Motor Museum

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53°22′51″N2°56′44″W / 53.3809°N 2.9455°W / 53.3809; -2.9455

Contents

The Motor Museum
Company type Recording studio
Industry Music
PredecessorThe Pink Museum
Founded1988;36 years ago (1988) in Liverpool, England
FounderHambi Haralambous
Headquarters1 Hesketh St, Liverpool, L17 8XJ, ,
England
Key people
Al Groves
Owner Andy McCluskey
Website themotormuseum.com

The Motor Museum (previously called the Pink Museum) is a music recording studio based in the Lark Lane area of Liverpool, England, [1] and owned by Andy McCluskey. [2]

A number of popular music artists have recorded at the premises, including The 1975, Jake Bugg, OMD, Oasis, Ben Howard, The Coral, and Atomic Kitten. [3]

History

The Pink Museum (1988-1999)

The name of the studios originates from its building's former use as the Lark Lane Motor Museum, an automotive museum. In 1987 the museum closed, and members of Echo & the Bunnymen encouraged Liverpool musician Hambi Haralambous to build a new studio on the site. [4] Haralambous enlisted the oversight of Phill Newell, who was responsible for Virgin's Manor and Townhouse Studios, to convert the 240 square meter warehouse into a recording studio. The Pink Museum recording studio, an amalgamation of to Haralambous' previous The Pink Studio and the Lark Lane Motor Museum, opened in 1988, hosting such clients as British reggae band Aswad, and members of Liverpool F.C., who recorded "Anfield Rap" at the new studio. [4] In 1990, Andy McCluskey booked a three day session at The Pink Museum that went so well that Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark recorded their 1991 album Sugar Tax at the studio. [4] Other early clients of the studio included China Crisis, The Christians, and Echo & the Bunnymen. [5]

In addition to the usual array of equipment typical of most professional recording environments, the Motor Museum has a number of special features which have been credited with giving both the creative and recording process a unique edge, including its stone room, which adds unique ambient quality to recordings, especially those of drums. The effect of the stone room can be heard on many of the tracks recorded at the Motor Museum, such as at the start of “Supersonic” by Oasis. [6]

The Motor Museum (1999-present)

In 1999, studio founder Haralambous decided to pursue a film-making career, and sold the studio to McCluskey, who renamed it The Motor Museum. [4] producer Mike Crossey used it as a base for recording the Arctic Monkeys [7] and Blood Red Shoes, [8] [9] and began leasing the studio from McCluskey in 2009. The same year, the studio began partnering with Miloco. [10]

In 2013, Al Groves took over as the Motor Museum's manager and resident producer. [4] [11] Already an established producer on the Liverpool music scene, he has continued the work of establishing the Motor Museum's reputation as one of the most desirable recording locations in the UK, having worked with artists like The Tea Street Band [12] and Bring Me the Horizon. [13] [14]

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References

  1. "The Motor Museum Recording Studio Liverpool - Miloco Studios UK". Miloco.co.uk. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  2. Ryan, Gary (14 October 2019). "Does Rock 'N' Roll Kill Braincells?! – Andy McCluskey". NME . Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  3. "The Motor Museum Discography". Milocostudios.com. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Bieger, Hannes (July 2016). "Motor Museum, Liverpool". Sound On Sound. SOS Publications Group. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  5. Angus, Janet (December 1988). "Design: The Pink Museum" (PDF). Studio Sound and Broadcast Engineering. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  6. "Oasis at The Pink Museum and Monnow Valley". Oasis-recordinginfo.co.uk. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  7. Putnam, Rob (30 January 2017). "Producers Sound Off: Alex Da Kid, Jack Douglas, Linda Perry, Mike Crossey". musicconnection.com. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  8. "Mike Crossey - music producer - Motor Museum Studios Liverpool". Recordproduction.com. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  9. "NME News Blood Red Shoes to release 'ambitious' new album 'In Time To Voices' in March - NME.COM". Nme.com. 25 January 2012. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  10. "Miloco Black Rock & Motor Museum". 27 May 2009. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  11. "Interview: Al Groves, The Motor Museum". Audio Media International. 2 April 2013. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  12. "Home page". Tea Street Band. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
  13. "The Motor Museum - Recent Bands". Miloco.co.uk. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  14. "Tea Street Band – eponymous debut album on first listen". Getintothis.co.uk. Retrieved 29 September 2014.