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Visions Of The Future

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New studio album. Written, recorded and mixed in one day.

Release Info
Cover Art
Band Memoirs

Release Info

Tracks

Sunshine
Biscuits & Gravy
We Are Vampires
Art Car
Desiree
Santa
Feather Lips
Fatty
Visions of the Future

Tracks (Australia Release)

Sunshine
Biscuits & Gravy
Desiree
Art Car
Santa
Fatty
Feather Lips
We Are Vampires
Visions of the Future

Dr. Ed: guitar, backing vocals, keyboard and harmonica
Kar: vocals and synthesizer
Ran: bass guitar
Spike: drums and percussion

Produced, written and performed by The Blanks.
James (Dante) Recknagel: tracking engineer.
Rock Romano: mixing and mastering engineer.

All songs written, recorded and mixed at in one day at Rock Romano's Red Shack, Houston, Texas; except vocals for “We Are Vampires” and “Santa” recorded by Kar at Lopwood Studios, Cypress, Texas. Cover art by Spike. Layout and design by Kar.
©2007 The Blanks. Distributed by Blanks Enterprises.

2007: Compact disc, Blanks Enterprises – U.S./World release: January 30, 2007; Australia release (with different track order): January 16, 2007.

Cover Art

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cover

back cover

back cover (Australia Release)

CD label

Band Memoirs

Wow, what magic. We didn't know what to expect when we went into the studio. It had been a while since the four of us had written and recorded an entire set of songs – together in the same room. We seized the opportunity in December 2006, scheduling one day – the day after Christmas – in Rock Romano's Red Shack to write, record and mix new material.

I thought we might get three to five really nice songs. I'd hoped for more. We'd been very productive in the past – writing and recording 50 songs in the 2-1/2 days of Nature's Timeless Rhythm sessions in 1992. We weren't sure we could repeat such performances – especially going in with no material and trying to mix too.

We're familiar with the traditional recording process. We worked with Steve Bundrick and Rock Romano over a number of sessions to complete The Warrior Ethos, a great album. Normally, artists spend a fair amount of time writing songs – possibly months or years perfecting them. Then they spend days and weeks rehearsing and recording each individual song and about the same time mixing them. Then you master the album.

For Visions of the Future, we recorded as live as possible. There are some imperfections because of this. There are some vocal runs I would have cleaned up if we were recording in The Warrior Ethos environment. But I think the imperfections capture the improvisational nature of the album and add to the perfection of the collection.

By the end of the day, we completed nine, solid tunes. It's a beautiful set with plenty of Ed backup vocals and Moog synthesizer mixed in. The only finish-up was the vocals to “We Are Vampires” and “Santa”, which I recorded at Lopwood Studios in early January 2007. When we left, “Santa” was a finished song with just ambient vocals (no lead); the title was “The Second Time I Ate That Sandwich” in honor of Rock's upset stomach.

It's hard to believe that after 25 years we can still put out something of this quality. I'll have to listen to this alongside to other Blanks classics – such as Kill Me Hot Chocolate, Sweet Love, and The Warrior Ethos – to rank where it fits in music history. I have no arguments, however, to statements that Visions of the Future is the greatest album ever recorded. It may very well be.

– Kar