Investigation: Music Recording

Pick a landmark music recording and explain why it is influential in the development of sound recording.

Use Sound on Sound magazine as a resource to inspire you. The magazine has a section each month where they analyse a classic track and you have access to the archive and many back print copies.

Some examples of 'classic tracks' explored in detail in the magazine include;

Sound on Sound classic track 'Pacific State' - 808 State 1988

A landmark in British house music, particularly the acid house scene which was very much a cultural as well as musical sub-culture with its own summer of love.  Graham Massey used his love of synthesiser music, the 808 being a ROLAND TR808 drum machine, to become an essential part of the 'Madchester' scene. He is now a 'musician, composer, producer and engineer' according to Sound on Sound. Massey was a student at the UK's first audio engineering studio, Manchester's School of Sound Recording which allowed him to develop a knowledge of MIDI technology. The influnec eon artists such as Aphex Twin 

Sound on Sound classic track 'Voodoo Ray' - A Guy Called Gerald 

This makes a good comparison to 808 State as they collaborated together and this is also a classic track in Sound on Sound.

Future Sound of London - Papua New Guinea 
The songs above influenced a number of artists who made other landmark songs in a similar musical genre and style

Secondary Source - The Ambient century (Mark Prendergast)

Sound on Sound classic track 'Fool's Gold' - The Stone Roses

Recorded at the legendary 'Sawmills' on the River Fowey in Cornwall.  The Stone Roses came out of the 'Madchester' scene and were its most iconic band.