Soda

Condition Details: Please check all photos of the item carefully, as they form part of the description of the condition of the item. This vintage TDK AUDUA LB-1800 Master Recording Tape is in very good condition, with clear handwritten notes and intact reels. Labeled “Air Check” and recorded at 15 ips, it appears to be a curated reel of music cues and program segments, possibly compiled for broadcast or internal reference. The tape has been stored securely and remains playable for archival use.

What's Included: This listing includes the Original Tape Box with handwritten cue sheet divided into Side 1 and Side 2. Side 1 features Carmen and Peak Practice Music, suggesting television or theatrical themes. Side 2 is labeled “Channel 4 Test” and includes nine tracks with durations: Myriad of Colours, Classical Rock, Classical Fusion, Morning Glory, Catch the Wind, The Threshold, Shadow Play, Moonlight Beach, and Jet Setting by Van McCoy. These selections suggest a blend of library music, classical crossover, and light rock, possibly used for test broadcasts or internal programming.

About the Item: While not directly part of Soda’s Britpop catalogue, this tape was found among the band’s studio archive and may reflect reference material, licensing cues, or ambient inspiration used during their production period. It offers a glimpse into the broader sonic landscape surrounding the band’s creative process and adds depth to the collection’s historical context.

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.