Recording Icons, Creative Spaces (book): Mark Howard, author

Having recorded some of the planet’s top musical artists, such as U2, R.E.M., Daniel Lanois [Tape Op #37, #127], Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Tom Waits, and Lucinda Williams, engineer/producer Mark Howard [#134] is well equipped to give us a glimpse into the process of capturing music. Subtitled, The Creative World Of Mark Howard, his new book is an “extension” of 2019’s fascinating recording tales, Listen Up! This time we are presented with numerous photographs showcasing the various “installations” Mark has built and worked out of over the years. These makeshift and often temporary recording “studios” were set up in some rather unique and architecturally amazing homes and buildings around the world. Small writeups accompany the photographs, some of which are selfies at the console, and many of the artists he’s worked with. There are also finer photographic details of the spaces, and lots of equipment pics for you gearheads to marvel over. What is also interesting are his time-lapse photographs, which often tend to capture the “spirits” that occupy the rooms he records in, hovering around the musicians who are playing in these open concept recording spaces. Recording Icons / Creative Spaces captures the energy behind recording and performing in so many exotic spaces. It will inspire readers to think out of the box, and hopefully try out a remote setup with their gear in unintimidating, non-traditional, and informal spaces like Mark has.