In the Studio
The Recording of Balance of Power
BOP receives many e-mails asking about the way they work in the recording studio which is why they have put
together this section. We hope it is interesting and informative. All of the BOP albums have been recorded in POD Studios, London UK. This studio is owned and
run by Lionel Hicks (BOP’s drummer and producer). This is a great situation for the band because it gives them as much time as they need to try out various
ideas and develop them into songs. Those of you who have recorded in the studio know that when you are paying for your own studio time, you are always watching
the clock, and time always seems to run out. Undoubtedly, this stifles creativity. Fortunately, BOP does not have to worry about this.
Getting started
The first step in making a BOP album is getting the song ideas together. This normally starts with Pete Southern who records some guitar riffs. This is usually done in the form of a verse-riff idea and a chorus-riff idea. Tony Ritchie then takes the riff ideas and works to create a melody over the verse and chorus. He keeps lyrics in mind while creating the overall melody. These are worked on and developed over time.
The band then works closely together on the intro., middle eight, solo sections, outros, and on the overall arrangement of the song. This is a fun stage for the band as they have already gotten a good song idea together. This is very important, and something that BOP feels is a crucial starting point towards making a great album. When in the studio, the production and engineering duties are undertaken by Lionel. The drums are laid down first, followed normally by the main rhythm guitar parts, and then the bass. Some would say that it is unusual to record the rhythm guitars after the drums are laid down, but for BOP, it always seems to tighten the finished product.
Next, Tony records some guide vocals. Although he is not the lead singer in the band, he writes the lyrics and the melody for the most part. Recording a guide this way helps to get a better feel for working on the song. Not only that, but it is a great tool for John K. the vocalist to work with. The vocals are usually the last part of the recording process along with the keyboards, played by Leon Lawson.
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