Blackwing Studios
Encyclopedia
Blackwing Studios was an English recording studio
, most notable for early Depeche Mode
and Yazoo
recordings in the early 1980s.
. All Hallows church was partly destroyed during The Blitz
in 1941. After the war Southwark Cathedral
retained the north aisle and carried on using it as a temporary church. The destroyed south aisle was later turned into gardens and maintained by local residents from 1968.
Blackwing was started by Eric Radcliffe
, who worked on most of the early Mute Records
recordings alongside Daniel Miller. Daniel Miller had discovered Blackwing when recording the Silicon Teens
album. He required a studio with a big control room where he could set up all his synthesisers. At the rear of the church building was a bell tower that was used for storing master tapes. Daniel Miller carried on using Blackwing to record other new Mute Records artists. The first Depeche Mode
album, Speak and Spell, was recorded at Blackwing using a TEAC eight track recorder. The album was engineered by John Fryer
.
Yazoo
named one of their albums after the studio, Upstairs at Eric's
due to the main Blackwing studio being above Splendid Studios located downstairs.
When Clarke initially came to Blackwing to record with Yazoo
he found that the studio was fully booked, Depeche Mode
were recording their new album. He had the choice of recording at 4am during studio downtime, or building another studio. This is how Splendid Studios came about. It was a private studio below the commercial Blackwing studios upstairs.
After the split of the band Yazoo
, Vince Clarke
decided he wanted to remain in the music industry. His initial enterprise after Yazoo
was the formation of his own record label called Reset Records
. The enterprise was a joint effort with Eric Radcliffe
, the idea being to sign and produce new acts from their independent Splendid Studios, underneath the Blackwing complex. The recordings were then licensed to RCA Records
for release.
Blackwing Studios closed down in September 2001 and the building has been empty ever since, but the church building and gardens are still there. Although this may soon not be the case as Southwark Council have been submitting plans since 2005 to redevelop the site with a four storey development of private flats.
and Depeche Mode
. The system was eventually rationalised when two 24 track machines were purchased; one for Blackwing and one for Splendid Studios, downstairs. Blackwing used an Amek 2500 mixing desk which was modified to work with electronic instruments. All the equipment at Blackwing and Splendid Studios was designed to be patchable through patch bays, none of the effects units were hard wired.
Vince Clarke installed a Fairlight CMI
into Blackwing, which he had bought before the Yazoo
tour, and used it on tracks like Never Never
by The Assembly
. Due to the low bandwidth that the Fairlight produced he began using the Synclavier
, which used FM synthesis. This lead in 1984 to Clarke’s purchase of a Yamaha DX7
, he also updated the soundcards in the Fairlight to create a fuller sound. The Fairlight was used to sample sounds of Clarke smashing all sorts of wood, china and glass that were found when demolishing the lower part of the church to build Splendid Studios.
Blackwing used a range of quality reverberation including an AMS
RMX, Lexicon
224 and 224X and a Quantec
Room Simulator. Recordings at Blackwing also used natural reverb from a long corridor that still retained the stonework from the original war damaged church. Above the studio there was a natural echo chamber that lay under the church roof. Eric Radcliffe left the echo chamber when designing the studios as it was seemed a waste removing it.
recorded at Blackwing was "Dreaming of Me
", after it being decided it would be the first Depeche Mode single. At the time Vince Clarke
was unemployed so he spent most of the daytime in the studio with Daniel Miller. Miller would give Clarke help and advice on how to get sounds, use studio technology and arrange songs. Then later in the afternoon Martin Gore
and Andrew Fletcher
would arrive from their day jobs to record melody parts. After the recording of "Speak & Spell
" Vince Clarke left the band, but carried on recording at Blackwing. In late 1981 the three remaining members of Depeche Mode returned to Blackwing and recorded the single See You. The track was the first Depeche Mode track to use a Roland MC-4
sequencer, which made the core sound to the track,. It would also be the first track recorded without Clarke.
Recording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
, most notable for early Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...
and Yazoo
Yazoo (band)
Yazoo are a British synthpop duo from Basildon, Essex. They had a number of Top 10 hits in the UK charts in the early 1980s...
recordings in the early 1980s.
Background
The Blackwing Studios complex was housed inside a deconsecrated church in South-East LondonSouth East (London sub region)
The South East is a sub-region of the London Plan corresponding to the London Boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Lewisham and Southwark. The sub region was established in 2008. The south east has a population of 1,300,000 and is the location of 500,000 jobs...
. All Hallows church was partly destroyed during The Blitz
The Blitz
The Blitz was the sustained strategic bombing of Britain by Nazi Germany between 7 September 1940 and 10 May 1941, during the Second World War. The city of London was bombed by the Luftwaffe for 76 consecutive nights and many towns and cities across the country followed...
in 1941. After the war Southwark Cathedral
Southwark Cathedral
Southwark Cathedral or The Cathedral and Collegiate Church of St Saviour and St Mary Overie, Southwark, London, lies on the south bank of the River Thames close to London Bridge....
retained the north aisle and carried on using it as a temporary church. The destroyed south aisle was later turned into gardens and maintained by local residents from 1968.
Blackwing was started by Eric Radcliffe
Eric Radcliffe
Eric Radcliffe is a recording engineer and producer who worked with New Wave and synthpop bands in the early 1980s in Basildon, England...
, who worked on most of the early Mute Records
Mute Records
Mute is an independent record label based in the UK. It was founded in 1978 by Daniel Miller and featured several prominent musical acts on its roster such as Goldfrapp, Depeche Mode, Yazoo, Erasure and Fad Gadget.-Beginnings:...
recordings alongside Daniel Miller. Daniel Miller had discovered Blackwing when recording the Silicon Teens
Silicon Teens
Silicon Teens were a virtual British electronic new wave pop group. The project was the creation of Mute Records founder Daniel Miller.-Background:...
album. He required a studio with a big control room where he could set up all his synthesisers. At the rear of the church building was a bell tower that was used for storing master tapes. Daniel Miller carried on using Blackwing to record other new Mute Records artists. The first Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...
album, Speak and Spell, was recorded at Blackwing using a TEAC eight track recorder. The album was engineered by John Fryer
John Fryer (music)
John Fryer is an English record producer. Best known for his production work, he also branched out as a musician as one of only two constant members of This Mortal Coil , providing keyboards, strings and synthesizer sequencing for the band, and its offshoot, The Hope Blister.- Career :Starting out...
.
Yazoo
Yazoo (band)
Yazoo are a British synthpop duo from Basildon, Essex. They had a number of Top 10 hits in the UK charts in the early 1980s...
named one of their albums after the studio, Upstairs at Eric's
Upstairs at Eric's
Upstairs at Eric's is Yazoo's first album produced by the band and E.C. Radcliffe with assistance from Daniel Miller. It reached # 2 in UK and # 92 in US...
due to the main Blackwing studio being above Splendid Studios located downstairs.
When Clarke initially came to Blackwing to record with Yazoo
Yazoo (band)
Yazoo are a British synthpop duo from Basildon, Essex. They had a number of Top 10 hits in the UK charts in the early 1980s...
he found that the studio was fully booked, Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...
were recording their new album. He had the choice of recording at 4am during studio downtime, or building another studio. This is how Splendid Studios came about. It was a private studio below the commercial Blackwing studios upstairs.
After the split of the band Yazoo
Yazoo (band)
Yazoo are a British synthpop duo from Basildon, Essex. They had a number of Top 10 hits in the UK charts in the early 1980s...
, Vince Clarke
Vince Clarke
Vince Clarke is an English synthpop musician and songwriter. Clarke has been involved with a number of successful groups, including Depeche Mode, Yazoo, The Assembly and Erasure....
decided he wanted to remain in the music industry. His initial enterprise after Yazoo
Yazoo (band)
Yazoo are a British synthpop duo from Basildon, Essex. They had a number of Top 10 hits in the UK charts in the early 1980s...
was the formation of his own record label called Reset Records
Reset Records
Reset Records is a British record company founded in 1983 by Vince Clarke and Eric Radcliffe.The 4 singles from Robert Marlow were released on this label from his friend Vince Clarke. Absolute and Hardware released also some singles on the label.- External links :*...
. The enterprise was a joint effort with Eric Radcliffe
Eric Radcliffe
Eric Radcliffe is a recording engineer and producer who worked with New Wave and synthpop bands in the early 1980s in Basildon, England...
, the idea being to sign and produce new acts from their independent Splendid Studios, underneath the Blackwing complex. The recordings were then licensed to RCA Records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
for release.
Blackwing Studios closed down in September 2001 and the building has been empty ever since, but the church building and gardens are still there. Although this may soon not be the case as Southwark Council have been submitting plans since 2005 to redevelop the site with a four storey development of private flats.
Studio Equipment
When Eric Radcliffe opened Blackwing he initially used an eight track TEAC for recording artists, this was later replaced by a 16 track machine. A second recorder was acquired and locked together with the initial machine giving Blackwing 32 tracks of recording. This system was used for many early recordings by YazooYazoo (band)
Yazoo are a British synthpop duo from Basildon, Essex. They had a number of Top 10 hits in the UK charts in the early 1980s...
and Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...
. The system was eventually rationalised when two 24 track machines were purchased; one for Blackwing and one for Splendid Studios, downstairs. Blackwing used an Amek 2500 mixing desk which was modified to work with electronic instruments. All the equipment at Blackwing and Splendid Studios was designed to be patchable through patch bays, none of the effects units were hard wired.
Vince Clarke installed a Fairlight CMI
Fairlight CMI
The Fairlight CMI is a digital sampling synthesizer. It was designed in 1979 by the founders of Fairlight, Peter Vogel and Kim Ryrie, and based on a dual-6800 microprocessor computer designed by Tony Furse in Sydney, Australia...
into Blackwing, which he had bought before the Yazoo
Yazoo (band)
Yazoo are a British synthpop duo from Basildon, Essex. They had a number of Top 10 hits in the UK charts in the early 1980s...
tour, and used it on tracks like Never Never
Never Never (The Assembly song)
"Never Never" is the title of the only single released by the Vince Clarke project, The Assembly, in 1983.The song features Feargal Sharkey of The Undertones on vocals; Sharkey's performance on "Never Never" was a total departure from the punk sound of The Undertones. The song peaked at number four...
by The Assembly
The Assembly
The Assembly were a synthpop project formed in 1983 in Basildon, England by:* Vince Clarke * Eric Radcliffe...
. Due to the low bandwidth that the Fairlight produced he began using the Synclavier
Synclavier
The Synclavier System was an early digital synthesizer, polyphonic digital sampling system, and music workstation, manufactured by New England Digital Corporation, Norwich, VT. The original design and development of the Synclavier prototype occurred at Dartmouth College with the collaboration of...
, which used FM synthesis. This lead in 1984 to Clarke’s purchase of a Yamaha DX7
Yamaha DX7
The Yamaha DX7 is an FM Digital Synthesizer manufactured by the Yamaha Corporation from 1983 to 1986. It was the first commercially successful digital synthesizer. Its distinctive sound can be heard on many recordings, especially Pop music from the 1980s...
, he also updated the soundcards in the Fairlight to create a fuller sound. The Fairlight was used to sample sounds of Clarke smashing all sorts of wood, china and glass that were found when demolishing the lower part of the church to build Splendid Studios.
Blackwing used a range of quality reverberation including an AMS
AMS (Advanced Music Systems)
AMS were a manufacturer of professional studio equipment. The company later merged with Neve Electronics to form the award winning AMS Neve Ltd company, who received an Emmy in 1992 and a Grammy in 2000.-Background:...
RMX, Lexicon
Lexicon (company)
Lexicon is an American audio equipment manufacturing company founded in 1971 and owned by Harman International Industries. Lexicon's roots began in 1969 with the founding of American Data Sciences by MIT professor Dr...
224 and 224X and a Quantec
Wolfgang Buchleitner
Wolfgang Buchleitner is a multifaceted German artist, equipment designer and inventor. Buchleitner is the head and catalyst of the Quantec ProAudio enterprise.-Personal life:...
Room Simulator. Recordings at Blackwing also used natural reverb from a long corridor that still retained the stonework from the original war damaged church. Above the studio there was a natural echo chamber that lay under the church roof. Eric Radcliffe left the echo chamber when designing the studios as it was seemed a waste removing it.
Depeche Mode
One of the first tracks Depeche ModeDepeche Mode
Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...
recorded at Blackwing was "Dreaming of Me
Dreaming of Me
"Dreaming of Me" is the debut single by Depeche Mode recorded at Blackwing Studios, originally released on February 20, 1981 in the UK. The single was not commercially released in the United States....
", after it being decided it would be the first Depeche Mode single. At the time Vince Clarke
Vince Clarke
Vince Clarke is an English synthpop musician and songwriter. Clarke has been involved with a number of successful groups, including Depeche Mode, Yazoo, The Assembly and Erasure....
was unemployed so he spent most of the daytime in the studio with Daniel Miller. Miller would give Clarke help and advice on how to get sounds, use studio technology and arrange songs. Then later in the afternoon Martin Gore
Martin Gore
Martin Lee Gore is an English songwriter, lyricist, singer, guitarist, keyboardist, remixer and DJ. He is a founding member of Depeche Mode and has written the vast majority of their songs...
and Andrew Fletcher
Andrew Fletcher (musician)
Andy Fletcher , known as "Fletch", is a co-founder and member of the English synth band Depeche Mode.-Depeche Mode:...
would arrive from their day jobs to record melody parts. After the recording of "Speak & Spell
Speak & Spell (album)
Speak & Spell is the first album from the British electronic group Depeche Mode, recorded and released in 1981. The album peaked at #10 in the UK Albums Chart.-Overview:This was the only Depeche Mode album with Vince Clarke as a member of the band...
" Vince Clarke left the band, but carried on recording at Blackwing. In late 1981 the three remaining members of Depeche Mode returned to Blackwing and recorded the single See You. The track was the first Depeche Mode track to use a Roland MC-4
Roland MC-4 Microcomposer
The Roland MC-4 Microcomposer was an early microprocessor-based music sequencer released by the Roland Corporation. It could be programmed using the ten key numeric keyboard or a synthesizer keyboard using the keyboards control voltage and gate outputs...
sequencer, which made the core sound to the track,. It would also be the first track recorded without Clarke.
Notable Recordings at Blackwing
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They had a number of Top 10 hits in the UK charts in the early 1980s... - You and Me Both You and Me Both You and Me Both is the second, and final, album released by British synthpop duo Yazoo in 1983. As was their debut, the record was produced by Yazoo members Vince Clarke and Alison Moyet along with E.C. Radcliffe... (Mute Records Mute Records Mute is an independent record label based in the UK. It was founded in 1978 by Daniel Miller and featured several prominent musical acts on its roster such as Goldfrapp, Depeche Mode, Yazoo, Erasure and Fad Gadget.-Beginnings:... ) 1983 Dead Can Dance Dead Can Dance are an ethereal neoclassical duo formed in Melbourne, Australia, in August 1981, by Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry. The band relocated to London in May 1982 and disbanded in 1998. Their 1996 album Spiritchaser reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top World Music Albums Chart... - Dead Can Dance Dead Can Dance (album) Dead Can Dance is the debut album recorded by Dead Can Dance in 1984. 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The label lasted until its demise in 1999. The name came from the 1960s band The Creation , whom McGee greatly admired. McGee, Green and Foster were... ) 1990 Loveless (album) Loveless is the second studio album by alternative rock band My Bloody Valentine. Released on 4 November 1991, Loveless was recorded over a two-year period between 1989 and 1991 in nineteen recording studios... (Creation Records Creation Records Creation Records was a British independent record label headed by Alan McGee. Along with Dick Green and Joe Foster, McGee founded Creation in 1983. The label lasted until its demise in 1999. The name came from the 1960s band The Creation , whom McGee greatly admired. McGee, Green and Foster were... ) 1991 Stereolab Stereolab are an alternative music band formed in 1990 in London, England. The band originally comprised songwriting team Tim Gane and Lætitia Sadier , both of whom remained at the helm across many lineup changes... - Peng! Peng! 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