ARCHAEOLOGICAL DIG - VOLUME 1 (2025)

Marty Willson-Piper - Archaeological Dig - Volume 1 Cover

Tracks

  1. Tristesse (4:20)
  2. Chromium (3:38)
  3. Water (3:46)
  4. Velvet Fuselage (6:04)
  5. To Where I Am Now (4:18)
  6. Luscious Ghost (4:20)
  7. Melody Of The Rain (3:18)
  8. Scandinavian Stare (5:06)
  9. After Eight (4:32)
  10. Spark (3:44)

Credits

Produced and Arranged by Marty Willson-Piper
(with welcome input from everyone involved)

Recorded at Pleasantry Lane Studios, Dallas, Texas, USA
Between the heat and the rain

From an original idea by Salim Nourallah
And supported by Sarah van Ballegooijen at Cosmetic Front

Engineered by Kevin D. Brown and John Dufilho
Additional engineering: Sarah Van Ballegooijen

Mixed by Andreas Ahlenius at The Blue Room in Gävle, Sweden
Mastered by Bjorn Engelmann at The Cutting Room in Stockholm, Sweden

All songs written by Marty Willson-Piper except:
  Tristesse - Lyrics: Kilbey / Music: Kilbey/Koppes/Ploog/Willson-Piper
  Chromium - Lyrics: Willson-Piper / Music: Willson-Piper/Kilbey/Koppes/Powles

Artwork by Mike Norton, Chicago, Illinois, USA
www.ihatemike.com

Album coordination by Olivia Elektra
www.indeeplabel.com
martywillson-piper.com

Release coordination by Stephen Judge at Schoolkids Records
www.schoolkidsrecords.com

Releases

Notes

Press Release:

Marty Willson-Piper is an English guitarist, singer, and songwriter best known as a longtime member of the Australian band The Church (1980–2013). With a career spanning over 45 years, he has contributed to a wide range of musical projects, including his solo work, collaborations with All About Eve, Anekdoten and The Saints, and his own band, Noctorum. More recently working with sessioneers and releasing physical albums by Space Summit, Blueburst, No Fear Of Silence and Valley Of Salt.

In 2025, Willson-Piper launched Archaeological Dig - Volume 1, the first in a planned trilogy of releases where he re-records over 30 songs from his extensive catalog. This re-imagined collection features ten songs from different time periods, played with strings, acoustics, piano, and keyboards while still incorporating bass, drums, and multi-layered vocals. The album revisits material from his solo career—including selections from In Reflection (1987), which also received a Record Store Day 2025 reissue, and Art Attack (1988)—as well as songs from his tenure with The Church, drawing from landmark albums like Heyday (1985) and Starfish (1988).

Included in Volume 1 are fan favorites like "Tristesse," originally featured on Heyday (1985), and "Spark," from the platinum-selling Starfish (1988). These songs highlight the diversity of Willson-Piper's catalog and showcase his evocative songwriting and signature guitar work.

Adding to the album's distinctive presentation, the cover art for Archaeological Dig features a themed sci-fi illustration, with each of the three volumes depicting Willson-Piper in a different setting alongside UFOs. The release is available across all planets and throughout the galaxy via the In Deep boutique label in conjunction with Schoolkids Records.

Blending psychedelic rock, folk, and alternative influences, Willson-Piper's music remains deeply atmospheric and introspective. Beyond his recording career, he is also an avid vinyl collector, music historian, and passionate champion of independent artistry.