Comments on: An Explanation and Education

By: Ryan P.

Ryan P. — Fri, 09 May 2008 15:50:56 +0000

Many thanks for this informative post, Gabe. I agree with most everything said, and learned some stuff in the process. I recently started a label that I have been trying to get off the ground for over five years. I swore I would keep it strictly vinyl, but in the end, I was forced to debut with a compilation CD. Despite having actually sold all 100 copies in three weeks time, entirely by myself, it’s a ton of work. It’s a full-time job. On top of my other full-time job. The end result is most definitely rewarding when you sell out of a release and manage to pay all of the artists their share, but any sane person has to ask themselves how long they can continue on for. Most good (small) labels don’t do it for the money, and at first that seems ok. But then after you invest so much time and energy (and $$$), one has to ask themself if it’s worth it to keep breaking even, or in my case, making a nice enough profit to pay 10 artists a little bit of dough, only to leave the person running the label, who is doing all of the real physical labor, empty-handed. It’s a sad situation, but I must commend all the labels that are keeping on, and those with balls enough to at least give it a try. Regardless of others opinions, I truly think that .mp3/Beatport/Serato Scratch are the prime suspects in the demise of vinyl culture, along with a dwindling economy and the rising costs of fuel (since vinyl is petroleum based). I can only imagine what things will be like in 10 years or so. I’m just trying to enjoy what’s left, while we still have it…

Peace

By: Ben

Ben — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 00:35:00 +0000

thanks, Gabe, for the instrumentally ill ep. I’ve also special ordered Climber’s Downtown Loop LP

and thank you Casey, for the suggestions. I got Express Rising “time and time again” 7″, and Jeux de Ficelles on vinyl (!)

By: Casey

Casey — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 00:27:32 +0000

shoot, i had a whole long response to some of the topics brought up in the post.
but it didnt like my security code, hehe.
remember to copy and paste !

to sum it up briefly this time :

i think you can look at the entire dj scene here in the US and find an answer for why merck’s vinyl sales lacked here.everyone is a dj, nobody “needs” vinyl anymore etc. there are too many cases to be made.

i personally spend 250 $ a month on vinyl not including shipping.the exchange rate is killing me !

personally i see a bright future for vinyl, there are good ideas being throw around. like when you buy a piece of vinyl, there will be a code etched in the runout that you can enter at a specific site to download hi-bit mp3’s of those tunes.the label charges a few extra dollars and alot of people are happy, the vinyl dj’s are happy the serato dj’s are happy.

and if you have noticed, alot of the bigger bands in the uk are releasing 7 incher singles…and selling well.it is still cooler to play vinyl even if it is casually in your room.

gabe your postings in this topic where very interesting.
and i have to say i have all but a few merck vinyl releases, and would not part with any of them !

By: Casey

Casey — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 21:01:52 +0000

Some more good instrumental hip-hop/downtempo stuff some jazzy some not :

-Anomaly - The Long Road
-Climber (was already mentioned, very good.)
-EKP - Things you already know…
-Express Rising (if you can find any of it)
-Purple Penguin
-Silent Poets (some stuff, they are really all over the map, but have some truely great music)
-Beneath Autumn Sky
-Ill Padre
-Ciencia Fixion
-DJ Reezm
-Plan B (super cool dude in seattle, good tunes and nice percussion)
-sixtoo (of course)
-

and basically anything on the labels bully,heardrums, memphix.

By: Luke

Luke — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 22:49:12 +0000

apan has definitely show the most support for Us and i think its good to acknowledge that.
Not only that but it is also a great place to visit, play music at and meet heads.

Cheers

By: Ben

Ben — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 17:26:27 +0000

whoa…that’s the shit! I wanted something to mix with aphilas-type stuff, and this definitely fits the bill. good lookin’ out, and thanks.

By: Terence

Terence — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 16:04:06 +0000

Ben, Debut “Transitions (2007)” of dutch producer Arts the Beatdocter sold out within six days in Japan. Check out the track “Decreasing Daylight” at http://www.myspace.com/artsthebeatdoctor

By: Ben

Ben — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 00:02:47 +0000

thanks. I’m listening to sound puzzle as I type, I definitely need to get it on vinyl. I have Malcom Kipe’s stuff, N on W is always good. DILLLAA!!… man.. what I wouldn’t do (within reason) for Vintage on vinyl. thanks again for the suggestions, I’m also looking to integrate the funk with the groove and boom-bap, with a dash of the glitchy/synthy experimentalism. I suspect my Deru and Deceptikon records will fit in nicely for the latter elements.

By: Merck

Merck — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 23:43:08 +0000

Off the bat ill drop the merck stuff that fits that category that you didnt mention. Malcom Kipe and 40winks are about as jazzy downtempo as merck gets (and aphilas too). Deceptikon is also downtempo, but not so jazzy. i also suggest stuff by Quantic and Bonobo (they release on Tru Thoughts and Ntune). Also Mowax has alot of great stuff along those lines, but you really gotta dig through their catalog to find the stuff thats quality(I can’t think of names offhand). Some other names to check out: Aim, Nightmares on Wax, Red Snapper (some of it), Comfort Fit, Jay-Dees instrumental stuff. Herbaliser, Climber, and of course Luke Vibert/Wagonchrist stuff (Tally Ho is such a great album).

By: Ben

Ben — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 22:04:26 +0000

Gabe, do you have any suggestions for some slick jazzy downtempo? I have Miasmah, getting aphilas on vinyl soon (along with some blockhead), Fehlmann’s “Lowflow” (that was a bitch to get on vinyl), lots of ninja tune stuff, and various merck comps i.e. dosage, and mergerz and acq. I plan to hit the Montreal lounge scene with a mix of downtempo/trip-hop, and hip-hop instrumentals.