New Equipment Galore!
Each month we find ourselves ecstatic to be able to announce that our strength and aptitude both continue to grow faster than Jack's beanstalk. And what makes it even better, unlike Jack, is that none of us have had to swap our mothers' cows to get our paltry beans!! (Just spend a bit of cash, that's all). So what do we have in the way of toys to tell you about this month then? Well firstly to The SSL, which has been enhanced with a pair of Genelec 1031A's, which rest-assured, will sound sweeter than the roar of a crowd that has just learnt Crazy Frog has been flattened by a milk float! The second new addition to The SSL comes in the form of a cracking Focusrite Red-2 stereo Compressor. Further south at Leroy Street, and The Neve room has recently been acquainted with a brand new Manley Stereo Variable Mu Limiter Compressor. (Deep breath). Moving swiftly upstairs at Leroy Street to our beloved Toyshop, and we are pleased to welcome a fantastic API 7600 Input Module for you all to make grand use of. This API module is designed to be used as a vocal chain, including a built-in API 212L Mic Preamp, API 225l Compressor, and a re-issue of the famed 550A EQ. It is sure to add that API sheen to your vocals. 
If you would like to try some of our new additions you know what to do - call Sophie at the office on 0207 232 0008. The Monkeys, The Ghost and The Garden
Sadly, it's not the next Chronicle of Narnia (although that's an idea to bring to the table at the next management meeting), but a brief synopsis of the fantastic sessions with the one and only Arctic Monkeys, who were recording their second album, 'Favourite Worst Nightmare', in The Garden throughout 2006. "Ghost?" you ask - February's newsletter people, February's newsletter. OK, on April 23 the resulting masterpiece from the Arctic Monkeys Garden sessions, will be officially unveiled to the adoring British public. Arguably the most-anticipated album since Oasis' 'Be Here Now', 'Favourite Worst Nightmare' is to be released on Domino Records and early reviews point the record in the direction of mass success. But not only are we paying a well warranted tribute to the ever-prevailing Sheffield rock act, but also seizing the opportunity to tell you all a little more about the exceptional studio where 'Favourite Worst Nightmare' was conceived... One of London's key recording hubs since the late seventies, The Garden has catered for such musical supremos as Depeche Mode, Lloyd Cole, The Cure and of course the Arctic Monkeys, to name but a few, making it one of the capital's most in-demand tracking rooms. Located in the heart of the trendy Shoreditch/Hoxton area of London, The Garden is owned by Matt Johnson of The The, and has been run by Miloco since the mid-1990s. Centred around a Neve V3 48 channel console and boasting Boxer T2 monitors, this world-class studio gives clients the option of either recording on an exquisite sounding vintage Studer A80 MkIV 2" machine, or state-of-the-art ProTools HD3 system. There is top-notch dead-sounding booth - perfect for vocals - as well as an absurdly brilliant live-room catering for the 'bigger' sounding recording. An extra-special feature is an old coal bunker situated off the live room which provides a very delectable cavern sound to recordings, that is if you don't mind the odd cobweb and the very slight chance of burrowing moles dropping by, literally. Oh yes, and a ghost called Elsie lives in there, or so say the Arctic Monkeys... To find out further details on the Garden click here or to make an enquiry/booking for The Garden or any of Miloco's wonderful selection of studios, call Sophie today on 020-7232-0008. Studio Round-upAs we cast our eyes back over the diary for March, we can say with great satisfaction that it has been mostly a full house across the land of Miloco. Long-term projects have moved closer to the finishing line, and new clients have joined the network of branches that make up the Miloco Family Tree. It was especially exciting to cut the ribbon and throw open the doors of our re-vamped Musikbox studio in Kentish Town. More on Musikbox to follow. Here's March's studio round-up. Miloco One - The Neve Room
Things got off to a rocketing start in Miloco One with Ali Love, who came in for a four-day
session with producer Steve Dub, Miloco engineer Joe Hirst and assistant Laurence Aldridge.
Essex R n'B starlet Pixie was in next with the legendary Lucas Secon producing and Miloco's
Pete Hofmann engineering. Session guitarist David Rhodes (Paul McCartney, Peter Gabriel etc.)
came in for a day's strum shortly after, and then Miloco faithfuls the Chemical Brothers came
in for a day of mixing tracks off the new album, with Steve Dub engineering and Laurence
Aldridge assisting. 24 hours later, The Neve's doors opened to the fabulous Editors, who were
in recording strings on an album track. Garrett Lee produced, Pete Hofmann engineered, and
Darren Simpson assisted. The rest of the month saw The Neve occupied by the lovely Natalie
Imbruglia and her band of merry men: producer Ben Hillier, programmer Dave McCracken,
and Miloco's very own Ferg Peterkin engineering.
Two rather impressive CVs: Pete Hofmann & Joe Hirst Miloco Two - The Toyshop
Upstairs at Leroy Street, and Charles Campbell Jones was first in at The Toyshop in March
recording album tracks with Miloco engineer Ben Thackeray. Charles and Ben returned later in
the month for another day's session. Another rising star of UK R n'B, Sadie Ama, was in next
with producer/engineer Sie Medway-Smith, and Mike Horner assisting. Pixie, Lucas and
Pete were back shortly after, this time with Miloco assistant Mark Allaway, to mix two
singles. Then, Andrew Blake Thomas came in for a day. Ben Thackeray was also engineering that session. The
Chemical Brothers then re-visited the room that launched their triumphant careers with Darren
Simpson, who assisted the day-long session. Up next were The Broken Hearts who were in for a
couple of days recording two singles with producer Nathan Whitey and Miloco's Dean Curtis
assisting. Brand new client Roots then came in, with the man behind the moniker, Ernest Nkabinde
taking on production duties with the assistance of Jon Olliffe. March ended on an extremely
positive note with rising stars, These New Puritans, coming in for a six-day session with the
legendary Gareth Jones in the producer seat. Jeff Knowler engineered the session with Mark
Allaway assisting.
Another rather impressive CV: Ben Thackeray Miloco Three - The Square
Meet Me In St. Louis, got the ball rolling over at Hoxton Square with producer/engineer
Alex Newport (Mars Volta, At The Drive In), and Miloco assistant Dean Curtis. We
then welcomed Tim Phillips to Miloco Three - he was in for a day with Mark Allaway
as studio assistant. The very exciting Royal Treatment Plant were in next for a six day
session with Teo Miller producing and Martin Jenkins engineering. They were
recording and mixing a selection of demos. These New Puritans were hard at work in The Square
as well as in The Toyshop, and then the final week of March saw two three-day sessions with
Brazilian group Sidestepper, and The Officers who were in with producers Jon Gray and Jagz Kooner.
And another CV for you: Martin Jenkins Miloco Four - The Garden
Well The Garden was simply heaving last month. A Bomb came in to record some drums with Peter Challis
producing and Ben Thackeray engineering. Pixie added a two-day Garden session to her
Toyshop stint, and then The Tunics followed suit with a good four days of tracking with
producer/engineer James Lewis and Miloco assistant Adrian Breakspear. It was great to see
The Gossip making use of our fantastic tracking room for a day with Trevor Jackson producing,
and Miloco's Martin Jenkins and Adrian Breakspear engineering and assisting. We look forward
to seeing them again. The Grammes were in next for a three-day session with producer Jon Grey
and our very own Jon Olliffe assisting. They tracked two singles. Not long after, Suzerain
booked in for a day of Garden therapy with Steve Lyon producing and engineering. A very
interesting Texan who goes by the name of Play Radio Play was in next with the fabulous
Garrett Lee producing. By Garrett's side was engineer Sam Bell and Miloco assistant Dan
Rejmer. The fantastic Spiritualized took over for most of the remaining month, although we
managed to squeeze in a one-day session with Adam Brown, who had Jon Olliffe assisting his
session.
Miloco Five - The SSL
One of the most originally named bands in the business, The Eighties Matchbox B-line Disaster unlocked
the doors of The SSL for March. With them came producer and engineer Paul Schroeder and
assistant Adrian Breakspear. Adrian stuck around to assist a session with singer-songwriter
Pauline Taylor, who was mixing two album tracks with producer Matty Benbrook. Sadie Ama took
a trip over to Swan Yard for a day with producer Sie Medway-Smith and assistant Mike
Horner, and then Fontana came in for three days with Miloco's very own Matt Foster on production
and engineering duties. Meet Me In St Louis also had a five-day crack in Miloco Five, again with
Alex Newport and Dean Curtis. The slightly frightening metal of Akercocke pumped through the
monitors for a healthy seven days, with the help of producer Jason Mendonca, engineer Karl
Bareham and assistant Adrian Breakspear. Gallows were in for a day's mixing with our very own
Matt Hyde engineering, and Dean Curtis assisting, and then Paul Fallon turned up with Miloco
engineer Finn Eiles and assistant Dan Rejmer, just for a day. Dan's superb assisting qualities
were on hand for the next session, Satin Peaches, who with legendary producer Owen Morris were
mixing album tracks across five days. Pauline Taylor came back for a day at the end of March
with Matty Benbrook and Adrian Breakspear. We don't think Adrian has left The SSL since, in
fact someone should really go and check that his official home isn't filling up with
squatters!!
CVs of the two Matts and the one Finn: Matt Foster, Matt Hyde & Finn Eiles Miloco Seven & Eight - Musikbox & The Pool
And lastly to Miloco Seven and Eight, aka Musikbox and The Pool. Of course Musikbox re-opened
itself after its dazzling makeover, so there were queues of people wanting to take it for a test
drive. I Am Finn were in first for five days of mixing with the one and only Howie B producing.
John Purcell assisted. Fiona Culley came in for three days with producer Emre Ramazanoglu,
engineer Fraser Smith and both Darren Simpson and Jon Olliffe sharing assistant credits. Then,
the excellent Dobie came in for a day with Miloco engineer Joe Hirst, followed by a day's
session with Major, in mixing a single with Howie B. The next four days saw Kate Nash in with
producer Paul Epworth, Miloco engineer Mark Rankin, and assistant Darren Simpson. Two days
were then used up by Caribou, who were mixing album tracks with producer Dan Snaith and engineer
David Wrench. I Am Finn and Howie B were back for a few more days, followed by the superb producer
that is Dave Eringa, who was in mixing tracks for Fanfarlo. The Audition rounded things up over
at Musikbox, with producer Richard Wilkinson. Adrian Breakspear was on assistant duties for both
Fanfarlo and The Audition.
The Pool kicked off March where it had left February, with Natalie Imbruglia recording her forthcoming album with the company of her faithful team; Ben Hillier, Dave McCracken and Ferg Peterkin. The Dunes were then in our fantastic live room for the first time. They booked three days with producer/engineer Paul Tipier. John Purcell assisted the session. The rest of the month saw The Rank Deluxe making use of not only The Pool studio, but also the pool table in what seemed like a highly competitive series of matches. Passion is power!! Two more CVs: Ferg Peterkin & Mark Rankin So it was fitting that a month traditionally associated with gale-force winds, did indeed cook up a storm of fabulous artists, producers and engineers alike, across our prosperous empire of studios. As we wish the winter months a fond farewell, we move forward with a spring in our leap! To make an enquiry or booking, it really couldn't be simpler. Call Sophie today on 020-7232-0008 or email her at sophie@miloco.co.uk. We look forward to hearing from you. |
In this edition
New Equipment Galore!
MILC 9 - Magazine Roundup
On the ninth day, Miloco proclaimed, "Great people gather. The calcium-starved cracks in the earth are banished from the land. Amongst an ocean of activity last month, we can welcome back our beloved MILC" "Hoorah" they cheered. "The drought is over". OK, so the latest issue of our online magazine MILC was unveiled in March, and continued to take a journalistic snapshot of those who have been meandering around our studios. MILC 9 includes fantastic interviews with two of Miloco's most loyal clients, Ali Love and Chemical Brothers, who revealed a few secrets on their forthcoming albums. We also had a quick chinwag with one of our more-than-competent studio engineers, Martin Jenkins, who not only answered a few questions, but also introduced our new MILC feature, 'Equipment Roundup', and divulged information about our new LOMO 19A19 microphone, so take a look at his expert thoughts. Our fantastic web-developers Resource Studio also came under some very friendly interrogation, in order to reveal their admirable panache, plus we introduced two stars of the future; acoustic blues songstress Gillian Glover, and acoustic folk songster Craig Johnston." So twist open those red, blue and green caps and dive into the magical world of MILC 9 . Enjoy!
New Staff Announcement
Please join us in welcoming one James Apiricio, who last month joined Miloco as a studio assistant. James has been formerly based at Mute studio, The Instrument, where he was an in-house assistant/engineer. He has earned credits on many Mute projects, but two of the most-notable records he has left his mark on recently, are Grinderman's 'No Pussy Blues' and the latest Erasure single. Since joining us, we haven't hung around in putting his skills to use, and have thrown him into The Pool, fully clothed of course (as we are talking about the studio), to get to work on the sessions for The Rank Deluxe. Welcome to the team James!
Latest Releases
Released 26th March 2007 The Holloways - 'Dance Floor' 
Taken from their fantastic debut LP, 'So This Is Great Britain?', 'Dance Floor' is an upbeat contemporary rock n'roll tune paying homage to what sounds like a damn good night out! The Holloways were mixing b-sides in The Garden, and over-dubbing in The SSL in December 2006. Tristan Ivemy was producing and engineering, and Miloco's John Purcell assisted. www.theholloways.tk/ Released 19th March 2007 Kublichek! - 'Not Enough Night' 
Deep inside the misty atmospherics of Newcastle Upon Tyne, there lives a beast named Kubichek! Now before you are either misled or spooked out by any one of the following: the rather morbid-looking raven on the image above; the somewhat Jabberwocky-like name of Kubichek!; or the opening sentence of this paragraph, Kubichek! is not a monster, but a mighty good indie rock band, destined for mighty good things. Kubichek! were in The Square in July and August 2006, recording and mixing album tracks with producer/engineer Dave Eringa. www.kubichek.co.uk Released 19th March 2007 Five O'Clock Heroes - 'Skin Deep' 
The Transatlantic line-up of Five O'Clock Heroes is uniquely exposed in their latest single, 'Skin Deep'. The beer-swilling-hooligans-singing-on-footy-terraces aspect is arguably borrowed from gritty Brit-rock bands such as The Fratellis and The Libertines, where the more jingle-jangle soul pop rudiments pay more tribute to Hall and Oates. The glitz and glamour of Northampton meets the murky doldrums of some American town called New York(!). Five O'Clock Heroes were in The Square on January 23 mixing the single's b-side, 'Every Night All Night', with Miloco's Finn Eiles engineering. myspace.com/fiveoclockheroes Released 5th March 2007 Tracey Thorn - 'Out Of The Woods' 
The blissful voice that came to prominence as the lead vocal in Everything But The Girl is back with her new album, a staggering 25 years on from her first solo release. Tracey Thorn strides on with another brilliant set of euphoric electronica in 'Out of the Woods'. Few people have made music which can act as the perfect ambience to an aromatic bath as well as serving as a euphoria floor-filler. Don't dare mention dodgy Enya remixes! Tracey Thorn was in The Garden in January 2006 recording album tracks with producer/engineer Ewan Pearson, and Miloco's Ben Thackeray. www.traceythorn.com To check out more of the Miloco releases of 2007, please look this way: www.miloco.co.uk/news/ newreleases |