Dave was free at the same time we wanted to record.
One of Dave's talents is to take an idle bunch of directionless musicians like ourselves and a half finished song - of which we have plenty - and in a matter of hours, turn out a fine tune ready for recording.
As I type this Dave is again working his magic on the latest 3 backing tracks, making them ready to overdub.
DaveMeegan has a widely varied musical background and is a premier division producer / engineer originating from SARM Studios, working extensively with Trevor Horn with artists including U2, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, The Pet Shop Boys, The Waterboys, Killing Joke, Yes, and Rush.
Dave has also engineered for producer Stephen Hague and worked on acts like New Order, Pere Ubu, PIL and The House Of Love and produced albums for The Power of Dreams, Skin Games, and the Milltown Brothers.
Dave used Wave Arts plug-ins exclusively in the mixing and mastering of the new Marillion live albums Smoke and Mirrors.
This recording concept was later copied by Radiohead for their OK Computer album, which was also (musically) greatly influenced by Brave.
As engineer, they got DaveMeegan whom had previously worked with Marillion on Fugazi.
It took the band nine months to write and produce this album, partly because of Dave who would go through every single new tape made every day each night listening for any riff or melody which sounded good enough to be included in the songs.
Again with this album, DaveMeegan thought it would be essential to maintain the balance as regards [to] the track “Map Of The World,” as this is the most commercial sounding of the lot.
Dave tries to keep us together in the room as long as he can because it is known that if one of the members of Marillion tends to leave the room, the others will follow soon after that!
Dave heard what we wanted to create in the room and made that happen on record, which is very hard to do.
Delighted with the idea, the rest of the band decided to use the concept and proceeded to develop new musical and lyrical ideas with Hogarth's intended theme in mind.
After the writing sessions were over, Marillion was ready to begin recording Brave, and Nick Mander from EMI assigned indie producerDaveMeegan to the band, doubtlessly because Meegan had been previously involved with Marillion as a tape operator during the recordings of Fugazi.
Mander had instructed Meegan to carry out the recording sessions in as short a time as possible, avoiding any continuous overdubs and any other such hindrances.
After spending the first half of the Marbles tour cutting his teeth as PA technician and mixing the sound for the support acts, Rod became Front of House engineer in the autumn of 2004, and continues to mix live sound for the band.
DaveMeegan has been responsible for producing the 4 albums that the majority of Marillion fans rate as their personal favourite, as well as mixing This Strange Engine, Anorak in the UK, and The h Band's Live Spirit : Live Body - earning him the honorary title of "Marillion's 6th Member".
Dave first crossed paths with Marillion way back in 1984 working as a tape-op on Fugazi before producing Brave 10 years later.
At first, I wondered why producerDaveMeegan left this broken vocal take on the disc, but then it does fit in with the tortured theme of the song and works rather well.
Of note is that Hogarth drop’s XTC’s name, as Dave Gregory, that classic band’s former guitarist, works with Hogarth on his side project, the H band.
And special mention must go out to Meegan, for producing the whole affair and capturing all of these excellent performances.
Some of the music is a bit reminiscent of bits of.com or Anorak and some possibly Afraid of Sunlight.
We have been working with DaveMeegan, who has produced a lot of our records, since late last year and recording to multi-track all of our arrangement ideas so we have captured a lot of what we are trying to say and sound like.
It also meant we could afford to work with a producer, so of course we picked Dave.
Their biggest commercial success came with their second self titled LP.
It's a more polished sounding album, with no less than 4 producers involved (DaveMeegan, Paul Staveley O'Duffy, Stephen Hague, Tim Palmer) and smack dab in the middle of all of the big riffs is this delicate ballad called Beatles And The Stones.
It's a lovely, dreamy tune that speaks to the power of music, something we can all relate to.
MARILLION Anorak in the UK Live review by Uther Pendragon(Dave)(Site not responding. Last check: 2007-11-07)
I have found in the past that many of the live albums lack the raw edge that is present at a concert.
This album, however, breaks the mould, due to selective editing by DaveMeegan, there is a rough feel to the music and an almost unpolished sound that reflects the true Marillion concert experience.
This is an excellent album and definitely a must-buy for any prog enthusiasts!
Kusha Deep have also signed a new world music artist called Julian Franks who has a varied history in writing and performing music.
His last album has been bubbling for the past 12 months collecting a huge army of supporters from Benjamin Zephaniah,Al Scott, Record Producer (Asian Dub Foundation, The Oyster Band, The Levellers), DaveMeegan, Record Producer (worked on U2’s Joshua Tree, Rattle and Hum, and producer of Marillion’s last album).
Julian’s also collected excellent reviews from Paul Elliot, writer for Q Magazine and MOJO, picking up great quotes from Acid rocker Arthur Brown along the way.
Good old Percy St, Dave Marr, Greg and Jan, Dave 'The' Lewis,
Hi-fi, Pete, Richard in Leeds, Dilys, Andy, Lesley, Dave W, Graham, Mop - The Aberdeen Clan, Julian, Neil, Simon F, Martin G, Jim Williams, Mr Hunt, Cosi Greco, Tona, Annie R, Mandy, Mark S, Geoff D, Paul K, David & Rob at Stylo.
Adam 'P.R.' Lee for his deft live fingers, Kris Kirk and Push.