Stephen Fearing THE SECRET OF CLIMBING

180g vinyl record with 8 tracks
Produced by Roy Gandy, Gery Bennett and Stephen Fearing

New - unopened - originally packed

  ORIGINAL from the authorized analogue dealer

THE SECRET OF CLIMBING

Stephen Fearing - Voice and Guitar

Analogue Recording on Tape by Roy Gandy and Gary Bennett at Roy's Place, Essex

Stephen Fearing's music is a fascinating mix of roots, folk and pop. Co-founder of Canadian roots rock supergroup Blackie and The Rodeo Kings, he is an alluring storyteller and master guitarist, wowing audiences across North America, the UK and Europe. A multiple JUNO and Canadian Folk Music winner, his ninth solo album Every Soul's a Sailor was named Blues & Roots Radio's 2017 Worldwide Album of the Year.

This 180g Audiophile LP is the best you can experience with Stephen singing and playing for you in your living room.

Product details from the manufacturer

Because this is what actually happened

Rega's founder Roy Gandy had suggested Stephen record his guitar and vocal separately in the traditional studio manner. Stephen felt the quality of his performance depended on the authenticity of him playing and singing simultaneously.

For this process to work it would be usual to use a stereo pair of microphones positioned a distance from the singer. However, good room acoustics are crucial for this method to be successful. And Roy's front room was hardly ideal! Another solution was necessary to capture Stephen's virtuosity.

Roy experimented prior to the recording session using two separate microphones close to the voice and guitar. To avoid acoustic bleed between the two, a simple shelf was constructed between the two microphones giving promising results. However, the difficulty of performing in such a restricted environment was a serious concern for Gary Bennett who co-produced the album. This concern was promptly dismissed by Stephen's confidence and experience as he immediately sat down, made himself comfortable and began to play and sing.

Tape running...the initial results were amazing, and excitement filled the room. This enthusiasm immediately fueled the first three songs which were recorded within half a day. By the end of the second day a miraculous eleven tracks had been laid down, of which eight made this incredible album.

Incidentally, well-recorded acoustic guitar nearly always needs some form of enhancement such as added reverb and/or EQ. Stephen plays a guitar handmade by the legendary luthier Linda Manzer which allowed a rare recording without the use of effects.

This album was created with a little luck, a great deal of hard work, iconic tape machines and two days of faultless performances by Stephen.

Capturing the sound

The voice and guitar were recorded directly onto two tracks of a meticulously restored 8-track one-inch Studer A-80. No mixer was used.

The two microphones were directly interfaced into the Studer via a custom-designed Rega microphone pre-amplifier. This was loosely based on the fully symmetrical design of the exceptional Rega Ios / Aura Moving Coil pre-amplifiers.

The guitar microphone was a Pearl CC22. A uniquely configured microphone using a rectangular diaphragm chosen for its natural characteristics.

Two different voice microphones were used during the sessions, the Pearl CC22 and an Audio Technica AT-4040

Using a Rega custom-built, all discrete, 8-track mixer (designed by Rega's Terry Bateman and based on Rega hi-fi amplifiers) the two original tracks were then mixed down onto a two-track quarter-inch Studer A-80.

This process was particularly critical. Roy used PPM meters to ensure every track was laid down at a similar volume level. This level of care eliminated the need for any further mastering in the cutting studio and a cable was run from the studio tape machine directly to the Neuman cutting lathe.

All the tracks were recorded at 15 IPS on 80R tape. Finally, Ray Staff conducted the tape splicing of the recorded tracks but crucially no studio mastering was necessary or used.


      Without a shadow of a doubt, one of the best songsmiths on the planet. Quality albums… stunning shows.
    BBCUK

     Long-heralded in Canada for his articulate songwriting, immense guitar skills, and dusky baritone.
    Billboard Magazine

     Fearing's music crackles with ideas and collaborative energy... masterful guitar work from acoustic rock rhythm to elegant finger style.
   Acoustic Guitar Magazine

     A master of the finely-turned phrase and the perfectly-pitched line.
    Maverick Magazine