<\/p>\n
I<\/span>\u2019m in a recording studio with two other members of the band I\u2019m in, listening to stuff we\u2019ve recorded, with an eye toward finishing touches. But really it\u2019s a last chance to fix mistakes: ropey backing vocals; mistimed bass notes; a banjo part played with an out\u2011of-tune B string.<\/p>\n \u201cI can easily redo it,\u201d I say, thinking: I don\u2019t even remember playing it in the first place.<\/p>\n \u201cYou only hit that string a couple of\u00a0times,\u201d says George, the engineer. \u201cI\u00a0can probably edit it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAs always, I prefer solutions that don\u2019t involve me doing anything,\u201d I say.<\/p>\n The guitarist, meanwhile, is compiling a list of potential album titles. Whenever he comes up with one, he hands me his notepad and insists I add one of my own.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t ask me to explain my thinking,\u201d I say, handing it back.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are no bad ideas at this stage,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n George loads another song. It begins gently, with guitar and vocals, building across the second verse and first chorus to a swelling instrumental interlude. Then it drops down again.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it needs something else coming in there,\u201d I say.<\/p>\n \u201cI agree,\u201d says George.<\/p>\n \u201cSomething different, maybe a bit nautical,\u201d says the guitar player.<\/p>\n \u201cShip\u2019s harmonium?\u201d I say, feeling\u00a0clever.<\/p>\n \u201cThat sort of thing,\u201d says the guitar\u00a0player.<\/p>\n \u201cOK,\u201d says George. \u201cLet\u2019s mike up the harmonium.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShit,\u201d I say. \u201cI forgot you had one.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood luck,\u201d says the guitar player.<\/p>\n I don\u2019t know if the studio\u2019s old harmonium has been on a ship, but it looks the part. Two big foot pedals operate the bellows that push the air across the reeds, and they creak when you step on them. I recall trying to play this instrument once before, years ago. I also recall we didn\u2019t use any of it, because it sounded terrible.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t touch any of the knobs,\u201d says\u00a0George through my headphones. \u201cIt barely works as it is.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI won\u2019t,\u201d I say.<\/p>\n