The funky, atmospheric, evocative and sometimes downright weird output of companies such as DeWolfe, Cavendish, Burton and the ubiquitous KPM have always been a guiding inspiration for ATA Records, as evidenced in the spooky soundtrack vision of The Sorcerers, the big band brass of The Yorkshire Film & Television Orchestra and even in the soul-jazz of The Lewis Express & Outer Worlds Jazz Ensemble. It only seemed natural for the team at ATA Records to scratch their own Library itch and so "The Library Archive Vol. 1" was born in 2019. Recorded over a series of sessions in the Aladdin's Cave of vintage recording equipment that is ATA studios, it featured many of the ATA stable of performers. Released in 2021, "The Library Archive Vol. 2" still had the golden age of European Library music squarely in it's sights, but this time the focus was drawn more to the off-kilter soul organ sound of Italian quartet I Marc 4. These two volumes garnered praise from Library aficionado Shawn Lee ("Holy F*$K this sounds great! ATA really smash the classic British Library sound. 10 out of 10") and the Don of British Library Music himself, Alan Hawkshaw. And so to "The Library Archive Vol. 3": taking heavy inspiration from Jungle Obsession 9 by Roger Roger, and The Feed-back, as well as Blaxploitation era composers such as Willie Hutch and Melvin Van Peebles, and the masterful and ingenious Roy Budd, "The Library Archive Vol. 3" draws deeply from the well of library greatness. Each track has been lovingly crafted with a keen ear for authenticity and the same eye for detail shown on 'The Library Archive' Vol. 1 & 2, recorded on the same instruments and equipment and with the same techniques as the music that inspired it, with a focus throughout on stripped-back rhythm sections topped by flute, vibes and vintage synths. With three volumes now out and another currently in R&D, The Library Archive will stand as a testament to the love the ATA producers and artists have for the original composers and performers. More

Sounds like Lalo Schifrin and Quincy Jones on a night out" DJ Smoove ATA Records are proud to release their latest 7" single, Kaunas Baltic Connect feat. The Sorcerers/Baby, I Don't Care. Three albums in, the Library Archiveseries are an honest and forthright homage to the golden age of library recording, and this new release is no exception – a brooding cut of 70s Euro-crime soundtrack for the cognoscenti, backed with a gleeful Hammond romp. Kaunas Baltic Connect feat. The Sorcerers harks back to the dynamic, brooding menace of Poliziotteschi and Euro-crime movies – popping toms punctuate a martial-sounding 60s beat, with an insistent and recurring piano motif. ATA Ethio-jazz influences are never far from the surface, and this track is chock full of quirky synths and keyboards, as well as the massive-soundingSorcerershorn section. Fans of Ennio Morricone's score to Pontecorvo's Battle of Algiers will also find a lot to enjoy here. Baby, I Don't Care is reminiscent of shamelessly groovy releases from The Lewis Express, featuring a joyful slice of Hammond organ blues dancing away over the funkiest drums this side of Clyde Stubblefield – replete with congas and bongos from ATA Studios stalwart, Danny Templeman. Intended in the tradition of upbeat Hammond tracks from KPM etc, this track just evolved into pure organ soul. Baby, I Don't Care has all the hallmarks of a new club favourite – will strongly appeal to all Jimmy Smith/McGriff and Shirley Scott fans, as well as purveyors of the next wave of organ soul from The Filthy Six etc. More

Introducing ATA's latest Disco sensation: "United Disco Organisation's 'Feel It For Yourself'". Following the success of "Send The Rain/Funky Thing," this release features Kweku Sackey and his phenomenal backing singers, delivering a sun-soaked 70s afrobeat hit perfect for those endless Summer nights! Crafted during a creative session for an upcoming United Disco Organisation project, bassist Neil Innes conceived a captivating Afro-Disco concept. Picture a rhythmic journey, laden with percussion, reminiscent of Manu Dibango with a dash of Tony Allen's flair. With the UDO lineup of Neil on bass, Chris Dawkins on guitar, Joost Hendrickx on drums, and Danny Templeman on percussion, the foundation was set. Adding a distinctive touch, ATA regular Richard Ormrod contributed a mesmerizing alto sax solo, steering the track towards instrumental brilliance. However, it didn't quite align with the album's theme, so it took a brief hiatus. Enter Kweku Sackey (K.O.G.), who, during a studio visit for another project, was intrigued by Neil's Afro-Disco creation. Neil mentioned that loads of the old tracks have hooks that seemed to feature useful nuggets of great personal advice, Kweku said, "You mean something like don't let anybody tell you - feel it for yourself". Inspired by the track's vibe, Kweku injected his signature style, along with his backing vocalists, infusing the piece with an Ebo Taylor Love and Death essence. The result? A fusion of infectious rhythms and profound lyrical wisdom is encapsulated in the phrase "feel it for yourself." More

ATA Records are proud to announce the new album I Too Am A Stranger from The Sorcerers, following previous album successes The Sorcerers and In Search of The Lost City of The Monkey God, which garnered high praise from Mulatu Astatke Who's this? The Sorcerers? It's cool! This is great. Give me the CD man!" and recent Radio 6-listed 7" single Exit Athens, of which Giles Peterson said, "Great Stuff as always". Recorded wholly at ATA Studios and produced by label head, Neil Innes, I Too Am A Stranger features the Sorcerers trio, (lead by Neil Innes) of Joost Hendrickx/Neil Innes/Richard Ormrod, with assistance from regular percussion collaborator Danny Templeman and up-and-coming Leeds trumpeter Olivia Cuthill. Joost and Neil's drum and bass bond is tighter than ever, and Richard is given free rein on baritone and alto saxophones, flutes, bass clarinet, vibes, and the wonderland that is the ATA vintage keyboard collection. I Too Am A Stranger is a resolutely maximal endeavour, a layered recording both sonically and via many interwoven influences: as ever, the Ethiopique sound is front and centre [Bebaynetu, Kid Mahout, She Who Perceives The Sounds Of The World], but there are also references to the declamatory baritone sax-heavy chanbara soundtracks of Fumio Hayasaka [Yasuke In Roppongi, Oromo Moon], the fuzzed-out vibes sound of Vibrafinger-era Gary Burton [side openers The Warrior Code and He Who Kills With One Leap], and Moondog's popping woodblocks [Moth, The Dao Of The Sorcerers]. In truth, there is so much on this album to appeal to so many different listeners: tight – and new! – beats, exotic melody, far-out horns, references from within and without the worlds of Jazz, Library, Ethio, etc etc, as well as the wholly analogue ATA sound that satisfies DJs and audiophiles alike. More

Introducing the vinyl reissue of the debut album from The Sorcerers. Reissued on limited white vinyl with new liner notes, The debut release was championed by Ethio-Jazz legend Mulatu Astatke on his Addis Abbaba radio show. The Sorcerers take influences from Ethiopiques Ethio-jazz as well as the soundtracks to the european horror films of the 60's and 70's and the british library music of the same era & blend them into one cohesive package. Made up of various stalwarts of the vibrant Leeds Jazz/World scene they were originally formed to contribute some tracks to the compilation "Funk, Soul & Afro Rarities: An Introduction To ATA Records" released in 2014 on Here & Now Records. After receiving a favourable response to their contributed tracks and garnering support from the likes of Strut records founder Quinton Scott and Radio 3's Nick Luscombe (Late Junction) they decided to develop their sound further before recording their debut album. Recorded at ATA Records' own analog recording studio using vintage analog equipment from the 60s and 70s, the album contains 8 original compositions that reference influences as diverse as Mulatu Astatke, Moondog, Kpm and Giallo soundtracks. Huey Morgan made the opening track "Pinch Of The Death Nerve" his "Beat Of The Week" on his BBC6 Music radio show with. Mulatu Astake played the album on his Addis Abbaba radio show with additional uk radio support from Wah Wah 45's Dom Servini, Shawn Lee on his Soho Radio show, Stuart Maconie's Freak Zone BBC6 and Gilles Peterson. The Reissue will be a limited run on white vinyl with new artwork and liner notes on the rear of the cover More

The funky, atmospheric, evocative and sometimes downright weird output of companies such as DeWolfe, Cavendish, Burton and the ubiquitous KPM have always been a guiding inspiration for ATA Records, as evidenced in the spooky soundtrack vision of The Sorcerers, the big band brass of The Yorkshire Film & Television Orchestra and even in the soul-jazz of The Lewis Express & Outer Worlds Jazz Ensemble. It only seemed natural for the team at ATA Records to scratch their own Library itch and so "The Library Archive Vol. 1" was born in 2019. Recorded over a series of sessions in the Aladdin's Cave of vintage recording equipment that is ATA studios, it featured many of the ATA stable of performers. Released in 2021, "The Library Archive Vol. 2" still had the golden age of European Library music squarely in it's sights, but this time the focus was drawn more to the off-kilter soul organ sound of Italian quartet I Marc 4. These two volumes garnered praise from Library aficionado Shawn Lee ("Holy F*$K this sounds great! ATA really smash the classic British Library sound. 10 out of 10") and the Don of British Library Music himself, Alan Hawkshaw. And so to "The Library Archive Vol. 3": taking heavy inspiration from Jungle Obsession 9 by Roger Roger, and The Feed-back, as well as Blaxploitation era composers such as Willie Hutch and Melvin Van Peebles, and the masterful and ingenious Roy Budd, "The Library Archive Vol. 3" draws deeply from the well of library greatness. Each track has been lovingly crafted with a keen ear for authenticity and the same eye for detail shown on 'The Library Archive' Vol. 1 & 2, recorded on the same instruments and equipment and with the same techniques as the music that inspired it, with a focus throughout on stripped-back rhythm sections topped by flute, vibes and vintage synths. With three volumes now out and another currently in R&D, The Library Archive will stand as a testament to the love the ATA producers and artists have for the original composers and performers. More

ATA Records are proud to announce this new double A-side from The Sorcerers featuring, on the flip, the first release by The Outer Worlds Jazz Ensemble. Exit Athens marks the start of a new era for The Sorcerers. Continuing their investigations of Ethio-Jazz and 60s and 70s European library music, the group is now formed around Joost Hendrickx (Kefaya, Shatner's Bassoon, Abstract Orchestra), Richard Ormrod (saxes, flute & keys) and ATA label head, bassist Neil Innes. Exit Athens features a driving funk engine room with exotic percussion, vintage keyboards, and the classic Addis Ababa combination of vibes, flute and horns. The aim is to double-down on previous album successes The Sorcerers and In Search of The Lost City of The Monkey God, expanding their tonal palette whilst tightening their focus, with the intention of producing multiple albums of solid analog cuts, every one of which will appeal equally to DJs and audiophiles alike. On the AA side, Beg, Borrow, Play marks the debut of The Outer Worlds Jazz Ensemble. The first in an ongoing series of 45s and LP issues, each Outer Worlds release will feature the immaculate grooves of the hard-working, unsung sidemen of the Leeds Funk, Latin and Ethio/Afrobeat scenes. The Outer Worlds series was conceived to feature visiting soloists who have made a beeline to ATA in search of a specific setting for their material, and represents ATA's ambition to encompass the very best in contemporary jazz/club/rare groove/exotica sounds. Beg, Borrow, Play kicks this off with ATA veteran Chip Wickham on baritone sax, and a slice of jazz exotica that owes as much to New Orleans Street Beat as to the Eastern moods of artists like Yusef Lateef and Ahmed Abdul-Malik. The result is loose and limber, with horns reminiscent of classic Art Ensemble of Chicago, and will appeal to fans of contemporary Afro-Futurist fusions More

Love Of The Brave are a psyche folk group, based in Leeds, West Yorkshire, at the time this album was recorded, back in 2010. The founder of the group Neil Innes still runs the recording studio, ATA Records, an extremely well maintained all analogue set up, used primarily to record jazz, funk and library music. The short-lived Love Of The Brave outfit was the first project recorded at the famed studio. It brought together some of the most versatile artists in the north, many of who still work on projects with ATA today, both these factors give this release a landmark aspect for the label. The "Love Of The Brave" consists of eight tracks and draws on inspiration from artists such as Pentangle, Rotary Connection, Richie Havens, the Kinks, David Bowie and Joni Mitchell. Vocalist Fuzzy Jones features on all tracks, as does Neil, in his case playing a variety of instruments. They are joined throughout the album by a variety of musicians, including jazz drummer Joost Hendrickx, Work Money Death's Tony Burkill on sax, and famed pianist Matt Bourne on cello. The involvement of musicians such as these could give this album some crossover interest with jazz fans. Love Of The Brave's use of analogue recording techniques gives lends this album the authentic studio sound of a record from the late 60s coupled with lyrics touching on pertinent contemporary issues. More

Abstract Orchestra's composer, leader, arranger and producer Rob Mitchell has now added remixing to his already notable list of credits, in this case turning his hand to Abstract's MADVILLAIN project. Rob has worked with many artists during his busy career; The Haggis Horns, Rag 'n' Bone Man, Sharon Jones and the Dap–Kings, Brand New Heavies, and Slum Village, alongside many others but it was the orchestra's work he wanted to revisit. Seeing the pandemic as an opportunity to spend more time in the studio, Rob spent several months polishing his production skills before embarking on this remix project, he wanted to make sure he did it justice. Working under the moniker Ghostlife, a nod to the fabled anonymity of rapper MF DOOM, Rob has reworked the big band orchestration of Abstract, creating a beat led affair with greater dance floor appeal. For Abstract Orchestra MADVILLAIN REMIXES, Ghostlife cherry picked ten tracks from Abstract's two-album project and plays with a higher BPM count within the hip hop aesthetic of the original. The tracks include "Raid", "Fancy Clown", "Curls", and "Figaro" and in this case Ghostlife has forgone the big arrangements Abstract is known for, rather he has coaxed out hooks and samples from their tracks and produced something he hope will appeal to a different crowd. There is dancefloor potential in "Eye","Accordian" and bass heavy "Borrowed Time" while the reworks of 'Fancy Clown" and "Curls" would fit well into any radio show. More

ATA Records are proud to announce the follow up to the critically acclaimed debut album fromThe Sorcerers. Conceived as a soundtrack to an imagined lost European exploitation film,'In Searchof The Lost City ofThe Monkey God'covers a wide range of influences: Ethiopiques Ethio-Jazz rubs up against European library music of the 60s and 70s. The Sorcerers seamlessly blend these disparate elements into one cohesive sound. Based in ATA Records' home of Leeds, The Sorcerers form the backbone of the ATA Records house band including drummer Joost Hendrickx (Kefaya, Shatner's Bassoon, Abstract Orchestra) and ATA label heads Neil Innes (Bass & Guitar) and Pete Williams (Woodwinds & Percussion). Bass clarinets, flutes, and esoteric percussion that sit alongside bass, guitar and drums are essential to The Sorcerers sound providing cinematic textures on top of a solid rhythmic foundation. The Sorcerers began working on the new album during the winter of 2018 and it was during the writing sessions for this album that the concept for the LP began to take shape. The name for the album was taken from the title of a National Geographic article read by Bassist Neil Innes and was used as the starting point for the entire concept. The library music scene of the 60s and 70s has always been an intrinsic part of the sound of ATA Records and so it made perfect sense to envisage the album as a soundtrack, given the cinematic quality of The Sorcerers music. Each track was written with a particular scene in mind and the music was then shaped in the studio to best reflect the essence of that scene. Drums, Bass and Percussion provide the solid foundation onto which Flutes, Bass Clarinets, Xylophones and Vibraphones add the atmospheric and melodic counterpoint, deftly weaving between one another to conjure up images of the unforgiving environment of the dense jungle, unknown eyes watching the protagonists of the imagined film as they make their way towards their ultimate goal, their pursuit by unseen assailants, the arcane mysticism of undiscovered cargo cultists and the ancient ruins of long passed civilisations. More

Taking a short sabbatical from their journey into the spiritual stratosphere and beyond, Work Money Death landed on terra firma just long enough to record a follow up to the critically acclaimed "The Space In Which The Uncontrollable Unknown Resides Can Be The Place From Which Creation Arises". The new album "Thought, Action, Reaction, Interaction" explores many of the meditative motifs that mould this unique group in their quest for the perfect sound and space. Those who are familiar with Work Money Death will know their output is as much an adventure for the listener as it was for the musicians. "Thought, Action, Reaction, Interactions" is a salute to the now sadly deceased master of the spiritual sound Pharoah Sanders, and in particular the spontaneity of his recording process. Each of the four tracks on "Thought, Action, Reaction, Interaction" were recorded in one take with no rehearsal and while the players may have known where they were starting off none of them were sure where they would end. As much as it is entertainment, and have no doubt this LP is an unctuous, spirit-smoothing joy from beginning to end, this is an experiment of making music in the moment. Spontaneous and spiritual in its truest sense, "Thought, Action, Reaction, Interaction" is a work of innovation and unsurpassed beauty.
As with the previous Work, Money, Death release (which was recorded in difficult conditions due to the Covid pandemic) the aim was to recreate a situation, in this case the impromptu and unrehearsed recording sessions of Sanders in the late 60's and early 70's, everything recorded in one take, creating a body of work that is a strong nod to a certain time and ethos but not a pastiche of it.
““Sounds sublime””
Gilles Peterson — BBC6, WorldWideFM
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Jake Mehew's debut album Sage is a modern and contemporary take on spiritual jazz, a truly exceptional record from the eclectic and highly talented Leeds' artist.Whilst staying within the ethos of spontaneous, unedited performance, Mehew constantly pushes and manipulates the genre's boundaries.The recognisable and lush sound of the Fender Rhodes, layered on a bed of punchy, percussive, grooves, provides the bedrock for powerful improvisations, running alongside Meyhew's subtle analogue synth manipulation and production. Sage was workshopped over one frantic lockdown week in August 2020. It's a truly honest experience of seven days of hard work, a multi tracked record, made without using overdub to capture the true energy of the performance.True to the spirit of albums made in a pre digital era Mehew set out to capture ideas, interaction and performance at their inception rather than post production. Jake Mehew is an up and coming composer, performer and producer based in Leeds, UK. His work combines principles of free improvisation with the technological considerations of the avant-garde. Using a combination of acoustic instruments, modular synthesisers and samplers Mehew creates rich, meditative soundscapes that envelop the listener in an immersive sound field. More

ATA proudly presents it's first foray into the world of disco with "United Disco Organisation's"Send The Rain/Funky Thing dConceived by producer/bassist Neil Innes and guitarist/singer Chris Dawkins, United Disco Organisation present two sprawling dancefloor fillers reminiscent of the early underground disco explorations of philly soul and Joe Bataans Salsoul label. A-side "Send The Rain" features the sinuous flute of label-mate Tony Burkill before Chris Dawkins vocals takes centre stage, while the instrumental features an extended flute solo from Tony. Dawkin's guitar drives B-Side "Funky Thing" with Vibraphone bringing to mind Roy Ayers ubiquity's mid to late 70s disco tracks on the instrumental. Scheduled to be played on 27th November by Craig Charles on his flagship BBC6 Music show, these 2 tracks have already garnered a great deal of interest including from DJ/Producer Smoove of Smoove & Turrell. More