Released in 2023, "A Field Guide To Ghosts of Ontario" was the start of the newest phase of the band. It had brought aboard Janine on bass, and while we were recording it, Lexie was a "special guest". However, by the time the album was released, she was a full fledged member. 

 

The title came from the song "Books on Horticulture", a song where I wanted to see if I could tether emotional ideas to some more technical type wordage. In that came "A Field Guide to Ghosts of Ontario". 

 

I suggested the cover of the album be a 'fictional' field guide, however using the classic designs... the band joked that I should write it. 

 

Me, finding that hilarious... I set about writing and illustrating a "Field Guide to Ghosts of Ontario..." which was a fantastic exercise. 

 

I also included an essay on songwriting, and a lyrical analysis of the songs on the album. Not that I want to explain meanings, rather it being a case of 'demonstrating' the concepts. 

 

The songwriting essay will be reposted in full in the blog... as the book is out of print for the time being. 

 

In the technical side of things... 

This was the last album I recorded on my trusty Tascam 2488neo. 

Usually, I would transfer the files to an old laptop and mix in Cool Edit Pro. 

 

This time around, I mixed on an old MacBook Pro, using Studio One. 

 

Finding the benefits significant enough, it was then I proceeded to move from a standalone hard disc, to Focusrite and a M3 Pro for all the future tracking. 

 

I think overall, I really enjoyed the presentation of a concept in place... the song, informed the artwork, which led designs to the book as well as apparel. And, even down to the stop go animation/puppetry video. 

(for some pics on that, slide over to the arts section)

 

With this album launch being the first time we have had shirts and hoodies available. And, there was also a limited lathe cut 7" we had made of 'Manitoba Coda'/'Books on Horticulture'.