UK | Off The Record launches #IsolationAlbums in support of Help Musicians: Manchester music conference Off The Record has gathered a host of music artists and celebrities to select their all-time favourite albums for the #IsolationAlbums fundraising initiative. The campaign has been launched to raise awareness and funds for the Help Musicians charity, which is providing support for independent artists during the Covid-19 pandemic. Help Musicians recently launched the Coronavirus Financial Hardship Fund to offer rapid response emergency funding for musicians in need. More information and applications can be made here. Established artists including Ben Lovett of Mumford & Sons, Billy Bragg, Frank Turner, Felix White, Amy Macdonald, Kate Nash, Badly Drawn Boy, Kate Tempest and Snow Patrol’s Gary Lightbody, plus emerging talent such as Zuzu, Lia Metcalfe of The Mysterines, and Alex Moore of The Lathums have joined Off The Record in celebrating their all-time favourite new, old and curveball records, soundtracking their self-isolation at home during the lockdown.
Cliffwood, NJ | Hi-Fi heroes at VPI begin production of PPE equipment: New Jersey based vinyl record player manufacturer VPI has started production of PPE equipment, including face masks and 3D printed parts for ventilators. The move follows on from its decision to use its expertise to produce hand sanitisers. To create face masks, the team took the clear plastic covers from VPI brochures and repurposed them as visors, and then applied packaging foam as forehead strips. VPI’s designers have also used turntable drive belts as headbands. Over 100 face masks have been delivered to local hospitals. VPI turntables are renowned for their 3D printed tonearms and the company has now turned to its local 3D printing partner to create specialist parts for hospital ventilators. However, to create additional products to help medical teams, VPI needed clear plastic. Sadly, plastic is currently in very short supply and cynically over-priced, so, the company president, Mat Weisfeld, appealed to his suppliers for help in providing plastic. His appeal was hugely successful and the clear plastic he received has allowed VPI to create intubation hoods for its local hospitals.
Release of ‘Grateful Dead Origins’ graphic novel moved from April to June: New details about the previously reported Grateful Dead graphic novel, Grateful Dead Origins, have been revealed. The publication of the illustrated book, which focuses on the group’s formation and emergence as one of America’s most important and enduring bands, has been pushed back from April to June. A limited-edition hardcover collector’s version of Grateful Dead Origins will be released on Friday, June 12, while a standard softcover edition will arrive on Tuesday, June 16. As previously announced, the hardcover version will come packaged with a vinyl LP featuring previously unreleased live recordings from an August 21, 1968, concert at the Fillmore West in San Francisco, the cover art for which has now been unveiled.
The Strokes’ vinyl copies of new album ‘The New Abnormal’ delayed by coronavirus: The Strokes’ vinyl copies of their new album, ‘The New Abnormal’, have been delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The New York rockers will release the CD and cassette tapes of their first record since 2013’s ‘Comedown Machine’ as planned on April 10, but the vinyl won’t be dispatched until April 24, as a result of a production delay due to the COVID-19 crisis. Julian Casablancas and co sent an email to fans to let them know. They explained that “CD, cassette and merch orders currently remain unaffected and will ship as planned.” But added that “delays with vinyl production” mean that “there will be a slight delay with dispatching your order.” Meanwhile, Julian recently admitted the group didn’t tour ‘Comedown Machine’ because of “conflict and fear” spreading among the band. The ‘Last Nite’ hitmaker admitted they “weren’t in harmony” back then and didn’t feel it was possible to promote the record. He confessed: “You know, maybe in a few years it really won’t matter and I’ll just say it … it’s not a big deal.”
The Vinyl Revival (Documentary Review): …DVDs have lasted longer than their VHS forebears, and are still more widespread than their Blu-Ray successors. However, vinyl records are a rare case of a passé format coming back from the dead in style. No longer is it the refuge for the biggest audiophiles, old school DJs, and movie trailer foley artists. Now, perhaps for the first time in decades, it is another way to get hold of the latest tracks from some of the top names in music. At least for another few years or so. Directed by Pip Piper (The Insatiable Moon 2010, Off Grid 2019), comes a new documentary by the name of The Vinyl Revival which talks about the importance of the medium. Arriving on on DVD on April 10th via Wienerworld UK, it features interviews with Pink Floyd’s Phil Mason, Radiohead’s Philip Selway, Portishead’s Ade Utley, as well as a brace of passionate record shop owners and music lovers talking about why vinyl matters, how it rose back to prominence, how long it will last and what the future will hold for the revived records. It even comes with a making-of booklet! It might be worth watching whether it is top-notch or bog-standard either way. Why? Because the documentary runs at a svelte 43 minutes. That is about the same length of time as the average TV documentary.
