Iron lung

Martin Smith

Credits: Producer, Musician, Songwriter

“If Delirious made an album now [2019], this is what it would sound like. Hearing Martin Smith singing brings back all kinds of nostalgia. Yet this isn’t an album that plays on the nostalgia and Martin isn't even playing the Delirious soundcard. This is an album that stands on its own. This is a forward thinking album, a creative and exciting album that is at the heart, gutsy and soulful all at the same time.”
- Review by Jono Davies, Louder than the Music. 5 of 5 stars

“Iron Lung” was the final album made in our old ballroom-housed Feng Sway Studios in downtown Vancouver, WA before tearing out of the space due to inflating monthly rental/lease costs.  We tracked for 5 days at Feng Sway, all live on the floor. For much of the session the drum room doors were open. Martin stood holding a handheld Neumann 105 performing as if he was on an arena stage — and the band played their guts out.  The band Martin carried with him at the time was top notch (more on them below), and the musical chemistry was outrageous. 

The sound of this album combined with its musicality is really special. Knotty’s engineering was the best it had been up to that point and he captured the sound of our performances in that room perfectly. I would usually join the band on rhythm guitars — a sort of vicarious living if I’m honest hahaha. It was so fun to be “in a band” again. I would drive the energy of the band as a producer and Martin would steer the ship. What a wonderful moment in time!

I had the honor of co-writing on 6 of the 10 songs as well. Perhaps my favorite of the bunch was “Great and Glorious”. That song is very interesting musically, and Martin’s performance (on the handheld Neumann tracking live on the floor with the band) is LEGENDARY.

One of the highlights of this album for me was the time spent in the UK for pre-production and post-production. I’ve always loved the UK and hadn’t been in quite some time — not since the days of touring in the RRWC and The Listening. I took Ellie & the kiddos, and Knotty brought his wife as well (they didn’t have kiddos yet).  We rented an AirBnb in Brighton and enjoyed the cold, rainy autumn next to the sea.  

Magical.

I’ll forever be grateful for the opportunity to work with Martin Smith. When he reached out to me to produce this album it was so surreal. He’s a hero of mine and a massive musical influence in many ways. Through the course of our work together we became friends and I am still impacted by the grace, care, and love he has shown me as time has unfolded. I’m thankful he trusted me to capture the story of “Iron Lung”. 


Well done, everyone.

The Team:

  • Produced by Gabriel Wilson

  • Engineered by Aaron Knott

  • Mixed by Sam Gibson

  • Mastered by Drew Lavyne

Performed by:

  • Martin Smith

Played By:

  • Martin Smith : Vocals, Acoustic Guitar

  • Reuben Harsant : Drums

  • Jonny Bird : Electric & Acoustic Guitars

  • Steve Evans : Bass, Synth Bass, Sequencer

With:

  • Gabriel Wilson : Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Bass Guitar, Piano, Keyboards, Synthesizers, Backing Vocals

  • Troy Welstad : Rhodes, B3 Organ, Acetone Organ

  • Jesse Proctor : Handclaps, Percussion, Percussive Orchestration

  • John Hatchett : Horns and Horn Arranging

  • Jeremy Larson : Strings & String Arranging

  • Everett Hardin : Strings & String Arranging

  • Caroline Hardin : Strings

  • Elle Limebear : Backing Vocals, Textures

  • Faye Simpson : Backing Vocals

  • Jenny Ingram Brown : Backing Vocals

  • Gang Vocals :

    • Aaron Knott

    • Mike McCloskey

    • Army of Bones

Recorded at Feng Sway Studios in Vancouver, WA
Horns tracked at Church Studios in ChiChester, UK
Preproduction & Overdubs at Bones Studio in Brighton, UK

Label Team:

  • Gloworks/Integrity Music

  • A&R by Les Moir

  • Art Direction by Mark Bowater

  • Artwork [Iron Lungs Sculpture] by Natasha Kissell

  • Artwork [Design] - Giles Lambert, Matt Ellis

  • Photography by Andrew Whitton & Giles Lambert