The low-down on (mostly original) songs from the CD ‘Too Many Strings’ Song and tune composition and arrangement (except songs 11 and 15), lyrics, instruments, vocals, recording, mixing, mastering (Big Ears Recording Studios) and cover concept by Marcus Sturrock.

On the front cover are the words ‘does anyone have a krumhorn?’ a medieval instrument. The pun suggests that when going to a person’s house for a jam (or as Norman Gunstan said to Frank Zappa, a jelly, the American version of jam), you will more often find a guitar rather than unusual instruments. ‘Too Many Strings’ is a multi-instrumental album, although it is mostly solo six and seven steel string acooustic guitar.

Life experiences such as some nasty injuries, living in an ashram from 14 years of age, musical therapy for the profoundly autistic etc, running ‘Big Ears Recording Studios’, lecturing at Tafe, becoming a grandfather at 47, an acrobat and musician in a circus, and many other events have found their way through original lyrics and music onto this album.

Passion and feel don’t have to be lost to technique. Larry Carlton is a good example of this. An inspiring influence. Thanks. The term ‘it’s all about the music’ doesn’t always apply to me, sometimes I get bored of playing and take a break. It seems to help me keep my passion. I never want it to be just a job. When I’m bored of playing, it’s still fun to play to a live audience. That too can sometimes bring out the passion.

1. Warps of Life: A pun on ‘Walks of life.’ Irish, Scottish, Middle Eastern and African Jazz musical influences. It has some two handed tapping and slapping. A mish mash? Maybe a marriage that works. Chair squeaks, guitar knocks, bumps and breath sounds have all been left in this recording and some other tracks. This highlights the presence of the musician. A less clinical approach, also I move around a great deal.
   
2. You know and I know: Are they in love? After trying to hold the relationship together, unbeknown to him she has already broken up with him in her own mind, although deep down he knows he’s losing her. Basic stuff yet a thread of common truth. One doesn’t realise until the end of the song that he is begging to hold the relationship together, pointing out all its good and cherishable aspects. The final lyrics are ‘I can’t believe we’re through.’
   
3. Surface Tension: As in Track 1 many of my musical influences have come through. Even though it’s guitar, guitar and more guitar, it varies in styles, a natural progression as I become bored easily. It’s a privilege living in our society to become bored at all. So many musical choices.
   
4. Speaking with Hands: An old song of mine influenced by my first instrument, drums. At school I started on marching drums.
   
5. Lyrical Souls: Starts off a happy tune that merges into some dark weird chords (a bit like life) into some walking jazz bass and back to happy.
   
6. Meaning of Waterfalls: The song flows.
   
7. It’s a Miracle: Miracles? Sometimes I see breathing as a miracle. Some spoken word in this song, not intended to be rap.
   
8. Our Worlds: Clap and dance to this tune. Good fun.
   
9. Psycho Safari: A multi-instrumental song, Psycho Safari is the name of a Celtic jazz funk Middle Eastern Spanish influenced band I’ve got together. At the age of 14 I moved into an Ashram partially abstaining from playing music. Some years later, fresh out of the Ashram into many different jobs, I started composing music, which many friends commented would make a good movie sound track. The music was hardly ever listened to as it was intended, just a composition. After composing music and sound effects for circus, plays, TV and short film, I would now love to compose movie scores, proving my friends correct. The song reflects a Jack of many instruments, master of none, especially cello for those celloists listening.
   
10. Clock Hider: We awaken to the mind ticking over. I hide the clock in the morning so my wife can continue to sleep on her days off from her hectic research regime. Clocks and phones have no manners.
    
11. Camera Shy: A tune composed while in hospital receiving (ooo) a colonoscopy a small (inserted) optical fibre/camera.
    
12. Haunt: A tune that began with a few chords given to me by Ron Smeeton, a guitar/musician hero of mine when I was 19 and still today 32 years later.
    
13. Slaap lekker meisje: Dutch for sleep well my girl.
    
14. Intuition Jam: As the title suggests I’m purely jamming. Letting go, another part takes over.
    
15. Jackie Coleman’s Reel/What a Wonderful World: Thanks Tony McManus Shallow Waters: original
    
16. Fe Fi Fo Funk: Get down and get back up again. A funky tune.