SONNEVILLE: 46 Tours EP (7″, Alienor ALIEN µ, 1994)

Lumme, this is the second of a sparse few releases that Alienor put out that’s come up for discussion as the result of my wacky scientific random number generator tool. So be it, I can’t argue with fate, it’s like the Dice Man or something. It does, however mean that I had to find the µ character on my keyboard because of Alienor’s insistence of using Greek characters for their catalogue numbering. Still, I’ve found it now – another useful character in my typographical armery: MU. µµµ.

I really like clear vinyl, as this single is pressed onto. I’m not sure what makes clear vinyl clear – is it the absence of colouring put in during the pressing process, or is it a different substrate altogether? If the former, why aren’t more records clear vinyl? They look great. I especially enjoy the clear vinyl look of a good lathe-cut record; they have a look all their own, somehow smoother and more sleek than a regularly-pressed record. If you haven’t heard of lathe cutting, it’s basically the process of an individual hand-cutting every single copy of a record using a machine that runs at the speed of a normal record being played. I.E., very labour-intensive. In my exploits as a wannabe record label impresario, I have had one record produced using this process, as it affords the possibility of a very small run of vinyl. I believe, although correct me if I’m wrong, that there is now pretty much only one place to get lathe-cut vinyl produced – a guy called Peter King, who is based in New Zealand. He made my records, and it was a fine adventure getting them done. I had to correspond via fax with him, which wasn’t so easy given the obvious time difference; and the process was long and tricky. However, the outcome was spectacular and well worth it. In today’s mass-produced age it’s great to ask a supplier for an exact number of something – in this case records – and have that number delivered. No more, no less. Just like the olden times.

AMANDA BY NIGHT: Silvermilk EP (7″, Alienor ALIEN η, 1994)

Another little glimpse into the most obscure of obscurities: this single came out on French indie-pop label Alienor in the nineties, presumably in a pretty low run. Alienor were one of the many labels I’d regularly buy up new releases from. Back then, the way we’d find out about new things wasn’t the instant hit of the internet, it was through the mail – whenever I sent a letter to an indie-pop contact I’d sling in a bunch of flyers for records and fanzines that other people had sent to me or asked me to pass on the word about. Everybody else did the same. I was very organised about it: a desk containing small piles of flyers which were diligently tidied up and reconfigured as new ones were added and old ones finished with.

If you’re paying attention, you’ll have noticed the catalogue number for this record is ALIEN η – these cheeky French label owners felt the need to number their releases in Greek. I was never sure why. I was neither sure why they’d package their singles in the pseudo-’company sleeve’ artwork that they used – the simplistic layout and not-too-impressive looking pillars remained on all of their singles, with the band name and a photograph changing each time. I never really liked how they looked.

I do like, however, the see-through yellow vinyl of this record – coloured and interesting-looking vinyl always does it for me – and there’s even a little twelve-page booklet included, containing a brief interview with the (American) band reproduced in both French and English. Vive la différence, or whatever phrase would be suitable here.

By the way, if anybody recognises the movie from which this record’s front cover still is taken, I’d love to know. It looks intriguing…