With a title taken from a lyric in the fourth track “Old Money”, this collection of 11 new recordings (including that Bus!) shows LRB in fine song writing and playing form. Given the international appeal of the band it seems fitting that the recording process took place in various locations around the world. Initial rhythm tracks were laid down in Orlando back in November 2003, with most of the remaining recording and mixing taking place in Nashville this spring. Most of the Keyboard and guitar overdubs were carried out by Glenn Reither in Melbourne, Australia and by Stephen Housden in southern Ireland. Wayne Nelson produced the whole thing again after his fine work on Where We Started From and One Night In Mississippi.

We caught up with Stephen at home and asked about how the widespread recording process had worked out. He told us “It was an interesting way to record. I was able to spend as long as I wanted working on guitar parts without worrying about the studio clock ticking away the dollars. I always did my demos at home but this was the first time I’d recorded anything that would be used on a final release. Most of what I did there came together very easily. I saved some guitar bits to do in Nashville. That way I would be able to hear what the others had added to the tracks. Vocals and Greg’s electric guitar parts were recorded there prior to my arrival. I was pleased that most of what I did at home got used and surprised that some things even fitted well with new parts of Greg’s that I hadn’t heard until I got there. The bits we did in Nashville were good fun. Pat Ryan, our guitar technician, procured a selection of amps and guitars for us to use. I ended up using his own Les Paul and Marshall amp for the solo in ‘Long Goodbye”. When everyone got home after Nashville we listened to rough mixes and emailed each other about what we thought was needed to make it complete. Glenn and I did a few more bits at our homes and mailed them off to Nashville on CD. During the tour in April we listened to the mix and discussed what needed to be changed. Now we’re finally at the point where all we have to do is wait for that exciting moment when we tear the shrink-wrap off our new CD.”

Track listing for the album

The Long Goodbye
Should I Go
Back In Your Arms
Old Money
Hold On
Enlighten Me
Forever Now
Can't Get You Outta My Heart
I've Met Love Before
I'm Waiting
There's A Bus Leaving

Song writing duties were shared around the band, with a nod also given to times past with the inclusion of ex-drummer Steve Prestwich’s Aussie pop classic Forever Now. Followers of the band over the last year will recognize a number of the titles from the road testing they were given on tour earlier this year and late in 2003. Stephen Housden remarked “The audience reaction we got to the songs was so good we knew they had to make the cut when we were considering songs for the album”.

Test Of Time is now available at LRB shows, with an online source to be announced very soon.
Track samples are now available here on the official Website.

Whilst you’re waiting to get your hands on a copy of the new CD, LRB News can help to fill the time with an article about the songs on the album. Click here for “A View Across The Tracks”, a personal insight into the songs by the people that wrote them.


CAREFUL WHAT YOU PICK-UP….

Here’s something that should interest all the guitarists, would-be guitarists or just plain-old guitar fans out there in the LRB fan base. Stephen has been putting his home studio to all kinds of good use, and has recently finished recording some demos for Chris Kinman, the Australian designer and manufacturer of the noiseless guitar pick-ups that Stephen uses to such great effect. They're posted on the Kinman site.


As Chris says on his site “Steve is one of the finest most expressive, versatile and articulate players I have had the pleasure of working with (also a great songwriter). Steve is endorsed by Fender but he prefers to install Kinman AVn pickups in all his guitars - he is a true believer (in Kinman).” Keen-eyed fans will have recognized the blue Kinman Stratocaster guitar on the cover of Stephen’s “New World Groove” solo album – see it on his personal website on the "Stephen's CD" link, (top right on Stephen's home page).

As well as showcasing the excellent Kinman products, the samples also demonstrate the remarkable range of playing styles and virtuosity that LRB fans have come to expect from Stephen whenever he takes to the stage.

Right-click on the samples and save them to somewhere on your PC as recommended on the webpage for the easiest way to listen whenever you choose.

By Martin Starkie