The End Game

Album Notes

All songs written and produced by Mills & Cockburn unless otherwise stated

The last album. comprising miscellaneous remixes and a couple of new songs produced over the last 10 years or so.

All songs recorded and or remixed at Sungod Connecticut

Don’t You Know

  • Main Vocal: Anthony Mills
  • Guitars: Andrew Cockburn
  • Sequencing & Mixing : Andrew Cockburn

A remix of this song using the expanded facilities of Sungod Connecticut. All tracks are original, with an entirely new drum section, re-sequenced bass and vocal harmonies added with Melodyne.

BabyGro

  • Main Vocal: Anthony Mills
  • Guitars: Andrew Cockburn
  • Mixing; Andrew Cockburn

A old song that we never previously recorded. In one of our rare sessions together we recorded this live in Sungod V and it was later mixed in Sungod Connecticut. A reflecion of Ant’s new status as a father.

Much in evidence is the improved sound of the Rhode K2 microphones we used for vocals and guitar, compared to for instance the same guitar recorded in The Sky is Falling with older dynamic microphones. Coupled with better recording and mixing technology, this is an example of the recording ceasing to be the limitation in production of M&C material, allowing the songs and performances to stand on their own merits.

Tell Me Something

  • Main Vocal: Anthony Mills
  • Guitars: Andrew Cockburn
  • Mixing & Sequencing: Andrew Cockburn

An old song that was never finished at the tme, but since it had a complete vocal it was a great candidate for remix and completion. Originally just guitar and vocals, in need of an arrangement, percussion and a string section was added to build the song towards the end. Anthony’s original guitar track was unfortunately recorded with a lot of vocal bleed, so Andrew re-recorded it as close to Anthony’s original as possible.

Something to Someone

  • Main Vocal: Anthony Mills
  • Backing Vocals: Bella Bloxham
  • Guitars: Andrew Cockburn
  • Mixing & Sequencing: Andrew Cockburn

A remix of the earlier version.

In an early version of the song, one of the guitar solos fed back into the monitor and created an almost perfect scream and fade, which was later accidentally recorded over by Anthony. This version attempts to recreate it with some electronic pitch shifting trickery.

I’m Lost

  • Main Vocal: Anthony Mills
  • Guitars: Andrew Cockburn
  • Mixing & Sequencing: Andrew Cockburn

The song was developed from the earlier version while the band was gigging. The bass line was extended and improved by Steve and the song was taken a little upbeat into Ballad territory with drums and acoustic guitar, as evidenced in this later version. The soulful lead guitar is retained but makes more sense in the context of the more upbeat setting - Andrew actually purchased a hardtail PRS guitar specifically to record this as the original guitar (A Westone Thunder Ia) had long since been replaced.

Of particular note is Steve’s inspired bass line in the break which became a hallmark of the live version of the song.

The Train Song

  • Main Vocal: Anthony Mills
  • Backing Vocals: Andrew Cockburn, Marlee Ready
  • Guitars: Andrew Cockburn
  • Mixing & Sequencing: Andrew Cockburn

This song was actually the first ever collaboration between Andrew & Ant although we never recorded it at the time. Andrew came up with the original lick, and played it aorund a campfire with Ant and various others who came up with the main theme. Ant later wrote some lyrics and the song was expanded with a middle section, and recorded around 2009.

Thinking About You

  • Main Vocal: Anthony Mills
  • Backing Vocals: Andrew Cockburn
  • Guitars: Andrew Cockburn
  • Mixing & Sequencing: Andrew Cockburn

This remix highlights the strides made by the partnership in recording quality spanning the era from Sungod to SunGod Connecticut.

We re-recorded the vocal in an early Sungod Connecticut session and Andrew subsequently produced a final version of this song. In keeping with the later M&C style we added acoustic guitar and took it upbeat with a supporting vocal arrangement.

(Andrew: Anthony always regretted being a little flat in the early version in one particular note at the end, however he totally nailed it in the late version!)

Spat Out

  • Main Vocal: Anthony Mills
  • Guitars: Anthony Mills
  • Piano: Anthony Mills
  • Mixing & Sequencing: Andrew Cockburn

Another unfinished song that Ant left. It had guitar and piano tracks but no real arrangement. It seemed to suit a relaxed and wistful theme, especially poignant with Ant’s passing. Andrew added drums and bass, as well as a dreamy wave effect at the beginning, and some harmonies in the second verse. We both always loved Cello, although we didn’t get it onto many of our songs, so I was determined to get some into the arrangement for this song.