I seem to have accidentally started such a group with two friends, which is odd because I had intended to make sure I didn't do any songs longer than 2 mins when I next did something.

Anyway, the job's done. I don't expect to inflict this navel-gazing nonsense on the live scene but I would like to record it and I can do a pretty good job.

The issue is with managing the material. I like songs. I'm a bluff old traditionalist like that. I'm not stranger to jamming something then cutting it together into a structured song and working from there but this is more 'beaty' (extra drums and just drums at times) and as yet no room for strong vocals, so it's hard for me to cut down a 5 minute piece or even to work out how when we get back together we'll do 'that one'.

So, do you normally just know where to start and have a few bits you like that you do again? And if so how do you get between those bits? How do you tend to know when to go to them? Is it just a case of rehearsing together so often you 'know' or are there good ways to go about dealing with this sort of thing?

TIA