Time Won't Wait
4 In The Morning
28 Flights
We Should Be On By Now
No Love Lost
La Mort
Gate 21
Bitter Suite
Northern Star
Free Spirits
'Over My Dead Body' - Liner Notes.
I've been very fortunate, to be brought back to life, from death, during my lifetime.
It's kind of difficult to describe that, as I'm sure you can imagine. I was called back, but I wasn't expecting it. I remember being bitter, for some reason, although I could not really explain that, other than, that such a peace had been disturbed.
The artist in me, has been hell bent on trying to understand the way of explaining such things, for over four years.
With the help of some remarkable talent on this earth, I've been able to understand and express my own feelings and put them all in order of sensibility.
(Well, as much as you could expect, under the circumstances !!) The art of making music for me, is not about Billboard or maximum sales. It's very much about venting internal thoughts, experiences and trying to explain a certain issue in a listenable way. Presenting situations or feelings to other people that they wouldn't otherwise realise, in a musical format and of course, trying to survive in the process; which I managed, thanks to Inga and many other people after this dark journey.
The result of all this time, is the forthcoming album, 'Over My Dead Body'.
It's pretty much a testament, to being able to get up and write and perform again. I didn't think that would happen.
It's also very much a celebration of all the rock styles that I have been involved with, in my career. From acoustic, to piano based anthems to acapella and a lot of wound up Marshall's too; the tension is set for a show at the beginning of the album and resolves itself after a spiritual journey through death and rebirth in a Scandinavian airport, to a peaceful state of recovery and artistic creativity once more, after psychological despair, emigration and re-settlement of mind and body, but in a different country, from my upbringing.
The album goes through many changes in it's tone and temperature. I wanted to be able to express myself in as many vocal capacities as I could. Recording records with, or for other artists, always presents it's vocal limitations, but this was an opportunity to break those chains and focus on vocals more heavily for a time. I think I've really needed a vocally dominated album for a while and we have recorded thousands of vocal files on this record.
The style dynamic, ranges from classic 80's rock, which came through the collaborations with Paul Sabu, to the insurgence of detune and depth of the 90's where Siam was born, in co-writes with Henning Ramseth. Ram-Zet have their roots and cred based in Scandinavia. Henning has worked with the band,'Return', for years and currently is a sound consultant in Oslo. And a remarkable guitar player.
This is very much the closure of Siam for me. The demand for another record was heartwarming, but completely unrealistic because of everyones lives having taken such different paths. I think I came as close as I could here, with the intentions and expressionism of the band from the 90's. Even the artwork was resurrected by Alex Cooper from the original merchandise in 1993 before it was all stolen on tour in the U.K. and never seen again.
Siam drew much from Judas Priest, Queensryche, Racer X, Dokken, Hellion and many other other influences from earlier years, such as U.F.O and M.S.G.
With Neil Kernon and his production experience of both Dokken and Queensryche and indeed Shy, I've tried to maintain the high standard of production that the band really warranted. Robert Sall from Work of Art and W.E.T. shook up the AOR end of the album with his composition and guitar wizadry. I was to include a third song with Robert, but I wanted it to sit on the album I plan to release next year.
Douglas Docker is a remarkable musician and someone who completely understands my mindset. If it wasn't for his work and involvement, so late in the day, many of the ideas that were running around inside my head, would never have come to fruition. There is a cover version on the record. The remarkable Belgian writer, Jacques Brel inspired much in worldwide artists throughout his career in the 50's/60's. I never encountered him until the 70's shortly before his passing, but to record 'La Mort' in this fashion, is something I've waited thirty years, to do. It belongs here, for me, so I can put that artistic anxiety to rest at last. The orchestration of three of the songs are distinct possibilities and I have great hope of that before the final mixing. I've always enjoyed rock songs performed by a Philharmonic Orchestra. When we meet each other as rock musicians and those 'other' clever guys, we always find each other incredulous. But the respect is amazing, both ways.
The Crue:
Drums - Andreas Nergard
Bass - Andreas Passmark, Sid Ringsby, Victor Borge, Henning Ramseth, Paul Sabu,
Guitars Paul Sabu, Robert Sall, Henning Ramseth, Ronni Le Tekro, Douglas Docker
Keys - Douglas Docker, Robert Sall, Paul Sabu.
Vox - at time of sessions, I covered all the vox, although that may change before the final mixes.
