Just to keep you guys in the loop with what is happening with these “Posthumous Release” 12″ records, we tried to capture the main culprit of the problem on video. Unfortunately, iphone microphones taking video of a record player doesn't quite do the thing justice, but just think about if a pop can cut through all the noise of an iphone microphone, it must be a pretty intrusive pop on the record.
So if you listen to this video, right after the second time Mat sings “the clock” there is (what sounds like) a click on the video. Imagine this closer to you through your speakers and amplified, and you'll realize it's not really an ignorable flaw in the vinyl process. It's a POP.
This was on the first test press and we agreed (with Mat) that this wasn't OK to send out to everyone (especially since our test lacquer sounded perfect), so we got the pressing plant to make new tests. They decided they needed to get the record recut, BUT when they made new tests, they pressed the revised A-side, but still the old B-side with the POP still in it. We were confused and it took sending both of the tests back to the person who cut the lacquers to crack that code.
We've talked to some other pressing plants and the verdict that everyone has given us is that it will probably move quicker if we just try to take care of the problems and keep on keeping on with the current pressing plant, rather than start from scratch with another.
We love all of you who have paid for this record and can't thank you enough for your understanding and patience. This is completely unacceptable for you to wait this long, and we hope to never put you through this again. We're on the phone bugging these people every day.
They were supposed to overnight new (and hopefully correct) test pressings to us today, so hopefully we will have good news for you tomorrow.
Love, Fork & Spoon
