Studio Engineering

Murray Bruce, a Scottish Singer and Songwriter, came to the Studio back in August 2008 to record an album of guitar instrumentals.

He brought with him quite a selection of guitars which prompted us to "push the boat out" with the recordings.

We decided to use a pair of SE Gemini Valve Microphones and a Neumann KM75i.

The recordings sounded fantastic, quite easily the best sounding acoustic guitar recordings from the studio.

It must have been due to the exceptional playing of Mr Bruce, and the great sounding instruments he brought with him.

The tracks featured here are taken from the Album, "Tunes Vol 1 - Murray Bruce", which as I understand has long since Sold Out.

It is however available to hear on Murray's MySpace and Last FM page.

Canisbay Dancehall Strut

Like Ghosts Breath

Thanks to Amir

Recorded and Mixed at Danny Chang Music in August 2008,
Assistant Engineer - Rob Deere.

You can also find some of Murray's recent compositions on his Soundcloud profile.

I first met Andy way back in 2001, while I was the "Temporary Tea Boy" at Danny Chang Music Studios. Five or so years later, I find myself working with Andy once again, only this time as the Engineer for his Album, "The Ballad of Squint Eyed Jack".

This was the first Album I had worked on where I had to Record and Mix absolutely everything. And what a great Album it turned out to be.The plan was to try and catch "The Feel" of band rather than to aim for a clinical, note perfect performance, which I was more than happy to attempt.

I learnt so much while working on this album, recording, engineering, arranging, editing, compiling, producing and mixing. All thoroughly enjoyable.

Here we have two tracks from the Album, "Soothe Me" and "The Ballad of Squint Eyed Jack".

I think the title track nicely sums up the atmosphere for the session…

Soothe Me

The Ballad of Squint Eyed Jack

In 2010 Andy returned to the Studio once again, to record a song called "Holding up The Store" for inclusion on the Album, The Cream of the Valleys Bands.

Once again, fun and frolics a plenty, a lots of the all important "Feeling".

Holding Up The Store

All of Andy's Albums are available for a minimum donation of £1, the proceeds of which get kindly donated to MIND, the Mental Health Charity. More details of which can be found on The Semantics Website.

Recorded and mixed at Danny Chang Music, Summer 2006 and Spring 2010.

(P.S. Should you ever need a Kitchen fitted by a Rock Star. http://www.alphakitchens.co.uk. They're really good…)

Danny Chang, Composer, Arranger, Producer, Guitar Player, Entrepreneur and trusted Friend.

I've spent countless hours working with Danny on many different projects, (not all of them enjoyable…), but of all the music I've recorded with Danny, these two Song "Demos" are by far my favourites.

Genuine, honest and exposed vocal performances, delicate and haunting piano playing, subtle yet wonderful guitar playing and the seamless struggle of the drum tracks.

Absolutely oozing with feeling, "I'm so in love with you" gets me every time.

The haunting piano playing, twiddly guitar triplets, pumping bass line and excessive reverbs work wonderfully. And the "Colorama" backing vocals are just superb.

I'm So In Love With You

Exposed, dry and reflective, "And I'm missing you" has an altogether different quality. Stark, raw sounding recording, coupled with a sincerely emotional vocal performance, subtle guitar and string production and a hopeful glockenspiel.

And then the middle section. Spacious soaring slide guitar straight out of Pink Floyd…

And I'm Missing You

Both tracks can be found on the Album, "Fallen Angels - Dozy", and can be purchased for a minimum of a £1 donation from The Semantics website.

Recorded and mixed at Danny Chang Music sometime in 2009, Assistant Engineer - Rob Deere.

Further examples of Danny's Musical Compositions can be found below in the Television and Film Section, and also on his website www.dannychangmusic.com.

I first started recording with Chloe and her band back in 2008, and it was a pleasure to be a part of their development as recording artists.

It was a privilege to be able to watch and listen as they grew from strength to strength as musicians, songwriters and performers.

Each new batch of songs seemed to bring something refreshing and challenging, not only as an engineer but more importantly as a listener.

With great melodies, harmonies and arrangements, I never tired of listening to the playbacks, and looked forward to hearing how the songs would develop over the course of the sessions.

The two songs I've chosen to include here are particularly special.

The first "Brown Eyed Baby", a nice delicate Ballad with an almost Perfect Production, and the second "Emily", for the sheer amount of fun tucked away in the track…

Brown Eyed Baby

Emily

Chloe and her band are currently an unsigned talent. I'd like to think that one day all of their hard work will be rewarded.

Check out more of their songs on her Myspace.

Recorded and Mixed at Danny Chang Music, Summer 2009 and Spring 2010, Assistant Engineer - Rob Deere.

The 18th of October 2007, around 3 o'clock pm, Mal "Catman" Clint and his band land in Danny Chang Music. And so begins my all time Absolute Favourite Recording Session.

The plan was to record two 1950s sounding Rock 'n' Roll Singles, with everyone playing and singing in the same room "just like the old days". I was in heaven……

Approximately an hour later, with the band setup, microphones in place and a quick soundcheck completed, The Session begins...

A mere 17 minutes and 10 seconds later and we were finished. The total recording consisted of one run through, one false start, one over dubbed scream and one slight vocal repair to correct a wrong lyric.

Another hour or two for mixing and CD duplication, and we were done.

The band departed for destinations unknown, leaving behind the "Fantastic" Double A side, Hey Mr DJ and Have They Landed.

Two of my favourite recordings performed by one of my favourite singers, the inimitable Mr Mal "Catman" Clint.

"Any Aliens here tonight ?" Boy I sure hope so…..

Have They Landed

Hey Mr DJ

Excerpts taken from the EP "Hey Mr DJ - Mal Catman Clint" released on Rollercoaster Records [RECD 506].

Full versions available from HMV, and also Mal's Myspace page.

Recorded and mixed at Danny Chang Music, 18th October 2007.

John Jenner, actor and scriptwriter, came to the Studio in 2005 to record a few of his songs, and boy am I glad he did.

One of my favourite sessions with one of my favourite vocalists and three of my favourite recordings from the studio.

Featuring Danny Chang on guitar, Colin Galton on drums, and some of my first "Professional" mixes in Studio 1.

There's so much I like about these tracks.

From the pseudo Roy Orbison feel of "When I See You Smile", to the Eleanor Rigby-esque arrangement of "Before", I learnt quite a lot about recording and production working on these songs.

When I See You Smile

Before

And then there's "I Wish She'd Mention My Name".

Sometimes a song just gets me. And this one did. One of my all time favourites…

From the easy groove, to the shape of the melody, the sound of Johns vocals and backing vocal arrangements to the overall production ideas, just wonderful.

And written about a trip to the Job Centre. Fantastic.

I Wish She'd Mention My Name

Available to hear for the first time, with kind thanks to Mr John Jenner.

Recorded and mixed at Danny Chang Music, Summer 2005.

Back in July 2006, a Singer Songwriter called Al Lewis came to the studio to record some of his songs.

I had only been operating the main studio for a couple of weeks and must admit, upon hearing the quality of his songwriting, singing and guitar playing, felt somewhat intimidated.

The Songs themselves sounded like "Classics", very mature and well written, the Guitar playing was pretty much flawless and the sound of Al's voice was just perfect.

Within the space of a few weeks, the songs were completed. Al headed down to London finding fame and fortune, and I headed back to the Studio….

Here we have two of the songs that were recorded, the French "Elle s'accroche", and the Welsh "Y Rheswm", taken off the album "Byw mewn Breuddwyd EP", available from iTunes.

Elle s'accroche

Y Rheswm

Recorded and mixed at Danny Chang Music, July 2006.

His English Debut Album, "In the Wake - Al Lewis", is available to buy from his website and also from Amazon.co.uk and iTunes.

Highly Recommended…

Jeremy Richardson. Jeremy first came to the Studio way back in 2004, armed with a CD full of MIDI Files, a Ring Binder full of Notational Scores and a Completely unique approach to Musical Composition.

If I had to try and describe Jeremy, I would choose a cross between Shakespeare, Stravinsky, maybe Mendelssohn and John Cage via Progressive Rock, Broadway Musical, Jazz Fusion and 20th Century Neo-Classicism, mixed with Humour, Compassion, Sincerity and Jollity.

And with a diction and enunciation to die for…

In 2006 Jeremy returned to the Studio to record an album. I was secretly excited.

It would be foolish of me to try and describe the contents of the Album, suffice to say, I would happily include every track here if it were possible…

Another one of my favourite recording sessions, and yet another of my favourite vocalists with an absolutely Magical sounding Voice.

I really struggled to choose which tracks to include here, and as such would highly recommend that you check out the music of Jeremy Richardson.

A truly unique individual, prolific, professional and very modest. And a privilege to work with.

All of the tracks featured here can be found on the Album, "was it for this…? - JRC Richardson".

You may also find some of his instrumental pieces on his Myspace page.

It's Not About Love

Heaven Help Me Now I'm On My Own

Hello Disco

Sometimes My Arms Bend Back

Recorded and mixed at Danny Chang Music, Autumn 2006.

In the Summer of 2009, a Mr Paul Rooney came to Danny Chang Music Studios.

Bringing with him a couple of acoustic guitars and a vast back catalogue of songs, he proceeded to consistently surprise everyone with not only the quality and uniqueness of his songs, but also his sincerely captivating performances.

And to think that this was his first time in a Recording Studio…. Absolutely Exceptional.

Over the space of a few days, we managed to record a varied selection of songs which eventually found their way onto the Album "Out Of The Room".

Here we have two of the songs taken from the album, the first "My Mistake" and the second "Do You Have Time".

With a pseudo "Tarantino" Style Production, "My Mistake" quickly became a Studio Favourite. Hauntingly Atmospheric, I absolutely love the Cavernous "Spaghetti Western" feel that seems to appear….

My Mistake

And then we have "Do You Have Time".

One of my all time favourite performances recorded while working at Danny Chang Music Studios. Simply enchanting from the first note to the last.

Do You Have Time

Both tracks can be found on the Album "Out Of The Room - Paul Rooney" available to hear at ReverbNation and also his Myspace.

Recorded and Mixed at Danny Chang Music, Autumn 2009,
Assistant Engineer - Rob Deere.

The Unconventionals were a six piece vocal ensemble that first came to Danny Chang Music in December 2007.

They hold the distinction for being the only vocal group I've worked with to consistently write and record intricate six part harmonies usually culminating with an "all six around the mic" vocal recording.

They also hold the current record for providing me with some of the largest mix sessions to date, I think the recent Christmas single used over 200 tracks…

Strawberry Sunshine was the first song I recorded with them, and after a slight change of group personnel, was remixed and released as a Single in August 2010.

Strawberry Sunshine (Ripe 'n' Ready Radio Remix)

Long Distance Christmas was the Final Single the Group released before hanging up their vocal chords.

Recorded and mixed in just over eight days and featuring plenty of their trademark vocal harmonies, a suitable Grand Finale for a wonderful vocal ensemble.

(And probably the closest I'll ever get to working with The Beach Boys…)

Long Distance Christmas

Excerpts taken from the Singles "Strawberry Sunshine (Ripe 'n' Ready Radio Remix)" and "Long Distance Christmas", both available on iTunes.

Strawberry Sunshine Vocals Recorded at Danny Chang Music, Spring 2010.
Instruments Recorded at Danny Chang Music back in 2001 by Mr Andy Edwards.

Long Distance Christmas Recorded at Danny Chang Music, Autumn 2010.

Both tracks mixed at Danny Chang Music, Spring and Autumn 2010.