Anyone on here familiar with the vocal chain used on the Empire of the Sun singles? Great narrow, gated (?), over-driven sound - lots of 'ssss's in the lyrics but pretty clear of any sibilance. Top-flight delivery obvs, but interested in how it was netted. Cheers.

Anyone?

Don't know about the vocal chain but a significant part of the sound of that record is that it was mastered by Mike Marsh@ The Exchange in London.

I've first-hand witnessed him transform dull lifeless mixes into incredible finished records....and it does affect the sound of the vocals (in a good way).

Check out his discography of masters & you'll hear a sonic signature. He told me he's big on adding 16Khz on his EAR eqs to open up records. The EAR 660 limiters he uses (fairchildish character but much cleaner) also affect the sound of records he has mastered - bright and clear but not sibilant. Having golden ears & working in the same room since the 80s also helps more than the gear of course!

Thank you so much for the pointer - will go off on a Mike Marsh listening safari. Mastering really still is the dark arts... Cheers!

I really don't see that the mastering has much to do with this.

Luke Steele has always sounded like Luke Steele, since Sleepy Jackson I've been a fan of this very original performer.. probably my favorite aussie singer, excluding kylie.. of course.

But doesn't he have like two different voices? Which chain would you want to know? Maybe someone else could chime in.

..about the two voices - I would be curious to know how both his normal and falsetto range are captured (ie. different/same equipment chain, different mic choice etc.).
Mastering-wise, TBH, I lap up info like that, so I'm so glad NW3 chimed in with the info he knew! I've attended all my mastering sessions (at Metropolis in London) and always find it an 'emotional' experience - sad git that I am. Is amazing how mastering can effect the actual groove and emotional impact of a track.
So, I suppose, any tech info about EOTS is good!
Cheers