Robin Downe - Audio Services

For some reason I thought this was yet to come out, but it’s out now. The song Cruel Young Lover is originally from the Human League’s ‘Octopus’ album. Here, its co-writer Russ Dennett and his able group re-imagine it as a country number featuring the very authentic vocal stylings of Alfie Darling and Bethany Pashley. This is my favourite kind of cover, one where it sounds nothing like the original track.
All the links to the various platforms here:

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/darlingdennettgrace/cruel-young-lover?fbclid=IwY2xjawEtZ49leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHcf9rypdbhAx6zGrzZwvQEZhPOFF3c1EV2JFnxwuhOV4fZP0PgbY__8M9g_aem_BaFUJmn6Gw7fqb-P62BgqQ

Cruel Young Lover by Darling Dennett Grace Stream and Save Cruel Young Lover - Distributed by DistroKid

"Songs from the Tin Tabernacle". The first outing from a lovely project by Tony Bowering. The project has both historical and musical aspects to it. Please check out the details and subscribe if it stirs your interest.

They Layed Me in a House of Sorrow_Martha's Song (Cân Martha) The first of a suite of 'Songs from the Tin Tabernacl : A Roots Romance' new Welsh-English folk music re-imagining stories from a C19th musical bloodline flo...

Here’s a good example of a live to video session that I did recently for Awen Ensemble. All one take using floor-monitors, then mixed down ‘as-is’ with no overdubs. Spectral folk-tinged jazz by a great group of musicians based in Leeds. Also a nice video from nickporter.co

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piP8Oyie6sE&ab_channel=AwenEnsemble

Awen Ensemble - Upon Leaving The Dream (Live From Yellow Arch Studios) Awen Ensemble - Upon Leaving The Dream (Live From Yellow Arch Studios)Watch Awen Ensemble's perform their single 'Upon Leaving The Dream', live from Yellow A...

I was lucky enough to some tracking and editing work on this track thanks to the force that is K.O.G.
This features the Ghanaian Hi-Life innovator and music legend Pat Thomas, another highlight for me. More recordings I have done for K.O.G. and his extended group of musicians, which features some very fine singing and playing from Accra, Sheffield and other places will be coming out soon.

The new one by the band! :)

FONDNESS FOR... the new album from Fondness *OUT NOW*

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/0Jf3MQ9SaZYlbLvhNhmwyT?si=P7IjCwy9R0-vP-pbdjwr8w

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/fondness-for/1696075608

Bandcamp: https://houseofconstantpop.bandcamp.com/album/fondness-for-2

I again have been rather slack about posting tracks and bands I have recorded and mixed recently, so to atone here is number one of a few posts in respect of fixing that. Firstly, this is an EP that came out this month by Sheffield group Blacklight Animals. We agreed at the time of recording that they are difficult to categorise. You might be tempted to say 'alt-rock', 'post-rock', 'neo-prog',; or some other generic category that doesn't quite describe what they do. Better to head on across to their page and have a listen listen. I do know they remind me of a disparate range of 'hallowed-to-me' acts from Crimson to Sylvian, without really sounding like any of them. Impressive songwriting, and arrangement complexity not done for its own sake. Check out the links here:

🙌 Raise those digits to the sky 🙌

The Wrong Hands, our debut EP is out now, everywhere! Link in bio. Let us know what you all think 😙

As ever, social media engagement is quite behind round here at RDAS Towers. I have been doing a lot though. I’ve stepped back into the world of live sound with Isaac who I have recorded, and also with the lovely Nicola Farnon and her band of serious players at the Greystones in Sheffield, somewhere I haven’t worked for some years now. It was great to see some of these Sheffield musicians play again, it’s been so difficult for them, the techies and the venues. Go out and support the live scene if you can.
I’ve also been engaged with multiple tracking, mixing and mastering projects, as well as going away to Brighton to see my partner’s daughter’s degree show. (She passed with flying colours). That’s why I’ve not been here much, see?
Here’s the latest thing I’ve finished, by Luddites UK. It’s atmospheric neo-flok at times, and groovy alt-rock at others. Check out the poignant song ‘Radium Girls’. Listen to the whole thing in fact:

https://open.spotify.com/album/1PcTPkk8EwPyMLX1If8dEf?si=COjG2e-USCeJ3p-wsIWyJQ

Radium Girls Luddites UK · Ep · 2022 · 4 songs.

The latest in the 'Thru the Glass' series.... (I don't usually get much time to take photos on a session, and I'm obviously not walking in while musicians are playing!) This is Orchestra of the Upper Atmosphere laying down the initial tracks for their next album. Always an event worth waiting for....

Here's K.O.G. with the live version of 'Ayinye' I recorded for their Jazz FM session. The track is from their new album 'Zone 6, AGEGE'. Now with the video of the band's performance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0ioysi5wmI&list=RDr0ioysi5wmI&start_radio=1&t=144s&ab_channel=HeavenlySweetness

K.O.G - Ayinye (Jazz FM Live Performance) New album Feb. 28th 2022 💥Pre-order / Stream : https://idol.lnk.to/Zone6AgegeFilmed at Yellow Arch Studio.Drums : Theo Gos Bass : Owen BurnsKeys : Jasper Gr...

Robin Downe - Audio Services updated their info in the about section.

My nephew in Glasgow has a new website. Music (and other subjects) photography, album covers and videos - check it out here: https://www.willdphotography.co.uk/

Shot By Will Flawless Footage & Album covers just for you… Book Now There’s so much to be passionate about when it comes to Photography & Music. I love both… Instagram: .BYWILL Instagram:  

Alex Allison has a second album out, only a matter of weeks after number one. Recorded in just over one* day and all instruments played entirely by him, in one or two takes at the most, it's a further development from the aforementioned 'Feulles d'Album'. Atmospheric: (*Alex reminds me, it was actually recorded in appx 1.2 days)

Capriccio Assurdo Listen to Capriccio Assurdo by Alex Allison on

Another powerful Discus release which I had a hand in engineering. Unique:

The Scale - 124CD (2021), by Carla Diratz & the Archers of Sorrow 13 track album

Here's another one I had a hand in, mixing and mastering about half the songs. London based French act Cross Channel Music self-recorded the tracks in Paris a few years ago on a home setup, finally releasing it this month on streaming platforms and here on Bandcamp (where your money goes to the artist) . I really liked this too. Another unique combination of stylistic and lyrical ambiguity....

Man in a Dream, by Cross-Channel Music 9 track album

Take some time to check out Alex Allison, and his debut LP with the brilliant title ‘Feuilles D’Album’…. It’s rare that I meet a singer songwriter who really stands out in this way. I reeled off a whole list of possible influences to him, none of which were right, but I still hold that his songs would be favoured by fans of Mark Hollis, Leonard Cohen, Jeff Buckley, Joni…. Artists who can create a unique mood of their own. It’s not that he sounds like any of them, it’s more the feeling inherent in the songs. Pathos and humour are both shot through his work, and there’s obviously something very personal going on in the lyrics which have that great quality of suggesting a deeper meaning than they seem on first listen, so you have to listen again…. I really like this and recommend it heartily to fans of The Different:

https://soundcloud.com/user-24696828/sets/feuilles-dalbum?ref=clipboard&p=a&c=1&utm_campaign=social_sharing&utm_medium=text&utm_source=clipboard

Feuilles d'Album Listen to Feuilles d'Album by Alex Allison on

Gregg Ibbotson's album is now available on Spotify. Great singer-songwriter - listen to it here: https://open.spotify.com/album/61w40uFgbJOHmcK0k9PJ53?si=L-LlcCYHQImi1e08eH_IlA&utm_source=copy-link&dl_branch=1&nd=1

My Oriel Dax persona is being aired on the show tomorrow, along with several other artists from the 23 for PB album. Check it out:

The second of Marcel Clarkson's 'Crimson Story' tracks is out today. Much more in the realm of the psychedelic Beatles this time, complete with mellotron, real strings and Lennon-esque ADT effects on the vocals. Almost 68 all over again, but really it's still resolutely in the now.... Check out Callooh Callay on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/0RNi35aN4hK8WaPEV3irai?fbclid=IwAR0i8MgNFAUsjR1rY7-RAVDtmPoUwzAGTW1d-KN2cm8k09yjZFoI3lqJ70o

Callooh Callay Crimson Story · Song · 2021

Crimson Story's 'Summer Is the Colour' on Ashley Beedle's Heavy Disco Spectacular show on Worldwide FM. Approx 25m 40 seconds in. Result! (Here's the playback option) : https://www.mixcloud.com/worldwidefm/the-heavy-disco-spectacular-ashley-beedle-24-08-21/?fbclid=IwAR2zCpUJr74hsm5JxumGKWpQ1TW6-h_LBnCH1KGsJkdc759E5NON9eLyCYo

The Heavy Disco Spectacular: Ashley Beedle // 24-08-21 Co-founder of the infamous ‘Heavy Disco’ parties, Ashley Beedle, navigates you through the many strands of music that make up the ‘Heavy Disco’ sound.

Celebrations - Fondness Celebrations by Fondness.https://www.facebook.com/fondnessband/℗&©2021 Copyright Control/Fondness

I recorded this sunny, alt-folk song-of-hope for Sheffield singer/songwriter Gregg Ibbotson recently. Check out his channel for more releases soon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hGmE7f5kzE&ab_channel=GreggIbbotson

Gregg Ibbotson - Set Me Free (Official Video) The official video for 'Set Me Free' Available now on iTunes and Spotify! Follow Gregg

Isaac's full EP, out now.

My new EP 'If You Came For Entertainment' is out now and available on all major platforms! Let me know what you think and give it a share if you like 🙂

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3sea9vR
Youtube: https://bit.ly/3jW16f1

Another album I have worked on over the past couple of years has just been released. Deadnamed are their own brand of electronic influenced post-punk/dreampop with a mullti-layered guitar/synth sound juxtaposed with gritty, realist lyrical subject matter. Listen to it here:

https://music.amazon.co.uk/albums/B0998GF3W3?ref=dm_sh_pxx7wpxTuBcQonG115rs2yG8J&fbclid=IwAR3gIS98OsVhxjEh50v9JGbVOCDyNOL9gkFhRqtWzSXUSADMk-wEOF6fgng

Ruined Age – Dead Named On Amazon Music

We had a really great session, recording these talented chaps for the forthcoming Carla Diratz and the Archers of Sorrow album (Discus Records). It's going to be quite something, as it already sounds great at this early stage.

L-R Nick Robinson, Adam Fairclough, Martin Archer, Dave Sturt. (I took the photo! Despite only having 'point-and-keep-clicking' photographic skills, I think this turned out quite well....)

For a whole new world of left-field, experimental music, please check out this label Discus Music. If you're looking for the genuine alternative, you could do a lot worse than delving into this treasure-chest.

Another one from the recent run of RDAS-involved recordings. Fresh on the net from singer/songwriter Isaac Vohra. Bright guitar pop for the summer, but with distinct glam-rock undertones on this tune.... One track already out and a second on the way:

Excited to announce that my new EP ‘If You Came For Entertainment’ will be out on Saturday 14th August and available on all major platforms!

You can hear the lead single ‘The World Is Your Oyster’ now 👇👇👇

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/36OXZiQ
Youtube: https://bit.ly/36JpXwv

Out now. This is the first piece I did the basic tracking for, to be released by Leeds based singer-songwriter Marcel Clarkson under the moniker Crimson Story. The basic tracks were put together in Leeds and Sheffield, then passed through the hands of US guitar maestro Brent Paschke, sent back to Rotherham for additional editing and then back over to the States for mixing (by Doug Fenske) and mastering. Soulful electronic-tinged songwriting and production, with a touch of shimmering R n B. Perfect for this time of year. There will be more tracks to follow:

https://open.spotify.com/track/0HXz6830dAcUjNvewk2Roq?si=b235d7b3f0354a69

Summer is the Colour Crimson Story · Song · 2021

The session I tracked with ONIPA will be broadcast on Cerys Matthews' show on Sunday 25th July, and hopefully on the iPlayer too. Check them out, they're really good:

Big news!! We're playing a live session on Cerys Mattews BBC 6 Music show TOMORROW! Tune in from 10am to hear us playing 4 tracks from TAPES OF UTOPIA 📼 ❤️
Thanks to Clare Jane - Makeup & Body Paint Yellow Arch Studios Robin Downe - Audio Services

Also you catch catch us playing in London at tomorrow evening (weather permitting 🤞)

ONIPA sent me a much better photo from last Friday, which deserves its own post. A very enjoyable session all round.