.com/2011/03/andrew-foster-panic-moon/

Think Local Mag Interview

Portsmouth Based Musician Launches New Album, ‘Panic Moon!’

Singer/songwriter, ace guitarist and a producer in his own right, Andrew Foster writes, records and produces his own finely crafted material. Based in Portsmouth, he has toured across the United Kingdom with many high profile artists, including Mumford and Sons.
Andy’s prolific musical output has now culminated in the release of his third album, Panic Moon. The songs therein have a magical quality with a collective nod towards space and mystery. Already the album is attracting rave reviews. Today I am delighted to be chatting to the man himself.

Q Hi Andy. You have an incredible capacity for original song writing. What is it that drives you to be creative?

Andy: I think it’s my form of kick out, of self-expression. Not in a ridiculously rebellious fashion. I don’t tend to think of myself as particularly educated, so creativity is what I use instead to express myself. I’ve always been a bit dreamy. My attention span is huge when focused on creative projects, but really short when it comes to academia! So music was the creative path I naturally pursued.
Music’s great for connecting with people. I definitely express myself better through my songs. Language is necessarily limited, but when you play a song it can speak to someone on a whole different level.
A musician’s life is quite strange in many ways. You are kind of disconnected, yet you are up there on the stage, expressing your personal demons, or whatever you happen to be ranting about (laughs). I think music is an extension of who you are. It’s the stuff you might not otherwise say aloud. Music gives you a vehicle for that.

Q. Good analogy. And what would your musical vehicle of choice look like, Andy?

Andy: Ha ha! A British racing green Daimler, I reckon, with cream interior and a walnut dashboard. (laughs)

Q If you were stranded on a desert island, alone except for your favourite guitar, would you still choose to continue writing songs, knowing they might never be heard?

Andy: Yes, I think I would, definitely. I have hundreds of songs at home that no one has ever heard. I’ve written them for no other reason than to express something I needed to get out of me. I’ve always felt better afterwards. It’s cleansing – like having a bath, ha ha!

Q You tend to operate predominantly as a solo artist. Do you find this particularly advantageous to your music?

Andy: Good question. A lot of solo artists find that the musicians they gather around them often all have different agendas, yet one of the main things for a songwriter is to be able to keep creative control. Once you involve other people in that process, of course, it becomes a whole different animal. Songwriters, by nature, tend to be control freaks and it can end up snowballing into something that wasn’t the original vision you had. You are constantly faced with the struggle of having to compromise with other people. I’m lucky. I have musician friends who slot into what I want to achieve and are good natured and mature enough to trust my opinion and allow me to tell them what to play. That’s rare, working with musicians like that, hence the rise of the troubadour musical tradition, where a singer/songwriter tours the country on his own, with his guitar, in a bid to retain his integrity.

Q Your musical output has been prolific to date. Your latest album, Panic Moon is an outstanding achievement and quite a departure from your earlier work. What sort of feedback have you received on it to date?

Andy: Really really good, actually. I’ve had a number of excellent reviews, praising its coherence. Panic Moon has a nod towards my interest in Dr Who! Everyone has an interest they chose to immerse themselves in. Their ‘panic moon’ represents their means of escape, for example, music or writing. I use my creativity to channel my dark side! I think everyone has a slice of madness in them somewhere and their way of dealing with it is to immerse themselves in their chosen interest.
One of the nicest things about growing up was putting an album on, by Bowie or The Beatles, who created a world that the album sits in. I wanted to create a coherent package, a whole experience that the listener could lose themselves in. So much emphasis nowadays is placed on one or two singles that the rest of the tracks on an album are simply viewed as fillers. The art of arranging an album has been lost. I’m not talking about concept albums,here, just the ability to truly lose yourself in a piece of work for 40 minutes. It’s amazing, it’s a world in itself, that you can truly get immersed in.

Q If you knew at the outset you could not fail to achieve any of your musical ambitions, what would you dare to do now that you are currently holding yourself back from doing?

Andy: I would involve more people, creatively and in terms of management and promotion. It’s hugely important to me that I retain the rights to my songs, but I’d love to make everything a bit grander. Maybe one day, I might even work with an orchestra. I have that vision in my head and would love to see it come to fruition.

Q In the past, you’ve done a huge amount of production work. Have you ever considered possibly seeking to use your music in film scores or on television or radio productions?

Andy: I have, yes. I’ve recently been talking to people I know in that field. I used to be heavily involved in that line of work. Ironically, I only stopped in order to spend more time working on my own music. My composition work tends to be based not on theory, but by ear. I’m a self-taught guitarist and vocalist, which gives me a great sense of creative freedom and is in turn immensely beneficial to the song writing business.

Q where can people buy your music and see you play live?

Andy: I would invite everyone to come and visit me at my website, which is being constantly updated with all the latest info. You can do so at http://www.andrewfostermusic.co.uk/

Andy Foster, thank you so much. On behalf of all our readers we wish you every success with your music and especially of course the new album Panic Moon.
K McPhail (Think Local Magazine)

4 leaf clovers in da water

Ders more to Ireland dan dis!

So what was the point of this little trip....your only just releasing Panic Moon....

The point was there was no point...it was an opportunity that arose for some recording in a studio that i wouldn't normally have access to. A question i get asked a lot at gigs is "Do you have any recordings that are like what you do live?". The answer is no...i don't, and Ive never been totally happy with the results of just myself and an acoustic guitar. So the idea was the set up mics and record live but with the added bonus of valve equipment and good A/D convertors, an SSL desk and lots of yummy outboard gear, whilst i could just concentrate on the job in hand.

There is Panic Moon material, and older material in there. 12 tracks spanning across the albums all live and acoustic..I havent even heard it yet! too tired ive only just got back in and had the nice'est bath ever. Who knows what ill do with them, but im sure they will see the light in some form or another.

Panic Moon is the priority and these acoustic versions could be another shade of how the songs were written for the album and were they originated.

It nearly didnt happen whilst we were out there! Some arrangement mis-understandings made me worry for a second there, but we pulled it round.

Ill have more on here tomorrow, but for now i need some sleep.

:-)

The Dr

Sunday Snuggy Sunday

Sneaky Jack...

So after some confusion as to which studio we would be recording in, who was going to record it, when, how and why..We settled in Nut studios with an SSL desk, Neve inputs rediculously amazing mics and a lovely studio complex with setup up help from the owner and my trip guide Chris on the record button.

Today we have had some great results but hopefully we will have time to mix them before we leave tomorrow at lunchtime. If not i will take the files and mix them later. I want to use this equipment though if possible. 12 tracks were recorded and we had some beautiful moments with definitely some of my best acoustic performances if done.

People.....studio equipment makes a difference and proper outboard gear...makes a difference. Real outboard warm distortion colours your recordings in a yummy way.

Im too drunk to really elaborate on what im saying right now, so tomorrow hopefully ill have a good recording. The Irish are beautiful people, warm friendly helpful and kind. Everything is slower and more up my street...i could see myself here i think. I like it

Night Mooners

The Dr x

Spring Heeled Jack Daniels

Splooge n Snood n fings & time

First there is a mountain.....

So Donovan reckons.....

More valve in my headphones please.....

Amy Watches The Stars

Evil Tree

Watching Clocks

Girls

Dark Astronuat

in the bag.....

Nutshed City Limits!.....

4 leaf clovers in the water....

Morning mooners

i need tea....and a cooked breakfast...

x

Cross her silver with palms.......

Evening mooners!
So im sat in a studio in Clara called Nutshed studios...Its a two floor complex with a yummy control room and lots of gear :-). We spent most of the day travelling after being unfortunate with various connecting travel links. My good friend Chris is my guide on this rather loose trip, and we still have tomorrow undecided as to what studio were going to record in!

Irish stewerdess with yummy accent: check
Spaghetti Bolognese in an Italian resturant: check
Leg room on plane: check
Jack Daniels in a trad Irish Pub: check
Overuse of the "C" word from Chris: check
Election posters everywhere...Who is Mr Dumpleton
Cup of tea?....nope...no milk!
Nice little Irish towns: check
Not really knowing whats going on? check!
Furch guitar for recording: check
Tomorrow is recording day...so ill have alot on here later

bye mooners

sleeep well
time lords x

Andrew Foster - Panic Moon (live)

Panic Moon

So here it is.....

PANIC MOON the full length

Its been a joy to make, an album i am very proud of and the all the people involved.

For the 100 people who experienced the unveiling of the album live in the intimate surroundings of the Eastney Cellars i hope your enjoying it. For everyone else its out on I-Tunes at the end of the month and i'll be out and about in the summer to promote it. You can also order a digipak from the shop at www.andrewfostermusic.co.uk

I wanted to make a psychedelic pop record that evoked the 60s/70s whilst looking forward. Its my most coherent yet i think and hope to do more gigs this year with my fantastic band "The Watchmen"

Mooners

Hello Mooners!

Thought i'd create this blog to paste the randomness that happens in The Watchmen and myself's galactic travels....

welcome.....

step in....

x