The record consists of mainly original songs with the exception of a couple of covers and traditional settings all recorded in glorious black and white at the world famous Fish Market facility, Harlesden, England.

A suprisingly long journey this for us all here as we welcomed Sara’s daughter to the world half way through our recordings.  Nevertheless after the short hiatus she was invaluable hep as we put the finishing touches to vocals.

A beautiful CD designed by our own Jeb Loy Nichols has just arrived with us, finishing touches are being put to plans for a more limited vinyl run of the LP too by Ark friend and sympathiser Stephen Kenny at a two pipe problem.

More information coming soon with Audio etc.  love . IA

I’ve just got this image through from atwopipeproblem.  It’s the second of our hand printed record sleeve series.  Following on from the skeletons record below this is a straight up old fashioned jazz record.  Lots of raw playing and a raw recording - in my humble opinion the way this music should sound but hasn’t for some years now.  The Records should make it out to shops in the next couple of weeks so drop us an email if you’d like to stock some or pick one up just for your home listening.  As always you can reserve a copy by emailing the etchshop.  Here’s a bit about the musicians, i know I’m biased, but honestly even though these are old tunes this has been playing in my house since the day it was recorded and mixed.

James Allsopp is a multi-instrumentalist and composer His previous project Freud, which also featured drummer Tim Giles, was described as “what the term cutting edge was meant for” by the Guardians John Fordham.

Their new trio “The Golden Age of Steam”, blurs the line between contemporary classical music, electronics and the full spectrum of Jazz improvisation from the blues all the way to the extremities of the avant garde.

As a sideman James has played in the UK and all over Europe and the U.S.A with many musicians including The Brian Irvine Ensemble, Polar Bear, David Axelrod, Paul Dunmall, Dylan Bates, Stan Sultzmann and Graham Collier.

James & Tim are joined by Riaan Vosloo, bass player and arranger Vosloo, leader of the influential band twelves trio and original member of Nostalgia 77. Riaan is frequently noted in the critical press for his musicianship and for his musical initiatives. The group is completed by Ross Stanley. Ross is a tireless performer and recording musician. Still to promote his own group he is a well know force in the London Jazz Community. Credits include Heritage Orchestra, Steve Howe, Marlene Verplanck & Dennis Rollins.

Remember 300 only of this monster:  order in haste or repent in leisure!

Here’s a taster of  Like someone in love.

“Impossible Ark is a label owned by the production team behind Nostalgia 77 – Ben Lamdin and bassist Riaan Vosloo. I’ll admit that I just love anything produced by this team so it’s fantastic to see a compilation of their label. I didn’t know anything here so I’m wondering if the material’s been released before. It’s incredibly varied and with a latin tinge throughout with plenty of stuff for the discerning dancefloor but has lovely ballads and funky grooves too. It’s a funny thing, but if you think back at the incredible producers/song writers of the seventies – the Mizell Brothers, whoever they produced - like Donald Byrd, Bobbie Humphries, Johnny Hammond etc – the artist was almost irrelevant because their production sound and style was so strong that all the albums may just have been credited as by The Mizell Brothers as the artists and this is the case here. Ben and Riaan’s production sound is so strong that the seven or eight bands featured here merge in to one. This is not a criticism, the album is an absolute joy from beginning to end.”

Pick up a copy from the high street, back alley, on line at amazon or our affiliate store Etchshop were you can also download. Alternately fill your ipod here at itunes

The release of Strange Faith and Practice is official and the Independent heap praise on this “wonderful” record.

In the past, the Wyoming-born singer-songwriter Jeb Loy Nichols has mixed country with soul and reggae, but this foray into drifting, downtempo jazz is a wonderful and surprising departure, the 13-song sequence of Strange Faith & Practice deepening as it goes.

Young UK jazz musicians plus a string quartet play simple yet adventurous arrangements by bassist Riaan Vosloo while Nichol’s gorgeously warm, condolent voice and mournful lyrics make you want to cry, but in a good way.  Phil Johnson, The Indi on Sunday 30th August 2009

Get your copy now from your favorite record store or click for direct cd sales and the ubiquitous itunes.

Jeb will be performing in store at Rough Trade East off Brick Lane.  There will be early copies of his CD. It’s on from 7ish on Thursday 3rd September. For more info on gigs at rough trade and to pick up a wristband see the rough trade site here>>

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The first single from “Strange Faith and Practice” is now out as a digital single.   It’s “Sometime, somewhere, somebody” and with the summer morning strings of “This Morning” on the B side it’s 2 for 2 on this Jeb’s first single for impossible ark.  Get it at etchshop, itunes or you favored digital music reseller.