Ankst was a Welsh independent record label formed in 1988 at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth by Alun Llwyd, Gruffudd Jones and Emyr Glyn Williams.[1] After a handful of low key cassette releases, the label relocated to Cardiff and became a more serious concern, providing a launch-pad for several popular Welsh artists, including Llwybr Llaethog, Super Furry Animals and Gorky's Zygotic Mynci. The Rough Guide to Wales described Ankst as "one of the most prolific, eclectic and innovative" of the 1990s Welsh music labels.[2]
Between 1988 and 1997, the label put out some 80 releases before splitting in 1997 into two separate companies. Ankst Management (run by Llwyd and Jones and responsible for Melys, Super Furry Animals, Gorky's Zygotic Mynci, Los Campesinos!, The Longcut, and, for a time, Cerys Matthews) and Ankstmusik, the label, that Williams ran from his house in Pentraeth on Anglesey, converting the garage into an office and store-room. Ankst remained true to its low-budget not for profit ideals at a time when the ‘Arts’ in Wales fell to corporate control and public funding.[3] In all, the label released over 170 records by a huge assortment of bands and performers, such as Tystion, Ectogram, Zabrinski, Rheinallt H Rowlands, MC Mabon and Wendykurk.
Ankst moved into film making in the 2000s, releasing the Bafta-winning Y Lleill in 2005.[1]
Alun Llwyd also co-managed, with Kevin Tame, the Cardiff-based indie label Turnstile, home of Perfume Genius, Christopher Owens, Gruff Rhys, Cate Le Bon and others. He is now chief executive at PR/distribution label Pyst.
Emyr 'Ankst' Williams died at his home in Pentraeth on 17 January 2023, whilst receiving treatment for cancer. He was 57.[4]
^ abAdams, Owen (6 May 2010). "Label of love: Ankst". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 9 May 2010. Retrieved 11 May 2010.
^Whitfield, Paul; Le Nevez, Catherine (2012), The Rough Guide to Wales, Rough Guides, p. 463, ISBN 978-1409359029
Ankst was a Welsh independent record label formed in 1988 at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth by Alun Llwyd, Gruffudd Jones and Emyr Glyn Williams...
sprint /sprɪnt/, and end with up to five, as in (for some dialects) angsts /aŋksts/. This gives an English syllable the following structure, (CCC)V(CCCCC)...
studio. In 1995, following a couple of largely Welsh-language EPs on the Ankst label, they signed to Creation Records. Apparently, when offering them the...
After Cian Ciaran (Ieuan's younger brother) joined the band, they signed to Ankst, a prolific Welsh indie label, in 1995. The name of the band came from T-shirts...
MC DRE – Ankst (1991) Mewn Dyb (In Dub) – ROIR (1991) Mad – Ankst (1996) Drilacila-(Croeso'99) – Ankst (1999) Hip Dub Reggae Hop – Ankst (2000) Stwff –...
Studio Stiwdio Ofn, GZM Studios Genre Folk rock, indie rock, progressive rock, rock Label Ankst Producer Alan Holmes, GZM Gorky's Zygotic Mynci chronology...
seven-inch EPs as Beganifs, the first on their own label, the second on Ankst Records. They changed the band name to Big Leaves after they were mistakenly...
augmented by a series of musicians, notably drummer Al Edwards. Moving to Ankst Records, the Christmas-themed Blwch Tymer Tymor cassette was issued in 1991...
released on their own Microgram label, and led to a deal with Ankst. In March 2001, the band's Ankst debut, Yeti was released, described by the South Wales Echo...
stress is on the wrong syllable. The alternative American pronunciation /ˈɑːŋkst/ has no rhymes. angsty /ˈ-æŋksti/ rhymes with planxty, an Irish or Welsh...
to Smoke Crack Vol 2 Various Artists' EP (Ankst 070, 1996) Fragile 12" EP (Ankst 072, 1996) Cuckoo EP (Ankst 075, 1997) Rumours and Curses (Arctic/Pinnacle...
Glasses), 1989 (Ankst) Tir Neb (No Man's Land), 1990 (In aid of Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg) Plant Pobl Eraill (Other Peoples' Children) 1991 (Ankst) Croendenau...
Welsh independent label, Atol, before being signed to the more well-known Ankst label, for whom they recorded an album and two EPs. When that label dissolved...
Zygotic Mynci. He has also been responsible for much of the sleeve art of the Ankst label. He continues to work with his own groups Parking Non-Stop and Spectralate...
Wales Genres Rock Years active 1983–1991 Labels Recordiau Anhrefn, Sain, Ankst, Rasal Cyf. Past members Barry Cawley Emyr Davies Dylan Hughes Mark Roberts...
Zygotic Mynci. It was released in 1995 and was the band's last album for Ankst. It features, amongst others, Anthony Saffery from Cornershop, who plays...
Animals. It was originally released in October 1995 by the Welsh label Ankst Records, and reissued in May 1997. The two releases have different covers:...
2010 jointly by The Dogbones and Klaus Kinski label and available through Ankst Music, distributed by Shellshock. The second one, "I want Alcohol" (B side:...
Give a Fuck single (1996) "Dim Brys dim Chwys" Previously released on the Ankst compilation album Triskedekaphilia (1995) "Smokin'" Previously released...
This Life of Pain" All Shall Perish 2010s Metal Jan 3, 2013 No "Monument" ANKST 2000s Glam Jan 3, 2013 No "The Living End" Ava Inferi 2010s Metal Jan 3...
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