Cas One "Joy" 7-Inch Record + MP3

Now. I try to do that more frequently.  I used to *only* relate to my audience through anger or pain. I want to relate to you through more than that. And that’s what has been keeping me making music lately: the unfamiliar, the unknown reception that may come from approaching creativity from a completely new angle. 

Alxndrbrwn laid down yet another nostalgic piece that bounces along with deep bass and kicks off with horns that are the key ingredients that open up my joy receptors. We will release this through Strange Famous Records on October 20th. But right here, right now, while you’re present with me, you can pick up the limited 7-inch Record and gain access to “Joy” - and listen today via the included MP3 Download.

Soon you’ll have a physical version that features fantastic artwork that deserves to be admired (created by the ever-excellent Pat Jensen). And, of course, there are the little secrets that we always throw in the design for you to uncover. Tell me when you see 'em.   

I’m happy to share this moment with you. Bitch. 

Produced by ALXNDRBRWN
Vocals by Cas One
Artwork by Pat Jensen

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SOME INFORMATION ABOUT LATHE CUT RECORDS:

ARE LATHE CUT RECORDS AND VINYLS THE SAME THING???
No, because "vinyls" don't exist. Don't say "vinyls." Ever. The plural of 'vinyl' is 'vinyl.'

Fine, smartass. Are lathe cut records the same as vinyl records? 
They look similar, they both play music when you set them on a turntable and put a needle to their grooves, but they're manufactured from different materials by a different method. This difference in materials and method allows for smaller quantities to be created. Read on for more details. 

How do these sound?

Lathe cuts will always have some degree of surface noise/pops/crackles, which tends to largely disappear once the music starts, especially for full, loud recordings. However, these lathe cuts are not audiophile records, or even comparable to standard pressed records. They will sound slightly different than the master, because the plastic reacts to certain frequencies differently. They are made from materials that were never intended to be records. Sound quality varies slightly from one record to the next, and some audio tracks translate better than others. There are many factors that determine the sound of the record; the material, the number of records that have been cut by the stylus, the climate, etc… But we drop-test them all and throw away any that are not up to standard. They are all totally listenable, but intended to be used more as playable art pieces. These lathes are not meant to be the way your track is regularly listened to. 

Are these as loud as a normal record?

Unfortunately, No. Our cutter heads are 70 years old and utilize a magnet that has, over the years, degraded a little. They were also made before the loudness war and were never intended to produce the kind of volume that modern stereo cutting heads made in the 70s and 80s were geared for. On top of that, the plastic that is used is harder than a lacquer that is used to master a pressed record, and the heads has to work much harder, resulting in less volume (about 75% that of a modern record). So, you will have to crank up your amplifier a few notches past where it usually sits.

Will these play on any turntable?

These records do not always play well on all turntables, especially cheap turntables without a weighted tonearm. However, they have all been play tested to make sure that they track on a properly weighted record player. Lighter tonearm weight and neutral anti-skating works best. Sometimes the needle will get caught in between the grooves and sound awful. You can usually gently nudge the needle sideways into the bottom of the groove, which should fix the problem. 

Inexpensive players with red cartridges/needles in particulars tend to have more problems than professional cartridges.

Will these records degrade or hurt my needle?

Absolutely not. These records are made out of hard polycarbonate plastic and will last as long as a pressed record. And your needle will not know the difference between this plastic or the PVC that pressed records are made of. The old adage that Lathe Cuts ruin your needle is a product of lacquer “dub plates” or “acetates”. Lacquers are extremely soft, and with repeated plays, the lacquer would wear off and build up on your playback needle. We DO NOT use lacquers and DO NOT have this problem. We listen to lathe cuts 12 hours a day in the studio, and rarely change out our playback styli.