Rock and Roll Holidays on Crete!

Imagine: you are sitting on the beach, the turquoise sea laps on the white sand, etc., etc., etc. Then your phone goes. "It's the studio here. Would now be a good time for you to come in to do your lead vocal?" You buy the kids an ice cream, or your partner a frappé, and a ten-minute drive through the Cretan countryside later, you walk into the booth and realise your rock 'n' roll dream. Or for that matter your country and western dream, your punk rocker dream or your guitar hero dream.

KA Sound Recording Studios, a small but perfectly-formed recording venue in Apokoronas, are offering people the chance to combine a leisurely vacation with recording sessions after which they will be able to take some CDs of  their very own song or performance home with them to impress their friends and family (or for that matter, the A&R guy at Sony music).

To quote the KA website "you can book a tailor-made package which will involve you as much or as little as you wish". You get initial help choosing your song, or even helping you to finish off a song idea of your own, after which you can head for the beach and check back every day to hear how things are going, or send your companions off to the beach, stick around and get down in the studio (man). Come and go as you wish: in any case your own CDs will be ready for you at the end of a week, fully packaged and ready to hand out to your nearest and dearest.

The studio is run by two professional musicians, Phil Harrison and John Mansell who possess a great deal of experience between them. Phil has in the past worked with artists as diverse as The Scaffold, Diana Rigg, Peter Hammill, Barbara Dickson, Jake Burns and Johnny Logan, (not to mention the UK Scouts & Guides Orchestra and the Wingates Temperance Brass Band). He was also a member of the successful UK band 'The Korgis' and has been involved with several international hit records, in addition to composing music for TV and film before moving to Crete. John is a multi-talented instrumentalist who has been picking the banjo since age 9, playing lead guitar since he discovered girls and playing bouzouki since he discovered Greece.

The price for the basic package (which includes ten hours of recording and musical services) is €850. The studio will also reserve accommodation at any level: there are two villas with pools directly opposite and many hotels and rooms to choose from locally. You will need a rental car out there in the country and the studio will get you a competitive rate and book this for you if you wish.

Of course, KA are more than happy to record Cretan-based talent as well as that flown in from the rest of Europe or the US. You will find lots more detailed information on their website: www.amygdali.com/Studios.htm or contact francesca@amygdali.com phone: +30 28250 22515/ 6945 020497.