Local Label Notes & Bolts Announces New Lathe Cut Monthly Vinyl Single Series

By Jon Graef in Arts & Entertainment on Feb 21, 2013 7:20PM

Local indie Notes & Bolts, a burgeoning imprint putting out music from some of the city's most notable underground acts, just started a unique monthly vinyl series where they put out limited edition lathe cut 7-inch records by Chicago artists.

First and foremost: What does lathe cut mean? We'll let Notes & Bolts explain:

Lathe cuts are short run vinyl records that are cut in real time one by one - these are not factory produced records a la larger pressing plants...

Because each one is hand cut in real time one by one, the process of producing this run of records is a longer one—if 63 people order copies, the person cutting this will be hearing [the single] 63 times.

Each record will also be packaged in a hand made sleeve made from transparency sheets and personalized with the record's number (13/63, for example) along with the name of the record's owner. These are essentially art objects, which is why they're a couple of bucks more than a normal $5 seven inch.

In other words: "We're basically making only as many as folks order in that time and then personalizing each individual sleeve," Notes & Bolts further wrote to us in a Tweet.

The lathe is unique in that it is a clear cut poly carbonate square, not the usual circular vinyl record. Lathe records can be played on a turntable using a normal needle. No damage will come to the record.

The cost of a single is $10, with shipping included, or $7 if you live in the city and want to pick up your copy yourself.

Act now though if you're interested in doing so. The orders only last for a week. Once they're gone, they're gone.

The first lithe in the series, "Static" by jangly psychedelic pop Chicagoans Videotape, is set to expire at midnight tonight.