November started with AIR welcoming top producer Paul Epworth working on a charity record with a difference for Crisis. Based on the game'Consequences', each artist added their bit without knowing what was played before. Beth Ditto, The Enemy, Pearl Lowe, Paul Weller, Supergrass, Graham Coxon, New Young Pony Club, Drew McConnell, Andy Rourke and Ed Harcourt all came into the studio to do their bit. Think Phil Spector's Wall of Sound.
The festive period kicked off with the score to a not-so-festive film in the Hall -'Doomsday', starring Bob Hoskins about a deadly virus that causes Scotland to be walled off by the rest of the world. Then something a little bit more light hearted with Nick Wollage recording and mixing the score to'Made of Honor', a romantic comedy, followed by'Fools Gold' for Warner Brothers.Chris Barrett ably assisted the recording of the score to'Mamma Mia' in the Hall with Benny and Bjorn from Abba. Steve Orchard finished up working with Aviv Geffen before he headed back to Tel Aviv. Internationally renowned Welsh operatic baritone Bryn Terfel joined the London Symphony Orchestra to record in the Hall and Studio 1 welcomed the British Jazz Vocalist of the Year Clare Teal recording with AIR Management's Rupert Coulson. French musician and composer Eric Levi took over Studio 1 in the last couple of weeks leading up to Christmas and finally the year ended with George Michael taking residence, working on new material.
Work began on stripping out Studio 3 in preparation for the arrival a lovely new 48 fader AMS DFC Gemini (Digital Film Console) in January. The new console's automation system will offer in-house mix compatibility with Air's Neve 88R in Lyndhurst Hall and the VR60 Legend in Strongroom 1. For our feature-film post production clients, this will allow pre-mix and'virtual' final mix to take place in Studio 3, limiting the need for time in a theatrical dub stage to just the final mastering process.
The console purchase coincides with a �30,000 investment in the installation of Soho Net fibre optical connection at both AIR and Strongroom, allowing direct super high-speed connection between sites and to other facilities throughout the UK and the US.

The month began with the band Funeral for a Friend rocking out at Air being filmed and recorded in studio 1 playing 6 tracks live. Jon Bailey handled the recording on the Custom Neve desk. In The Hall Jake Jackson carried on assisting with the recording of the soundtrack for director Matthew Vaughan's new film 'Stardust' about a quest to retrieve a fallen star.
A sense of glamour fell upon Air as we were joined by The Puppini Sisters, recording their new album in Studio 1 and Rupert Coulson continued work on the soundtrack to the eagerly awaited 'Transformers' film. Geoff Foster recorded the music to the new film 'The Water Horse' and mixed tracks for Welsh singer songwriter Catherine Taylor Dawson.
Nick Wollage recorded with the legendary flamenco guitarist Paco Penia and then returned to Lyndhurst Hall to record the music for the new Lexus advert. Israeli superstar Aviv Geffen continued work with Steve Orchard in The Hall and the month ended with Air going Rugby mad, recording the new 'Rugby World Cup' theme in The Hall with Jon Bailey.The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra started the month in the Hall, recording a new George Gershwin album with Rupert at the helm. He then went onto to work with producer Mike Batt and Katie Melua for her new album due out later this year.
Geoff Foster stepped back in time, '10,000BC' to be precise, to start work on the score for the film of the same name starring Omar Shariff, a prehistoric epic that follows a young mammoth hunters journey through uncharted territory. He then recorded violinist Lara St John with the RPO again also in The Hall.There's another film on its way featuring Jude Law walking once again in shoes that Michael Caine has worn. This time it's a remake of the 1972 film 'Sleuth' in which Caine played the original starring role. Nick Wollage began recording and mixing the score, written by Patrick Doyle, to this remake directed by Kenneth Brannagh in Lyndhurt Hall.
Nick then continued work on the soundtrack to the third film in the Bourne series, 'The Bourne Ultimatum' and finished the month working with French singer/songwriter Etienne Daho. Jon Bailey finished recording Will Martin in the Hall and moved onto Studio two to begin mixing the album.

The month started with Geoff Foster recording Clint Mansell's soundtrack to the film 'Definitely Maybe' and no it's not an Oasis biopic, it's a romcom starring Ryan Reynolds, Rachel Weisz and Isla Fisher. Following this, comic books became reality with Jake Jackson recording the soundtrack to the film based on the adventures of a Gaul, his large friend and a big cauldron of potion in'Asterix at the Olympics'. Steve Orchard recorded Mike Skinner of The Streets fame and his version of the classic Elton John song 'Your Song' to be used as part of Radio Ones birthday celebrations.
Jon Bailey continued working with Katherine Jenkins on her new album and the mammoth hunters journey carried on whilst Geoff Foster recorded the soundtrack to the film of their story'10,000 BC'.
Nick Wollage brushed up on his Spanish for his recording with flamenco legend Paco Pena and Steve Orchard continued his working relationship with Travis mixing the Bside for their future single'My Eyes'. The following week everyone avoided the suspiciously named 'special meat pies' in the canteen for some reason. Maybe it had something to do with Geoff Foster recording the score to a film called'Sweeney Todd' with Rupert Coulson recording the organ parts on location& who knows!
Studio 1 was host to a plethora of stars recording the new Rugby World Cup theme 'World in Union' with Jon Bailey. Following this Studio 1 was host to the band Hard-Fi who came in to record a live session with Steve Orchard, filmed by Big Balls Films; the footage will be used to accompany releases from their new album 'Once Upon a Time in the West'.
Adam Noble accompanied Guillemots as they came in from working in their own studio to record some strings in Studio 1 and Jon Bailey finished working with Will Martin.
Geoff Foster, Nick Wollage and Rupert Coulson started work on an animated film called'Bee Movie' featuring the voice of Jerry Seinfeld who also wrote the script and finally Nick Wollage started work on recording the soundtrack to the controversial film'Brick Lane' about a young Bangladeshi woman in the 1980's coming to London for an arranged marriage.
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September kicked off with Geoff Foster continuing his work in The Hall on the score to the Jerry Seinfeld film'Bee Movie', which follows a Bee setting out to sue the human race for stealing all the precious honey! Elsewhere the award winning Welsh mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins returned to Studio 1 to record with Jon Bailey and Adam Noble continued working on the up-coming release from the Brit Award nominees Guillemots.
Breathe, our post production arm has for some time now been working on the upcoming Dr. Who series and Studio 1 was filled with the sounds and themes of the time-lord ' s domain as Jake Jackson recorded the music for the Christmas Special. Steve Orchard returned from Tel-Aviv to continue to work with the Israeli star Aviv Geffen on the singer's first ever English-language solo album.
Nick Wollage recorded the score to a new film'The Escapist', closely followed by Geoff Foster recording the beautifully voiced Mara Carlyle performing with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, all in The Hall.
Rupert Coulsen began programming with Andy Davenport/ Ragdoll Productions for children's programme'In the Night Garden' and then went on to record for the Tin Man in Prague and mixing back at AIR.
Nick Wollage then got into the Christmas spirit early recording the score to the upcoming film about Santa's brother'Fred Claus' and Geoff Foster began work on his second animated film of the month,'Quest for a Heart'. Geoff then moved on to work with legendary composer A.R.Rahman on the recording of the cast album for'The Lord of The Rings' musical.
Jake Jackson recorded and mixed the soundtrack which was written by Nick Cave for'The English Surgeon' - Geoffrey Smith's exceptional documentary about maverick British neurosurgeon Henry Marsh, who tries to help doctors and patients in the Ukraine.
Nick Wollage also recorded for Nathan Duvall and then moved onto recording Lesley Garrett and finishing the month recording the score to the film'Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day', starring Keira Knightley. Finally work commenced in The Hall recording the score to the magical blockbuster'The Golden Compass' which stars amongst others Mr. Bond himself Daniel Craig and Nicole Kidman.

AIR Studios founder Sir George Martin and his son Giles Martin have won both the "Best Compilation Soundtrack for Motion Picture, TV or Other Visual Media" and "Best Surround Sound Album" grammy awards for their acclaimed album LOVE.
Congratulations from all at AIR Studios.

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