Cycling Europe, Just For The Record Too: September 2013

2985 Kilometres of writing and recording the album

Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Italy.....and now France!

Inside an electricity pylon

There we were cycling through the industrial heart of Italy, when up pops a very tall acoustic chamber...with no door on it. Inside a very tall pylon. ha ha

Have a listen:

I climbed up inside to find the best place for the reverberation.

Holding the microphone in the centre of the pylon gives symmetry of sound.

Torre Storica

Well, if you are going to work on a song it may as well be on top of a hill by an ancient hill fort overlooking the low lands of Italy. ha ha

A ruined Itailian farmhouse

Brain fodder, what is, was and is it going to collapse on me. ha ha.

And finally....Staying in a town called Bra. A wonderful uplifting experience.

The art explosion in the centre of Cuneo

Met and played to some great people in the city centre

Also.... a group of Italian girls help me with some backing vocals

A Dry River Bed

Heading back into the Alps again we found a huge seasonal moody, dry river perfect for inspiration.

A Ski Lift

Give it a couple it a months and this place will be heaven!

Guitar cam!

huff, puff, cycling and talking whilst holding a camera in my left hand....ha ha, watch that edge!

Up to the top of another mountain!

Downwards on dirt track hairpin bends then?

Who is that racing along side me? oh, its my pannier bag with my laptop in it :(

Here comes the storm!

Gravel edged harpin tracks, perfect for stopping a heavy bike. ha ha

Soaking wet through. Mediteraining see?

Can you hold your breathe for the length of the tunnel? I couldn't. ha ha

(actual time, 7 minutes)

Such a sense of achievement, we made it to the Mediterranean sea!

Big day! recording/writing and 70 miles + over 14200 feet of hill climb.

2985 Kilometres

Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Italy.....and now France!

Looking at the map I can't believe how far we have come! (and so far still to go)

P.S

Before leaving Gorgonzola I had a chat with the Italian guys in the town square....

"È che i tuoi capelli veri?" ("Is that your real hair?")

What will be next?.....

If you would like to pre order my new album "Just for the Record Too" please visit here:

http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/paulcheese2

Or more info down here:

www.facebook.co.uk/paulcheesemusic

www.twitter.com/paulcheesemusic

www.paulcheese.com

2390 kilometres, we have cycled & recorded all the way to Gorgonzola in Italy. Yeeehaaaa!

You should always open a small door into the mountain.

It may take you on an unexpected journey into an acoustic tunnel that is great for recording guitar...

....and you might just find something amazing at the end.

Devils bridges

Water falls, shear drops, mountains, rivers and fear...

...later that day:

The Gotthard Pass (Got hard) ha ha

It was tough, after three days of mountain climbs, the weight of the equipment was starting to make me ill. ha ha. Full on fatigue, muscles full of lead and Big Bad Man Flu. sniff.

I wouldn't recommend physical endurance + altitude as a cure for blocked sinuses

After 8 hours of cycle climbing......15 miles of down hill cobble stones will sort you out!

Songs, bridges, tunnels, mountains, waterfalls and guitar....

Don't write a day off, Just because you are ill. haha

we met some new cycle buddies during the climb.

We made it, thanks Kim mate. (understatement)

A river/waterfall in the middle of nowhere

Fresh air, crystal water, the song ideas just flow!

A really great place to set up my Contour cameras.....underwater!

......and then filming video and audio through the water....ha ha

Yep, I am definitely feeling a bit better.

We captured loads of audio samples, new songs and lots of creative experimental ideas.

(and it was really good fun playing around in the river like a couple of kids. ha ha)

...and then the space ship came and beamed me up. haha

(sunlight shining under a motorway tunnel)

Buon Giorno Italia!

We have cycled to Italy!

Big Tunnels through mountains (this one was 3 kilometres! pedal pedal pedal!)

...and arches that hug the waters edge

They take you to places like this:

Cycling sunset over lake Como

Well, if you are going to work on a song, it may as well be sitting on a harbour wall whilst watching the sunset over a misty lake Como. ha ha

Gordon Bennett! Gorgonzola!

2390 kilometres, songs/album, half way

I truly am overwhelmed with the response I have received all the way across Europe and I am so chuffed with the music I have written and created so far....

What will be next?