Tim Jones
Before the advent of CD-Rs, cassettes were the important means by which I got my music out to people. I produced numerous cassette albums in the 1970s, 80s and 90s. Cassettes were vital and often the only format on which to get my music heard.
You were very lucky if you managed to get someone to release vinyl as it was very expensive to produce and had to be pretty much a sure bet as regards sales for whoever was going to release it.
I suppose that my first proper release on cassette was called “A Delicate Talking Mechanism”, produced in 1980. It was really the first opportunity I had to concentrate on my own songs after playing in new wave bands for years, writing in collaboration with other people. After I had completed the recordings for “A Delicate Talking Mechanism”, I had 25 copies professionally manufactured through a local tape copying service and gave most of them away to friends. The remaining copies I sent out to various magazines in the hope of gaining some interest in the project. One of the tapes I sent to a great national UK trade magazine of the time called Making Music.
A few weeks later, I received a very nice letter from them which explained that “A Delicate Talking Mechanism” had won their “Demo Of The Month” competition and the prize was a review plus 15 free copies of the tape, once again professionally manufactured. This meant that they replaced the copies I had given to friends. The motto I took from this was “Practice the art of random kindness”. It definitely pays off in the end!
I was extremely encouraged and it made my music feel like it was really worth something and very precious to me. Not to mention great for my self esteem and confidence. Feedback is so important.
census of hallucinations on myspace
England’s Tim Jones has a long and esteemed resume producing and playing in the independent music scene. I think I first had contact with him in the early 1990s when I received one of his many bands releases on tape. Strangely, I had encountered Tim’s music many years before and had not known it. I was a big fan of a punk rock radio show on KSAN in San Francisco during the height of the first wave of that exciting era. I remember hearing a fantastic song by a group called Neon. However, I could never find much out about the band or ever find their records. After knowing Tim for many years he announced the re-release of his band from the past…you guessed it, Neon. I was totally blown away and delighted that I could finally hear more and it did not disappoint. It was another “small world” moment for me.
Just keeping up with all of Tim’s projects can be daunting. To me, Tim is one of the finest vocalists ever in the independent rock scene. He is also a superior guitarist and producer creating some of the highest quality sounds ever heard from an independent studio. He has also enlisted some excellent musicians to work with during his many years in the underground scene including vocalist Terri B and lead guitarist Martin Holder. Often pigeonholed into the space rock genre, Tim’s abilities extend far outside of that into a special place of their own. One of the most talented and creative individuals ever in Britain’s underground music history.
Perhaps his most well known band, Census Of Hallucinations featured beautifully arranged tunes that certainly veered into the space rock arena but also had a pop element that could not be denied. The lush production values, devilish humor and polished vocals floated on top of a rock bed of awesome proportions out of which came the soaring leads of Tim or another guitarist ( sometimes Martin Holder).
His own solo release from 1999 could have easily been a group effort from the sound of it. From soulful to flat out hard rock, another feather in his highly decorated cap.
Lately he has been working with songwriter Paul Campbell in the group called , Kites, and also with The Global Broad Band.
In addition to his many other activities, Tim also hosts a radio program on Radio Six in Great Britain and is a staunch, enthusiastic supporter of the worldwide, do it yourself music underground. Check out his links when you get a chance. You will not be disappointed.
