Attention tapeheads: The ever-iconoclastic Robyn Hitchcock is releasing an ultra-limited run of his new album Propellor Time — on which he’s backed by members of R.E.M. and The Smiths — on “hand-assembled” cassette. Could this be part of the cassette revival we’ve been hearing about?
According to an e-mail sent to fans today, just 100 copies have been made, and each “is hand assembled and is individually autographed and numbered by Robyn.” Forty are being sold through Hitchcock’s online webshop, but the e-mail includes a non-functioning link, so you can’t buy then yet. And the other 60 copies? The newsletter doesn’t say.
The just-released album was recorded in the summer of 2006 with Hitchcock’s current back-up band The Venus 3 — R.E.M.’s Peter Buck, Young Fresh Fellows’ Scott McCaughey and ex-Ministry drummer Bill Rieflin — and featuring guest turns by the likes of The Smiths’ Johnny Marr, Nick Lowe and John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin.
Hitchcock also has posted his second “Phantom 45,” a pair of new tunes — “Halo Mary,” written for the forthcoming film “Elektra Luxx,” and “Comme Toujours” — free for the download. And if you haven’t grabbed them yet, the first installment — “To Be Human” and “Belly Full of Arms and Legs,” also written for “Elektra Luxx” — are still available.
PREVIOUSLY ON SLICING UP EYEBALLS:
- Video: Robyn Hitchcock’s 8-song in-store performance, interview at Amoeba Music
- Video: Robyn Hitchcock’s new single ‘Ordinary Millionaire,’ off ‘Propellor Time’
- Robyn Hitchcock’s ‘Propellor Time’ to feature Peter Buck, Johnny Marr
- Robyn Hitchcock releasing ‘I Often Dream of Trains in New York’ live CD/DVD
- Robyn Hitchcock ‘I Often Dream of Trains’ concert film airing on Sundance Channel
