‘Tempus fugit’, as the phrase goes – if nothing else, a fine advert for the relevance of Latin, as a simple misunderstanding recently led to The Layers mistaking ‘time flies*’ as an instruction and chasing drosophila around with stopwatches. Well, it’s as good an excuse as any for not keeping the blog up to date although the genuine reason is more prosaically (or non-prosaically, given the dearth of such in recent times) related to lazy-arsehood.
In truth, given the work that’s gone into the completion and launching of our bouncing baby album, ‘Skinful of inc.’, we’ve had little to write about other than ‘Rehearsed. Sweaty. Tired’. Not the most inspiring stuff.
Yesterday, however, we finally swung our metaphorical legs back over the creative saddle and, although last night’s canter was definitely down memory lane it looks as if the perspective of fleeing time has shed a very new light on an old song**. It’s been a while since we’ve had the buzz that creating some music brings and it was a welcome return. Along with a new slant on an old favourite there were some new riffs to work on, renewed interest in a more disciplined approach to our craft and Neil’s been scratching away with his horse-feather quill in pursuit of a fresh batch of incomprehensible, angry lyrics… incomprehensibile, if you will.
Post album launch has been a period of reflection for us all and amidst the nob-gags, casual insults and outright bollocks that passes for conversation most of the time there has been some uncharacteristically deep soul-searching amongst the movers and shakers at Layers High Command. How do four busy professionals (inverted commas implied) balance work, family, friends, substance abuse and increasing decrepitude with the physically and emotionally demanding business of making original music? Especially in a world where it seems that music is less valued than ever before?
The answer was evident last night: it’s about passion for the music that we love, that shaped us and influenced us; it’s about a friendship that has grown over the last seven years and, perhaps most crucially, it’s about the lack of anything worth watching on telly on a Tuesday evening.
So it’s heads down for a new collection of songs, eyes up as we look to build on Roo’s burgeoning new career as a photographer and film maker by having a go at a few videos*** and hands out as we think about finding a manager, perhaps a video director and possibly even a fifth Layer. And if you know anyone who might like a role at Layers HQ, please drop us a line. Our HR team are ready for your call. Well, between making sandwiches for Caleb, naturally.
Layers out.
* For the pedants and hair-splitters amongst you°, this is of course, a mistranslation, ‘time flees’ (fugit is the root of fugitive) is more correct and would have worked just as well in the contrived gag but for the spelling (see nested pedantry references)
ºActually, what’s the difference between pedantry and hair splittingºº?
ººIs this meta-pedantry or tautology?
** As you can see, the creativity has extended to our knack for ghastly mixed metaphors.
*** All in the best possible taste…