The third album at large!
After a long wait, some say even too long, we're finally there. The Masquerade Show is out in the open for all to hear!
Getting anxious
Getting anxious
Yup, we so much looking forward to let the new album spin for a real audience. We're back to say the least, perhaps a bit darker, even a bit more umpff than before. I've had some fine last few weeks at the Over the Hill Studio with Micke and the guys. Here's some picture proof that we're actually working, and not just goofing around. Enjoy!
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| Alex well-dressed for the occasion |
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| More juice, and then some! |
Half time in final mix
So on rehearsal nights, the band takes a stroll by Mikes place, and hear the final results of each track, like clockwork. We're deep in the details now, and we see the forming of a new expression, we're all getting rather fond of.
It's Easter time in Scandinavia, and that means more time also to play, write new stuff, and hang with the guys. We wish happy holidays to all our fans out there, and stay tuned as more preview material is coming up shortly!
Our new manager Mr Darren Lovett is on the ball, and currently in negotiations with all our collaborators and also some newly found friends who all are in favor of having more Maze of Time in their lives.
Catch you all in a bit
A.
Mixdown in progress!
Well, another day in paradise!
Snow still lingering on, while daylight is slowly but surely coming back to Stockholm. While in the darkness of the studio, Micke and Robert are at it at full throttle.
Robert has this book, you know, the black book you might've seen a glimpse of during the last ten years where everything goes in. Mistakes, bloopers, new ideas, hate, love and everything in between. But today, the page is blank, nothing whatsoever written. Which means we're close, we're very close to submitting our next contribution to the world, and move to the next level of evolution :-)
And here's Rob, for your viewing pleasure:
Robert and Thomas
Two very nice gentlemen in front of the recording apparatus, enjoying themselves immensely at Over the Hill Productions. The foundation of the new album, drum, bass and guitars was evaluated and found to be hard and to the point. Next the keys and vocals will be added for the first song to be ready for the album. Micke enjoyed himself also, making coffee and having chocolate muffins as always, mixer-men always do.... 
Did you know a tom is called puka in Swedish?
Regardless of the language lesson, Micke has been through the drum section of pretty much everything, including some unorthodox contributions on the album, including hanging and floor toms, aiming for full rhythm section by the end of the upcoming fortnight.
We're so looking forward to hear some well-mélanged sounds from the Over the Hill Studio and keep our fingers crossed that our contributions will blend. We always ask ourselves that question, and sometimes look at the blendtec web site for inspiration, enjoy:
Thomas at large in the studio
It's not just about getting to the studio on a good day, it's also about structure, preparations and keepin' yer track sheets in order. That's where Micke comes in, with his firm yet gentle touch and good temper, well, er most of the time anyway. And that's a good trait to have when it comes to working with Mr Thomas Nordh, who's quick decision-making process only can be compared with that of a samurai warrior who instantly goes from strategy to action. And there were some final touches to do, we might actually be talking about one of the very last edits before mixmaster Mike goes into final mise-en-place mixage, mastering and distro - sing ho!
Thomas goes; "What's this thing here, who put it on the list, I don't know..." And then the pedagogical skills of a audio technician comes in handy :-)
The result? Wait and see, we ain't sayin' ! When you've eaten your x-mas turkey, launched those new year's rockets, and got back to work then Santa will come a second time, perhaps even an amazing time...
A.
It's all in the maze of time
There has been some stuff going on in the Over da Hill studio, and pretty much all of it has been darn good.
Ever since we started jammin' together, time has both been on our side while also taken its toll. But like when the band Anthrax were confronted with their choice of band name being this awful illness during the 2001 US outbreak, some of our motivation goes to that of growing old with style, getting long hair and having a good time w. friends of our choice.
So, while you all were sleeping, Robert grasped the neck of an array of guitars...
It's solo time!Robert playing for the studio dog Ezther, who as you surely know can be heard on the intro on "Lullaby for Heroes" sniffing about... |  |
 | A summary of the last few days could sound something like this, from Robert I himself: In retrospect, I see before more lots of finger. And maple. There's a Mesa Boogie and a Fender by its side. While "Dark Matter" is more about the Gold Top, clean into the Fulltone's Fat-boost and a volume pedal. In the air of Blackmore, Gary More and then some more, in a near-jazzy style. Did I use the e-bow? Of course, goes without saying that a tribute to giants like Fripp and Howe are never out of place, especially when it gets someways into land of the herbs and mushrooms... |
Stay tuned for bone-chiseling percussion coming up!
/A.
Time - you know that thing passes while you do stuff
The time for keyboards have come and passed. So has summer. Sweden is transforming into autumn and the colored leaves are taking their final tolls before landing on lawns and pavements.
We're entering the final stages of mixing, and the last solos are up. Alex backed up with Björne's solid hands, laid up some layers of lace, satin and progressive corduroy adding that maze sound we're so fond of :-)
There have also been backing vocals performed by Björne himself. He has this talent always finding the right voicing, and is no stranger of adding another part to the harmony.
I have to say that it's going to be a monster, rearing its ugly head.
We're closing in on the end game, all efforts put in for another Maze release. Expect something really mazy in late winter!
Lyrics, lyrics, lyrics
A decade ago, we wrote them by hand, five years back we had printouts from e-mail and now Maze of Time has taken the step into the Pad era. "Information on your cell phones, for dreamers only..." has got an entirely new meaning, as we are completely immersed in the event-driven, touch screen mayhem we refer to as daily life.
But that's why we do what we do, right? Creating a counter-balance to the lack of control, the increasingly difficult path where we attempt to rule our own lives despite information overflow. What's interesting, what's relevant, what's in it for me? Decisions pounding our craniums everywhere we go, live and breath. In the realm of music, when we play, these hampering thoughts don't apply. We're free in a sense, in our micro-Kibbutz we call the shots for the more-part anyway. Isn't life grand - if you don't like the rat race, just step off the carousel. See your friends, move to the countryside, get a job you like. It's your life, nobody else is going to do it for you anyway!
So, after this whole-heartened preamble, what do the Mazekeepers have in store for you today? Well, to begin with, we have our own diva, the infamous Jesper who delivered just as expected.
He left his home wee early, as was the only one on time for the recording session. Well, Micke was there too, as he lives in the studio, for a huddle-up before the vocal sessions began.
Robert and Thomas couldn't contain themselves and carried on with constructive coaching throughout, perhaps too conscientiously at times, while music is like a bit like golf a result sport. Nobody cares how you hold your clubs, just that the ball lands in the right place on the short stuff. And Jesper sure can carry a tune, just like Annika Sörenstam can land her game near the flag!
And boy did he deliver. The whole album is a few notes up from where we left off with Lullabys, and Jesper won't make anybody disappointed contributing his entire range from pianissimo to full basket. Perhaps the most darkest album, but also with the most intriguing lyrics just as you'd might expect from the keepers of the Maze.
The end-result is also getting nearer, with a partial mix-down to be carried out this week, and we move from the Over the Hill studio to the equally infamous Burnie Postman lounge in the middle of the Rockholm of Stockholm. Keyboards will be rigged, cables connected and ebony & ivory will be caressed in virtuous patterns to create the final instrumental ingredients into what we might call the Maze of Time vortex soup.
best
A.
Some musicians only sing their own songs...
..but who's heard of guitarists who design & weld their own stomp boxes (with a little help from not so innocent by-standers? Well, this might be proof enough that this is the case, soon in a music store near you.
Let's see if they can conjure up a circuit chart of this masterpiece, so you too can get the real Chemical Sleep part one sound in your own studio.
Stay tuned - more to come!
You can always add more drums!
Folks, this is the end, or perhaps it's the end of the beginning of the end, well actually it's just the end of the drum portion of these recording sessions. Young master Thomas has now successfully added some final touches to the rhythm section, and given his fine grin when surprising the photographer with 110 dB of cymbal mayhem, he seems rather pleased with himself.
As you might imagine, dear music lover, it's somewhat of a tug-o-war going on between on one hand "less is more" and in the blue corner "more is more", and somewhere is the middle you find Mike the mixmaster who from experience knows all too well when a cup is full. You can then hear him saying things to the effect of: Lads, the only part of the spectrum left to molest, is the frequency range reserved for dog's callsigns - let it be!
Regardless, Thomas is enjoying immensely his private time at the Over the Hill studio, getting all the attention all by himself. He just might have some surprises for the rest of us, as we haven't had the privilege to sample any of the footprints from the drums & percussion sessions.
A little known fact is that one of Thomas' absolute favorite drummers is Ian Paice. This true telephone call took place back in the 70's, when Deep Purple had decided to take a break and drummer Ian Paice was no longer in Purple. Meanwhile, Paul McCartney was looking for a drummer to his less famous band: Wings. McCartney called Paice and asked if he was intrested in playing with Wings. Ian shows a positive attitude, and then Paul says:
- OK, that's good. Could you come down here and do an audition tomorrow then?
- I'm Ian Paice dammit! I don't do auditions.
And as an afternote, Ian actually played with Paul on several occasions, once as recently as 1999 in a promotional event for Paul's "Concert for Linda", live at the Cavern Club in London, along with other giants like Pink Floyd?s guitarist David Gilmour, guitarist Mick Green (Dr. Feelgood), drummer Dave Mattacks, and keyboardists Pete Wingfield and Geraint Watkins. That must have been a sight for sore eyes, to capture that lot together in the flesh!
And sometimes in the midst of everything, in the dead of a cold winter's night, with Maze through your ol' stereo, and by listening very closely, you could hear a hint of Ian's inspiration now and then through all the layers of gilded, tinsel-clad ear candy.
More guitars, just can't get enough of them
The Over the Hill studio has become more secretive the last few days, like always when the guitar web magic is being spun, thick and gloomy. In the shelter of darkness - well almost since we not that many hundred miles away from midnight sun this time o' year - he sneaks away from wife and kids. Opening the back gate to Micke's shack in the back.
What happens in there nobody knows, but there are rumors that go something like this: The Marchall is set to eleven, cables run through the door to the control room, and Rob and Mike hit it off, using most of the stomp boxes they can get their hands on.
Video: One of the tracks in rehearsal. How the song evolved over time, we can't disclose until we're done, mixed and mastered... talk about cliffhanger!
Next week, we'll look in some of the lead vocals, with our diva Jesper entering the scene. Looking forward to here more from those vibrating, golden cords of his.
/axl
Day 3-4: Strummin'
So here we go, with Robert having a true galore at the Over the Hill studio. According to rumors, he brought no less than four guitars, six stomp boxes, gold plated cables enough to wire up a Korg Sigma (ok, I just revealed I'm a keyboard jockey, so what). But we need to talk about Robert some more. Here he is in all his grace:
I came by on Sunday evening, and Robert was saying "listen to when the second guitar comes in. I was warned, no doubt, but yet I became scared, truly frightened by the sheer punch of the Ibanez 1981 DT-400 Destroyer. That axe sure looks nasty from here.
There was also some other interesting incarnations in the arsenal of distortion implements, not to mention the zen moment of finding the nicest speaker instance in the 4x12''. Robert doesn't mind posing in front of his fav rig, and I can't blame him as it sounds pretty nice, to my keypressing ears. The result? You'll just have to wait a while longer while we get our act together for number three! 
Six tracks now are ++ with supporting guitar action, and we give a big hand to our designated composer, text crafter and fellow mazekeeper.
Regardless of your species, take care, and stay tuned for more Maze action!
Another axepic!
best
A.
Day 1-2: Groundwork
Yup, the baseboards are in place - definitely. Thomas and Jan have done some really solid groundwork for the album, Robert and me supporting their act. Robert got this new 5W rig especially for this purpose, and it sounds really good for something that small. Myself I arranged for some classic food allowing the guys to rock all day!
Managed to get some outtakes for you right here:
Upcoming schedule looks something like this; misc. bricks & mortar recording done after May 21-22. Supporting guitars May 23-30, keys first or second week of June, lead vocals from June 12 followed by supporting vocals, additional guitars, keys and percussion on top until Midsummer, when we're going to eat pickled herring and drink Absolut according to Swedish tradition.
more to come
best
Al
And thanks to Artrock for linking to us, we appriciate that very much!
Day zero: Mise en place
First recording day always has its quirks, and after three mechanical malfunctions, several organizational hazards, a late lunch (something like 3pm) and some who just couldn't maneuver their own equipment properly, we closed early shop on this day zero of the recording. Saturday 14th is now considered as the official start of "the Masquerade Show", the internal working name for this piece.
The mazekeepers getting ready to rumble.
Below a typical scene from the Over the Hill studio on the early Sunday, with Thomas trying to get the snare of this Yamaha 9000 Recording in order.
It has begun
There is no turning back now. We're good to go for number three, packing instruments, notes, batteries, snacks, paraphernalia, and miscellaneous gear into bags, cases and crates going to Micke's love shack.
Rob and Thomas have held Micke busy with setup today, drums and guitar, getting all those mikes selected and placed. Looking forward to hear what they came up with tomorrow, always doing his best for us Big Micke when we come on down.
So, stay tuned for more strumming action in this blog, at the Over the Hill studio.
Line up same as always:
Robert I Edman, guitars, vocals
Jan Persson, bass
Thomas Nordh, drums & percussion
Jesper Landén, vocals
Alex Jonsson, keyboards & synths
Björne Öhman, backing vocals
A.
Maze HQ | Mar 12, 2011
Number three
Yes, there is a number three after number two. Time is on our side, when we once again take the road down to the Over the Hill studio for the making of something new, fresh from the keepers of the Maze.
Maze HQ | November 7, 2009
Art Performance 5 years!
Friday, November 27 is another grand day for Maze of Time, when record company Art Performance celebrates its five year annaversery - horray!. Come on down to Pub Bryggeriet in Märsta
for a pleasent musical evening with us and Roger Karlsson and Formalin. (map or 59.2973 N, 18.0528 E), admission including a serious compilation CD is SEK100/EUR10, doors open at 8pm. Download the poster,
Maze HQ | July 7, 2009
Playing in Årsta Oct 23rd
Yup, that's right. On October 23 we once again wield the
lute along with four other bands; Skriet, Blues Club, Rumprytm and Unkool Hillbillies. Bring your friends to Årsta Folkets Hus (map or 59.2973 N, 18.0528 E), admission is SEK50/EUR5 from 7pm. Download the poster,
Maze HQ | September 30
Listeners from all over
We're thrilled that there are so many visitors to our site, it's a real treat. We got e-mail today with a fine-tuned review of Lullaby for Heroes as heard by the progears of Henk van der Hoff. Below a map of the last hundred visitors out there, while we're sitting back here.
Maze HQ | July 27
Summer break - a time of anticipation
Well friends, July is a good month for the Mazekeepers. We have several listed events ahead of us, rumours say that Maze of Time is heading up to Norberg in Dalarna for a contribution to a local festival in early august. In September, it's back to Stockholm and rsta Folkets Hus, preliminary date set to September 12, possibly ourdoors if the weather Gods are willing, otherwise in a sizeable theater they have, hopefully with one or two other bands from the Stockholm area.
Maze HQ | April 29, 2009
Spring frenzy in the Metropol of Heby
On Friday, May 8, we're heading for the glorious tounship of Heby to join in for the spring festival. With any luck, we'l get some material from there to share with the rest of you. Drop in anytime soon and we'll have som stuff for ya!
Maze HQ | Jan 03, 2009
Relase aftermath
You maybe can't become prophets in your home town, but you can always play some rock. Therefore, we had a great release party in Stockholm, at Tantogården (tantogarden.nu) where a long array of ol' rocker have played before us.
Our friends at ISMA have shot some great pics from the event, feel free to check them out here. Also, check our our cool video for the radio edit on Lullabys.
Read more on our current recording blog
History
Maze of Time was founded in 2001 by guitarist and composer Robert I Edman. Music has been a vital ingredient throughout his life with a number of constellations. Over time, he grew weary of playing other peoples compositions as a designated guitarist for various productions and decided to take a road less travelled...
Read about how it all began and more, in this in-depth interview with Sergio Vilar
Face of Time
We're on Facebook now, with timely info about what's going on in the Maze, fun contests, and some great quotes from our fans out there!
[Take me to Maze's FP page]
Interviews
Cool interview with Robert I, on main Prog Archives website by Torodd Fugelsteg of Scotland.
Early band interview by Sergio Vilar at Progressive Rock webzine Nucleus
Onesheets & downloads
Download the onesheet for 'Tales from the maze' other goodies for your PC and phone
Myspace
And yes, despite our constant
flirting with the golden years, we do have a Myspace page,
thanks for asking :-)
