Soda – Britpop Band Collectible Milo Studio Mixes on Reel #1 – Very Good w/ Engineer Notes

Condition Details: Please check all photos of the item carefully, as they form part of the description of the condition of the item. This Milo Studio Reel #1 is in very good condition, with clear labeling and intact tape. It was engineered by Pete Hofmann for Mercury Records and contains timestamped mix variations, offering a rare glimpse into Soda’s production process. The reel has been stored professionally and remains in excellent archival shape.

What's Included: This listing includes the Original Milo Studio Label with handwritten engineer notes, dated 17th May 1996. The reel contains multiple mix versions and edits, including EQ tones and alternate vocal treatments. Featuring songs Sour Angel (Mix #1 and alternate with solo BVs and drums up), Awkward (Mix #1 and louder vocal version), Headstrong (Mix #1), and Tones with calibration tones at 1kHz, 10kHz, and 100Hz. These mixes are timestamped and labeled with technical precision, making this a valuable studio artifact.

About the Item: Soda were a Britpop band from Hull, England, formed in 1994. They emerged during the height of the mid-1990s Britpop boom, blending melodic guitar pop with touches of punk and new wave. The group consisted of Ocean Reid (vocals), Liam Maloy (bass/vocals), Mike Milner (guitar), Chris Charlton (guitar), and Carl Lonsdale (drums).

Signed to Mercury/Fontana Records between 1995 and 1997, Soda released a few singles including The Young Own The Town (1995) and Inside (1996). Their debut album, Artificial Flavour, was recorded during this period but was shelved by their label and only officially released twenty years later in 2016.

Their music captured the bright, energetic sound of the Britpop era, with catchy choruses and jangly guitars comparable to acts like Ash, Sleeper, and Echobelly. Critics have described their songs as “a perfect time capsule of mid-90s guitar pop.” Despite strong material, Soda’s career was cut short by label setbacks and bad timing.

Today, the band enjoys cult status among Britpop enthusiasts, with their rediscovered debut gaining positive retrospective attention. Artificial Flavour stands as a snapshot of a band that could have been much bigger had things gone differently.