'Fire'Starting slowly this track takes the beat back to a slightly faster tempo. 'Fire' has a feeling that it could have been build with different samples rather than played by a band. This could be a track by 'Dj Shadow' or 'RJD2' etc. Same time this sounds like 'Jungle' but I can't think of another 'Jungle' song that sounds like this.
Jamiroquai-Different Sounds - Th
'Truth'This has something similar to 'Romeo'. Not genre-wisely, but being just slightly different from what 'Jungle' normally sounds like. Again, when this was released as a single, I really liked this track but wasn't sure how it will find its place in the album. But more and more I listen to the whole album and 'Truth' more I like the track. This has actually become one of my favorite tracks of Jungle. It's simple but still flows perfectly. Everything has its place in the track, there is nothing too much or little.
'What D'You Know About Me?'I think 'Jungle' has really tried many small new things with the album, this track being also one good example of it. Again this really sounds like 'Jungle' but same time looping and repeating the name of the track builds almost like a hypnotic world in the listener's head. In a way, it would be cool to have this track a bit longer still repeating the theme but building it bigger and more psychedelic.
'Goodbye My Love' (feat. Priya Ragu)This is my least favorite track of the album. In a way, there is nothing wrong with it but it slightly feels like it is on the wrong record. Everything sounds really good, 'Priya Ragu's voice is beautiful with all of its delicacies. I think this track also shows the biggest challenge of 'Jungle'. They make so great, brilliant, awesome singles that even really good one songs might sound a bit mild compared to the best tracks. I think this track would work better being the last track of the album rather than having one faster disco track still coming up.
Shortly after opening the studio you had the small matter of hosting Chrissie Hynde for a month. How was the feedback from that session? Toby: Chrissie was a joy to have here. She stayed for nearly four weeks, and loved it. She loved the privacy and the beauty of the farm, so much so that she stayed all weekend too! She commented on the privacy up here and the fact that there weren't lots of other bands working on site like some residentials. She was also very positive about the sound... "It sounds fucking amazing!" Chrissie produced the last Pretenders album, and the one they recorded up here, so was very hands-on in the studio. There were eight people here including the assistant, and it worked very well, with all of them commenting on how comfortable and at ease they were. There were also a lot of great comments on the catering.
You've amassed an incredible spec at the studio with all corners covered. It's built around the old Townhouse 2 SSL SL8072 G+, which is accompanied by stacks of outboard, including some rare vintage Neve Mic Pres. But what is it about the console that made you choose it for Angelic? Toby: I had worked on my Neve 8068, which although a fantastic desk to track on, I struggled when mixing. We mix all our acts in house, so when Funkyjunk offered me the desk, it was not a difficult decision to make. I mean... its a 2001 G+ !! It sounds fantastic, and has behaved itself impeccably. However I would never have committed to the desk without keeping what made the Neve sound so great, the mic/amps. We retained the best 10 mic/amps from the 8068, which are 6 1100s and 4 1084s. The 1100s were a special order from Neve and are extremely rare. They are basically a 1081 mic amp, but with a 1073 sidechain, which gives a fast punchy mic amp but with lush and interesting EQ. When overdubbing on the 8068, we used these more then any of the other modules. The 1084s were tweaked so that they could work in an 8068, and just have that classic Neve sound. What musicians comment on is the musicality of the sound, but also that they sound really 'real'.
There are two different live rooms with a variety of acoustic attributes, so clients will have many different sonic options to experiment with when tracking. Talk us through the design of the rooms in terms of the sounds that they can achieve... Toby: The main live room is big without being cold. It has stone walls, and can be controlled by the massive curtains, and the variable absorption screens I have commissioned. I wanted the live rooms to be really flexible so you could have a massive Rock Drum sound, or any level of absorption below, to that end I have kept the walls stone, and used a selection of screens with varying degrees of absorption in them so you can move them around the room and sweet spot it rather then having a fixed sound. My experience of some of the major studio live rooms is that they lack character and realness, and this way I think you have a much broader palette. I think tracking a band altogether in a room gets overlooked, and it was important for me that this could be achieved comfortably. Usually we would expect the singer to be in the control room standing looking through the massive glass window at the band. The second room is about a third of the volume, consequently much closer and more intimate. We used this with the Hoosiers for a much smaller and tighter drum sound.
The second live room houses your amazing collection of rare guitars and amplifiers, which are accompanied by an awesome array of pedals. What tried-and-tested guitar/amp and pedal combinations would you personally recommend to other producers and engineers coming to work in the studio? Up until recently I found it very hard to get away from my 1962 Ac30, and it usually will be in the guitar chain somewhere. However we are always experimenting with different amp combinations, including the Spacetone, Divided by 13 and more recently my Ampeg Rocket. The rocket sounds pretty ropey on its own, but sounds amazing as a second or third amp, especially on Bass. Pedals are used to suit, getting an amazing guitar sound is dependent on so many factors, not least the guitar being used, but there is never a tried-and-tested formula that will be guaranteed to work. The Clon pedal seems to make a regular appearance though. On the last album I recorded, we used my EMS Synthi AKS (an uber-rare and expensive suitcase synth) as a distortion pedal... sounded fantastic.
Your extensive list of plug-ins suggests you are equally as keen to provide as much digital gear as you can, as well as analogue gear. What are your personal views on the growing trends in the recording industry to digital studio techniques and mixing-in-the-box, and how important do you feel it is to try to keep analogue studios open in a commercial sense? Toby: Personally I prefer tracks mixed on analogue desks. All the records I respect and love are made that way and I think it is sad that the industry has suffered enough that labels will settle with tracks mixed in-the-box. I think that whilst some dance tracks can get away with it, where live instruments are concerned it is crazy to end up cheapening the sound in a computer. It will only take one fantastic band to record and mix in a traditional set-up to remind people how much better it sounds. Whilst it is fun to watch the Blair Witch Project, no one would want Schindlers List to have been filmed in the same way. There is a reason that the classic albums of the last 40 years sound the way they do !!
Well I'm still in awe I had been introduced to Jamiroquai through my children in 1999 and he came to San Francisco in 2005 but I missed his concert. My daughter bought two tickets for my 60th birthday! Let me tell you I have seen Elton John, steely Dan, and many groups at the old winterland theater but this was the BEST live show bar non! Jamiroquai has so much soul and he sounds just like his CDs. Well my daughter and I started on the lower level area for a couple of hours and then we went to the balcony and you couldn't believe the sea of people from that view old young all genders he brought everyone together! And while we were on the main floor just talking to people and singing everyone was just vibing they had the lounge area and drinks with two bars this was a wonderful experience for me and my daughter! Thank you for coming back to San Francisco Jamiroquai. I love you! 2ff7e9595c
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