12–15 october 1999

"we're smashing our heads against the wall"

"this week we have been mostly working on optimistic"

"it would be ideal to finish optimistic"

"lets just do the end and edit onto the original take"

"the drums for Rachael's songs sound like nothing else"

"Jonny, how the fuck did you manage to get them sounding like that?"

"oh yeah"

"I've been doing this all afternoon and need to get out"

"I can't play that on this guitar"

"gorgeous smell in here, Nigel"

"Eddy and I like the mach 3"

"I really like the late roll, the long one"

"It's not as sleazy as the one before"

It's Friday yet Tuesday feels like yesterday – have we finished optimistic? No. And it could be tempting to abandon it in favour of starting something new. But then we know we aren't to far away. We must see this thing through if for no other reason that it's needed confidence.