‘He’d offset the intensity by setting his feet on

‘He’d offset the intensity by setting his feet on fire’: PJ Harvey, Mogwai and more on Steve Albini

Artists from the Wedding Present to Sunn O))) and Jon Spencer recall a kind yet acerbic genius who was a true champion of artists’ intentions – and a fiend for chocolate Hobnobs

I wanted to work with Steve from the moment I heard Surfer Rosa by Pixies. I had never heard anything as powerfully moving, both emotionally and sonically, and knew I wanted to hear my songs within that sound – a sound so alive, it was as if you were there in the room while the blaze of emotion was taking place.