Surface Tension winners of the KISW 2006 American Idiot contest are in the studio for the next few days recording new reference tracks to the band’s sophomore album (TBA hopefully in early 2008). Their first release Consciously Clones has been very well received and expectantly these new tracks will continue to establish Surface Tension as one of Seattle’s premier bands.

The first five tracks for West Valley Highway new release are really coming along. We recorded Mo’s acoustic guitar track using various guitars such as, a early 1970’s black Gibson SJ-200, Larrivee mid 1990’s mahogany D-09 with vintage body detailing, 1940’s rosewood Martin 000-17 “student guitar” (no longer available). We used our Josephson C42MP (matched pair) small diaphragm condenser blending a stereo sound from both the neck and the body of the guitar.

Boots Kutz vocals consisted of both the Telefunken M16 which has the characteristics of both the AKG C12 and Neumann U67 microphones. In parallel with the M16 was one of our flagship microphones an originalNeumann U47. Both mic’s on the cardioid pattern and adding a dash of vocal color we ran the U47 through the Manley SLAM and the M16 through the custom NEVE lunchbox.

A friend of mine Brad Mcrae from an outstanding world music band called Chokora Percussion called me and said, I have a session coming in and she has talent. The session is only one song and we will be using cajon, udu, windchimes, rainstick, shakers & finger cymbals to lay-down the rhythm section. So we used a Audix D-6 on the Cajon and a matched pair of small condensers above the rest of the instruments in an X-Y Pattern.

On Shakeh Acoustic Guitar we used a Cole 4040 close mic’ed on the 12th-ish fret. For her vocals we set Shakeh up in the live room and used the AGK C12VR. It was a blast recording this session and mixing will start in August. Shakeh is a great song-writer and will be performing along the west coast soon.

West Valley Highway is now in the beginning stages of recording their follow-up release to Marysville. This last week we tracked drums & bass for the first five tracks. If you enjoyed the first album this 2nd album will be beyond your expectations. As Mo Olson said to Jason, Scott & I “Boys, this is a historical moment for you”. Which is true because they drank less and played more.. One of the things we did different out the gate was use 14 microphones on a 3 piece drum kit! Why, to blend both ribbon & large diaphragm mic’s together and to be more experimental with an Americana style of music. There will be more updates on this project , here are some photos of the session.

Since I always talk about what’s is going on in the studio I thought I would show you a few “behind the scene” Photos of our place…. Enjoy!

Fastback Studios is offering professional recording classes that will teach and involve you on how to record. You will have hands on training in a commercial recording studio that will help you become an experienced and knowledgeable engineer and producer.

The recording classes are once a week for 16 weeks starting in October. Classes will consist of 4 students with text book and 2 teachers.

Program of study will include: Pro-Tools usage, how to record, edit & mix, monitor placement, room acoustics, analog mic-pre’s, compressors, EQ’s, interfaces, plug-ins, MIDI, microphones and mic-placement, knowledge of instrument’s, business of recording, actual recording of class project.. And much more!

Classes start in October, for more info please contact: Mark, 206.367.4667 – info@fastbackstudios.net