MotorMusic 4.46

We were happy in Koningshooikt. You may have never heard of the place, but we’ve made tons of recordings there: almost the entire Belgian pop and rock scene has passed through the old studios at the Sander de Vosstraat. The artists loved our place, but as much as our know-how, they digged its art deco atmosphere, including Rachel’s “boterhammekes” (sandwiches), the herbal tea, and the country charm of the nearby eatery De Lepeleer.

That’s all over now: our landlord has other plans with his land. But we couldn’t stay much longer anyway. You see, one simply cannot afford this splendid seclusion at a time when the international media landscape is changing rapidly. Much as we loved the place, we needed a more central location. And so we were faced with the considerable challenge of transfering the good vibes of our cherished studios to a new place which is just as “feel good”.

We think we have found that place in the town of Mechelen (aka Malines for people of francophone origin or inclination), and we hope and we trust you will follow us there.

It is not possible to be more central in Flanders than in Mechelen. If “Brussels South” is inappropriately used by a low-budget airline to refer to Charleroi – an unpleasant exaggeration, considering that it is 120 kilometers away from Brussels – “Brussels North” is a perfect fit for Mechelen, which is no more than 20 kilometers north of our capital. In fact, we’re so close to Brussels National Airport (less than 10 minutes) that we will have no need of our own heliport .

Due to its position right in the middle of the Brussels-Antwerp axis, Mechelen is entitled to call itself the historical heart of Flanders. Its period atmosphere is splendidly preserved in the largest number of extant 16th and 17th century houses anywhere in Flanders. More importantly: Mechelen is a town which breathes music. In the 16th century, it spawned the melancholic music Pierre de la Rue wrote in honour of his ill-fated Burgundian patroness Margaret of Austria. And Ludwig van Beethoven’s grandfather was born here in 1712. But there’s also something distinctly “rock ‘n roll” to this place: Mechelen has been unusually succesful in entrenching its glorious past in an exciting present. Punk pioneer Dee Dee Ramone testified that living in Mechelen – he resided there from 1995 to 2000 – felt like “landing in the Middle Ages for any New Yorker”.

Our new studio is also rooted in the city’s history. We have purchased part of the old St. Romboutshospital, previously occupied by a charitable foundation raised by the priest who gave his name to our street (De Decker). The North-Italian Lombards who owned the place in the Middle Ages were all but charitable: they were the city’s first loan-sharks and their methods of coercion strongly ressembled the present-day cosa nostra’s.

The long house in which the Lombards once conducted their murky business has been transformed into a state of the art recording studio, tailored to the demands of both rock and classical music recordings (anything up to a moderately sized chamber orchestra fits in it). An additional, smaller-sized studio is also available; both studios are complemented with lounges, and the new complex is equipped with ample living space, allowing bands to reside on the premises while recording and editing their materials. For artists keen on privacy, we have purchased an adjacent 18th century cottage plenty of period charm but tailored to the latest standards of comfort. And although Rachel is not going to make the move to Mechelen (on account of her advanced age), the “boterhammekes” and herbal tea will still be available at lunchtime.

Rest assured: we are not going to change the secret of our success. No recording project is too small or too large for us, and like before, we will continue to proportion our price estimates to the nature and the size of your project. We cannot write or sing your songs, but that’s about all we cannot do....