The Atrix

= History =

The Atrix were a Irish new wave/powerpop band formed in mid 1978 by John Borrowman (guitar/vocals) and Chris Green (keyboards), both ex Berlin. 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-NucleurRally in 1978. Finney was later replaced by Dick Conroy on bass.

They came out of the same Dublin theatre/cabaret scene as Jim Sheridan, The Radiators, Neil Jordan, Agnes Bernelle, Peter Sheridan and The Virgin Prunes. At one point they and U2 were the only game in town. 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 onthe Wasteland".

The band released its first single "The Moon is Puce" on Seamus O'Neill's Mulligan label in late 1979 to modest acclaim in its local market. This first single was produced by Philip Chevron, then a member of [The Radiators From Space] and later of [The Pogues] . The band signed to Dave Dee's DoubleDee Records label in 1980 and released the follow up single "Treasure on the Wasteland" in 1980. It was produced by Midge Ure. They released 'Procession', their only album in 1981.

Borrowman later teamed up with Frank West and the two wrote and recorded songs, playing gigs as Very Much in Love and The Atrix. They released two further singles as The Atrix: 'Very Much in Love' and 'Your Halo is Burning' (with Chris Green on keyboards and Dick Conroy on bass, produced by Andrew Boland). 'Very Much in Love' was subsequently released in Denmark using the band name Afghan Trucks.

Lead singer, John Borrowman also published two books of poetry -- "Weak Ends" (self publishedin Dublin, 1977) and "Master Of None" (Beaver Row Press, Dublin, 1984). He died in Copenhagen in1998.

Band Members

*John Borrowman (guitar/vocals)

*Dick Conroy (bass)

*Chris Green (keyboards)

*Hugh Friel (drums)

Discography

7" "

The Moon Is Puce / Wendy's In Amsterdam (Mulligan LUNS 725, IRL 1979)

Treasure On The Wasteland / Graphite Pile (Double D Records D DEE 8, 1980)

Procession / The Eleventh Hour (Scoff DT 011, IRL 16.10.1981)

Very Much In Love/Continental Sites (Scoff DT 038, IRL and Trax On Wax 001, DEN)

Your Halo is Burning/The Going Away Party (Scoff DT 039)

LP

Procession (Scoff/Sound Products DTLP 012, NL 1981)

Triad (Scoff DT016, 3/1982)

External links

* [http://irishrock.org/ipnw/atrix.html Entry in Irish Punk and New Wave Discography with Pictures]
* [http://www.punk77.co.uk/groups/atrix.htm Entry in Punk 77]