Mixed by producer Mike Crossey at Liverpool’s Motor Museum studio, lead track Handshake is the shining glory on this four-track remix EP.
Always managing to breech the standard ‘Pop territory’, Two Door Cinema Club employ a mixture of Indie, Pop and infectious dance beats to propel them into the realm of the respected Indie/Pop acts you’ll happily admit you like. They have that wide-ranging appeal, made all the more legitimate thanks to their clever songwriting.
With explosive percussion, disco beats and catchy hooks, Handshake is an electronic bliss, at home being played in clubs, or stirring up the atmosphere at a live concert.
Having featured on their last album, Beacons, Handshake is celebrated through three brilliant remixes by Baadman, Amtrac and Ghost Loft. While the Amtrac remix goes for a deeper House vibe; chilled and lethargic at the beginning and then morphing to a classic House sound, Ghost Loft’s version builds on slow break downs and climactic builds before intense drops, reclaiming the original melody.
For anyone that already owns Beacons, this is a welcome addition to your collection, making the most of this standout track in multiple guises.
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Posted in European Recording Studios, Miloco Clients, Mixing Studios, New Albums, Record Producers | Tagged Handshake EP, Mike Crossey, Miloco, motor museum, Remixes, Two Door Cinema Club |
Following on from their fourth studio album; the critically acclaimed Pedestrian Verse, the Scottish band’s latest release is the five-track EP, Late March, Death March.
As well as the eponymous opening track and lead single, the EP also features two live tracks recorded at Glasgow’s Barrowlands (December’s Traditions, Oil Slick), and the EP’s standout track, Architect.
Recorded with the Manchester Orchestra for this year’s Record Store Day, Architect is an emotionally charged offering with just the right amount of subtle, soft and sweet. Lead singer Scott Hutchinson’s delicately Scottish drawl is beautifully emphasised by Andy Hull’s understated harmonies over folky, acoustic guitar, modest strings and extracts of mellow backing vocals. It stays a simple composition throughout, allowing the lyrics and storyline to take centre stage. The chorus’ pivotal moment is the sweeping loneliness of the line, “You told all of your friends, you told all of your friends, and no one came…no one came”.
Also included on the record is an alternative version of lead single (mixed by Bryan Wilson); a stripped down track, in comparison, with an underlying electronic beat and more restrained instrumental parts. Minus the whistling, the powerful piano chords and upbeat tempo, this is a refreshing twist on Late March, Death March. A more ethereal feel, sustained synths and heavy reverb on the vocals create a relaxed feel without losing the hooks and structure.
If you’re thinking of heading to see Frightened Rabbit live, take a listen to the two tracks from Barrowlands for a taste of their power and authority as a live band. Frightened Rabbits are set to play at Brixton’s 02 Academy this November.
The track Late March, Death March, was mixed by Craig Silvey at Miloco studios.
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Posted in European Recording Studios, Live Recording, Miloco Clients, Mixing Studios, New Albums, Record Producers, Tracking Studios, UK Recording Studios | Tagged Barrowlands, Brixton Academy, Craig Silvey, frightened rabbit, Glasgow, Late March Death March, live music, Miloco, pedestrian verse, Scotland, The Garden |Dublin Five-piece, Little Green Cars offer up a fresh slice of Irish Americana with their debut album, Absolute Zero.
Following on from the success of their last EP, Harper Lee and the critically acclaimed single, The John Wayne, the band are sure to reach new heights with this release. Similar to The John Wayne, this debut also conjures up a sense of vulnerability teamed with a young naivity that makes Little Green Cars so appealing.
Set for release this August, the record is brimming with generous five-part harmonies over a classic foundation of Country and Folk-Pop, inspired by the likes of Fleetwood Mac, R.E.M and hints of The Mammas And Pappas in their vocal structures.
Produced by Markus Dravs (Bjork, Arcade Fire, Mumford and Sons) and recorded at Miloco’s Angelic Studio by Robin Baynton (assisted by Tom Fuller), Absolute Zero is a beautiful set of songs; a lyrically frank, musically contrasting and intimate perspective on growing up. Lead singer, Stevie Appleby, describes the album as having “two contrasting perspectives: the beauty of a reckless youth and the fear and confusion caused by our ever-pending adulthood”.
Lead track and single, Harper Lee, is a cascade of acoustic guitar, swelling vocals and a driving chorus, with Appleby’s voice – often likened to Folk legend, Neil Young – taking the forefront. With his distinguishable Celtic tones, hints of early Biffy Clyro creep into Angel Owl, whilst My Love Took Me Down To The River To Silence Me, showcases Faye O’Rourke’s rich and defined vocal; a welcome contrast to the otherwise all-male line-up.
The Consequences of Not Sleeping is a standout track, with snippets of stunning finger-picking, reminiscent of a Red Hot Chili Peppers lick – you’ll know when you hear it. Another popular track is Big Red Dragon; one of the more Indie tracks on the album with tales recounting a drug trip, it features lashing piano chords, jaunty guitars and backing vocals employing glorious harmonies. Red And Blue is perhaps the record’s most unexpected song, composed solely of an arpeggiated synth and errie-sounding auto-tuned vocals, simiar to Imogen Heap’s Hide And Seek.
Again, O’Rourke’s standout vocals are highlighted in The Kitchen Floor; a solo effort from the singer and perfectly complimented by minimalist and a seamlessly balanced accompaniment. But perhaps the best track on the album by far is the previously mentioned, The John Wayne. Beginning with a steady, almost lazy bass drum beat and inflections of melody in the bassline, Appleby and O’Rourke’s voices enter with the line ‘It’s easy to fall in love, it’s easy to fall in love with you”. The verses build slowly and brilliantly, before the guitar kicks in and a real rock energy is revealed. It’s hugely catchy and is the pinnacle of an extremly well written and produed record.
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Posted in European Recording Studios, London Recording Studios, Miloco Clients, Mixing Studios, New Albums, Record Producers, Residential Recording Studios, UK Recording Studios, Uncategorized | Tagged Absolute Zero, Arcade Fire, Dublin, Faye O'Rourke, Harper Lee, Ireland, Little Green Cars, Markus Dravs, Miloco, Mumford And Sons, Record Producers, recording studios, Stevie Appleby, The John Wayne |
Get ready – it’s competition time!
To celebrate new music and the start of summer, we’ve teamed up with the prestigious Camden Rocks Festival for a very special give away.
This is the perfect chance for fans AND bands to get involved for the chance to win an amazing prize. Here’s how to enter…
For The Fans
Were you at Camden Rocks Festival last weekend? Did you see your favourite band on the lineup, or a newly discovered band that you loved? Well, now’s your chance to help them out! All you have to do is vote for your favourite band of the day, and they could win 2 FREE DAYS RECORDING TIME at one of our state-of-the-art studios! Just click this link to vote now: http://bit.ly/16p9ivt
For The Bands
So bands – this is your chance to see how loyal your fans are! Need that second EP finishing off, want to record a few new tracks especially for your fans? Then don’t miss out – If you fancy winning 2 free days in a recording studio, just direct your fanbase to this link: http://bit.ly/16p9ivt and ask them to vote for you! We won’t ask how you got them to vote…just do it!
Need reminding of any of the bands that took part? See the lineup here!
It’s pretty simple, who ever gets the most votes on our site before June 17th will win the recording time. We’ll announce the winner on 18th June. Good luck everyone!
Don’t forget to follow all the action on our Twitter and Facebook pages!
Posted in Live Music / Festivals, London Recording Studios, Miloco Clients, Tracking Studios, UK Recording Studios, Uncategorized | Tagged Camden Rocks Festival, competition, Free recording time, miloco studios, vote |
The Toy Rooms Studio is the second facility we are pleased to announce on the Miloco blog this week. It is a vintage analogue recording studio in Brighton & Hove on the south coast of England. Home to producers Pablo Clements and James Griffith (Psychonauts/Unkle/Toydrum), it is located on the city’s famous seafront.
This boutique recording studio has been devised and assembled in a unique and inspiring way. The Toy Rooms is packed full of great gear. It rightly claims the largest collection of vintage synths and recording equipment in town – a collection of kit impressive enough to rival specs at some of the UK’s very best studios. Countless keyboards, guitars, drums, FX and outboard are at your band’s disposal. View a full equipment spec by clicking here.
Set across a 3000 sq ft space, The Toy Rooms is split into several areas: two live rooms (a main live room and an additional rehearsal space), a control room and small programming room. There is also a kitchen and chill-out area.
The Toy Rooms’ distinctive combination of vintage analogue gear and large, creative spaces, mixed with the production experience of Pablo and James will result in classic warm recordings every time. Its growing popularity is indicated by its status as a first choice recording studio for bands and artists such as Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Grinderman and of course Unkle and Toydrum.
“The Toy Rooms is a great studio run by great people. I’ve recorded Bad Seeds, Grinderman and at least two soundtracks – Lawless and West of Memphis – and it is perfect for a close, intimate, real-life sound. Full of Pablo Clement’s endless collection of musical “toys”, the Toy Rooms has become our studio heartland.” – Nick Cave
Find out everything you need to know on The Toy Rooms by visiting www.miloco.co.uk/thetoyrooms
We have two new recording studios to tel you about this week! The first is Arcadium, Notting Hill’s very own exclusive, luxury writing/production studio. It offers a killer combination of great gear and a stylish, creative working environment. With its appealing West London postcode thrown into the whole package, its has become a very popular place for artists, writers, producers and production companies to take projects to.
Arcadium is divided into four main areas covering over 1000 sq.ft – a control room built around an Audient ASP8024 console, a spacious live room complemented by a first class selection of microphones and backline, a separate writing space that is great for songwriting and jam sessions, and a luxurious lounge and kitchen area. You can view a full equipment spec by clicking here.
The studio has a striking aesthetic quality throughout which clients love. Ambient lighting, large and comfortable furniture, artwork created by the same mind responsible for Pink Floyd’s offices in the 1970’s and other touches such as the 40 inch flat screen TV all make for an enjoyable and inspiring experience.
The ethos of the studio caters to the needs of the client. Its bespoke and personalised service places Arcadium amongst London’s elite writing studios.
“Arcadium is the first choice for me when it comes to writing/production sessions in London –
you’ve got great gear built into a creative and inspiring lounge-esque studio without any compromises.”
– Jens Gad (Producer)
Find out everything you need to know on Arcadium Studios by visiting www.miloco.co.uk/arcadium.
Signed to Luv Luv Luv records (Violet, Splashh, IO Echo) Gabriel Bruce’s long-awaited debut album has already seen much acclaim. Dubbed as David Bowie-meets-Nick Cave-meets-Billy Idol and Springsteen, there’s a lot to take in with this first release.
Jumping into action with the disco foot-stomper, Dark Lights, Shine Loud, Bruce’s deep, lip-quivering baritone is immediately memorable, setting the tone for the rest of the album. Honey, Honey, Honey is a driving, sing-along with a Rock n’ Roll tinge, whilst Sleep Paralysis allows the first breather to be taken. A slow ballad, Bruce bellows the line “I’ve got this feeling that we’re dead”, repeatedly, with that same frank, starkness of the melancholy found in a Leonard Cohen song, particularly in Bruce’s bass-y vocals.
Perfect Weather is laden with 80’s drum machines, cheesy saxophones and a catchy chorus not unlike a U2 stadium-worthy number; the penultimate burst of happiness before Sermon On The Mount’s Hallelujah-esque offering takes hold, complete with church organ and pained vocals.
Despite regular references to past eras and 80s icons; Bruce still adds his own twist, creating a package of charming familiarity wrapped up in modern, Indie-Pop songs. Produced and Mixed by Craig Silvey at Miloco’s The Garden Studio, Love In Arms is well worth a listen and guaranteed to leave you feeling all the more wholesome for it.
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Posted in London Recording Studios, Miloco Clients, Mixing Studios, New Albums, Record Producers, UK Recording Studios, Uncategorized | Tagged Craig Silvey, Gabriel Bruce, london recording studio, Love In Arms, Miloco, Mixed and Produced, New Album Release, the garden studio |As one of the few alternative rock bands emerging triumphantly from the noughties, Yeah Yeah Yeah’s have managed to stay afloat in the choppy seas of the Alt-Rock arena, serving up their latest release; fourth album, Mosquito.
Scaling an impressive array of musical styles and influences in this 40 minute record, everything from Gospel choirs (Sacrilege), 80s synth experimentations (These Paths) and an ode to married life (Always) makes an appearance.
Even on album number four, the band’s vigorous energy has not been lost. Opening track, Sacrilege, begins with Karen O’s instantly distinguishable vocal style, layered over a single, minimal baseline before slick percussion and playful riffs come in. To pack an extra punch for the last chorus, a gospel choir sings gloriously in unison, before repeatedly chanting ‘Sacrilege’ a-capella for the final climax. It’s both weirdly beautiful and jarring all at once.
In complete contrast, Subway, (dubbed the band’s ‘New York song’), is built around a gentle lull of a train passing over metal tracks. Teamed with Karen O’s breathy, ethereal vocals and swelling strings, this track hypnotises and entrances, evoking that familiar sense of detachment and escapism from the throws of frantic city life.
The joy of this record is its ability to shift so dramatically between tracks, making songs like the Sci-Fi themed Area 52 seem all the more ridiculous and tongue in cheek; and you can’t help but love it with lines like “Message came from outer space, future of the human race”.
Entering the Billboard charts at number five, Craig Silvey’s mix of Mosquito (at Miloco’s Garden studio) helped to secure the band’s third consecutive top ten album, with 38,000 copies sold in the first week.
Not one’s to shy away; Yeah Yeah Yeah’s have delivered a record that is sure to keep them relevant among their contemporaries, proposing interesting and new musical ideas that will no doubt owe to many more albums in the pipeline.
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Posted in London Recording Studios, Miloco Clients, Mixing Studios, New Albums, Record Producers, Recording Studio Engineers, UK Recording Studios, Uncategorized | Tagged Alternative Rock, Craig Silvey, Karen O, Miloco Recording Studio, mixer craig silvey, Mosquito, New Album, The Garden, Yeah Yeah Yeah's |Having evolved from the light, Indie-Folk style of Last Night On Earth, 2013’s offering, Heart Of Nowhere, serves as a real coming-of -age record, rife with bittersweet, hook-driven tunes and nostalgic nuances.
Recent comparisons with lead singer, Charlie Fink, to the likes of Springsteen and Lou Reed’s anthemic, 80’s styles are legitimised here, thanks to filmic strings and sauvé, streamlined guitars recorded live for extra depth and punch.
Standout track, ‘All Through The Night’, has flourishes of The Killers; driving beats and big, American-sounding guitar riffs, while Fink’s vocals, laid-back and cool, complete the package. ‘Now Is Exactly The Time’ sees the album’s coming-of-age theme find prominence, with endearing advice for the youth of today, like ‘If you can, get to know your parents well; forgive them, they are more like you than you can tell’. ‘There Will Come A Time’ and ‘Still After All These Years’, drift along with a sweet familiarity that makes for a perfect, easy-listening pop record.
The writing of ‘Heart of Nowhere’ took place at Miloco’s Summer House studios on Osea Island before the band headed to La Fabrique studios in France to continue the writing process. After rehearsing at London’s Livingston 1 Studio (whilst being built by Miloco), Craig Silvey (The Arcade Fire, The National, Yeah Yeah Yeah’s, Florence and The Machine, Arctic Monkeys, The Horrors, Portishead, Goldfrapp) mixed the record at what was The Garden studio, ensuring the balance between jaunty strings, slightly edgier rock numbers and the preservation of the band’s folk roots was perfectly aligned.
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Posted in Live Recording, London Recording Studios, Mixing Studios, New Albums, Record Producers, Tracking Studios, UK Recording Studios, Uncategorized, Writing Studios | Tagged Album Reiview, Bruce Springsteen, Charlie Fink, Craig Silvey, france, Hart of Nowhere, la fabrique, Lou Reed, LP, Miloco, New Album Release, Noah And The Whale, osea island, The Killers |
In the run up to this year’s Great Escape Festival, we’re putting out a series of posts providing you with the best insider tips for the 3-day event. From food to our favourite venues and shops, think of it as a sort of festival survival guide…
If you’re like us, then an afternoon spent browsing record shops is easily done. Whether you’re looking for a rare LP with limited edition artwork, or just fancy a look at the latest releases, in our minds there’s nothing more soothing. So if you’ve got a few hours to spare in between gigs this festival, Brighton is definitely the place to be for a real find.
With a decent range of independent, new and second hand record shops, Brighton caters for all tastes, as well as helping to keep alive a struggling industry. So go on, do your bit and take a look around.
Resident
Established in 2004 by a pair of dedicated music fans, Resident provided an essential and vibrant musical hub the city was so desperate for. Now well-renowned within the industry, the store doesn’t just provide a wide choice of new releases and extensive back catalogue; they’ve also gone the whole hog, selling tickets for local venues and regularly hosting in-store intimate gigs. If you’ve ever been to one of these sessions before (I popped in on Record Store Day last year), you’ll know how special it is to keep these places going! Find them at 28 Kensington Gardens, BN1 4AL
Cult Hero
Going one step further, Cult Hero brings you the best in both music and cult films, novels and artwork. From classic 60’s & 70’s rock, to glitchy electro, obscure latin jazz and the latest big indie albums on vinyls and CDs, you won’t be disappointed. Top tip – their order service is great, so if you can’t find what you’re after, just ask! Located at 25 North Street, BN1 1EB.
Borderline Records
Twenty six years since it first opened, Borderline Records is going strong thanks to it’s handy location in the bohemian North Laines as well as all the awesome stuff it sells! Stocking vinyl and cds of all genres, this is a heavenly place to while away the hours! The shop’s fantastic selection of original 60’s psychedelic poster art is a must see, too! Pop in at 41 gardner street, Brighton.
Rarekind Records
If world music is your thang, make sure you take 5 minutes and head over to Rarekind Records. From Hip Hop, Funk, Soul, Jazz, Downtempo and Dubstep on vinyl and CD, so you can browse to your heart’s content! Find them at 104 Trafalgar Street, BN1 4ER.
The Record Album
Like TV? Love films? Then The Record Album store is the epitome of heaven on earth! Opened in 1948 and run by George Ginn, the store is brimming with film, stage and musicals soundtracks as well as high quality classical recordings. If you’ve ever wondered what that track was on that tv programme the other day, head to George’s for the answer! Pop in here: 8 Terminus Road, BN1 3PD.
Happy Browsing!
Coming along to The Great Escape this year? Tweet us hello at @milocostudios!
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged brighton, concerts, Festival, gigs, Record Store Day, Record Stores, The Great Escape Festival 2013 | ← Older posts Newer posts →
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