Digital Vomit Records

1) DVR062 will be a physical format compilation. I'm sure the more regular visitors amongst you will know which format I am referring to, but to those who don't, it's the humble 8-track tape. It is currently untitled.
2) This will be expensive to produce. So expensive, I can't do it unless I fill the pre-orders. Basically the costs of making anything up to 100 of these tapes (brand new mind you - not just store-bought blank tapes but brand new ones, manufactured specifically) would mean a "retail" price of at least £20. That would buy you at the absolute minimum a copy of the product, a FLAC or MP3 copy (your choice) of the entire comp via email, and P+P. I still need to figure out some additional extras to offer people, particularly as the format itself is not the most widely-used any more, so there's a high chance people may buy this purely for the digital copy and the extras.
3) I am not looking for track submissions. For want of a better term, this is my baby, and I'm keeping control of that side of the project. Rest assured, these will be quality musicians and songwriters, many of whom will be making their first appearance on Digital Vomit with exclusive tracks.

Yes, this is a vanity project, but it's one I'm very interested to see completed. If you want a point of reference, this is basically the same issue that V/Vm had getting projects like Theoretically Pure… and There Was A Fish… into a physical format. The pre-orders will fund the entire project, with really minimal profit going my way. We are talking something like the equivalent of a fairly average night out in London. I'd like to guage interest in who would be interested in buying this, so if you are, either reply here or email me at lee.ashcroft hat hotmail.co.uk with DVR062 in the subject line. I'm hoping to have a list of artists on board set in stone at the very least within the next month or so, so maybe you'll want to wait until then. Like I say though, the ones I have lined up are fantastic.

Why 8-track? In lieu of a real answer, I would urge you to track down the film So Wrong They're Right if you can (if you're in the UK, it's on Sky Arts 1 every so often). The love and affection these tapes have amongst an admittedly small percentage of music lovers is, to my mind, incomparable to any other format, even vinyl, and this is obvious in the film. As Cheap Trick have proved, there is still a demand for 8-track tapes, despite their technical drawbacks. Maybe not amongst you guys (particularly those outside America), but there undoubtedly is somewhere. And with the music industry moving ever closer towards 100% digital distribution, people deserve to be reminded of the joy that can be had from putting a tape in a deck, or a stylus on a record, when the process of buying a music download takes pretty much all the soul out of buying music. When I buy something, I want to own it. I want to be able to hold it. When you buy a track from iTunes, you're lucky if you ever actually find the file on your hard drive. And if you do, what do you have? A load of metaphysical bits that don't actually exist. As impractical as an 8-track tape is in 2009, I'd rather have that than a joyless, DRM-laden AAC file that frankly sounds just as bad as a battered 8-track tape in its own way. (Even if I didn't have a player I'd be tempted to buy a DigiVom tape anyway, just for the novelty.) The difference being you can't hold the AAC file. I realise I'm perhaps preaching to the converted here, but even we seem to have all but given up on physical product. In fact the only one we've had this year was Uncivilized and Beytah's CD-R (which I still want a copy of, incidentally Brian…). Let's enjoy some physical audio action again.

Actually, maybe that is a real answer. Still, go watch that film if you can. Here endeth the post.

Whoa, someone actually still manufactures those puppies? Far out.

Nice idea, Mixo - you can put me down for a copy. Even if I'm unable to play it, it'll still look nice…

I've certainly not given up on physical product. Even if MP3 EPs and albums seem to be the future of music, I think there'll always be a place for, for want of a better phrase, real stuff.

What I've been thinking of (not to hijack your thread or anything, I'm just throwing it out there) is a series of split CDr EPs - limited edition stuff, 50 copies max - put out through DV. I can get 50 copies run off with some artwork in plastic sleeves for about £60-odd, even less if you just want the discs. Depends if anybody else thinks it's a good idea. If there's interest, I'll move this to its own thread.

I'd do a split CDr, as long as it looked proper punk like a split 7". Actually I'd be up for a split 7" too. Also, I love the idea of an 8-track release, but I have no idea who's going to be able to play it. I'd buy one for £20 as an art object though. It'll be hard to flog 100 of them, well depending on who's on it I suppose. Don't suppose Nine Inch Nails will be making his DV debut eh Mixo?

particularly as the format itself is not the most widely-used any more

No shit. In obscure formats it's probably below even floppy disk for accessibility… Even tapes and minidiscs are pushing it for people to actually be able to listen to it.

JC - oh yes. There's an American company restoring old shells and filling them with new tape. They're currently on the lookout for shell moulds too, so one day they will hopefully be making completely brand new tapes.

TC - I know you're still making stuff, in fact before Uncivilized's CD I think the last discs to be released were yours and mine. I might be interested in doing something like the split CD-Rs, but I guess that's something for another thread.

i - I used 100 purely as an example. In reality I suspect 50 would be nearer the mark, although the costs would probably be the same. That said, the quality and popularity of the acts I'm planning for (I'm not naming names yet as nothing's totally confirmed yet) will hopefully attract a decent amount of attention from outside these virtual walls, so I don't rule out 100 as a speculative figure. I am pretty much in love with the idea of committing some audio to 8-track though, despite both the cost and practicality of the format.

TC. with those kinda numbers then i'll be speaking you you on my next idea.
Would have got some Kids 2's pressed as well - didn't do them this time as i just didn't have the time, but feel like the release was lacking because of it.

lee, pushing the boundarys downwards. nice. how are you going to package them? I'd prob be temteded i do temd to love the obscure - much to Clara's disaproval sometimes.

Well packaging's just another expense, but if I were to do it, it would be in cardboard sleeves. I suspect I'll just be using stickers on the tape itself though.

Having thought about it further, there may actually be some scope for track submissions, but there would be several limitations put into place. More nearer the time.

I might be interested in doing something like the split CD-Rs, but I guess that's something for another thread.

Right - I shall have a think about the details and start a thread when I've got more time (i.e. tomorrow)

TC. with those kinda numbers then i'll be speaking you you on my next idea.

Keith - those figures come from here. I've used them before and they're good and they're fast as well.

By the way, this project doesn't have a title yet. I was thinking 'Analog Vomit', but personally I think that's a bit shit. I am certainly open to suggestions.

Maybe you should send this radio station a copy.

Although the video pen he keeps going on about is more apt to arouse Solypsis' interest in "degraded audio."

OK, I am now officially VERY fucking excited about this project. I already had one or two artists definetely on board, but after spending an evening firing off a load of emails, I've had some very encouraging responses, from some very VERY good artists. Some of them are even properly famous, and they'll hopefully be putting in exclusives. When I get some tracks in, (I'm hoping the first one or two will be arriving this week) I'll unveil the artist list.

Seriously, I am so excited about this, it's taking so much self-control not to reveal all right this second. But I don't want to right now, just in case anyone pulls out.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

EDIT: Also, just when I thought I couldn't get any more excited, I'll be unleashing details on another new release very soon. And this one will be almost entirely driven by your contributions. Stay tuned for DVR666…….. >:D

OK, here's three acts I can definetely tell you about:

SOLYPSIS
Some guy, dunno, never heard of him. He's into skullfucking apparently.

HISSING AT SWANS
A two-girl ramshackle ukulele indie-pop band from somewhere between Essex and London, mixing toy instruments and surreal lyrics with homemade video presentations. This will be their first ever release.

FATIGUED OWL
Where FAST LADY once strode, FATIGUED OWL had already tread. A Welsh progressive-rock group from the late 60s as mythical as it is unreal. The latest project from Manchester's Bubblegunner Recordings. Again, their first ever release.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg…

Title: 8-Track Remind.

just a thought, but why not try to contact cheap trick and ask them if they wanna donate a track?? i guess their shit is all tied up in copyright, but it may be worth a try.

Thanks for the suggestion, I think we're full up now though. Provisional artist list:

Solypsis
Fatigued Owl
Hissing At Swans
John Callaghan (ex-Warp)
PFFR (Wonder Showzen/Xavier)
Sarah Weis (a 'Goodie' pal and audio/video artist)
Al Duvall (the Deep South: the musical)

and maybe:
Dan Merrill And The Flowers Of Evil (twisted chamber music)
Japanther (NY punk rockers)

Now can you all see why I was so excited?

Pre-orders will be open very soon, in a brand new uncluttered thread, via PayPal. By "very soon", I mean in the next day or two. Everyone pre-ordering will be sent a copy of the cartridge as soon as they're in my possession, and access to an MP3/FLAC download on release day at the latest. I'm still trying to work out other incentives, and will add them as and when. If you pre-order now however, you will still receive the entire package, including the extras still to be decided upon.

Please note that pre-ordering is the ONLY way to guarantee a copy. If I have any available to sell upon release day, we'll be talking single-figure numbers maximum, and not only will you be charged P+P, but there's no guarantee of receiving any of the extras. In case you can't tell, I'm really trying to encourage pre-ordering… ;) Please also note that if I do not get enough orders (ideally I'd like to get at least fifty), the project may have to be cancelled. If this happens, you will of course receive a full refund.

I still need to double check the figures, but assuming I've got it correct, THE PRICE IS SET AT £20 GBP, ROUGHLY $33 USD. This covers the cost of production, including artwork, the cost of the tapes being sent to me in bulk (a figure I won't have until they're ready to ship from the US sadly), and P+P to anywhere on earth at no extra cost (the free P+P is only available when pre-ordering). I realise this is a high price to ask for, which is why I'm trying to get as many extras in there as possible for added value, however please know that I do not stand to make a penny out of this. If I'm lucky I'll wipe my face, but realistically I suspect I'll be making a small loss. But that needn't concern you, just know that this is not likely to be a money-spinner.

Please also note that, as far as I'm aware, every track on this release will be exclusive, so you will not hear these tracks on any other release. All copyright is retained by the artists of course, so this is beyond my control, but I'm fairly sure everyone's keeping with the spirit of the project in that sense. Similarly, this compilation will not appear on CD, and will only be available digitally to those ordering the tape.

This is a very exciting project for me, as this will most likely decide whether or not I go ahead with my Dead Air label project, resurrecting other dead music formats for minimal artistic consumption (I've already had a few highly radical ideas that will be so expensive I'll probably only be able to afford to press one or two copies…!), so please offer your support if you can.

_{And if nothing else the tape might be worth a bit in a few years time if the collectors pick up on it… ;)}

ooh japanther is a get. this pretty-fine chick from spokane washington who came out here in 2006 and wanted to fuck (yet i was like ethereally-stoned and consequently epic and grandiose and all nervous to just be liek FUCK IT COMMERE) is a bigtime japanther chick.

still tho, THEE LEGENDARY FATIGUED OWL IS ON THIS?! wow. i was digging through records my dad stole from his cool artsy english friend back in the college dorm days (my dad's favourite band is whitesnake) and i came across some original press fatigued owl and wow… the term "welsh legends" don't even begin to describe them. more like 'n lluddedig chuan ydy 'r 'n bwysica beroriaeth i mewn 'r hanes chan 'r bydysawd

Unfortunately there's no Japanther on here. PFFR seemed to think they'd be up for it, but they never got back to me. Shame, because what I'd heard sounded really good. Alas.

PFFR on the other hand… I've just received their track, and it feels like it needs Genesis P-Orridge drolling over the top, it's that sleazy.

Pre-order here: dvr064