Spaceward Studios

The studio in 1975 before acquisition of the 16 track (photo courtesy of Peter Robinson)

The studio in 1975 after acquisition of the 16 track (photo courtesy of Peter Robinson)

The photo above was taken in 1977 and is (we think) of the stage for the Albion Dance Band outside the National Theatre ... Spaceward provided the PA. (photo courtesy of Peter Robinson)

Click here for "Spaceward : Albion & other bands +
general photos" at Flickr (courtesy of Peter Robinson)

Pictured here in Victoria Street is Mike Kemp in about 1979 at the controls of the amazing expanding mixer desk surrounded by 16-track, several 2-tracks and plethora of out-board gear.

Recording The Gigymen for "The First Lame Bunny" album in Mike's room in college in Cambridge,

Spaceward doing a gig for the Albion Dance Band in Lewes castle in the '70's. Eddie Upton is calling, Shirley Collins seated, (I believe Dave Mattacks on the right,) all trying to keep dry (hence no electric instruments at this stage). Leather coated Gary Lucas is adjusting mics on the right.

And at the mixing desk Gary Lucas watches with a grimace, Mike delves under the plastic sheet to do the mixing...

The Control Room at the time of Mick Steven's first River sessions in 1977
(thanks to Andrew Stevens and Thomas Hartlage)

Kevin Harrison at Spaceward, 1st Nov 1979 by John Wankling

urge 3 at Spaceward, 1st Nov 1979 ( David, Kevin, Lynda ) Photo by John Wankling

urge's Kevin Harrison & John Westacott (1/11/79)

A very young Joe Bull with Kevin Harrison of urge (1/11/79)

SPACEWARD STUDIOS 1981

After the move to the village of Stretham, about 10 miles north of Cambridge, this picture shows the famous in-house designed and built microprocessor controlled 56 input desk, the Studer A80 24-track, and various outboard gear. You can just make out the original in-house 16-track hiding behind the desk. Monitoring was on B&W 801s later changed for 808's and augmented by a pair of JBL 4343s and Yamaha NS10s. Mastering was onto Studer B67 1/4" using Dolby A throughout until the PCM F1 arrived when material was usually digitally mastered. The most complex session was Dave Stewart and Barbara Gaskin's "Busy Doing Nothing" engineered by Ted Hayton when a second Studer 24 track was synced up. Dave also produced and Ted engineered Nigel Planer's alter ego Neil from "The Young Ones" with his hit "Hole In My Shoe" here. In this room Mike also co-produced the Stranglers single "Always the Sun" and their 1986 album "Dreamtime". Notable assistants on this album were Ted Hayton and Owen Morris. Even after the studio was closed the Stranglers made a return visit in 1992 for much of the recording of the album "In The Dark", produced by Mike.