As any right person knows, Mute is one of the finest labels ever to have pressed vinyl, printed CD, or unleashed MP3 into the ether. They’ve really pulled the stops out for this year’s record store day, with three fantastic releases: first, there’s a Josh T Pearson 12" ‘Sweetheart I Ain’t Your Christ’. Then, catalogue number 12mute666 is a 12" of Grinderman’s ‘Evil’ backed with the Factory Floor remix and that ace Silver Alert rejig we posted the other day. That is limited to 750 copies. And finally, a fantastic compilation called Vorwärts on vinyl (1000 copies) featuring an unreleased Can track from 1970, along with exclusive music from Liars, Yeasayer, Simon Fisher Turner and more – full tracklisting to be seen below.
Mute artists have also made some fine words about Record Stores. As well as what we published from Angus Liars yesterday, he says "I’ll tell you this: if i was a piece of music i’d go on strike until i was realized as a physical object." Bandmate Aaron Hemphill adds, "I don’t know how kids grow up without record stores. I worked in a record store and learned more about music there than anywhere I’ve been since. I met Angus there…that’s what a big deal it is." Former Bad Seed and now Mute solo artist Mick Harvey says "There’s nothing like having the cover artwork, the blurbs and credits, and the character and atmosphere that the whole package lends to the experience of immersing oneself in a favourite album. Record stores provide a real connection to that experience and some hope for its survival." Oh yes, and over at DrownedInSound, Jim Sclavunos lists his favourite record shops.
To WIN all three of these prizes on vinyl (and check out the excellent artwork at the foot of this piece) just answer the following question and email comps@thequietus.com with MUTE in the subject line: Who is the founder of Mute?
a) Sienna Miller
b) Windy Miller
c) Daniel Miller
