Q Division Studios

Making great sounding records in comfort and style in Boston's best recording studio

rafi

John Powhida International Airport – Airport Life (BC)

by

If you feel like you’ve been waiting a minute for the new JPX album, you’re probably right. But, it’s been worth the wait!

The new release from John Powhida International Airport finds our hero J-Po (and an all-star cast) in top form. 15 songs of smooth soul, funk, rock, and prog-art madness on a range of subject: Relationships, drinking, procreating, traveling, playing hide and seek, the mad world of music, and the people who make it. Horns, pulsating synths, guitarmonies, searing guitar solos, mad harmonies; this album has it all.

Jon Lupfer co-produced and engineered a many of these tracks, and others in the Q family of engineers also helped along the way.

My personal favorites? It’s hard to choose when you’ve got an album of great tunes like this, but Ridgfield Park always brings a smile, and Airport Life with its nod to Bowie and Zappa is a real blast.

 

Related: We released a JPX 45 a few years ago as part of our Rock and Soul 45 series. You can pick it up here. It has two songs on it – Daddy’s the Man, b/w Surrender To The Disco Knightz.

Peter Buzzelle – Sea of White EP

by

Peter Buzzelle’s new EP, Sea of White, is out now on Hidden Trail Records, out of Brighton, UK.
Produced by Craig Small (Airport), and recorded and mixed by Rafi Sofer in Studio B, the EP features five guitar rock tunes that are laden with harmonies, riffs, thundering drums, and heartache.

Faces on Film – The Rule (Video)

by

The video for Face’s on Film’s The Rule is from their new record, Elite Lines. This song, and the other 7 tracks were recorded and mixed in Studio B, by Rafi Sofer and Mike Fiore, over the course of a few days. The entire album makes great use of our various tape machines: both the 2″ and Rick Harte’s 1/4″ Studers were used for tape delays. A dirty and quirky German tape can also be heard in various spots. Studio B was stripped of its carpets and wall hangings to make it sound as big as possible, and Studio B’s old upright features prominently in this song.

ARVE error: Mode: lazyload not available (ARVE Pro not active?), switching to normal mode

Rafi Sofer

Rafi with Melissa Ferrick and cellist Ro Rowan
Rafi with Melissa Ferrick and cellist Ro Rowan during the recording of the Truth Is

Rafi is Q Division’s head engineer.

Selected Discography:

Ghost Train Orchestra – Book of Rhapsodies Vol. II (2017) – Recording – Accurate Records
Tanya Donnelly – Swan Song Series Bonus Material (2017) – Recording, Mixing – American Laundromat Records
David Hinckley – David Hinckley (2017) – Recording – Self Released
Newfane – Sky Blue Hell (2017) – Recording, Mixing – Self Released
Slight Bite – This Again (2016) – Recording, Mixing – Self Released
Brian Carpenter and the Confessions – The Far End of the World (2015) – Recording, Mixing, Percussion – Accurate Records
Old Soldiers – Soon is a Long, Long Time (2014) – Recording and Mixing – Self Released
Dirge Attic – Space Rodeo (2014) – Recording and Mixing – Unlikely Records
Peter Buzzelle – Sea of White (2014) – Recording, Mixing, Producing – Hidden Trail Records
Telescope – Air Traffic Controller (2014) – Recording, Mixing – Self Released
Faces on Film – Elite Lines (2014) – Recording & Mixing – Self released
Gem Club – In Roses (2014) – Recording – Hardly Art
Modern Day Idols – Almost Glad to See You (2013) – Recording and Mixing – Self Released
Eric Salt & Electric City – Please Say Yes (2013) – Recording, Guitar, Synth, & Mixing – Self Released
Melissa Ferrick – The Truth Is (2013) – Recording Engineer – Empress Records
Ghost Train Orchestra – Book of Rhapsodies (2013) – Recording Engineer – Accurate Records
Modern Day Idols – Almost Glad to See You (2013) – Recording & Mixing – Self Released
Honest Bob & The Factory to Dealer Incentives – Deal of the Century (2013) – Recording & Mixing – Self Released
Eddie Japan – Modern Desperation Part 1 (2012) – Recording, Co-Producer, & Mixing – Self Released
Hallelujah the Hills – No One Knows What Happens Next (2012) – Mixing – Self Released
Kingsley Flood – Colder Still (2012) – Recording, Co-Producer, & Mixing – Self Released
Gem Club – Breakers (2011) – Recording & Mixing – Hardly Art Records
Airport – Go Up (2011) – Recording, Drum Programming, & Mixing – Self Released
Faces on Film – Some Weather (2011) – Recording & Mixing – Self Released

Visit my website for more info about both recording and photography.

More of Rafi’s discography is available at www.AllMusic.com

Charlie Chesterman – Carolina Blue (BC)

by

Band and Crew - Charlie Chesterman Session
L-R: Jim Haggerty (bass), Pete Weiss (producer), David Charles (guitar/backup vocals), Pete Linnane (organ/backup vocals), Samantha Linnane (guitar/backup vocals), Jeff Norcross (drums/percussion), Charlie Chesterman (lead vocals/guitar), Loyd Johnson (assistant), Rafi Sofer (engineer). Photo by Jim Haggerty.

The last studio recording by Charlie Chesterman was cut live in Studio A with a band of Charlie’s friends. The result is this lovely tune, Carolina Blue. Rafi and Pete Weiss engineered the recording, and Pete mixed it up in Verdant on his Neve. It appeared on a compilation called Solid Gold Electric Chestnut Dispenser, which is available here. Proceeds from sales of this song and record benefit the friends of Charlie Chesterman. Read about Charlie’s life here.