Braw As A(n octopus's) Craw

So, it seems that Record Store Day is once more just around the corner. And I'd just like to suggest that you might wish to add James Yorkston's "The Demonstrations of the Craws" to your panic-list.
I know exactly what you're thinking: "But Pual, you know I can't even begin to think about buying that, or anything else, not even the "Shirley Inspired" Shirley Collins tribute album, not when all of my mental energy for this next month will be expended purely on worry over how I will get my hands on a copy of the original Graeme Miller & Steve Shill "Moomins" theme music on 7" from Finders Keepers with fuzzy felt cover."

And I understand, completely. But this JY 12" contains demo versions of songs from one of last year's best albums, and I did the artwork, and it has a sort-of Shaking Stevens octopus on it, and there are only 500 copies being pressed, so just take a deep breath and scratch it onto your list, as I'm sure it will only bring you relief once you've done so.

And if you find you're still hyperventilating, perhaps trying watching a few episodes of the original Moomins animation on this wonderful archival site; should calm you down in no time.

Record Store Day 2013

So, it was once again Record Shop Day and, although I was unable to get to any participating shops to snag that MGMT cassingle, or the Roky Erickson 7", I did manage to grab the above haul from my local vinyl purveyor, The Community Kist. I got a Rhythm & Sound comp, Night Eyes by Eyes (!), and Malcolm McLaren's Madame Butterfly on 7" - nice! 

Every day is Record Store Day at the Kist.

The Kist is a newly opened charity shop in Anstruther, Fife, run by Elizabeth Gordon, with assistance from various other volunteers, raising money for a variety of local causes. I recently designed a logo for them, and would heartily recommend you come and have a look at the shop if you're in the area.

Elizabeth, forced to pose with random objects.

It's genuinely an Aladdin's Cave of wonders, with you as likely to find yourself lost in conversation with Elizabeth as amongst the large selection of books, CDs, clothing and much more. Magic lamps, a cyclops, they probably have those somewhere too, although I suppose that was more a Sinbad thing... answers on a postcard delivered by a miniature Dynamation horse. Or a robot owl.

A big batch of donations being processed!

Check out the Community Kist on Facebook here!