PJ Harvey
I wished to work with Steve from the second I heard Surfer Rosa by Pixies. I had by no means heard something as powerfully transferring, each emotionally and sonically, and knew I wished to listen to my songs inside that sound – a sound so alive, it was as for those who have been there within the room whereas the blaze of emotion was happening.
Steve spent the primary day of our recording session pacing and measuring the reside room at Pachyderm [studio in Minnesota]. He would stand and have a look at the room a very long time from completely different positions, intermittently clapping his arms. The band and I got here and went, however Steve stayed from daybreak until the late night, absorbing and feeling the “form” of the room, and studying what it may give him. I feel we knew instinctively to go away Steve alone within the area to search out what he was in search of.
He re-tuned Rob [Ellis]’s drum package so it might be enhanced by the room and sing with it. He positioned microphones in fastidiously measured positions to catch and open as sound met them at sure volumes. He arrange our amps and guitars within the locations he knew finest for the room and the varieties of gamers we have been.
He was pushed. Pushed to discover and study from sound and area, but in addition mysteriously aligned with it in a approach I didn’t fairly perceive, however knew to respect and attempt to study from. He was an alchemist: affected person, methodical, delicate. Able to seize the second when it got here. Work was long and hard as all of us reached for one thing he knew would seem, and it did.
This depth was offset by pauses when Steve would possibly set his ft on fireplace. He was a humorous man in addition to being type, clever and charming. I used to be drawn to him and his thriller, and my unhappiness at his dying makes me realise how a lot I valued and cherished this man. I really feel fortunate to have walked alongside him for a short time on this earth.
Bob Bert, Pussy Galore and Sonic Youth
Pussy Galore was one of many first bands that Steve recorded. It was 1987 and we have been engaged on the album Proper Now! I used to be taking part in a drum package half constructed from a junkyard. The snare was two steel plates wired collectively on a snare drum shell. He couldn’t get a very good sound out of it, so he introduced out an S&M cock ring and wired it to the highest to create a a lot better rattle and it remained there all through the band’s existence. Albini’s cock ring travelled the world with me.
He stayed with me at my house in Hoboken, New Jersey, two completely different instances for every week – I spent loads of time with him, listening to about his obsessions like billiards and his favorite sweet: Skittles. He was a one-of-a-kind character, and will get a drum sound like nobody else on the planet.
Gavin Rossdale, Bush
I cherished Fugazi and Jesus Lizard, Slint information, and the entire Contact and Go [label]. All the pieces he’d finished – so many roads led again to him. Simply going to satisfy him was a little bit of a thrill.
We went off first to the countryside [to record 1996 album Razorblade Suitcase], this very fancy recording studio owned by Trevor Horn, known as Hook Finish. Being down there with him and spending time with him in nation pubs, the place he’d drink half a cider slowly, was actually enjoyable. However we actually acquired going after we went to Abbey Street.
He was not massive into overdubs. I’d be like: “I meant this concord. Can I do it?” He goes: “All proper, do it – if it was compositionally meant.” “Completely, Steve, in fact it was.” I sang it, and later I seemed on the observe sheet – and it’s acquired “pointless concord” written on it. He did name Swallowed – which was the one hit I had in England – the one turkey on the report. He didn’t need me to do the quiet-loud factor. However then individuals in my administration heard the track and have been like: “Ooh, it’s catchy.” And thank God for that, or else I by no means would’ve had a success in England.
I hadn’t been made a part of any gang at that time; I used to be kind of ostracised. So it felt actually good to hang around with him, hang around with Todd [Trainer], hang around with Bob [Weston, both of Shellac], be accepted by them as a friends. Steve’s a beautiful prepare dinner; he was extremely humorous, extremely slicing, and every thing you’d need him to be. Most individuals are kind of disappointing, doubtlessly, while you meet them – particularly somebody with that kind of historical past behind them – so it’s actually refreshing after they’re simply as acerbic as you thought [laughs]. Simply as opinionated.
We had a No 1 report in America – nobody can take that away from us. And extra importantly, a friendship was born. It by no means wavered.
Jami Morgan, Code Orange
Our time with Steve [for 2023 album The Above] was considered one of our favorite recording experiences ever. He was a candy man, who spent as a lot time making us “fluffy coffees” as he did transferring mics round his self-constructed guitar music paradise. A genius of sound and an unrestricted spirit. Somebody who confirmed as much as work each single day, instruments in hand. He informed us wonderful tales of instances he, principally inadvertently, made decisions and walked paths most wouldn’t. After I requested him: “Steve, why the hell are you sporting a rubbish man go well with?” he replied: “Right here, I’m only a utility employee.”
Jon Spencer
Steve taught me a lot in regards to the recording studio and making information – issues like getting sounds on to tape, mixing, mastering, packaging design, and manufacturing and distribution. However he additionally taught me how you can run a band: reserving exhibits, selling your exhibits and information, studying a contract, navigating a deal. All DIY!
He confirmed me the recording studio might be approached in the identical approach as a guitar or some other instrument. Are you aware how you can play it? Who cares. Do you could have one thing to precise? Go for it! What’s most vital is the band and the report you wish to make. You might ignore “guidelines” or “the proper approach”. In reality, virtually nothing was flawed or off-limits, which was very empowering. Nevertheless, Steve completely knew how you can work within the studio the “right” approach. He was a wonderful engineer and intensely knowledgable, notably in microphone choice and placement.
Julia Cafritz, Pussy Galore
Jon [Spencer] and I have been such extremely devoted Massive Black followers. That band was so highly effective and sonically fascinating. And so we weren’t considering of, “Steve Albini, the recording studio engineer.” We have been actually drawn to him by the sheer expertise that we noticed in what we regarded as his fundamental gig. I had a really sturdy, visceral impression, each of his guitar taking part in and his character. It was so explosive. He was such a reside wire. He was clearly bristling with intelligence. And, like Pussy Galore, actually transgressive in that dumb, silly approach that younger punk rockers have been, while you wish to take down society, so that you say probably the most horrible factor.
After we arrived in Chicago to report with him, I used to be struck that he was a bundle of contradictions. However possibly that’s flawed – as a result of possibly it’s simply all of the pure contradictions that anyone with such a robust character and worldview and inventive sensibility has. Like all of that is a part of the stew that’s Steve Albini.
We met him at his domicile on the time, and he’s within the again yard, bleaching glass bottles, as a result of he was about to embark on bottling his personal root beer. Meticulously bleaching them – rinsing them, wiping them with a bit of material on the fringe of his apron to maintain the bleach off his already-bleached denims, after which inserting them in crates. And I used to be identical to: “Oh my God. What a nerd!” [laughs] However the factor is, I used to be a nerd. I didn’t drink, I didn’t to medication; he didn’t drink, he didn’t do medication. And but we had these outsize, actually hardcore personalities.
He introduced his depth – that depth of focus, that gaze, that meticulousness, that kind of doctrinaire approach of being and approaching life – to each endeavour. You would possibly suppose that anyone like that will not essentially be the very best collaborator within the studio. However it was actually enjoyable.
We recorded a track [Pussy Stomp from the album Right Now], and Jon wasn’t proud of the recording. However he was proud of the way in which it sounded after we performed it in our van, which had a lot shittier audio system. We ran cables all the way in which out of the studio into the again alley, the place Jon turned on the van, put the cassette in, after which blasted the music. And Steve recorded the sound of that observe with two mics popping out of the stereo within the van. To me, that was every thing a studio expertise was alleged to be. It was artistic, rigorously mental in its personal approach; it was enjoyable. To me, that’s every thing you should find out about Steve proper there: actually sport and actually excited by different individuals’s concepts.
He correctly grew out of loads of the kind of dumb shit that all of us do after we’re younger. However then he changed it with actually sensible shit. He was a rare human being when it comes to sheer intelligence and the ability of how he would focus that. All the pieces was fast. And I knew him when it was all brutal. What’s fascinating to me is that as he grew older and softer, he didn’t lose any of that edge. It simply was put to higher use.
Laura Jane Grace
I used to be of that age that when Nirvana’s Nevermind got here out, it completely blew me away, and in equal affect was In Utero. I’ve been lucky – and made a degree of it with my profession – to work with as many individuals inside that circle, or who’re part of that band, as doable. In 2020, I lastly acquired the possibility to make a report with Steve.
A real testomony to him is simply how straightforward that course of was. I actually known as on the cellphone and booked studio time, you already know? It was each of us strolling round in face masks and protecting distance – this surreal, science fiction-type expertise, particularly Steve along with his coveralls.
The report I made with him [Stay Alive] is all reside takes. There was just one edit, and I particularly wished the edit made simply so I may watch him edit tape. I hope individuals realise what a loss that’s, so far as his data of analogue recording and the way few individuals have that any extra. To look at somebody edit tape with a razor blade and Scotch tape was unimaginable. And the pace with which he moved – that was like artistry.
His strategy in loads of methods [was] first take, finest take. And each take after that, you’re dropping vitality and focus, and it’s getting diluted. If I wanted greater than two instances by means of the track, I may see he misplaced curiosity instantly [laughs]. So it was a bit of little bit of stress. However I knew that going into it and I practised as a lot as I may as a result of I revered that strategy. I wished to do it his approach.
Often you end making a report, there’s a series of emails and the fee’s labored out within the forwards and backwards between managers or label individuals. Steve had all my grasp tapes and handed them to me. Then I gave him the cash and we shook arms, and that was it. It was every thing I wished out of it. Refusing to take factors [a percentage cut of royalties for the producer] on a report – that’s unparalleled as of late. And that if there isn’t somebody like Steve there calling bullshit on it, who’s going to be doing that? And him eager to be principally like a plumber – I actually respect that. He awakened each morning and he made information.
Jason Narducy
There was a cause why Steve insisted on being known as an engineer and never a producer. He was such a grasp at getting sounds, and he didn’t actually wish to do the opposite stuff. I imply, sometimes I’d hear him say: “Effectively, this half may use a bit of ornament.” However he was very unspecific. In case you have been a very good band that practised rather a lot and had nice songs, he may make you sound unimaginable.
I used to be at his studio Electrical Audio in Chicago two weeks in the past, and I went all the way down to sing vocals. In comes Steve Albini carrying guitars and amps – 61-year-old Steve Albini serving to a band load in, how about that? And as I’m singing, with the guitars in hand, he begins dancing within the room. He was so playful. I had a tough time not laughing, however I did get the vocal take. He requested if his dancing had helped my efficiency. I used to be like: “How may it not?”
He may deep dive on audio science in a approach that I simply couldn’t sustain with – one morning I acquired to the studio and he was sending an indignant electronic mail to a tape producer from France, going into nice element. He had this distinctive stage of experience. So many individuals in his place would have two individuals doing the heavy lifting for him, and that was by no means the case. It was simply Steve and his jumpsuit, his doing all of the cables, all of the mics. And he appreciated that. It’s very blue-collar Chicago.
Andrew Falkous, Mclusky
After we labored with Steve on our debut album Mclusky Do Dallas 20 years in the past, I didn’t actually know who he was, besides that he’d produced In Utero. I’ve by no means been a music historian; I got here to music through enviornment bands. I didn’t have any expectations, other than understanding that his complete common aesthetic was recording reside – overdubs have been for pussies. On first assembly, he was clearly a really clever particular person, and the entire course of turned out to be a dream.
We acquired to Electrical Audio, and also you’re immediately conscious this can be a facility arrange for bands to report, which loads of studios aren’t essentially. Clearly, it’s in America, so it fucking stinks of espresso. Technically, the man knew what he was doing, to say the least. However his actual trick was creating the setting by which you’re going to provide the very best efficiency of that track. Albini supplied the power, the template, so the artist could be the artist, so the character could be captured by his microphones.
We stayed within the dorm rooms at Electrical – you get up and also you’re there, you’re consumed by it. The primary day, we began at midday and ended at midnight. By the top, we have been at it till seven within the morning. The legend was that Steve labored 364 days a yr, and I’m certain that’s an exaggeration. However the expertise of intense collaboration with him, pulling collectively for a typical trigger … when it’s going nicely, there’s nothing prefer it.
He had a regard for us as human beings. He was completely pleased for us to make him watch Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace with us. It was like hanging out with a good friend who additionally had the keys to the constructing. Clearly, the character of “Steve Albini” acquired concerned; how may it not? We recorded She Will Deliver You Solely Happiness, I did a vocal, and Steve mentioned: “OK, that’s a wrap.” And I mentioned, there’s truly a concord vocal to go along with the lead vocal. “Nah, doesn’t want it.” However I’ve already demoed it, it sounds nice, we’re gonna do it. And he mentioned, “It’s your report.” So his aesthetic would push its approach by means of, make its case – however in the end he knew it was your report.
Mclusky Do Dallas seems like we sounded as a band, for higher or worse, and what leaps from the report is a lot vitality that you simply actually really feel such as you’re there. And that’s due to Steve’s understanding of the scientific rules of the place to put a microphone, but in addition as a result of he had empathy, he knew how you can take heed to a band.
Stuart Braithwaite, Mogwai
We solely recorded one track with Steve, but it surely was a really lengthy and really concerned track. My Father My King was a Jewish hymn that Arthur Baker had wished us to report for an album he by no means completed. We’d been taking part in it reside for years, and it was the large spotlight of our set, so we wished to lastly report it: reside, collectively, in a studio, and have it sound good. So Steve was the pure alternative.
He was a really nice particular person to be in a room with, which matches towards his popularity as being an edgelord. His sense of humour was fairly brutal, however to be trustworthy, we cherished that – he was at all times humorous, he was by no means merciless. He informed us to not get him a lodge room for the session: he’d simply sleep on the sofa of a good friend. He didn’t eat something other than chocolate Hobnobs for the complete 4 days that it took us to report the track – apparently you may’t get them within the US.
In direction of the top of the session, most of us went off to go watch the soccer, leaving [guitarist/synth player] Barry Burns alone within the studio with Steve. Barry informed Steve: “I’ve simply remembered that there’s truly an vital guitar half that I’ve nonetheless acquired to report.” Steve turned spherical actually slowly to Barry and mentioned: “Do you bear in mind the film 2001: A Area Odyssey? You understand the bit the place the monolith comes down and the monkeys achieve this information from this mysterious object and all of the sudden they perceive violence and so they perceive the trigger and impact of one thing hitting one other factor, and that being the delivery of humanity? That’s ‘vital’.”
Our good friend and occasional bandmate Luke Sutherland performed violin on the track, and after we have been mixing the observe we informed Steve it didn’t should be too loud within the combine. And Steve, completely deadpan, mentioned – and that is one thing we nonetheless say within the studio on a regular basis: “Function it or fuck it.” So yeah, we featured it.
We have been actually younger, only a bunch of children completely beating the shit out of our guitars, and he was all about it – he was very type about our band. He mentioned we knew precisely what we wished to sound like. He cherished the large riff that surfaces within the second half of the track – he was simply very passionate about music.
David Gedge, the Marriage ceremony Current and Cinerama
The primary couple of [Wedding Present] albums have been type of jangly, clear, like indie pop. We wished to maneuver away from that – they by no means sounded to me just like the band reside. I feel we had extra of a three-dimensional sound, and he was in a position to seize that.
Our first album for RCA was Bizarro, and that took us about six weeks. After we labored with Albini, we wished to e book an equal time. And he mentioned: “No, no. If a report can’t be made in two weeks, one thing’s flawed. The Beatles did information in a weekend.” And we have been like: “Effectively, we’re not the Beatles.” [laughs] I feel, ultimately, we compromised at two weeks. It was virtually again to the way in which we began, after we had no cash on the very early days, and we simply recorded reside in a studio, as a result of we needed to be out of there. With Albini it was: “OK, set the gear up on this room, I’ll place some microphones, and simply play reside.” That was his forte, wasn’t it? To seize a reside band within the studio.
I occurred upon this Mellotron within the studio. And he was like: “Have you ever any concept how exhausting they’re to a) hold in tune, b) play, c) report?” And I used to be like, yeah, it’s a bizarre 60s instrument, but it surely’s going to have its nice sound. “Have you ever acquired any elements ready for it?” No, not likely. “Effectively, fuck that, I’m not going to try this.” I let it move, and we carried on working. After which the subsequent day, the Mellotron was arrange with the mics on it. He simply wished to argue with me a bit about it, and inform me how troublesome it was going to be. However he was a pleasure to work with, actually. I do know individuals usually thought of him to be a bit purposely confrontational, and I feel he loved being a little bit of a wind-up service provider. He additionally didn’t undergo fools – I’m from the north of England, and we’ve acquired that in frequent. Individuals communicate their thoughts, and don’t care in the event that they offend individuals typically.
Generally it was a bit of bit annoying, since you would say: “Why don’t you want CDs? Why do you by no means take [royalty] factors on information?” After which he’d launch into considered one of his lectures [laughs]. As soon as he took me apart and defined why CDs don’t sound nearly as good as vinyl. And I used to be bored after about half an hour, however he was exhibiting me these graphs and issues. And I used to be like: “That is all very nicely, however we’re paying for the studio time. I do know it’s fast, as a result of it’s you, however can we crack on now?” I bear in mind he was explaining the historical past of the pencil to our bass participant as soon as. I walked in and mentioned: “Effectively, can we transfer on?” As a result of he was studying a e book in regards to the historical past of the pencil at that time.
He was very intelligent, very witty, and we at all times had sensible instances within the studio with him. I discovered him very straightforward to work with. It was by no means a chore; it was at all times good enjoyable. He at all times mentioned: “The band is the boss.” You’d inform him what you wish to do, he’d do it. Which was distinctive for an individual at that stage. I’ve had so many conferences with producers through the years, and so they at all times wish to put their mark on it. He was extra: “In case you ask my opinion, I’ll give it, however I’m not going to be telling you what to do within the studio, as a result of you’re the band.” That was admirable.
Stephen O’Malley, Sunn O)))
The very first time I recorded a report was with him. He’d flown to Seattle to report Silkworm. I used to be in a band known as Burning Witch and our bass participant Stuart Dahlquist was brothers with the drummer of Silkworm, Michael Dahlquist. It was like: “Oh, Steve can come a couple of days early. Do you wish to report with him?” He flew to Seattle from London. And I didn’t actually perceive this very nicely on the time, as a result of I used to be like, 21, stoned, a metalhead – however the gig he had finished proper earlier than was Jimmy Web page and Robert Plant’s new album. After which flown to Seattle to report Silkworm and Burning Witch.
There’s a couple of issues about that session that basically stand out. Having the chance to be the subsequent guitar participant he recorded after Jimmy Web page is type of thoughts blowing. I checked this with him after we labored with him with Sunn O))) a couple of years in the past, and he’s like: “Yeah, I assume so. I assume that’s what occurred.” [laughs] And that claims one thing about his character. It’s not nonchalant, however simply, like, not likely crushed by these hierarchies of music enterprise. Everybody was an artist on the identical stage so far as how artistic they might be and what they have been doing themselves. He at all times informed us he was an engineer. He’s not going to make your songs sound good; that’s your factor. However he’ll report them completely.
In that Burning Witch session, I realized about mic-ing – like, inserting mics in entrance of the drum package in a approach that was impressed by billiards positioning. Placing my guitar stack in a tiny hallway the place I didn’t have actually room to maneuver very a lot, and taking part in at actually excessive quantity so the suggestions grew to become musical – interactive with the suggestions, and taping a tiny mic to the ground as the primary sound. That was a second for me that outlined my [approach of]: “Oh, I can work with suggestions as musical ingredient – intentionally.” Which has been the thesis of my guitar taking part in profession, truly.
He’s the type of particular person you’re employed with who’ll say a sentence and also you’ll bear in mind it for 20 years. We have been listening again to a take of one of many Burning Witch songs, and there’s a pause within the riff and a suggestions squall – I had one way or the other managed it into this pitch bend that went up the harmonic scale, but it surely was suggestions. And he stored rewinding and he’s like: “Oh, that’s scorching. That sounds superior.” And I’ll always remember that. I used to be like: “Oh, it’s not a mistake. It’s truly one thing we found that was phenomena proper there.” When you may uncover collectively one thing contemporary and new, regardless of all of the expertise you could have, that’s bonding. And it’s actually encouraging to go additional outdoors the envelope and into locations you don’t know.
In 2018, Greg Anderson from Sunn O))) and I recorded with Steve at his studio for 2 weeks. Tim Midyett from Silkworm was concerned – he performed bass on that session – and in addition [Oscar-winning composer and cellist] Hildur Guðnadóttir was there. That complete time was so pleasant. We took it actually severely – as a result of working with him wasn’t the state of affairs the place you could possibly repair stuff as much as sound higher than it was [laughs].
He was actually clever and wasn’t afraid to get into it with somebody – not in an aggressive, defensive approach, however to essentially dig in and have a dialog which could not be so comfy, for those who weren’t open to attempting to study one thing or debate. It was fascinating. I used to be actually pleased to have the ability to encounter him, study from him, and make some actually cool information which might be monumental elements of my very own music expertise.
Electrelane
Mia Clarke: We spent a number of weeks residing at Electrical Audio within the spring of 2003, recording our second album The Energy Out. Twenty years later it’s a little bit of a blur, however I look again and take into consideration how type Steve was. I imply, I used to be a teen and the others not a lot older. He was so respectful of our imaginative and prescient and made us really feel utterly comfy within the studio, which wasn’t one thing we’d skilled earlier than. He was simply very centered, no BS, and helped us deliver to life what I now perceive to be a fairly formidable report. Within the recording room he was on the job, at all times, however a few of my favorite reminiscences of him at the moment have been within the house upstairs. We’d watch films collectively and eat burritos. He had the sweetest gray cat, Fluss, who used to take a seat on his shoulders.
Emma Gaze: Steve purchased a peaceful and reassuring feeling that every thing was in hand, and since we have been nicely ready, it was extra thrilling than intimidating. I feel that speaks to his perspective usually. He wasn’t ever all for making you’re feeling “lower than”, and there was by no means a second the place I felt patronised or embarrassed. In reality, the alternative. If a sure band member’s neuroses have been in full swing, he calmly mentioned: “That’s the way in which she performed it – no want to vary it”. I cherished that.
MC: For our third album Axes, we wished to get as near our reside sound as doable. Steve made that occur. There was a lot data in his placement of every microphone. It was an enormous a part of his present as an engineer, however I feel an even bigger a part of his magic was giving a band every thing they should succeed after which simply letting them be. He wasn’t a tinkerer. He was environment friendly. He simply centered on harnessing our sound in its realest and truest kind. It’s not a straightforward factor to do. However Steve at all times did it.
Will Oldham, AKA Bonnie “Prince” Billy
He was a human being who elevated the standard of the human expertise. He anticipated extra of himself and different individuals, but in addition knew it was doable. There was nothing outrageous. Simply the concept of with the ability to proceed to work inside the music enterprise, and keep such humanity, within the face of what virtually all people says: “Effectively, it’s inconceivable to do issues proper, as a result of that is simply the way in which you do issues.” Steve thought: no, there’s not one other method to do it in addition to doing it as proper as you are able to do it. Lately, he’s addressed that at instances in his ignorance – as a result of we’re all born not sinful, however ignorant – he misstepped, with the total pressure of ignorance behind him. However he hardly ever spoke mindlessly or off the cuff. I at all times thought I had one thing to study from what got here out of his mouth.
We’re experiencing an rising momentum of issues that run counter to seemingly something that drove human civilisation ahead. It looks as if it’s type of coming aside proper now at a mind-boggling price. It seems like Steve’s reward is just not having to witness it, and our reward is attending to do our greatest to fill within the vacuum that his dying leaves. He took on loads of duty for everyone, so we didn’t must suppose and do, as a result of he was considering and doing on our behalf. And I really feel charged and ready to maneuver ahead alongside Steve’s private {and professional} legacy as a lot as doable. It’s exhausting for these of us for whom thoughtfulness is a principal advantage. There are few examples to look to, in the way in which Albini is.
