Startled Insects - The Antenna Years

Startled Insects’ The Antenna Years finally gathers the group’s 1984-85 recordings on vinyl for the first time, collecting their self-titled debut and Underworld/Black Spring alongside two previously unreleased live favourites, ‘W.W.W’ and ‘What A Waste’.

Long before members evolved into The Insects and became award-winning composers working with figures from Bristol’s wider orbit including Massive Attack, Tricky, Goldfrapp and members of Portishead, Startled Insects were creating a singular sound that felt years ahead of its time. Pulling together abstract electronics, leftfield synth-pop, dub experimentation, post-punk tension and cinematic textures, these recordings still feel remarkably fresh decades later. Strange, atmospheric and difficult to pin down, The Antenna Years captures a fascinating snapshot of Bristol underground music at its most adventurous.