Hi everybody!
We've spent these years still working on new material, and, as a result, we have released a bunch of recordings (either originals or cover), that, in one way or another, feature some cool EHX boxes. Except for the SMMM/H, we still use a wide array of EHX's classic big boxes - we recognize the innovative path that the brand continues making, but, we (mostly for taste, the sound, and the easier maintenance and repair of non-SMD pedals) still keep loyal to big ones.
Since 2011, we started using EHX 16 SDD reissue in concerts to launch and manipulate recorded loops that serve as interludes or segues with the intention of joining songs together.
But, from 2020 to 2025, our usage of EHX boxes has kept, and expanded with other non-EHX classics.
A quick summary of these, include the following milestones:
* 2020: We released a three-song EP titled "López I, II & III" - Based on a less-than 4 minute loop that we stored in the EHX 16SDD, we recorded three songs based on the same loop, but giving a different taste. This recording was the first for us to feature Jazzmaster guitars tuned to baritone A Standard tuning and to B Standard tuning. Regarding the EHX boxes we used, it prominently featured the EHX POG v1 and the EHX Sovtek Green Muff (the "bubble font" version), although the octave and distortion settings were quite subtle. The featured guitar delay were Boss DD-2 and DD-7 in a dual configuration in stereo to a couple of Hiwatt DR-103 Custom 100 amplifiers. Check it out here: https://lanalee.bandcamp.com/album/l-pez-i-ii-iii
* 2022: We launched two releases that year. The one who came first was an experimental record called "M.D.A.H VOL. 6 - Bizarro Sound System", that featured four tracks, about seven-minutes each. These tracks were based upon a drum-programming loops and droning bass guitars. We worked on them extensively to give each one a completely different mood. We used again Hiwatt DR-103 Custom 100 amplifiers. Regarding the guitar tunings used then, we combined E Standard plus the baritone A Standard tuning. The EHX pedals that were used for this recording: EHX Hot Tubes Overdrive (the early 2000's tube version), the EHX Small Stone v2 and the EHX Octave Multiplexer big-box reissue. As for bass guitar, the EHX big-box Q-Tron and EHX USA Bassballs reissue was used as well.
Other non-EHX effects that were used in combination with the EHX boxes were, among others: Boss DD-2, Boss DD-7, Suhr Riot, Roland delay rack unit for guitar. The bass lines were also spiced with a legendary MXR Distortion II unit and reamped through a vintage Orange OR-120 head paired with a USA 4 x 10" Ampeg cab. Check it out here: https://lanalee.bandcamp.com/album/m-d-a-h-vol-6-bizarro-sound-system
To finish 2022, we released a soundtrack for a very short film. The songs were quite brief (barely a minute each one). For that occasion, we used different amplifiers: A Sovtek MiG 100 head, a Sound City 120 MK IV head and Sound City 50 Plus MK IV head. We continued using the baritone-tuned Jazzmasters (either in A Standard tuning or in B Standard tuning) plus a Jaguar and a Stratocaster in E Standard.
The EHX effects used, featured the following: EHX USA Big Muff reissue V9 (the Fran Blanche designed), the '78 EHX v5 Op-Amp Big Muff Pi, a '75 EHX Octave Multiplexer, the EHX Small Stone v4 (Early 2000's USA reissue), and for this time, the EHX 16SDD was used as a mere delay pedal instead of as a looping device. There are rever washes that were achieved using an EHX Oceans 11 reverb. In this recording, the bass used an EHX Q-Tron big box reissue and a vintage MXR Distortion II pedal.
Check this soundtrack here: https://lanalee.bandcamp.com/album/game-over
* 2023: 2023 was our 20th anniversary as a band. We released a collaborative single. We combined a Jaguar in E standard tuning with a Jazzmaster in Baritone B Standard tuning (however, we don't use baritone guitar tunings only for playing chugging rhythms, instead of it, we conceive them as a bridge between the E or D standard guitar tunings and the bass guitar, so, we also use them in subtle arrangements)
The usage of EHX effects in this single track was more sparse than other recordings, but, however, consistent with our long-term use of EHX effects: EHX Hot Tubes Overdrive (early 2000's tube version) and EHX Small Stone v2. The amplifiers used were a Music Man 112 combo and a Sound City 50 Plus MK IV head.
Check the single track here: https://lanalee.bandcamp.com/album/arbequina-single
* 2025: In 2025, we finally released what was intended to be as another soundtrack for a short film, but, unfortunately, due to deadline issues, our music was not featured in the film. Only two songs were recorded intially. In the last months of 2024, we remixed the two original songs for the introduction and the end credits. Shortly after, we recorded a new introduction song as an addition to the two original cuts. Furthermore, our curiosity for expreimentation led us to record alternative versions of the two originals (three in total). Thus, the record expanded to turn into a six-song mini EP.
Apart from the baritone A Standard and B Standard tunings we had been working with since 2020, we added the Fender Bass VI to create arpeggiated melodic lines and chords, although we had used a Fender Bass VI previously in other recordings (check our Youtube covers of José González's "How Low" and Hawkind's "The Watcher), it was the first time to feature the Fender Bass VI in originals: Five out of the six songs were built upon original arpeggiated or chord sequences played with a Fender Bass VI.
Regarding the EHX effects used for the recording, they are the following: '78 EHX Deluxe Big Muff "Parallel/Series", EHX Frequency Analyzer big box Reissue, EHX USA Big Muff reissue V9 (the Fran Blanche-designed), a '75 EHX Octave Multiplexer EHX Pulsar Tremolo, EHX Stereo Pulsar, The EHX Deluxe Memory Man (big-box), the EHX 16SDD used again in short delay mode and the EHX Holier Grail. As some of guitars were doubled in different tunings, different EHX boxes were used for each layer.
Other non-EHX effects that were used in combination with them were the following: Maxon OD-820 Overdrive, Maxon CS-550 Stereo Chorus and a vintage MXR Distortion II unit.
Th guitar heads that were used: Sovtek MiG 100 head and Sound City 50 Plus MK IV for guitar. A couple of Hiwatt DR-103 Custom 100 heads for the Fender Bass VI tracks (that were spiced with the MXR Distortion II and the Maxon CS-550 Stereo Chorus in stereo, of course)
Check it here: https://lanalee.bandcamp.com/album/nadie-the-lost-soundtrack
We're currently working on new material, that, in a way or another, surely will feature our beloved EHX big-stompboxes.
Long live EHX and thanks a lot!
