PFR017 Finn Silver - Crossing the Rubicon

PFR017

Finn Silver – Crossing the Rubicon

12inch, May 22^nd 2011

Finn Silver was recommended to me by Gideon van Gelder. He told me about the two people behind the project and praised their commitment and focus. We met at their home-studio and only after a few moments the lights went out (because this enhances listening-experience) and the music played over enormous speakers. There I was: sitting in the dark with two strangers listening to some tracks only a few people heard before. The songs were beautiful and I remember being glued to my chair. The tracks were recorded (analogue!) in Berlin by Jazzanova and Fridolijn and Mark paid all expenses (trust me: those were high) by themselves to have total control. Now that's the true DIY-spirit! They wanted to self-release the CD-version but didn't had the cash left for vinyl. So that's where Positive and Focused came in. Finn Silver ordered the records themselves so that's why you'll see Cat.number PFR017/JBR02 in the mirror of the record.

The pressing of the records is a story on it's own. The recording-studio in Berlin owned the analogue master and made the vinyl DMM-master. This master was sent to Record Industry where they made the testings. Due to different equipment in Berlin and Haarlem there were some things that did not satisfy Fridolijn and Mark but eventually it turned out okay. But the road to being okay involved numerous e-mails and telephone-calls. I actually went to Record Industry to listen to the testings together with their cutting-engineer. IAMKAT did the artwork that suits perfectly to the songs. For the release-party the band arranged Studio K. We had a nicely styled corner to promote the record and CD.

At the release-show I got the chance to meet Axel from Jazzanova and gave him some PFR-goodies. I also made a trade with Richard Spaven. The Finn Silver-record was picked up very well because of the attention Finn Silver got in several media. They even made it big in Japan and were band of the week on iTunes-Japan. I really hope they'll make it so they can continue their passion.

Testpressing /4

These are the infamous testings that were listened over and over by the band, Record Industry, recording studio in Berlin and myself.

F/c cover, shrinkwrapped /300

The records have a full-colour sleeve and a innersleeve with protective plastic (polybag). All records were shrinkwrapped. The Positive and Focused-logo is put on the back of the cover like PFR016.

PFR016 Gideon van Gelder - Perpetual

PFR016

Gideon van Gelder – Perpetual

12inch, December 15th 2010

A new Positive and Focused-chapter: Jazz! And not just the ordinary kind; this is for those of you who can appreciate the unconventional. I found out about Gideon's cd-release when visiting the Rush Hour-store. I bought the album and was hypnotized by it. The first track "Wave" hit me like thunder and lightning. I did not hesitate and wrote Gideon an e-mail if he would be interested in a piece of wax with his songs. I had no expectations but he wrote back almost immediately and was very excited about the idea. We talked about possibilities and finally came up with the idea to co-release this 12inch with Kindred Spirits; the label that also released the cd. For the first time I relied on the experience of another label. They pressed the record in France.

The sleeve is printed in full-colour on reversed cardboard giving it a very nice effect. Costwise I would not have been able to do this but the cooperation with Kindred Spirits made it possible. The cover of the vinyl is different from the cd and I think much nicer. I used the artwork for a small production of posters; 50 pieces were made. The 12inch has a exclusive track that cannot be found on the cd. The album was already received very well and the vinyl version got good attention as well. Once again the hallway was full of boxes with vinyl :o)

I was lucky to see some of his very inspiring live-performances and decided to ask Gideon for a private gig in 2011. Luckily he was willing to do so; check the video.

Testpressing /5

The testings were made by MPO in France and 5 pieces were made. They are not numbered.

 

F/c cover, shrinkwrapped /500

The final product is looking really nice; if I may say so. All records are shrinkwrapped and have a sticker with linernotes by José James, Gilles Peterson and Benjamin Herman.

The Positive and Focused-logo can be found on the back of the cover.

PFR015 Knobsticker - Four

PFR015 Knobsticker – Four

12inch, July 15^th 2010

This record is actually not a "real" release; it's just some sort of home cooking. When I released their EP I really wanted to have the song "Four" on it. However the band didn't agree because they wanted to showcase more recent work. I still felt the need to own this track on vinyl so I asked the band if I could make one piece just for myself. They agreed and sent me the song in high quality. I ordered this one-off pressing at My Own Record and that's basically all there is to tell. Oh... the record is not a lacquer but a real record with the same lifetime as a conventional record. Check the video because it's putting a smile on my face every time I watch it.

This piece of wax has a double A-side for extended listening pleasure. There are no inscriptions in the mirror of the record.

PFR014 Shook - The glow EP

PFR014 Shook – The Glow EP, 12inch, July 14^th 2010

When searching the internet I stumbled upon Shook's website. 1986 was the first track I heard and it had the same impact on me like a Youth Crew singalong. I guess only a few people, if any, will understand me but being DIY or punk isn't always about only listening to one style of music. Shook is super talented and refuses to use this for commercial mainstream. Besides that he creates an alternate universe with an animated self that produces a mystique sound, allowing his music to speak for itself. I contacted Shook and we met at a local bar in Alkmaar. We seemed to get along and at the end of the evening agreed to release a 12inch record.

The record came with a full colour mini-comic made by illustrator Giuseppe Modica. He also made the sticker on the sleeve plus the labels. Inscription in the mirror of the record:

Side A + B: Let's trade records!

Like the p e a c e FIRE-record this 12inch has a double A-side for extended listening pleasure. In July everything was ready and the record was released. It was picked up very good because of the fanbase that already followed Shook online. When I write this I only have 9 pieces left of the record.

1^st testpressing

with hand-glued labels #/7

I rejected the first testings because they had lots of static-noise. Perhaps this happened because I glued the labels on them by hand. I was very curious how the records would look with the labels but after this experience I will never glue labels again.

 

2^nd testpressing, white labels #1/1

For the first time in PFR-history I had to ask for a 2nd testing. I approved it straight away.

 

Solid red wax, f/c comic /200

The final product comes in striking red wax. Accompanied by the full colour comic, flyer/postcard and PFR-disco-flyer.

 

PFR013 V/A - Youth Crew 010

PFR013 V/A – Youth Crew 010

7inch, January 15^th 2010

After the 2008-edition I decided to repeat this compilation every two years. So by the end of 2009 I started to look for new bands. I tried to find bands from every continent of the world but did not succeed. However, the line-up came out really strong again and I managed to put 10 bands on this piece of wax:

Alert - Nowhere to turn
Pressure - Pressure
Fumbles in Life - The long run
State of Affairs - Turn it around
Forever Young - Kids on the run
Reveal the Truth - Look around
Half the Battle - Legacy
Rearranged - Letter to a friend
Staid - We're here to stay
Outlast - No Better

Two other labels wanted to join; Monument from Sweden and Youth Crew from Italy. For this piece of wax I relied on the cutting-engineer and did not order any testings. He did a great job and the final product was pressed on black, white, red and hot-pink wax. The record has additional inscriptions which refers to people saying PFR sold out on hxc:

Side A: No matter what you think
Side B: Still positive and focused

Javi did the artwork and made a really cool drawing of a crowd waiting for the show to begin. The flyer shows a venue with closed doors. On the cover of the record you can see the doors are opened and the back shows a crowd going wild. On the flyer you can see "You, Me; Youth Crew" on the T-shirt of the singer. This was corrected into "Me, You; Youth Crew" on the cover of the record.

 

The record was picked up very well and for the first time in PFR-history all records were gone/reserved before it actually hit the streets. I still remember the amount of money I had to pay at the post office; astonishing!

 

Black wax, f/c inlay /100

White wax /200

Hot pink wax /200

Red wax /200

I was very pleased with the four colours of wax; no transparent colours this time, only solid.

Each record came with a flyer. This flyer has a print-error on the back; the pink splash is not supposed to be there. The printingcompany gave me a 50% discount for this.

The lyricssheet only came together with the limited black wax. This insert is A3-size and has the lyrics on one side; the other side shows me again at the age of 16 months old; Youth Crew!

 

Tape Youth Crew 010 + 08

Learn to Trust - Malaysia

Winter 2010

Somewhere around summer 2010 I got an e-mail from Learn To Trust from Malaysia. They wanted to release both versions of the Youth Crew compilation on tape. I agreed on one condition; I would get a few tapes. By the end of the year I got a nice package with the tapes :o) For the 2012-edition Learn To Trust will participate with PFR for the 7inch.