SOUND ON SOUND

[Stoney]

Hi All,

I've googled recording Mazzy Star and various permutations of that but can't seem to find any info.

I love the stripped back sound - thinking of particularly songs like Into Dust.

Is there any info out there on how they were recorded/mixed?

Into Dust has this really haunting quality and I think the reverb (plate?) plays a big part in this - obviously the gorgeous vocal is most of it.

It was recorded around '92/93 I believe so old school in terms of equipment and I assume mostly analogue?

If anyone has any info/opinions/links it would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
D

[desmond]

Interesting album, So Tonight That I May See...

Well it's self produced by David Roback, and they were in London at the time so it was recorded over here, that's about as much as I can find with a quite Googley. He has moved about a bit, including the States, Norway and other places and usually has his own studio.

Gearslutz might be a better place to ask?

[Sam Inglis]

Was that the same David Roback that was in The Rain Parade?

[desmond]

Yep.

http://www.allmusic.com/artist/david-roback-mn0000188275

[Darren Lynch]

Lord knows how often I listen to 'So tonight that I might see'. Sonics-wise I've always heard it pretty straightforward, certainly par for the course in any 16- or 24-track project studio with a room sufficient for recording a kit. It sounds very close mic'd, then heavily reverb'd. I think the key to the sound is the mix. Everything gets loads of low-cut to clear space for Hope Sandoval's vocal, which is very high in the mix. The reverb sound is very much clanky plate variety, but I doubt they had access to a genuine EMT or similar. Actually, a plate with sufficient pre-delay to create an echo feeding into a lush hall verb would nail it, my mind's ear suggests. Notice how distorted or fuzzy the guitars often are? Makes for a striking contrast with Sandoval's fragile voice (Cleaner guitars = Americana, but much of 'So tonight...' would fit nicely on a Velvet Underground album). Fade Into You, covered by so many, is easily a 'Classic Track' candidate.

[Mixedup]

Fade Into You, covered by so many, is easily a 'Classic Track' candidate.

I'd second that!

[vinyl_junkie]

Has no one noticed the annoying high pitched (15k ish) whine on tracks like Fade In To You?

I wonder if it's CRT line driver noise or a dodgy mic tube.

[ianhucke]

I am wondering about who was it that did the mixing for she hangs brightly. Specifically the some give you my lovin