Early Works: Funk, Soul & Afro Rarities from the Archives

ATA Records is pleased to announce the release of Early Works: Funk, Soul & Afro Rarities From The Archive, a compilation of tracks that were recorded at the very outset of the label and haven't been available since the initial limited run (Released as Funk, Soul & Afro Rarities: An Introduction To ATA Records on Here and Now Recordings) sold out 5 years ago.

Since 2013 label founders and musicians Neil Innes & Pete Williams have been tirelessly fulfilling their shared dream of making the records they weren't hearing. Having spent years working in various bands both players felt the desire to break free of the constraints of working within another band and started on the slow path to creative autonomy by starting to work on the 12 tracks presented on this compilation.While deliberating their next steps they were approached by Here & Now records who licensed the 12 tracks and released them under the titleFunk, Soul & Afro Rarities: An Introduction To ATA Recordsin 2014 as a limited run of 300 copies that sold out within weeks of release.

Now in 2020, celebrating their 5th year of running successfully as a label in their own right, ATA are re-releasing these 12 tracks on a new vinyl pressing under the titleEarly Works: Funk, Soul & Afro Rarities From The Archivewith new artwork and liner notes that detail the labels birth.

The compilation features 12 tracks that include the very first 3 tracks from The Sorcerers that led to their self-titled debut LP & the first proper release on ATA.Cave Of Brahmalater featured on their debut LP in a slower, more menacing form whereasThe Terror&Elephantmap out the direction The Sorcerers were heading.Brother Move On by The Harmony Society&Hawkshaw Philly by The Yorkshire Film & Television Societymay also be familiar to fans of The Lewis Express as they were covered by the band on their 2018 debut. Here however they're presented in very different forms with the piano lead of The Lewis Express replaced with vocals inBrother Move Onand the face-melting Brass onslaught of The Yorkshire Film & Television Society onHawkshaw Philly.Elsewhere we find Innes & Williams indulging in their love of Library music asThe Lamplighterson the tracksMoscow Central&London Station,an Iprcressy pair, all fuzz guitar and ominous brass. Leeds soul stalwartCleveland Freckletonfeatures twice on the comp, once under his own name on the driving soul-stomperThe Flipand again under the assumed nameReverend Barrington StanleyonCookie Jar.Soul-Jazz fans are also well-catered for withWhat We Are Made OfbyThe Cadets,the first outing byThe Mandatory EightwithSuckerpunchand the west-coast hash party ofIvan Von Engleberger's Asteroidand the trackThought Forms.