quête:spaceark

Brilliant self-released, private-press jazz/soul LP from 1975, recorded at Sunset Sound studios in LA.

This is the super-rare debut album from SpaceArk, a band of brothers on an interstellar voyage to discover 'electrifying new sounds'.

It's another one of those private press treasures - a dynamic group of talents seizing the moment and making magic in an astounding 12-hour turnaround at the legendary Sunset Sound studios.

Official reissue with liner notes by Amar Patel.

The second album from SpaceArk. More brilliant self-released, private-press jazz/soul from 1976 Los Angeles.

'SpaceArk Is' came out on Color World records in 1976, on a limited run of about 5,000 copies. It followed their self-titled debut (also available now on Mr Bongo) on the same original label, the year before.

For a handful of years in the Seventies, SpaceArk was one of the most promising and electrifying bands in Southern California. Although their music was far greater than the sum of its parts, those parts made for a very original style. R&b, soul, rock, pop, jazz, classical ... it all came together in blissful stream of intricate compositions that swept up crowds from US military bases to Northern Soul clubs around the UK.

SpaceArk wrote and performed more than 100 songs during their time together. Most of them were not recorded and are now either lost or forgotten.

Official Mr Bongo reissue with liner notes by Amar Patel. Licensed direct from Peter Silberg.

Awesome private press modern soul/disco cut from Spaceark, not featured on any of their albums. Vocal and instrumental versions, cut loud.

Volume Three in the Mr Bongo Record club series. Another showcase of recent vinyl finds and favourites from our DJ sets and radio shows. This is an extra special one however, as it lands in 2019, the year that we celebrate 30 years since it all began way back in 1989.

Compiled by David Buttle and Gareth Stephens, assisted by Graham Luckhurst and Gary Johnson.