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Session 8 Title: Belmonte
Genre: Rock
Composers: David Barrett
Recorded at: Noble St. Studios, Toronto, Canada
Producer: Alan Parsons
Asst. Engineers:
Musicians: Dave Barrett (guitars), Douglas Romanow (keyboards), Sasha Tukatsch (drums), Jason Farrar (bass), Paul Reid (lead vocals)
Instrumentation: Drums, bass, guitars (electric and acoustic), acoustic grand piano, Hammond B3, multiple vintage synths, male lead vocal
# of Tracks on Multitrack: 31
File size: 2.46GB

Listen to the track:

A rich and powerful, prog rock-tinged song. The song references the famous bullfighter featured in Hemingway's Death In The Afternoon and is from the David Barrett Trio, who've been produced and mentored by Alex Lifeson from another famous Canadian prog rock trio, Rush.

The tracking session for Belmonte was recorded live with drummer Sasha Tukatsch, bassist Jason Farrar and Dave Barrett supported by guest keyboardist Douglas Romanow. Farrar’s bass was DI-ed, as essentially were Romanow’s collection of beautiful ancient and modern keys comprising MiniMoog, Crumar string machine, Hartmann Neuron, and Yamaha CP80. Barrett’s rhythm guitar [played on an Epiphone double neck] was snugly tucked away in an adjoining iso booth, powering out via a pair of Mack amps [1 x Skyraider and 1 x Heatseeker] further enhanced by Pigtronix Fat Drive, Echolution, and Envelope Phaser.

Once the basic track was recorded, overdubs proceeded. Romanow added some B3, and Barrett, switching to his Gibson ES175, unleashed the killer guitar solo.

Highly accomplished guest vocalist, Paul Reid, delivers immaculate lead and harmony vocals... and all in record time. Death might have been in the afternoon but Belmonte came to life and was recorded top to toe in a single day.

The session ran more than 10 hours with only a modest break for lunch. But by day’s end a board mix of the track was produced and the entire attendance—including band—was blown away by Alan’s physical and aural stamina in being able to tackle and solve every twist and turn of the recording process without seeming to pause for breath.

This is a tight track with absolutely no chaff (all wheat!). With so much work to do in a single day the mix you can hear was never imagined as more than a rough mix. This presents the Session File user with an excellent opportunity to enhance and finish the track with effects, imaginative automation and maybe an alternative solo or guitar harmony - hey, this is prog rock: there's no such thing as too much!

A punchy and tightly arranged song with great mix - and remix - potential.

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