Early Works, Vol. 2: Music from the Archives

ATA Records is pleased to announce the release of Early Works Vol.2: Music From The Archives, a compilation of tracks recorded in the fledgling days of the label paired with some rediscovered treasures from more recent years. While the majority of the album is previously unreleased material several tracks have appeared on different formats.

This is a rare chance for listeners to experience the birth of the ATA's enduring concept and recording techniques from the comfort of their own home.

In 2020 label founder and musician Neil Innes decided to destroy the studio he had spent 14-years building, destroy it and rebuild it from the ground up. This was a task as expensive as it was labour intensive and soul searching. Thankfully, barring a few wobbles, it all worked out ok, some much loved kit was sold but all for the greater good of ATA.

Once the studio began to take shape again and Innes was finally able to take a breath he began rooting through the label's archives, pulling out reels that had been propping up tables, holding open doors and generally lurking in nooks and crannies for years.

His trip down memory uncovered a wealth of dusty musical treasures and also got him thinking about tracks from newer artists, nuggets to compliment the archive gold.

Here you find the first airings of tracks by The Harmony Society, with their oddball hook-up mantra Bus Stop Boogie, and The Disarrays. Both outfits feature the vocals of singer Fuzzy Jones, Innes' former Love of the Brave band mate. The Disarrays tracks, Help Me and Anaesthetise Me, show some serious femme funk chops.

Lunartic is Ivan Von Engleburger's Asteroid stark warning to the powers of the moon while Heading Towards Catastrophe (Instrumental) from The Magnificent Tape Band seeks to disturb and entertain with all the menace of a early 90s ITV thriller.

They appear again with another instrumental, When I Saw Your Face, a pastoral little number with plenty of space to let your mind wander.

The Mandatory Eight's The Hardest Day is a breezy chugger with a sting in its tail.

Also included is Joe Tatton's storming jazz mover, Bang Bang Boogaloo, previously only released on 7 inch and greatly desired by record diggers everywhere.

ATA's ethio jazz outfit, The Sorcerers, aren't absent as this comp gives fans a chance to snag another track previously only released on 7 inch, In Pursuit of Shai Hulud.

Long time studio collaborator Chris Dawkins (recording under Earl Dawkins) alongside The Lewis Express, delivers a rolling and relentless hip twitcher in Secret Universe.