NZ Band Mixing Debut Album at Legendary NY Studio

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NEW ZEALAND BAND ‘BSM’ MIXING DEBUT ALBUM AT LEGENDARY NEW YORK STUDIO.

Auckland-based BSM (Batucada Sound Machine) are currently applying the finishing touches to the band’s highly anticipated debut studio album at the famous Avatar Studios in New York. The album Rhythm and Rhyme is due for release in early October 2007.

For this album, band leader James Hughes enlisted renowned UK producer Neil Sparkes (Temple of Sound, Transglobal Underground). Wanting to ensure the album had a truly international flavour, Sparkes and Hughes have spent the past two weeks mixing the album in one of the United States’ premier recording and mixing facilities, the famous Avatar Studios, a legendary postproduction house which has facilitated a world-class array of artists’ albums from Herbie Hancock, Aerosmith and Bon Jovi to John Mayer and Norah Jones.

Hughes met Sparkes by chance while the band was on a six-week tour of the UK last year, and with a mutual passion for music they quickly developed a strong relationship culminating in Rhythm & Rhyme. With the help of Sparkes’ management in New York, the recording arrangements were put in place.

"BSM have a very unique and raw fusion of Latin, Brazilian, hip hop and their own 'Pacific soul'. I believe they have the potential to have a huge impact in the US, which is why I wanted to mix the album here, to get that New York sound and also introduce the band to key players in the industry. I've seen them live and they put on an amazing show. They are very, very experienced musicians and the music is world class”, says Sparkes.

Assisting the pair to bring their project to fruition is veteran engineer Lawrence Manchester, who was chosen for his vast experience and solid reputation working with hip hop, funk and Latin recordings. Manchester’s credits include collaborations with Diana Krall, Steven Tyler, Art Garfunkel, Joe Cocker, Horace Silver, Dianne Reeves, and the hip hop legend Chuck D.

“I have been amazed at the quality of playing and the arrangements of the songs.

Very strong vocal, horn and percussion sections. It has been a fun project to work on”, says Manchester.

When discussing the direction the album should take, Sparkes told Manchester to “capture a real New York sound on the album, making reference to the soul and funk heritage of the great New York bands”. And if early feedback is any indication of success, he’s delivered.

Taking full advantage of being in the Big Apple, Hughes has had meetings with a number of labels and agents and is in serious discussions negotiating a US album release.

Rhythm and Rhyme is due for release in New Zealand in early October.

ENDS

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