I sort of winced inside when I heard cassettes are making a comeback. If there’s ever a medium short of the 8-track tape that could quietly fade into the ether, it’s cassettes for me. I literally became a skilled surgeon way back when the tape would spool out and wrap around the gears in the tape deck. Never again, I swore.
So, lo and behold, imagine my surprise upon hearing Domino Records has a flexidisc set paired with its own zine on shelves for Record Store Day 2012. The flexidisc too is a relic of that past, but if I can lay it flat on a turntable and drop a needle on it—all the better. And did I mention the superb design and packaging that accompanies Domino’s RSD2012 flexi set? No? Take a gander:
Some background: Smugglers Way is Domino and Ribbon’s first ever limited edition zine made exclusively for Record Store Day (April 21st) featuring FIVE individual, multi-colored flexi discs of EXCLUSIVE, UNRELEASED songs from Dirty Projectors, Real Estate, Cass McCombs, John Maus, andVillagers. The zine comprises 24 pages of original art and prose from Domino and Ribbon artists.
Highlights include a short story penned by James Yorkston; a long form poem by Laura Marling; short form pieces by Alex Bleeker (Real Estate), Ade Blackburn (Clinic), and Tom Fleming (Wild Beasts); illustrations from Alison Mosshart (The Kills), Andrea Estella (Twin Sister), Conor O’Brien (Villagers) and Jon Hopkins; photography from Jana Hunter (Lower Dens), and an original arranged score of music by Owen Pallett.
Bjorn Copeland of Black Dice designed the cover and Rob Carmichael at SEEN is responsible for the art direction and layout.
This being a giveaway and all, we have a copy of Smuggler’s Way to award one of you. Simply name your choice for best designed LP cover or package, and the one with the keenest eye for art will find the flexi set in his or her mailbox.
We’ll choose one winner a week from today, 4/26 with a North American mailing address!
