The Atrix were a new wave rock band formed in mid-1978 by John Borrowman (guitar/vocals) and
Chris Green (keyboards), both ex Berlin, with Alan
Finney on bass (ex Schoolkids) and drummer Hugh Friel, ex Slow Motion
Orchestra.
This lineup made the first
demo recording ("Circus Tragedy") and appeared at the Carnsore Point Ani-Nuclear
Rally in 1978. Finney was later replaced by Dick Conroy.
The Atrix combined a strong theatrical element to quirky but memorable tunes,
the most striking examples being the singles "The Moon Is Puce" and "Treasure on
the Wasteland". In 1981 they released their debut album "Procession" which placed
strongly in the Hot Press polls. Earlier on April 8th 1981 the band supported
Toyah at the Ulster Hall in Belfast. This show was filmed by the BBC so presumably
tapes exist somewhere. The band made at least one video ("I Wonder Why", filmed
at Windmill Lane) and appeared on Irish TV many times.
1981 Hot Press poll results
The Atrix split in 1983.
Borrowman & Friel's next project was to supply background music for a 1983 production of Sam
Sheppards "Unseen Hand", which starred Marc Parry of Expresso Mambo.
Borrowman was also reported to be working on a musical called "Fools" around the same
time.
Borrowman & Green returned in 1985 as Very Much In Love,
with Pat O'Connell (ex Max Von Rap) on bass. This was a much
smother, slicker, saxophone solo'd version of the band.
Borrowman's songwriting partner in Very Much In Love was Frank West. They recorded
an excellent track called "Ball O' Malt Blues" which was played on Dave Fanning's show,
as well as a cover of "Brand New Cadillac". Another unreleased track from this period
was "Cashel". None of this material has been released.
Very Much In Love changed their name to The Atrix at the behest of
Deke O'Brien, who was thinking of record sales, naturally enough, and so a couple
more Atrix singles emerged in 1985-86. One of these was released
in Denmark (Borrowman was living in Copenhagen) under the name Afghan Trucks.
John Borrowman also published two books of poetry, "Weak Ends" (self published
in Dublin, 1977) and "Master Of None" (Beaver Row Press, Dublin, 1984) as
well as some plays and a novel still in progress when he died in Copenhagen in
1992. He also made a couple of short films dealing with heroin addiction which
are not that successful.
While there are no unreleased Scoff recordings, there is lots of unreleased material
in existance, especially from the 1985-86 era, but as yet there are no plans to collate
or release it.
Discography
• 4-song demo tape March 1979
Recorded March 1979 at Keystone Studios with
Phil Chevron producing and Johnny Byrne (New Versions) engineering.
tracks: I Wonder Why / I Feel For You / The Moon Is Puce / +1
• The Moon Is Puce / Wendy's In Amsterdam
7" - Mulligan Records - LUNS 725 - IRL - 1979 - PS
• various artists - Just For Kicks
LP - Kick Records - KK-1 - IRL - 1979
See Compilations section for full track listing.
track: Treasure on the Wasteland
• Treasure On The Wasteland / Graphite Pile
7" - Double D Records - D DEE 8 - 1980 - PS
7" - Double D Records - D DEE 8 - 1980 - company PS
Produced by Midge Ure
Some copies come in foldover card cover with printed lyrics and a stapled company sleeve on the inside
• Procession / The Eleventh Hour
7" - Scoff Records - DT 011 - IRL - 16 October 1981 - PS, b&w label
7" - Scoff Records - DT 011 - IRL - 1981 - PS, colour label
• Procession
LP+K7 - Scoff Records - DTLP 012 - IRL - November 1981 - with cassette, booklet, inner sleeve
LP - Scoff/Sound Products Records - DTLP 012 - NL 1981 - inner sleeve
side one
Procession
I Wonder Why
The Life I Lead
Sweet Memory
Melody Lane
side two
Treasure On The Wasteland
It's Taboo
Better Nature
You're Great
Not So Rare
Notes:
Produced by John Leckie. The version of "Treasure On The Wasteland" is
the same recording as the Double D single version though its obviously
been remixed and sounds much punchier.
The original Irish pressing came with a free cassette of the LP and a
16 page booklet containing photos, a cariciture of the band, a short
biography and the lyrics to three LP tracks (which also appear on the
inner sleeve) and the non-LP B-side "The 11th Hour".
Scoff Records signed a licensing deal with Regency Records in Los Angeles
to release this LP is the US. Did this ever come out?
• Triad EP
7" - Scoff Records - DT016 - March 1982 - PS
tracks:
Triad
Circus Tragedy
She Moves
• various artists - Non Stop Pop
LP - RTE Records - RTE 63 - IRL - 1982
See Compilations section for full track listing.
track: Procession
• various artists - Stock 'N Trade
LP - Scoff Records - DTLP30 - 1983
See Compilations section for full track listing.
tracks: Triad / It's Taboo
The band split in 1983. Borrowman & Green resurfaced in 1985-86 as Very Much In Love.
They later reverted to the name The Atrix at the request of Deke O'Brien & Scoff Records.
• Very Much In Love / Continental Sites
7" - Scoff Records - DT038 - 1986 - no PS
7" - Tir Records - TIR 001 - Denmark - 1986 - PS, sides reversed, credited to Afghan Trucks
• Your Halo is Burning / The Going Away Party
7" - Scoff Records - DT039 - 1986 - no PS
the insert mentions a gig on Thursday July 31st, confirming this single came out in 1986
• various artists - Messthetics #5
CD - Hyped to Death - #45 - USA - 200?
track: Wendy's In Amsterdam
Help!
We need your help to correct and/or complete this entry. If you can provide more
information about this band, have scans, photos or any other memorabilia we can
use, or spare copies of any releases,
then please get in touch.
