Darren Allison


Darren Allison is an English record producer, musician, and audio engineer, best known for his production work with artists such as Spiritualized, The Divine Comedy, rock band Bôa, and, more recently, Efterklang, Belle & Sebastian and Amatorski.

Career

The Firehouse Studio

At the age of 17, Allison moved to London, and began working at "The Firehouse Studio" in Kentish Town, which was managed by John Cale's guitarist, David Young. Under Young's guidance, he started to develop his craft, assisting on sessions with such artists as Slim Gaillard, Ali Farka Touré, Carmel and The Pogues

The Church Studios

Following a series of sessions with Dave Stewart at Ezee studios, in 1990 Allison joined Eurythmics' The Church Studios as an in-house engineer. He remained there for five years, working on albums with indie bands such as My Bloody Valentine and Curve, and on Stewart's own sessions with such rock musicians as Mick Jagger, Lou Reed, Bootsy Collins, and occasional visitor Bob Dylan.

Freelance

In 1995, Allison teamed up with Paul McCartney's band members Wix Wickens and Robbie McIntosh, and producer Paco Trinidad, for the recording of Spanish diva Luz Casal's most successful album, Como La Flor Prometida, which sold 800,000 copies. During the sessions at London's Battery Studios, Allison also recorded Luz Casal's biggest single, Entre Mis Recuerdos.
Following the Luz Casal project, Allison officially left the Church Studios, to concentrate on the production of Neil Hannon's third album under the moniker of the Divine Comedy. The album, entitled Casanova, was released in 1996 and spawned three top 20 hit singles. He was then invited to work with Spiritualized, on their album, Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space.
After completing work on the Spiritualized project, Allison produced new tracks for rock band Bôa, on their hugely successful Twilight album, including the album's title track.
The following year, he worked with Babybird, co-producing tracks with Stephen Jones, for the U.S. version of their album Ugly Beautiful.

Selected discography

  • 1990: BAT – Angel Single
  • 1990: Silver Bullet – Bring Down The Walls LP Tracks
  • 1990: Jesus Jones – Doubt LP tracks
  • 1990: Peter Blegvad – King Strut & Other Stories LP tracks
  • 1991: Gheorghe Zamfir – Dances of Romance LP
  • 1991: My Bloody Valentine – Loveless LP
  • 1992: Stex – Spiritual Dance LP
  • 1992: Vegas – Vegas LP
  • 1992: Savageworld – Timebomb Single
  • 1992: Girlschool – Girlschool LP track
  • 1993: Eurythmics – Live 1983-1989 LP tracks
  • 1993: The Divine Comedy – Liberation LP
  • 1993: Ioni – Sentence of Love Single
  • 1994: F.O.U.R. – Wait Until Tonight Single
  • 1994: Catchers – Cotton Dress Single
  • 1994: Catchers – Shifting EP
  • 1994: The Almighty – Wrench EP tracks
  • 1994: Mike TV – Money Shot EP
  • 1994: The Divine Comedy – Promenade LP
  • 1994: Dave Stewart – Greetings From the Gutter LP
  • 1994: Nick Green – Where Love Is Found EP Track
  • 1994: Nick Green – Skeletons LP
  • 1995: Luz Casal – Como La Flor Prometida LP
  • 1995: Eusebe – "Summertime Healing" Single
  • 1995: The Orb feat. Instrumental – Oxbow Lakes EP track
  • 1995: Job – Rosary Beads 'n' Ice Cream LP
  • 1995: Shakespears Sister – Suddenly B Side
  • 1995: Eusebe – If Masser Says It's Good Single
  • 1995: The Divine Comedy – Casanova LP
  • 1996: Juan Martín – Musica Alhambra LP
  • 1996: Right Said Fred – "Big Time" single
  • 1996: Jazzindo – The Debut Album LP
  • 1996: Spiritualized – Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space LP tracks
  • 1997: Babybird – Ugly Beautiful LP tracks
  • 1996: Clint Bradley – This Hour LP
  • 1997: Jack – The Jazz Age LP
  • 1998: Herve Zerrouk – "Anita Emmene-Moi" Single
  • 1998: Dominique Dalcan – Ostinato LP tracks
  • 1998: Elisa – Cure Me Single
  • 1998: Electronic – Twisted Tenderness LP tracks
  • 1999: Hands on Approach – Blown LP
  • 1999: Hands on Approach – Blown SpecialLP Bonus Disc
  • 1999: BBMak – Sooner Or Later LP track
  • 1999: Phase – 52 Minutes of your time LP
  • 1999: Bôa – Tall Snake EP EP track
  • 1999: BBMak – More Than Words EP track
  • 2000: Bôa – Twilight LP tracks
  • 2000: Hands on Approach – Moving Spirits LP
  • 2001: Maggiulli – A Bras Le Corps LP
  • 2002: Juan Martín – Camino Latino LP
  • 2002: Ten Speed Racer – 10SR LP
  • 2002: Orbital – The Bedroom Sessions LP track
  • 2002: Belle & Sebastian – Love on the March EP track
  • 2003: Candidate – Under the Skylon LP
  • 2004: Future Kings of Spain – Le Debemos ep EP tracks
  • 2005: Luxembourg – LVGB Single
  • 2005: Dominique Dalcan – Music-Hall LP tracks
  • 2006: Juan Martín – Rumbas Originales LP
  • 2006: Electronic – Get the Message – The Best of Electronic LP tracks
  • 2007: Efterklang – Parades LP
  • 2007: Luz Casal – Vida Toxica LP
  • 2008: Efterklang – Caravan Single
  • 2011: Amatorski – Tbc LP
  • 2012: The Blue Cats – "Billy Ruffians" Single
  • 2012: The Blue Cats – Best Dawn Yet LP track
  • 2013: Equinox, the Peacekeeper – Birdsongs on the Wasteland LP
  • 2013: Amatorski – "How Are You" Single
  • 2013: The Blue Cats – "The Norton Spirit" Single
  • 2013: Belle & Sebastian – The Third Eye Centre LP track
  • 2014: Clint Bradley – Riding After Midnight LP
  • 2015: Juan Martín – La Guitarra - Mi Vida LP
  • 2015: Daisy Bell – London LP
  • 2019: Clint Bradley – Soul Of The West LP
  • 2021: The Three Funkateers – Busted LP track
  • 2022: The Divine Comedy – Charmed Life LP tracks
  • 2022: Sophie Dunér – Strictly Business LP
  • 2022: Clint Bradley – Everything That I Hold Dear Single
  • 2023: Beware Of Trains – Forever Home Single
  • 2024: Salvation Fleet – Scars Single