Nestled in the Wiltshire village of Box, on the banks of the gurgling By Brook is Real World Studios, the residential recording sanctuary opened by Peter Gabriel in 1987.

Chosen for its proximity to the water, Gabriel set about converting and extending the 18th-century mill into a state-of-the-art studio space, knocking down preconceptions of partitioned studio space in favour of an open plan approach.

The now legendary 2,000 sq ft ‘Big Room’ has hosted a who’s who from Björk to Beyoncé over the last 30 years, practically spilling out into the site’s verdant gardens and providing a holistic approach to live recording. No surprise then about its close association with the Real World label and neighbouring WOMAD festival.

Take a look inside the sprawling complex, courtesy of The Vinyl Factory.

‘On The Line’ and ‘Fuego Que Te Llama’
Performed by Sidestepper
Available here

Published by Real World Works Ltd
Courtesy of Real World Records Ltd

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