Thistle Cottage Recordings

and

Oakenwood Art Studio

by

Lori Hartbarger

Random Ramblings and Miscellaneous Musings

January 2012 WINTER

"The winter gathered us into one room as it gathered the cattle into the stable and the byre; the sky came closer; the lamps were lit at three or four in the afternoon, and then the great evening lay before us like a world: an evening filled with talk, stories, games, music and lamplight." Edwin Muir

I am one of those "winter people" that the great Orcadian writer George Mackay Brown mentions in one of his writings. I enjoy those cold nights, staying tucked up cosily at home with creativity, good music and books to read. One is more aware of the elements, the wintry breezes are invigorating, the tactile nature of wool, textured tweed, soft scarves, keeping one warm.

A good time for island stories, tales from those pristine Northern Isles of Orkney and Shetland, and Scottish Highland tales and landscapes, country life, traditional tunes, fireside tales and legends.

12 October 2011 White Horses and Ancient Tales

Two new paintings have been completed,one depicts The Westbury White Horse in Wiltshire, England. This is the photograph used as reference (from the book 'Geoffrey Grigson's Countryside')

and here is my painting:

White horse chalk hill figures interest me right now. Once I took a coach bus from Salisbury to Avebury and along the journey through deep countryside and winding lanes I was delighted when I spotted The Pewsey White Horse in passing. There is something dramatic about the hill figures, standing out so flat and white against the vibrant green hillsides, wonderful things! I have one book on the subject, but have compiled a list of the few other titles written, including The Scouring Of The White Horse by Thomas Hughes.

I've gathered a stack of some folklore and history books to possibly read next

after I finish reading:

The Oxford Illustrated History of Medieval England by Nigel Saul

Antiquaries:The Discovery of The Past In Eighteenth Century Britain by Rosemary Sweet

Mythology of the British Isles by Geoffrey Ashe

Welsh Crafts by Mary Eirwen Jones

So lots of stories of legends and lore and ancient tales and stone circles and antiquity and suddenly listening to lots of folk music again too, and Breton and French music, lots of Alan Stivell (which always makes me want to learn to play the harp) and for the last few nights Robin Williamson's Scottish harp records have been on the turntable. There is something warm and comforting about traditional/folk music, it is timeless.

AND, as for recording, yes I am full of creative ideas and am planning the next albums and am going through the vaults of older recordings and finding some lovely instrumental recordings that will be surfacing soon. Warmest Autumn wishes to you.

late Summer 2011 Leaping Hares, Badgers and Civilised Train Journeys

Harvest time is here, and I'm happiest when the year is turning to this time, when Autumn approaches and then winter. I have had my head full of countryside, archaeology and folklore books again, and been inspired in my painting. I recently did a painting of a young, leaping hare and am nearly finished with a painting of badgers in a wood, my first ever badgers. No doubt hedgehogs will come snuffling up next to be painted, and more leaping or sitting hares will follow!

I'm planning on spending some time in the West Country and Wessex whenever I can get back to dear old England again, even though she's not so dear as she used to be, times are strange and confusing, often leaving me feeling that I was born too late, longing for more civilised and genteel society. I felt this even more strongly after watching some videos of Sir John Betjeman taking train journeys around the country many years ago. How pleasant and polite it all was; peaceful and quiet too, no mobile phones or little televisions to disrupt your train journey reveries and ruin the romance of travel by rail.

It is to Oxfordshire and into Wiltshire again, Somerset, Dorset and Devon that calls me.

April 2011 Directions and Musical Treasure Seeking

Despite a recent halt to the procedings, I've been in an extremely creative mode this year, finishing lots of paintings and reworking some older ones in need of refurbishment. I also do have the lyrics written for the next few albums, many songs that were created years ago but never found a place before.

When I began Thistle Cottage Recordings, I was heavily into the world of traditional folk music, which I still love; but I've changed direction,(actually nearer to where I was when I began writing songs) beginning with North Sea, which certainly isn't folk, despite having a few folk elements, and it revealed a change of style, the inspiration of Progressive Rock music; this isn't to say that I won't write and record more folk music, no, I'm sure I shall, being a changeable sort of lady!

How delightful, timeless and exhilarating so much of the prog rock is, especially the 1970's British & European bands, so many bands sadly lost in the mists of time and the distant corridors of obscurity, whilst the radio airwaves pour out a constant stream of ear-shredding rubbish, bland pap or the same songs played to death for decades.

I encourage people who love music to dig deep, research the internet, frequent secondhand record shops, search diligently for the treasures that are out there; ignore the trends, shun the pop music jokes passing for stars or those claiming to be objects of idolatry, that sort of thing is suffocating real, true, artistically adventurous music by musicians who create what they must, not for monetary success, but due to an overwhelming drive to create genuine works of art. I truly cannot comprehend how anyone can stand most of the horribly commercial, unlistenable ear pollution that is put forth; a large portion of which is lacking individuality and integrity. It's making those of less determination give up on music (thinking there's nothing good anymore), too indifferent to wade through the rubbish to discover hidden gems. Now, there are some highly talented young musicians recording now, especially in traditional folk music, but so often the best gets passed over whilst other things get publicity.

Excuse this highly opinionated rant, but sometimes these things must be said, I take music very seriously!

17 February 2011 North Sea Is Here!

My new album 'North Sea' is released into the wild! I've had been working on this album off and on for a year and a half, writing new songs and music along with developing some older pieces never recorded before, and it's been an intense experience getting it finished, many, many hours of hard work and listening, listening, listening! I've learned a great deal more about recording, as this project stretched me musically in many ways and made me listen differently (at least in the recording process) than previously, it was also much more complex.

The booklet problem has been sorted, involving setting up a sort of home printing press, and after some printing mishaps things are in order and running smoothly...and Iwill just say that if you are considering buying the album, go on and try the deluxe full-booklet option, you will not regret it: a twenty-page, full-colour booklet filled with paintings and all the lyrics written to the songs, and other things.

Overall, it's been a great time making this record, can't wait to start on the next!

21st January 2011 Perplexities of Printing For the Artist

Well, it's past time for me to be relaying some thoughts and musings here. North Sea has been at the forefront of my thoughts for some time. The album has been the most complex project I've ever created, and I've been even more delayed in completing it due to trying to finish the several-paged booklet to accompany the cd. With slowly developing the look of the artwork and the lettering and nothing ever being as perfect as I wish it could be, it is a long process.

It seems to befuddle some people when you are using actual paintings for album artwork, even frightens them! Even professional printers seem perplexed at how to print something as seemingly simple as a small booklet.

If only these were the days of lps...how much more satisfying and simpler to create a record cover. There would be the front and back cover, gatefold perhaps, and then the insert, much easier to reproduce. Yes, I am taking a lot of trouble over the packaging, but it's the only way I can do it, it being important for me to have the entire project as an integral package. I myself appreciate it when I buy an album and there are notes and lyrics and photos and when I see that someone has put some thought into how they present their work. I hope some of you out there will be as happy with North Sea as I am. Lori