OP8 - Leather (Howe Gelb)
From the album "Slush" (1997)
Label: Thirsty Ear Records
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OP8
OP8 has so far released only one album, the creative and experimental “Slush” from 1997, but the members have managed to keep busy elsewhere. Howe Gelb (guitar, piano, vocals) is the man behind the successful Arizona based rock band Giant Sand with 20 albums behind them since their debut in 1985.
Lisa Germano (violin, piano, mandolin, vocals) has released eight albums in her own name from 1991-2010. In her solo work and in collaborations with John Mellencamp, Simple Minds and Indigo Girls, she exhibits extreme creativity and willingness to experiment. The last two OP8 members, Joey Burns (bass, cello, guitar, vocals) and John Convertino (drums), have also been members of Giant Sand while performing on their own as Calexico.
“Leather” was recorded at Wavelab in Tucson, Arizona by Nick Luca and Craig Schumacher. One can immediately hear a more relaxed, experimental sound production than is the norm today. At this session, nobody seems to have been bothered by the clearly audible noise from microphone amplifiers and other extraneous sounds.
But what makes this track stand out is the fact that the relaxed attitude to this experimental piece of music clearly reveals that it was recorded using microphones, mixing consoles, etc. of very high quality. There is no doubt that it is through sheer luck in combination with the relaxed recording procedure that all the instruments and especially the vocal sound so life-like, creating a distinct illusion of being present in the studio right in front of the performers.
