Mathom - No Recoil (1994)
© 1993-1994, Dan Sweeney & Phil Thompson. All rights reserved.
© 1993-1994, Dan Sweeney & Phil Thompson. All rights reserved.
In the literal sense, my brother Daniel was ten years younger than I. But in his grasp of the world around him, he was light-years beyond the rest of us.
Among his many passions Dan loved music, and over the years fronted a number of bands as lead vocalist and bassist, often with fellow Punk and Ska enthusiasts. But before all that - before he outgrew me musically, he and I made an album... in fact, we made two. This was the first.
It was early summer, 1993. I was stationed at Kirtland Air Force Base, in Albuquerque, far from our native Pensacola. I hadn't seen him in nearly three years, and almost didn't recognize him when he stepped off the plane--not yet 17, but well over six feet tall, hair halfway down his back, and dressed like a heavy metal star!
After some catching up, obligatory tours of Sandia Peak, Old Town, and a couple (authentic) Mexican restaurants, we decided to make an album. Dan had some ideas, as did I, and over the next couple weeks we created No Recoil.
The story is dark, but not anything out of the ordinary, considering the source was a young man working his way through adolescence.
In writing the music I followed Daniel's thematic lead, creating sinister undertones for his storyline. Only had to reach into my pre-written stuff once or twice; a lot of my music on No Recoil took shape while I watched him work.
Among his many passions Dan loved music, and over the years fronted a number of bands as lead vocalist and bassist, often with fellow Punk and Ska enthusiasts. But before all that - before he outgrew me musically, he and I made an album... in fact, we made two. This was the first.
It was early summer, 1993. I was stationed at Kirtland Air Force Base, in Albuquerque, far from our native Pensacola. I hadn't seen him in nearly three years, and almost didn't recognize him when he stepped off the plane--not yet 17, but well over six feet tall, hair halfway down his back, and dressed like a heavy metal star!
After some catching up, obligatory tours of Sandia Peak, Old Town, and a couple (authentic) Mexican restaurants, we decided to make an album. Dan had some ideas, as did I, and over the next couple weeks we created No Recoil.
The story is dark, but not anything out of the ordinary, considering the source was a young man working his way through adolescence.
In writing the music I followed Daniel's thematic lead, creating sinister undertones for his storyline. Only had to reach into my pre-written stuff once or twice; a lot of my music on No Recoil took shape while I watched him work.
My personal favorite bit of music here is the first (almost) two minutes of
Coming Home. The Sequential Multi-Trak really came through nicely here.
I also remember the main riff from The Cold Earth hitting me like a bolt of lightning.
We'd arranged the acoustic piece Down--a two-part acoustic guitar thing I'd written
years before, with Dan singing four-part harmony through it--intentionally building
up to some sort of bang. Except ... we didn't have anything to be that bang.
But after a few playbacks of Down, it just hit me. Basically 'heard' the music before creating it. Fell on me like a wall of bricks -- I remember exclaiming something like, I GOT IT! and then running to the garage--where we'd set up everything but my drums--to make the music for The Cold Earth a reality. I think it was Dan's favorite song on the album.
Once Dan returned to Pensacola I fine-tuned the production, put together some artwork for the cassette inserts, and for his graduation the following May presented him with several copies.
And so in May of 1994 Daniel and a few of his best friends made off with original copies of No Recoil. And even today many of these cassettes are still floating around.
My brother was a true genius, and in his short time understood things more thoroughly than most could ever hope to.
Tragically, he was manic-depressive--a trait that too often accompanies minds as powerful as his. In May of 2014 he self-medicated one time too many, and left us mortals behind at the age of 37.
He lives on in our hearts and minds, in his beautiful children, and in his music.
Coming Home. The Sequential Multi-Trak really came through nicely here.
I also remember the main riff from The Cold Earth hitting me like a bolt of lightning.
We'd arranged the acoustic piece Down--a two-part acoustic guitar thing I'd written
years before, with Dan singing four-part harmony through it--intentionally building
up to some sort of bang. Except ... we didn't have anything to be that bang.
But after a few playbacks of Down, it just hit me. Basically 'heard' the music before creating it. Fell on me like a wall of bricks -- I remember exclaiming something like, I GOT IT! and then running to the garage--where we'd set up everything but my drums--to make the music for The Cold Earth a reality. I think it was Dan's favorite song on the album.
Once Dan returned to Pensacola I fine-tuned the production, put together some artwork for the cassette inserts, and for his graduation the following May presented him with several copies.
And so in May of 1994 Daniel and a few of his best friends made off with original copies of No Recoil. And even today many of these cassettes are still floating around.
My brother was a true genius, and in his short time understood things more thoroughly than most could ever hope to.
Tragically, he was manic-depressive--a trait that too often accompanies minds as powerful as his. In May of 2014 he self-medicated one time too many, and left us mortals behind at the age of 37.
He lives on in our hearts and minds, in his beautiful children, and in his music.
A few precious moments during the recording of No Recoil.
Daniel Sweeney, Vocalist & Bassist
Daniel, the bass and vocals man, performing with his band F.B.O.P. Early 2000s.
(L-R) My brothers Dan & Casey, and friend Jeff