THE MOON IS MY MACHINE
- Shakespeare Sonnet 120
William Shakespeare - lyrics
Keren Letheby - vocals
Ronan Charles - bass, drums, keys, saxophone
Recorded, mixed and mastered at Aerial Recording, Perth
Footage from "Flesh and the Devil" (1927) starring the incandescent Greta Garbo.
MARCH 24, 2024
LANGLEY CHAMBERS
- Out of View
Very pleased to announce the first single from Langley Chambers' debut album and it's a great showcase of his colourful love-struck and quirky guitar pop, led by one of the smoothest voices that has ever graced the studio. Despite having numerous expensive tube mics, we recorded nearly all his vocals on a vintage Electro-Voice dynamic (also favoured by Bruce Springsteen) that just seemed to suit his music down to the ground as it takes an epic trip through vintage west coast vibes and soaring love songs.
Langley Chambers at Aerial. Photo Sean Standen
Langley Chambers - Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Drums
Vinny the studio hound - percussion (expert collar shake at 1:10)
Recorded and mixed at Aerial Recording
Mastered by Dan O'Connor at Encoder Sound
VERMISTROPOS
-Deathnetics for the Anti-Generation
The first album from Vermistropos is a wild mix of live improvised piano and digital noise . Their long form pieces are shot through with vintage noir cinematic vibes accompanied by live manipulation of pure data, including images, being made audible and somehow slightly on fire. The unusual combination works unbelievably well with the 2 players approaching it like a live jazz improv and features some very exceptional playing.
Xavier Douglas-Smith - Piano
Jacob Canet-Gibson - Pure Data
Recorded and produced at Aerial Recording
THE MOON IS MY MACHINE
- Fayenator
Ekadek [Greg Brice] - Korg MS20 and modifried Rhythm Ace drum machine. Ekadek Grampian reverb and tape echo.
The Moon is My Machine [Ronan Charles] - Prophet 5 and space echo
Recorded at Ekadek Sound (NZ) and Aerial Recording (AUS)
Mixed and Mastered at Aerial Recording
(Feb 26, 2024)
FEBRUARY 26, 2024
Don't Forget to Rewind
The studio seems to be filling up with tape machines these days. Thanks to the hunting and maintenance skills of Sean Standen, Aerial's Chief Tape Officer, we've wheeled in another 1969 AG440 tape machine for calibrating.
Ampex always were the warmest sounding machines but so very old school and slightly annoying to not even having the basic utility of a tape counter.
Some things are just worth the extra messing about required...
Last but not least - just arrived today is my new BeesNeez BM49 tube microphone. This is a recreation of one of my most favourite microphones. The microphone used by Miles Davis on Kind of Blue, John Coltrane's saxophone, Aretha Franklin's biggest hits, Billie Holiday, The Beatles, Bob Dylan, the list is endless.. Here he is, a heavy beast of a thing, ready to do his first day's work on a piano track for a new secret client. Huge and incredibly well-balanced sounding, he has already earned his position on the squad.
THE MOON IS MY MACHINE
- Where You Are
One of my most favourite recordings ever.
A simple love song made at night for a daytime world.
Keren Letheby - Vocals
Ronan Charles - Drums, Keys, Bass, Guitar
Recorded, mixed and mastered at Aerial Recording.
Available on all streaming platforms.
One new song released each moon this year.
(Jan 20, 2024)
Music Studio Black Out
Went from a fully booked week of sessions to completely cancelled by a sudden apocalyptic storm that swept the hills all "When the Levee Breaks" at max volume style with bushfires, hail, flash flooding, trees down everywhere, lightning and the final coup de grace, three days and nights without power.
For me, living in the 1870's for a while was actually just fine.
No distractions from phones or computers (or clients) and got so much stuff done around the studio.
The best bit was setting up this cool 2 track tape machine, restored to pristine factory spec by Aerial Recording's brilliant new offical tech, Sean Standen. It's got a nice warm feel and when they finally got the power back on Friday, I hastily re-booked a session and it sounded just lovely driving it hard on a bunch of vocal tracks.
The other tape machine here is a 1967 1" 8 track Ampex AG440, the same model used to record The Beatles "Hey Jude".
Now, the question is - What band in Perth / Boorloo is keen and up for the challenge to record an 8 track album on tape? Hit me up.
(Dec 10, 2023)
DECEMBER 10, 2023
Summer
Not quite over yet, but 2023 has been an absolute pearler at Aerial and, feeling in a very grateful expansive mood, I'd like to wish everyone, and very particularly all the musicians who’ve been through my doors this year, a happy and safe (and profitable?) holiday season. Thanks to you all for being so amazing and bringing your music that has been such a pleasure to work with.
Really pleased with how the studio is growing. So many good projects through this year, covering so many different genres and stylistic territories that I am always kept on my toes.
The new site seems to have helped introduce this place to a bunch of new clients, after running for most of the last 10 years almost entirely on word of mouth.
Perhaps it's success is all down to my good lookin' studio hound Vinny? - (Here handsome - have a biscuit)
Many plans for the season ahead. Three very cool indie albums to finish off, a blues album, a meditation album, an experimental noise project, a live rock album and then do a film score. After a year of studio refurb I think it may be time to start adding a few more to my already slightly bursting microphone locker :)
(Nov 11, 2023)
Big And Loud Drums
A quick pic from a very pleasant Saturday tracking drums and bass for Monotonic's new album.
November 19,
2023
For those wondering what that red blanket is doing in this shot, I have a second bass drum microphone at the end of a padded rack case to capture more boom and less clatter from the rest of the kit. Works great to combine with an internal microphone for punch, and in situations where there is no kick port.
Al's snare is the heaviest and loudest DW brass snare I've ever seen and is captured with a BeesNeez BU67 and Albini-designed Josephson E22S. Also, out of shot, there are a few room microphones 6m out from the kit. Can't wait for this record to be complete as the drums sound truly massive.
This week I remastered Rob Zielinski's grand retrospective album "The Day Dawn" for an international tour. Also a bunch more mixing for Langley Chambers' first album which is also getting really close to release.
(Oct 29, 2023)
OCTOBER 29, 2023
Spring
Been keeping busy this month with some great recording sessions including Rob Zielinski, Manuela Centanni, Langley Chambers, Monotonic and Matt Walsh. Plotting another album by Gus McKay and a video production for Rob Zielinski.
All Spring, with any spare moment I could find, I've been painting the old servo exterior. A small lake of paint later, she is now resplendant in ECM green and IMPULSE! orange, in tribute to two of my favourite record labels.
Marked the end of this year's renovation mission by finally putting a little sign up on the marquee and posting the studio to Google Maps.
Gus McKay releases Mojo Grande (From the Vault)
So pleased to hear from Gus that this EP is now available.
These are the remaining tracks from the 2017 sessions for the album "Talisman" and features a fine set of dusty Mad Max style Blues Rock.
Gus McKay's songs are soaked in a raw kind of Australian experience far from the inner city.
"Talisman" received a stack of enthusastic reviews for it's cinematic vibes and it's wide-ranging blues/jazz/folk/Australiana roots . Though recorded at the same time, the tracks from Mojo Grande never quite sat right in the lazy heat haze of that set, so it's fitting that that they finally get their own release.
It's the kind of rough, one take blues rock that would make a perfect sound track to a Kalgoorlie bar fight or sunset behind the wheel of a roadtrain. Gus tells me it's already receiving radio play in the UK.
MOJO GRANDE (From the Vault)
Gus McKay - Vocals, Guitar
Phil Waldron - Bass, Pedal Steel, Trumpet
Ronan Charles - Drums, Hammond Organ, Saxophone
Recorded and Mixed at Aerial Recording
Mastered at Abbey Road by Simon Gibson
Check it out on streaming platforms or
(Sep 29, 2023)
Spring Tuesday Sessions
$250 4 HOUR SESSION
* Special Rate for Tuesday Day or Night Sessions
Additional time at standard rate [$80/hr]
Aerial Recording is open for bookings 7 days a week.
Phil Waldron & Emily Green-Armytage record Dittersdorf's Bass Concerto
(Sep 10 2023)
Perth Session Musicians - Get in Touch
I have a bunch of interesting projects coming up and looking to expand my roster of experienced local musicians who are interested and available for session work.
Drop me an email and I'll be in touch.
Video by Francis Fenner
Community Chamber Collective Session
A crisp, bright Winter's day up here in the hills and just finished a great session with the Community Chamber Collective recording their arrangement of Palladio by Karl Jenkins for a video production. We captured an incredible, inspired performance.
Community Chamber Collective - Palladio (K. Jenkins) [Full Version]
In other news, my favourite synth from my collection, the one and only 1983 Prophet 5 (rev3.3) is back from a service from the genius electronics doctor Grant Ettrick (EAV) and sounds more thick and alive and better than ever. It's a synth from another era, the first ever synth to have an operating system and presets, and one which kind of quirkily cycles a buddhist mantra as it runs the code. Also features a picture of buddha on the circuit board. They don't make 'em like that any more !
Rob Zielinski "Memories of Krakow" Mastered at Abbey Road
Rob Zielinski is one of the finest violinists that you'll ever have the pleasure to hear. He was traditionally mentor-trained in Irish fiddle and tours extensively. In addition, he is also a violin luthier of the highest standard. I've been recording Rob for 6 years now, documenting him with various groups, solo performances and the distinctive sound of each new instrument he makes.
"Memories of Krakow" is one of his own finest ballads, shot through with dark Polish folk vibes and I just got word it should be available soon. I'll post a link to it soon.
Thought I'd share an email I just got from him.
"Hey Ronan,
So I'm just back from Europe and managed to duck over to London and get this track mastered at Abbey Road with Andy Walter. He's one of the senior engineers there. Amazing experience. He loved the sound, mixing and everything . He said it didn't need anything and just put it through the software chain they use on everything pretty much."
Video by Elliot Ramsay
Sascha Ion & The Elements to release "Creature" EP on 24th August
Sascha Ion is an immensely talented musician and a great friend. We played and toured together in One Horse Town many years ago so it was a pleasure to work with her again and record her new band's EP at the tail end of Summer. It came together criminally easy.
"Creature" is on rotation on RTR-FM ahead of it's digital release on 24th August, followed by a launch concert at Clancy's Fremantle on the 1st September.
New site to celebrate Aerial's 10th Birthday
Welcome to the new Aerial Recording site. My daughter Neve took some of the photos and studio hound Vinny did his best to get in every shot. Thanks also to Elliot ("Elite") Ramsay for some great shots taken during the Sascha Ion sessions.
- Emily Williams
- Alexandra Staiger
- Sonderlines
- Ruby Come Back
- Tim Mitchell
- Rose Willow
- Colton, Shane & Rhys
- High On People
- Vermistropos
- The Moon Is My Machine
- Rob Zielinski & Manuela Centanni
- Langley Chambers
- Monotonic
- Phil Waldron & Emily Armytage-Green
- Community Chamber Orchestra
- Matt Walsh
- Nel Begley Quintet
- Jean & Alex
- Sascha Ion & The Elements
- Chagos Population
- Rain No Rain
- Cam Avery
- Huge Magnet
- Radio Repairs
- Joe Leach
- Gus McKay
Nel Begley Quintet - Detour Ahead
London based jazz vocalist Nel Begley recorded this beautiful Billie Holiday song with the quintet live in the Big Room on her recent tour to Perth.
Nel Begley - vocals, Russell Holmes - piano, Luke Fowler - double bass, Joe Fowler - flute, Alex Reid - drums.
Radio Repairs - Big Tree
A live session with bass and piano in the Big Room and drums in the booth.
Ronan Charles - piano, Phil Waldron - double bass, Daniele Di Paola - drums
Gus McKay - Piawaning Suit
Blues legend Gus McKay recorded the critically acclaimed "Talisman" album at Aerial. Here is one of the tracks that always reminds me of chasing a greased pig. :)
Microphones
Wagner U47W
Josephson C700A
Josephson E22s x 2
Beesneez BM49
Beesneez BU67
Neumann TLM 102 x 2
BeyerDynamic M160 x 4
BeyerDynamic M201
BeyerDynamic M88
BeyerDynamic M69
Studio Projects T3
Sennheiser MD441
Sennheiser MD21
Telefunken MD21
Line Audio CM4 x 2
Electro-Voice N/D 868
Electro-Voice N/D 468
Electro-Voice DS35 x 2
Electro-Voice 635A x 2
Electro-Voice RE11
Shure SM58
Shure Unidyne 545 x 2
Shure Green Bullet
Wasaphone MkII
Preamps
8 Channels Neve 538
(EKADEK CONSOLE)
Neve 1081 x 2
NPNG DMP-2NW x 2
Neve Portico 5012 x 2
Ampex 602 (Tube)
Aphex Tubessence x 2
Alctron MP73
EQ
Neve 1081 x 2
Chandler Tone Control x 2
Valley People Maxi-Q
Compressors
Ekadek Fat Lady Vari-Mu x 2
Drawmer 1968 x 2
Valley International Comander x 2
FX
Autotone (1920's Acoustic Reverb!)
Roland Space Echo
Roland Chorus Echo
Strymon Timeline
Valley People Kepex II Noise Gate
Valley People DSP De-Esser
Elektron Octatrak
Console
Ekadek Klangenschmitt
Recorders
UAD Apollo 16 (Blackface)
UAD Quad Satellite
Prism Orpheus
Ampex AG440B
(1969 1/2" 4 track tape machine)
Teac 22-2 tape machine
Monitors
Quested S8
Computer/Software
Mac Studio M1 | 64gb ram
UAD Luna
Ableton Live
Huge plug-in collection
Keyboards
Yamaha G5 Grand Piano
[1964 fully restored]
Sequential Circuits Prophet 5 [1983 Rev3.3 w/ midi]
DSI Prophet 12
Moog Voyager
Nord Grand
Hammond A100 & Leslie [1963]
Hammond XK3 & Leslie
Rhodes MKI Piano
Rhodes MKII Piano
Rhodes Piano Bass
Roland RS-202 [1976]
Yamaha CP70 Electric Grand
Yamaha CP Reface
Yamaha YC Reface
Korg Bass Synthe [1975]
Korg Delta [1979]
Solina String Ensemble [1974]
Piano Accordions
Mason & Hamlin Pump Organ [1897]
* Can locally source many other vintage keyboards on request
Instruments
Fender Jazzmaster [MIJ]
Hofner Violin Bass
Nagoya Harp
Modular Synth with 30+modules
Accordions x3
Pedals
Tech 21 Sansamp
Strymon Timeline
Big Muff
BeeGee Fuzz
Vox Wah
Crybaby Wah
Radial DI
Alctron Re-Amper
Sonicake ABY
Drums
Gretsch Round Badge Kit [20",16",13"][1960s]
.Ludwig Black Beauty Snare
.Slingerland Artist Series Snare [1966]
Ajax Bass Drum 28" [1930s]
Premier Bass Drum 20" [1960s]
Tama Bass Drum 22" [1970s]
Bosphorus, Istanbul, Zildjian & Meinl Cymbals
Hang Drum
Balinese Gong
Miscellaneous Percussion - shakers, tambourines
Elektron MachineDrum
Elektron Octatrack
Amps
Kay 30w "Widow Maker" [1950s]
Leslie 142 [1960s]
Leslie 2121
Fender PA100 [1970s]
Rex Bassking [1960s]
Playmaster PM116 [1960s]
Speakers
2 x 12” Celestions
1 x 15” Marshall
2 x 8" x 4 Fender
Autotone Acoustic Reverb Device
The main recording room has an intimate hall sound but this stupidly heavy, old 1920s Autotone pianola soundboard has become my favourite natural reverb enhancer for drums, vocals, guitars. Offers a beautiful natural zingy reverb that no plugin comes close to.
Favourite Microphones
Probably two of the finest microphones ever made and get used on everything I record. On the left is the extremely rare Wagner U47W, made from original Neumann parts and favoured by all singers for somehow giving back more than you put in. Beside it is the pristine dual capsule Josephson C700A, immensely capable of stunning realism.
Often use them as a pair on almost any source for a blend of tone and detail.
Ekadek Klangenschmitt Console
This is the electric pulsing heart of the studio. It has been running virtually non-stop since 2009 without a single issue. Commisioned as the first ever custom console build from the now incredibly world famous Ekadek and equipped with classic 80s series Neve preamps, I have always loved the steampunk meets Abbey Road TG desk styling. A beautiful sounding desk that is a pleasure to use every day. So practical and a genuine audio swiss army knife. Mass loads of gain and beautiful fat sound.
Drums in the Booth
Though I've lately returned to tracking more drums in the Big Room, the Dead Room booth is great for getting tight punchy drum sounds or any instrument that benefits from being completely isolated from other live musicians. Spooky green fx here courtesy of led strips embedded in the floor.
HOURLY RATE
8 HOUR BLOCK RATE
Rates include engineer and all studio equipment and instruments.
Aerial Recording Staff
Aerial Recording is owned and operated by Ronan Charles. I've played in various bands since the 90s, worked as a session musician, and have been obsessed with recording music since I bought my first 4 track tape machine in 1989.
Always happy to contribute to your recording with parts or ideas but also know when to shut up and work the controls. :)
Vinny - Assistant Engineer/ Good Boy
Vinny has spent his entire working life at Aerial and ranks musos very fairly on the quality of their friendliness and snacks. He is ultra-respectful of instruments and cables but will totally eat your lunch if you leave it on the table while you record your guitar solo.
RECORD YOUR WAY
At the end of the day, good music is about people, their ideas and emotions and raw performing talent, not gear.
Using good gear, in a comfortable studio and working with an experienced engineer/producer never seems to hurt though :)
Clients will often bring in tracks that they've started on their own rigs, knowing they've got a great idea, but wanting to rework it with more clarity and character, and finally capture a definitive performance.
Aerial Recording is well equipped to work at breakneck pace or to take your time and really dig deep. I can also arrange Perth's best session musicians to perform any overdubs you may want.
Get in touch and we can organise a time to visit, listen to some tracks and have a chat about what you'd like to achieve.