my friend irma
apothecary now recording journal
14 April 2003 Jenni Downs writes.
Yeahay!!!!  We're just back from an interesting and exciting experience in Scotland where we added the finishing touches to our 2nd album at the Washoose studios.  Thanks Bone. I may be biased but in my opinion I've never heard such a well put together journey of musical enchantment!!!  We have a launch date of the 3rd May at the Boatrace in Cambridge, email us at apothecarynow@myfriendirma.co.uk leaving details for your free invitation.  Can't wait to see you all there.  Jenxxx
13 April 2003 Guy Henderson  writes.
Well it's finally finished!  'Apothecary Now' is recorded, mixed, edited and mastered. The artwork and photography has been completed, formatted and handed in. All we can do now is wait for the final pressing to drop on our doorsteps. Our two days mastering and editing at the 'Washoose' in CrawfordJohn, Scotland were an experience the sort that which legends are made of. I'm sure our future grandkids will groan as we recant another tale of the mythical Bone, his cast iron liver and 'another fun night'* down the Colebrooke Arms !  Thanks to all the inhabitants of that lovely village for making us so welcome during our short visit. As I'm sure most of you know it's been a long haul, and there have been times when I've thought we'd never make it, but here we are, the album complete and 'The Tallow Room' gathering a well earned coat of dust! Final track listing for the album is: - Three Monkeys, Brown Paper, Never Another, Butterfly, Figaro's Divorce, Gypsophelia, Falling Down, Gimme Something, Pass the Gun and Angel Delight. We hope to release 'Lemonade' and 'Just Ahead of You' as a double A single later in the year with another couple of non-album songs as B-sides. Any way hope to see you at the launch (3rd May Boat race) or at some of our many forthcoming gigs throughout the year. May the circle remain unbroken. Happy Trails!
* (alice cooper 'the whisky a go go' 1969)
10 February 2003 Guy Henderson  writes.
Hello, Welcome & Apologies!  I know it's been a while since the last journal update, but please disregard all rumours that we've been merely resting on our laurels. No, FORTUNE(atly) we've been beavering away in our homemade polyphonic workshop 'The Tallow Room' putting the finishing touches to our long awaited album!!! Originally this album was supposed to be a brief 'experimental' stop gap between 'TB&MrL' and the next album proper, we were going to record it in a couple of months and have it out in time for the Dublin Jazz Festival in June 2001!!!  My "who knows where the time goes?"  After a horrendous experience in a local, albeit anonymous, studio, (where we recorded about 3 hrs of music) and balking at the astronomical prices of Abbey Road, Rockfield, Sawmills etc... we decided to set up our own private, all analogue affair. Now after nearly a year of tracking we've finally come to the mixdown. Unfortunately there were gremlins in the gadgets and ghosts in the machines but after a couple of poorly Revoxs and a crash course in 'Space Echo' loop splicing we were away!  We're off to Washoose Studios in Scotland in April to do some editing and compiling and hopefully it'll be available early May!!!  Anyway, until then here's an Idea of what may turn up on the album: Three Monkeys, Catheters & Bandages, Figaro's Divorce, Louise just ignore this, Theremin & Spoons & The Big Enchilada.
8 December 2002 Jenni Downs  writes.
Tim's fingers are sore so I though I'd give him a break from reporting.  We played our first gig in ages on Saturday at the Alma.  As always the night was great....(if you missed it, don't worry we will be back in the new year, venues and dates tbc)  I always enjoy playing there, it has a kind of intimacy that some of the other places lack.........hmmm...........cosy.............you can see the whites of their eyes and the beads of sweet as everyone goes wild for the sound of My Friend Irma.....well maybe not so much sweat this time as glow but give it time. If I don't get a chance before the great day, have a wonderful Christmas......I love it!!!.........Mince Pie anyone?.... Rudolph?  See ya, Jen ;-)
8 November 2002 Tim Glasswell writes.
We start recording again this weekend, after what seems to have been a long break.  We have been without our Fostex E16 tape machine for all this time, so have not been able to do any more work on the album.  However, now we are fully operational again, it should be another month to get all the main parts down before we commence mixing.  We have set up all the band equipment in the studio and are working on arrangements of the new material for forthcoming gigs (The Alma, 30th November - see you there!.)  We are all very pleased with how both the rehearsals and recording have been going, and look forward to playing live again.  Next time you read this, it won't be me.
5 August 2002 Tim Glasswell writes.
Please believe me when I say the reason nothing has been written here recently is that we have been very busy.  I know that I say that every time I write in this journal, but it is true.  I'd say we're more than half way through recording the album now, and are planning on having the basic tracks finished by the end of August, leaving plenty of time to mix in September / October.  Guy and I have upgraded the studio desk... the Allen & Heath 'studio 8' has done us well, but we were in need of more channels so have upgraded to a 24 channel Behringer MX8000A.  That might not mean much, but all you need to know is that it has more buttons and lots more flashing lights, so hands off Kendon !!!  In the middle of all this we are also finalizing our plans to offer our services as a recording studio, something we have dreamed of for years (really!).  We also had a band photoshoot last weekend in an attempt to get some new publicity shots, and have each been interviewed, having our voices committed to dictaphone (why don't you use your finger etc....)  Enough for now.... John Entwistle  1944 - 2002 RIP.  
18 June 2002 Jenni Downs writes...
Hey boys, I know I'm going to be really pissing you off with this, but....pleeease can we move all the gear to Spain for the recording?  It may seem like a crazy idea, but just think of it...beautiful weather (one of my favourite subjects as you know!), clear blue sea, alcohol at ridiculous hours of the day...  I really think the whole place is conducive to artistic, creative, ground breaking music making.  Just think about it, that's all I ask.... I've even got a couple of Euros left to buy you all a drink. Hmmm... just remembered... 'Eastenders'.  Sorry, can't go.  Same place, same time then. Viva England!
13 June 2002 Guy Henderson writes...
Firstly. I feel I must publicly applaud Tim! Not since the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma spent 9 years staring at a cave wall to gain enlightenment has a man shown such stoic patience... (ok, Tim only spent 9 hrs a day at the desk, and I don't believe Bodhidharma had a midday break to watch the England vs. Argentina match, but so what!)  Surely lesser men's mantles would have easily crumbled at the prospect of
accompanying me as I embarked upon one of my epic quests for the 'right colour' feedback! ...Or as I endlessly fed my recorded parts through the filters of a 'Korg MS-20' or a load of Moog synth filters and modulators in search of the perfect vertical counterpoint to balance the bass and make the tune truly circular!  Though he may have been seething inside, his cool never strayed, even when I kept him from his well earned sleep by drunkenly demanding that we record that 'Etheral' Theremin and spoons overdub NOW!, as I had the muse.  Still, one worn out Copicat, 1/2 a roll of scotch tape, and a bizarre Chinese Sausage dish later and I think we have the makings of a truly exceptional record on our hands. I guess that's worth keeping you cool for!
25 Apr 2002 Tim Glasswell writes...
The drum parts for the new recordings are all done now, after another busy day in the studio.  Guy and I have since re-wired the set-up so we can now start overdubbing guitars, vocals and other surprise sounds.  We are concentrating on finishing off these new tracks for the time being, so my friend irma will probably not be appearing on a stage near you for a few months.  We will keep you updated on our progress on this page...  Thanks for popping by...
11 Mar 2002 Tim Glasswell writes...
Me again...  Last weekend we finally made a start on my friend irma album number two at our own recording studio.  After months and months of collecting the right gear, and even more months plugging it all in, the studio is now fully operational.  We'll be concentrating on getting all the backing tracks down in March and April before commencing guitar, vocal and other overdubs come May time.  Really looking forward to the 'Boat Race' gig on 16th March... the support group 'leafeater' are well worth a look !  See you there... 
13 Feb 2002 Guy Henderson writes...
Hi Folks!  All systems go here at the Irma camp!  We've stepped up to defcon 99 on the album front. We iz lit to pop and nobody ain't gonna stop!  Keep your fingers crossed and you fine felines could be lickin' the cream with double set (ooh! How ambitious)  All valves are glowing, oscillators are groaning, guitars are busting and
sitars are droning!  This should be a humdinger and a half!  I know some of you've tasted a piece of the pie already but we've refined the recipe, so feel free to have another taste at the Alma on Saturday 23rd February or the Boat Race on 16th March (Japanese Girls get in Free!).
5 Feb 2002 Tim Glasswell writes...
We have been very busy rehearsing since the New Year, and have now almost finished our album pre-production process.  This has involved recording 'demos' of all our new songs, giving the band a chance to try out a few different arrangements, and also tweak our studio equipment to satisfaction.  We'll start sessions for the album proper in a few weeks time, after the gig at The Alma (Saturday 23rd February.)  Looks like we'll have even more new songs to debut there, so don't miss it.  See you all soon...
14 Jan 2002 Tom Kendon writes...
Happy New Year to everyone who takes a moment to read this.  By the sounds of things we have all had a cracking Christmas period and riotous New Years celebrations.  Those of you who I've managed to catch up with, I hope your year continues as well as it has started... and to all of you that I have not spoken to, can I wish you all a very happy and prosperous New Year... The same comes from the rest of the band to, I'm sure...  Just remember that numerologists are foretelling a great one, not only is 2002 a palindromic year but it starts and ends with even numbers all of which are meant to be good omens.  I notice also that it adds up to 4 or 22 or 202 which ever way you wanna cut it, which I'm sure is good too... I think I will call the 2001 the Waterman year. You can make of that what you will however it's not because I dyed my hair flame red and had chart success with 'You'll Never Stop Me From Loving You', no no no.  Must trade in the scull...  New years resolution...just one: Stop fucking around!  Have a good one...still recording by the way.
7 Jan 2002 Jenni Downs writes...
Hey everyone! Lucky for us the lads are still incapacitated from the festive season so I get another opportunity to write in the journal.  Being a girl I feel it's my duty to exchange civilities (is that a real word?) you know, like asking if you had a good Christmas and all that stuff...Well, did you? We had a rather sophisticated start to the celebrations by having dinner in a quaint little pub in Suffolk. We was sooo posh!  The food was delicious, the wine flowed and the cheese board was immense! Then, as so often happens over the Christmas period, family ties wrenched us apart for a fortnight.  However, heavily fed, soddenly lubricated, we met again with tears of joy in our eyes in the new year and played our musical hearts out.!  All I have left to say now is a big Happy New Year to you all and see you soon...(at The Boat Race I believe.)  Ta ta Jen
8 Dec 2001 Jenni Downs writes...
The nights are long...  The days are cold... there's Jack frost nipping at my nose. oh i like a bit of cheese don't you?  Especially at this time of year.  I've been thinking we should do a Christmas song, maybe even a cover... how about 'Mistletoe and Wine', or 'The little drummer boy' ... Dave, can you use brushes please! Ouch! That hurt! See ya. Jen x
29 Nov 2001 Guy Henderson writes...
So the new stuff went down well then? Groovy!!! What? Whoa there Nellie!!! A simple shift in waveform from sine to square, plus a general expansion of the frequency spectrum we explore, and some jump the gun and hail in the oft touted 'NEW DIRECTION'!!! SLOW DOWN!!! We never strayed the path Amigos! We're just a little further up the road to where we're going...Ohh.. those six new dishes! Hmmm... they were mere hors d'oeuvres!! Ladies and gents clear your palates for the main course....FISH HOOK SURPRISE!!!! Hey! why the glum faces? O.K they may be hard to swallow but you'll never forget them! And there's always the sweet, a little sugar to take the edge off the poison! Well, what did expect? You know baby, we're the bamboo band. Longer, more flexible and very much alive!
4 Nov 2001 Tim Glasswell writes...
Last weekend's 'relaunch' gig at the Boat Race was a great success. We particularly enjoyed airing our new songs for the first time, and it was great to see so many people there enjoying them too. At the moment, we're in the middle of rehearsals for the forthcoming Alma gig (this Saturday 10th November). I quite enjoy playing our full 90+ minute set at gigs like this, because we get to showcase our new material, play songs from the album, and throw in a few other tunes from our back catalogue. We all look forward to seeing you there...

In the meantime, here are a few pictures taken at The Boat Race last week.
17 Oct 2001 Tim Glasswell writes...
It's great to see the website revised and updated to tie in with the return of my friend irma to Cambridge. The band is really looking forward to playing again, and are pleased to announce that there will be quite a few new songs in the set... We have been locked away writing new songs over the past 9 months. We did some preliminary work at 'The Lab' studio back in March, where we recorded a dozen or so rough demo ideas. A lot of these new ideas have evolved from full band jams. This has been a very different way of writing, (and can take some time) but has been a lot of fun... In recent months we have been equipping a small semi-professional recording studio where we rehearse. We're hoping to record some material (for later release) over the winter. In the meantime, please try and make it along to the Boat Race and Alma gigs over the next month... they're shaping up to be very exciting.
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