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Chronology (1981 Edition)

by Shane Counter

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1.
The A Word 03:42
2.
The F Word 04:21
3.
Headhunter 05:06
4.
The L Word 05:55
5.
Red Flags in Plain Sight 07:09
6.
Seraphim 01:12
7.
The Apologist 04:49
8.
Morality Binds and Blinds 06:39

about

Ever wonder what my music might have sounded like on the radio in 1981? Me neither…until recently. I’ve been researching a number of things lately including the brief revival of the ‘Back to Mono’ movement and ‘The Loudness Wars’ (or ‘LOUDNESS WARS!’ If you prefer). It got me thinking about music technology, music consumption, music media and how many different ways that has shifted just in my lifetime - when I say lifetime I really mean since I was about 9 years old.

In 1981 I got my first radio: a portable Ingersoll with one speaker and it also came with a one-piece earbud. These were the kind of devices you’d see at the local cricket ground so you could keep tabs on Botham at Headingly while still supporting Budleigh’s 2nd team at Ottermouth. This got me thinking about my formative listening experiences with that radio, or with the record player that followed, or with the cassette player that followed that…it was all coming from a single speaker source. Everything was in mono, very lo-fi and if it was on the radio it was transmitted on AM channels. Even though the original recordings were most likely released in a stereo format and with no small amount of skill and craft invested in the entire creative process from recording and mixing through to packaging and promotion. Seems bonkers now but that was the norm, it’s where we were on the technological arc.

Of course only a few years later I got my own ‘Ghetto Blaster’ and embarked on a bingeworthy audio journey, collecting and devouring the music that would shape my tastes and inspire me to start playing guitar. All in stereo. The unveiling of this new found truth was fascinating and intoxicating to me - “Oh, that’s what it’s supposed to sound like!” as I found clarity, depth and unlimited detail (and tape hiss, vinyl crackles) in familiar songs.

However, can you discount hearing a song for the first time at the cinema, in a shopping centre, in a passing car, over the PA at a gig, at a sports match, on a phone? And even without the optimum listening experience you know you love it and want more. I certainly place a lot of importance on audio production quality but ultimately it’s not going to make the core melodies and rhythms any better than they are. That’s why we still adore old (poor quality) recordings of great* music.

So for my next trick I’m releasing two versions of my latest album, ‘Chronology’.

The first version will comprise 8 songs and have a running time of approximately 40 minutes - mimicking the form of a two sided album. It will be mixed in mono and mastered with a lo-fi style akin to AM radio broadcasts from 40 years ago. It will also be priced at 1981 prices for the first month of release.

The second version will follow a month later and will comprise 10 songs and have a running time of approximately 54 minutes - mimicking the form of a CD. It will be mixed in stereo and mastered to modern broadcast standards.




*Disclaimer: I’m not saying my music is great btw. Just putting an idea out there. But I do love the process and I love trying my best.

credits

released February 26, 2021

All titles written and produced by me between 10th December 2020 and 4th February 2021

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Shane Counter Ireland

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