Punky Irish rockers Ash have announced an exclusive vinyl release, BBC Sessions 1994-1999, for Record Store Day 2021.
With the last year enforcing the first serious downtime on the band, it allowed them time to trawl their archives and put together a RSD release with real value, which shines a light on their early development.
The collection highlights how Ash grew up in public, going from underground garage band to having a No 1 debut album, and expanding their line-up and sound by adding second guitarist Charlotte Hatherley.
Some of the tracks will be available for the first time since they were broadcast 25 or so years ago.
For added nostalgia, they include the voice of the late, great John Peel introducing them for the Peel Acres session in April 1999.
The band said: “Ash have been big fans of RSD for years. The event captures the excitement and buzz we all felt as kids trawling independent record stores for our favourite releases that were our teenage lifeblood.
“It’s also a huge deal for us to make our RSD debut with a BBC sessions record, as sharing of Nirvana’s legendary session appearances via cassette recordings of Peel’s show were a massive influence on us in the early days.
In Nirvana’s footsteps
“Hearing their already-stripped-down aesthetic pared down to the absolute core was so special, and so was their inspired choices of covers.
“It’s such an honour to be able to reveal this side of Ash on vinyl for the first time, still following in our heroes’ footsteps all these years later!”
The release, part of drop date one on June 12, is limited to 1,000 numbered copies on bright pink vinyl, on the band’s own Atomic Heart label.
Ash – BBC Sessions 1994-1999 tracklist
Side One
From The John Peel Session, Maida Vale 3rd April 1994
Petrol
Silver Surfer
Jazz 59
From The Evening Session, Maida Vale 14th October 1994
Girl From Mars
Coasting
American Devil
From The John Peel Session, Maida Vale 14th April 1996
Darkside Lightside
Side Two
From The Evening Session, Maida Vale 15th April 1996
Does Your Mother Know
Evening Session, Maida Vale 23rd September 1998
Wildsurf
Jesus Says
Who You Drivin’ Now?
From the John Peel Session, Live at Peel Acres 15th April 1999
Folk Song
Something Like You
The BBC sessions album is Ash’s first release since last year’s Teenage Wildlife retrospective, which marked their 25th anniversary.
Fans are advised to visit the Record Store Day website here in advance of RSD 2021 to find their local participating shop.
