in Manchester. Around this time, the Madchester was exploding in popularity, which saw several acts that had supported James in the past – namely, the Happy Mondays, the Stone Roses, and the Inspiral Carpets – become successful. Gott was bitter about the experience: "They were getting the star treatment", such as big-name producers and working on expensive recording consoles, while also approaching the band for advice, "you're up there and look where we are, back with Nick in Out Of the Blue". When watching the Happy Mondays live, the band noticed them using a drum machine. Booth said James were against using non-organic instruments in their songs, until seeing the Happy Mondays use it, which convinced the band to "stop worrying [...] and realise that you can get away with everything if it sounds good". They experimented with the Madchester sound, with it directly influencing "Come Home", a track that was written in the studio. Booth wanted to re-record "Sit Down" during the sessions in a faster form, similar to how the band was playing it live. Recording then moved The Windings in Wrexham, Wales, close to Baynton-Power's house. Vinny Corrigan, who was a big fan of the band, and trumpeter Andy Diagram of the Diagram Brothers were brought into the sessions. Though, Corrigan's saxophone did not work well with the band's material, much to his dismay, they enjoyed Diagram's contributions. Glennie said the latter's work was "very odd, [with] lots of effects, [and] very experimental". Diagram had known the band when he was giving them a lift back home after a show in 1983. By the time James was recording, he was living with the person that printed their t-shirts. When Diagram was told that James was looking for people to sweeten the recordings, him and Corrigan visited the studio. Diagram initially added trumpet to "Gold Mother", before being invited to add it to other songs they had recorded. The album was mixed at Square One in Bury; Tim Palmer remixed "How Was It for You". Composition and lyrics Musically, the sound of Gold Mother has been described as arena rock, and indie rock, compared to the likes of U2 and the Waterboys. Author Michael Heatley said the band's sound varied too much to consider Gold Mother part of the Madchester sound, in favour of arena rock and influences from folk. John Slater played additional percussion on "Come Home"