Alternative 4: Studio Report: part 1

Alternative 4: Studio Report: part 1: "Drummer Mauro Frison, and myself entered Transmission Room Studios on Monday morning to start laying down the tracks for The Brink. The stud..."

On The Brink

Work began in Transmission Rooms Studio on Monday morning for the new album 'The Brink'. Check out http://alt4.blogspot.com/ For a studio report. Pics and footage to follow soon.

Alternative 4 - The Brink

Please read

Dear friends,

In 3 days, the EU will ban much of herbal medicine, pressing more of us to take pharmaceutical drugs that drive the profits of big Pharma.

The EU Directive erects high barriers to any herbal remedy that hasn't been on the market for 30 years -- including virtually all Chinese, Ayurvedic, and African traditional medicine. It's a draconian move that helps drug companies and ignores thousands of years of medical knowledge.

We need a massive outcry against this. Together, our voices can press the EU Commission to fix the directive, push our national governments to refuse to implement it, and give legitimacy to a legal case before the courts. Sign below, forward this email to everyone, and let's get to 1 million voices to save herbal medicine:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/eu_herbal_medicine_ban/97.phpcl_tta_sign=920a59e83b672afea09d0a1638bf7014

It's hard to believe, but if a child is sick, and there is a safe and natural herbal remedy for that illness, it may be impossible to find that remedy.

On May 1st the Directive will create major barriers to manufactured herbal remedies, requiring enormous costs, years of effort, and endless expert processes to get each and every product approved. Pharmaceutical companies have the resources to jump through these hoops but hundreds of small- and medium-sized herbal medicine businesses, across Europe and worldwide, will go bust.

We can stop this. The directive has been passed in the shadows of the bureaucracy, and it cannot stand under the light of democratic scrutiny. The EU Commission can withdraw or amend it, and a court case is currently challenging it to do so. If European citizens everywhere come together now, it will give legitimacy to the legal case, and add to growing pressure on the Commission. Sign below, and forward this email to everyone:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/eu_herbal_medicine_ban/97.php?cl_tta_sign=920a59e83b672afea09d0a1638bf7014

There are arguments for better regulation of natural medicine, but this draconian directive harms the ability of Europeans to make safe and healthy choices. Let's stand up for our health, and our right to choose safe herbal medicine.

With hope and determination,

Ricken, Iain, Giulia, Benjamin, Alex, Alice, Pascal, Luis and the rest of the Avaaz team.

SOURCES:

EU herbal medicines law set for legal challenge:
http://www.euractiv.com/en/health/eu-herbal-medicines-law-set-legal-challenge-news-503563

European Union directive to ban natural remedies in favor of pharmaceuticals:
http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/8826364-european-union-directive-to-ban-natural-remedies-in-favor-of-pharmaceuticals

Traditional Chinese medicine firms may face delisting in EU market:
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90776/90883/7343301.html

EU crackdown on herbal 'remedies':
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/eu-crackdown-on-herbal-remedies-2628345.html

The Pendle Way completed

We managed to finish The Pendle Way walk on Tuesday evening after a fairly tough but enjoyable ramble. It was a real pleasure to visit these special places, with good friends, and for a really good cause. Thanks to everyone who has donated so far. The donation page will remain open for a while so we can still reach our target. I have posted some pics up today as proof that we actually did it ;) So please help us to reach the 100% mark and help improve the quality of life for the children at Claire House.

http://www.justgiving.com/pendle-walk-2011

The Pendle Way (reminder)

Myself, Mick Moss (Antimatter), Karl Sinclair, and hopefully a few more friends will be walking the Pendle Way for charity next weekend. All proceeds will go to the Claire House childrens hospice in the north west of England. You can sponsor us by donated via this page.

All donations are appreciated, however big or small. Thank you in advance for supporting us!

http://www.justgiving.com/Pendle-Walk-2011

Q & A Chat - Wednesday 2nd March

There will be a live Q & A chat session with Mick Moss and myself on Wednesday 2nd March at 7pm GMT. Discussing the 'Alternative Matter' box set, my two albums planned for this year, Mick's future plans for Antimatter, plus anything else that is relevant.

Click HERE for the chatroom.

Duncan Patterson signs to Avantgarde Music

I'm pleased to announce that I have signed a deal with Italy's Avantgarde Music with regards to the Alternative 4 project. I'm looking forward to work together with them, carving out this new chapter in my career.

Recording will commence in May at Transmission Rooms Recording Studio, Ireland, and the album will be tracked at various sessions during summertime. Although 'The Brink' has been written by me in it's entirety, I will be accompanied by long time collaborator and friend Mark Kelson (The Eternal) and drummer Mauro Frison who joined me for the gigs in Argentina 2010. Choral and orchestral sections are being recorded in Monterrey, Mexico. The Brink is a cinematic rock album that I have written conceptually about the dumbing down of society, touching on the music scene, and the corruption of people in power both on a global scale and in the music industry.

I fully understand what I am going to attract by choosing this title for my project, but I see that as a perfect irony considering the subject matter. Those who understand can afford themselves a wry smile, I certainly will. Plus it will allow me to tackle something head-on that has been an albatross for me for over a decade.

Anyway, I'm proud to be working with everyone involved in this and I truly appreciate their enthusiasm for fresh original music. It's a rarity in these times.

Onwards and upwards.