Not Fit For Human Consumption

NOT FIT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION

Writing and recording an album is always an interesting journey and I wanted to share some 'track by track' thoughts about this record.

1) Scratch_redux
The album kicks off with a nod to the last subthunk album ('You Should've Been Here Yesterday') - it somehow seemed appropriate to begin with a new version of the track 'Scratch'. The new version keeps the funky beats, slide guitar and squelchy synth of the original but is augmented by a new chorus, which to me brings the story up to date. Like the original this version features Lisa Moore on vocals and Alex U'Ren on harmonica.

2) Lucky
'Lucky' features vocalist C.C. White and was conceived after my discovery of the excellent public domain resource, the Prelinger Archives (http://www.archive.org/details/prelinger).  I became fascinated with old education films during the making of the record and this track features v/o (voice over) from a 50's film all about love.  I was a terrible card player as a child and my mother used to often repeat the saying "unlucky at cards, lucky in love'" to try and cheer me up after another trouncing at Whist (or more likely Snap). Turns out I am lucky in love though, and this track is dedicated to my lovely wife, Sloane Neely.

3) What This Country Needs
As soon as I heard the original, and rather different version of 'What This Country Needs' (again a Prelinger Archive gem) I knew I wanted to use parts of it as the basis for a new track. I love jazz, and am enthralled by the combination of 'old' and 'new' sounds. Evidently the original was a WWII wartime effort to cheer people up. BTW The scat singing is by Jimmie Dodd of 'Mickey Mouse Club' fame.

4) Shipping Forecast
The 'Shipping Forecast' is a British institution - basically the weather for mariners.  Most of us have no idea what any of it actually means, but as soon as it comes on the radio everyone seems to drop tools ad listen. The 'BBC style' v/o for 'Shipping Forecast' was supplied by the amazingly talented voice over aritst Corey Burton - who, by the way, isn't English. 

5) Untitled
This track features vocals by Lisa Moore and (re-edited) v/o from a public domain film called 'Gang Boy' - "youth belongs to every race, every creed, every colour".  Far too many people don't get to enjoy or even experience their youth.  We pause for a moment of sadness as we watch their stories on the news, before being swept along again in our own lives.  No matter how much we care, soon the name is forgotten and added to a long list of 'Untitled' lives. This is my reflection on those lives lost - or taken - so early.

6) The Peaceful Atom
'The Peaceful Atom' features v/o from the weirdly propaganda ridden public domain film 'Atoms For Peace'. Did anyone seeing this 1950's film actually believe that atomic technology would be shared 'all over the globe (for) the art of peace'?

7) Not Fit For Human Consumption
The title track 'Not Fit For Human Consumption' contains a repeating line of Morse code that spells out the album name.  A link between Morse and music has been something that has played on my mind for some time, ever since I read (many years ago) that experienced Morse code operators and translators could tell who was sending the code just by the way the user 'played' the Morse transmitter.  The musicians I am drawn to are those that have a very personal 'touch' or 'feel' - instantly recognizable, so the individual 'voice' of a Morse operator resounded deeply within me. I became fascinated at the thought of the bond developing between a WWII agent hurriedly transmitting from a damp cellar, and the receiver listening and deciphering those dots and dashes far away. I imagine a sigh of relief as the receiver recognizes the particular 'voice' and knows the agent is still alive. 'Not Fit For Human Consumption' is my painting of that picture - the cold muted strings, the nervous arrangement, the kick of adrenalin are followed by a blissful moment of recognition.  Of course, that momentary feeling of happiness - the contact is alive and transmitting - would only last for a few seconds before the reality of deciphering the transmission and the bleakness of the situation return.  I cannot even begin to comprehend the courage of those who worked under such conditions.

8) Might As Well Whistle
To me whistling seems like a particularly British habit from times gone by. It's the sort of thing I imagine our granddads did on the way to and from work to keep thier spirits up. 'Might As Well Whistle' places whistling in a more modern surrounding.

9) Before You
Using information as a source of power and control over others seems sinister and morally dubious to me but perhaps it is just a fact of life. Hearing or knowing something first seems to elevate someone into being of a higher status - wiser, more clued-up and moving in the 'right' circles. Of course it could just be that they read a new book and like to spout facts as if they actually know what they are talking about. Or, perhaps Mrs Miggins at the pie shop told them the gossip and they are just pretending they worked it all out themselves.

10) Springfield
As soon as I saw the 1960's public domain (again, thanks to the Prelinger Archives) United States Post Office all about Zip Codes I knew I had to use it for a track. A group called the Swingin' Six rap and sing all about zip codes, men's logic, stamp glue and of course Springfield.

11) 'A Day To Forget'
I had serious doubts about including 'A Day To Forget' on the album - It is an extremely personal track for me (sung by Lisa Moore) and one that I still have trouble listening to. The track has existed in several different forms over the years but I was never satisfied with any of the versions. Eventually it dawned on me that I can't 'finish' this piece of music, as to do so means I would have to say goodbye, and i'm still not ready (or able) to do that. A Day To Forget is dedicated to the memory of my mother, Elizabeth Neely.

12) Every Boy Needs A Hero
The album ends with Every Boy Needs A Hero, arguably the most cinematic track on the record. My love of electronica and jazz, beats and bleeps, grooves and glitches is matched by my love of film scores and classical music. It seems natural to me that these eclectic sounds and influences should exist and co-mingle.

GEO TRACKING
The album is part of a geotracking experiment. Copies of the CD are left in random public places and (hopefully) picked up and forwarded by strangers. You can see where the album has ended up going to http://www.antneely.com/geotracking.

CREATIVE COMMONS
Not Fit For Human Consumption is released under a creative commons license which means you may remix, tweak, and build upon this work non-commercially, as long as you include the appropriate credits, and license your new creations under the identical terms. You may download and redistribute this work as long as song titles and credits are included. If you do remix etc, please let me know.