Digital Experience
Six years – three marriages and two children as well – passed between the latest recording and the previous. A lot of life transpired and when the guys decided to get together through email, through social networking, they all realized each had the capability to record individually.
Michael had a laptop and digital interface (mixer)
, Ivar as well and Richard too. The recording was accomplished relatively quickly – within a couple of weeks, as compared to two months with the previous recording session – but never before had there been less collaboration.
Michael had his songs written and recorded with little or not input from the other two. Richard had his songs written and recorded with little or no input from the other two. Ivar only collaborated and resumed his role as default producer. Of the fourteen songs, only four were collaborations in which music, song structure and lyrics had contributions from all three members.
Though all three may always felt as members of the band, their relationship with it have changed – for better or for worse – like the technologies involved. And most likely, the relationships they have developed with wives and children are more fulfilling though a little less rockin'.