Bel Assis is Mo Foster's first album. He produced all the tracks, with engineering and mixing by Simon Smart. He worked on it for four years.
Bel Assis was originally released on Pete Van Hooke's fledgling MMC record label in 1988 and was subsequently remastered and re-released in 2003 by Angel Air Records.
Critical reception The Observer praised the "delicate and minutely textured electronic sounds... The effect is both dazzling and blissfully calm." Goldmine called the album "an often eclectic and constantly breathtaking piece of work".
Track listing "The Light in Your Eyes" – 5:42 "A Walk in the Country" – 4:31 "Gaia" – 6:27 "Crete Revisited" – 4:44 "So Far Away" – 3:47 "Analytical Engine" – 5:01 "Pump II" – 6:05 "Jaco" – 6:11 "Bel Assis" – 3:43 "And Then There Were Ten" – 5:01 "Nomad" – 8:10
All tracks were written by Foster, with the exception of tracks 5 and 10 which were written by Foster and Ray Russell.
Personnel Mo Foster – Basses, Keyboards Simon Phillips – Drums Gary Moore – Guitar Stan Sulzman – Soprano Sax Ray Russell – Guitars Frank Ricotti – Vibraphone Peter Van Hooke – Electronic Percussion Rod Argent – Keyboards Dave Defries – Trumpet Sal Gallina – Electronic Wind Instruments
Technical details The album was recorded on 24 track analogue at 30ips without noise reduction. It was mixed to 2-track analogue using Dolby SR. It was mastered to the 1610 format and PQ edited at EMI's Abbey Road Studio
It was recorded between October 1987 and January 1988 at several studios: Last Chance Recordings, London, England The White House Studio, Suffolk, England The Red House Studio, Bedfordshire, England Eastcote Studio, London, England Windmill Lane Studios, Dublin, Ireland
Additional technical staff Additional engineers: Richard Dodd Norman Goodman Graham Lyons Neil Richmond Keiron Wheeler Pat McCarthy Fran Kelly
References