That’s the idea of a direct mail piece created by sound design studio Griffiths, Gibson, and Ramsay Productions (GGRP). Originally intended just as an attention-getter for creative directors, the concept has caught the imagination of bloggers, and those who got them wanted extras for their kids. (It takes me back to all the strange, cheap, disposable records we were handed as kids during what was supposed to be the last days of vinyl.)
The basic apparatus works just like a conventional record player: spin the record (using a pencil in this case instead of a rotating turntable), and a needle transduces the sound (here, amplified by the cardboard housing). I really like the cover on the record, too.
Neither plastic nor formica, I love the wooden case. It’s beautifully made, solid and light. I can’t resist tapping it with my knuckles every time I pick it up for the sound of the wood. I also really like the typography on the front.
Is Boomkat going into the vinyl special edition business? Not sure of the answer, but they’ve just sent out an email publicising a limited run of 500 copies for the vinyl edition of Thomas Köner’s most recent album. If you’re unfamiliar with his work, he may still be most famous for his work with Andy Mellweg as Porter Ricks whose first and only album for Chain Reaction remains an enduringly stunning piece of minimal techno thick with immersive texture. However, almost all of his subsequent work has explored frozen ambiences and deep sea tectonics.
If you’re interested, don’t dilly-dally, Köner’s work disappears quickly, seems almost never to be reissued and is treasured by his fans.
Ghost Box finally find their true medium (unless you’re of the opinion that they really should be releasing albums on 8 track cartridges that is). Mind how you go is a delight, heavyweight vinyl and squint-inducing test card inner sleeve and all.
