So Record Store Day is in about a month and a half: Saturday, April 17. This will be the first time that Vortex has participated and we'll do our best to make it a great day to come visit the shop.

Though we don't have confirmation on which exclusive RSD releases we will be able to offer, we will have at least one major vinyl piece which none of our competition will: Fihavanana - A Collection of Field Recordings and Photography from Madagasikara is a 3LP release from Mississippi Records. Only 200 copies were pressed for the world, 40 of which were kept by the field recordist and 160 of which were distributed to stores by MR. Vortex has the only copy in the city, if not the province. They're hand numbered and ours is #98! In addition to the triple wax, there's a 16 page book of notes and photos by field recordist Charles Brooks.

There's one LP of a capella singing, one of Valiha Marovany, and one of miscellaneous instruments.

I didn't feel right just throwing it out for sale as it would have made many of our regular Mississippi Records-loving customers upset when they missed out on it--even though one would have been delighted. So, we're going to have a raffle for it on Record Store Day. We haven't decided all the details, but we'll post them here when we do.

Though I've known about this for a month, I've been waiting till I actually had it in my hand before announcing. So, yeah, it arrived, along with the following Mississippi Records releases and restocks:

Clara Rockmore - $18.99
Abner Jay - $14.99
Reverend Overstreet - $14.99
Fight On Your Time Ain't Long - a measly $11.99
Breeders (limited to 1000 copies) - $14.99

- Tom Cora & The Ex - Scrabbling at the Lock:

North American re-issue of a masterpiece of our generation. The perfect blend of angsty punk rock, Eastern European leanings and free improv. Tight rhythms, roaring guitars, smartly political vocals and and the late Tom Cora's amazing cello work. $14.99

- A 7" of Chin Chin. Who are Chin Chin? Here's what MR says:

From Biel Switzerland, comes this little known group. One of the few all-girl bands (along with Kleenex/Lilliput) to come out of the early 80's Swiss punk scene. Chin Chin definitely considered themselves a punk band. Although their catchy pop vocals and harmonies strongly aligned them with the burgeoning C86 scene. They shared bills with The Shop Assistants, Television Personalities, The Pogues and New Model Army, before the band drifted into obscurity. This 7" was originally released in 1984 on the band's own, Farmer Records. It contains 3 self-penned songs and marks their first and punkest release. Keep your eyes peeled for their full length LP out soon as a split between the Mississippi and Slumberland labels.

Eris - The Feast of the Appetites of Eris:

Each year, on the Sunday prior to Mardi Gras, a rag tag group of musicians assembles to provide the soundtrack for the progression of the parade of the Krewe of Eris. This past parade, a food based banquet, the sounds of this 62 piece band was captured on cassette and two microphones towering overhead. Brass and percussion working through seven originals and a cover through the streets of New Orleans, with accompaniment of paraders, bottles, sirens, and food. Field recording that sounds just like it sounded. A pressing of 1,000 with an insert and silk screened covers. $14.99 (This one is actually on Domino Sound, one of Mississippi's Sister labels).

We also found a distributor that had some of an early MR release in stock: the currently out of print Spirtual Singers LP. They're on their way and we should have them in about a week:

Obscure African LP reissue. Congolese pop-Gospel, ca. 1970-1980. Released 2009. No catalog number and no indications on cover or label that this is a Mississippi Records release, however "MR032" appears in the dead wax. "Loose-knit, almost ‘Shaggs-like’ rhythms accompanied by male and female vocals. From slow dirges reminiscent of Beatles pop melodies to fast African rockers inspired by American '50s R&B. A truly unique record."