The Return of the Flexi Disc - Mai 68 Flexi Club

By Jon Milton

Independent purveyors of pop music for the wild North and beyond and home to wonderful bands such as Sunstack Jones, Mai 68 Records have had a novel idea. 

Looking to circumnavigate a series of problems that are facing small indie labels and artists, and inspired by Sarah Records and Eighties DIY scenes, Mai 68 records have decided to bring back the flexi disc with their latest endeavour, the Mai 68 Flexi Club.

Speaking about the venture, the label said: 

'BEING A TINY INDEPENDENT LABEL IS ALWAYS CHALLENGING. THE EVENTS OF THE LAST EIGHTEEN MONTHS HAVE ONLY SUCEEDED IN INCREASING ALL THE USUAL CHALLENGES OF GETTING A NEW RELEASE FROM MASTERING, TO STORES, IN ANYTHING RESEMBLING A TIMELY FASHION.
 
INITALLY PEOPLE BELIEVED THAT THE VINYL REVIVAL WAS A FAD. IT’S PRETTY OBVIOUS WE ARE WELL BEYOND THAT NOW. PRESSING PLANTS ARE WAY BEYOND CAPACITY. LEAD TIMES FOR PRODUCTION ARE TERRIFYING. NEW ARTISTS ARE STUCK IN A NEVER-ENDING QUEUE, WHILST ‘RUMOURS’ IS ONCE AGAIN RELEASED TO SAINSBURYS SHELVES ON DECREE NISI COLOURED VINYL.
 
STREAMING IS JUST AS BAD. PROMOTION, PLAYLIST PUSHES AND SAVVY MARKETING CAN GARNER HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PLAYS BUT THE RENUMERATION EQUATES TO THE PRICE OF CAN OF SAN PELLEGRINO. SPOTIFY THINK THIS IS FINE. IT ISN’T FINE.
 
THIS WHY WE ARE ANNOUNCING MAI 68 FLEXI CLUB. BRAND NEW EXCLUSIVE MUSIC EACH MONTH OVER TEN RELEASES. NO STREAMING. NO DOWNLOADS. JUST PURE EPHEMERAL POP MUSIC THAT EXISTS SOLELY ON 7” FLEXI DISC, JUST FOR YOU AND JUST AS LONG AS YOU POSSESS IT.
 
WHY FLEXI? THE ULTIMATE DIY INDEPENDENT MEDIUM. IT’S FAST TO PRODUCE, IT’S COST EFFECTIVE AND ITS ULTIMATELY DISPOSABLE. BY PLAYING IT, YOU DESTROY IT IN THE PROCESS.  INEVITABLY THE QUALITY IS NOT AS GOOD AS VINYL. THERE IS A HIGHER SURFACE NOISE. BUT LIKE JOHN PEEL SAID...LIFE HAS SURFACE NOISE.
 
There will be ten new tracks released each month on 7 inch flexi disk, with 300 copies of each in total. Each release features bespoke numbered sleeves and an art print. 

There will be ten new tracks released each month on 7 inch flexi disk, with 300 copies of each in total. Each release features bespoke numbered sleeves and an art print. 
 
Here's the release schedule: 

September 26th: SUNSTACK JONES – CAN’T GO BACK HOME
 
October: THE SHIPBUILDERS
 
November: BY THE SEA
              
December: COW
 
December: MONDEGREEN
 
January: ANNA-JANE HOUGHTON
 
February: ENNIO THE LITTLE BROTHER
 
March: CAMPFIRE SOCIAL
 
April: FRIENDS OF OUR YOUTH
 
May: SPECIAL GUEST TBA 

Get your copy at: 

Merch | Mai 68 Records (bandcamp.com) ​